“But enough about me,” Jules said once they were back in the lobby, having inspected every sawdust-covered inch of the place. “Look at you, starting over like this. I’m so impressed. You really did it.”
“Not just yet,” Evie reminded her. “I still need to decorate, open for guests, make some actual money so I’m not a complete failure …”
“You know what I mean,” Jules said, squeezing her. “You played it safe for long enough, and now you’re taking risks. Big, juicy, handsome risks,” she added with a sidelong grin.
Evie winced. “We’re back to that, already?”
“I lasted a good fifteen minutes!” Jules protested, making a show of checking her watch. “I think I deserve some kind of prize for that.”
“How about dinner?” Evie suggested.
“Perfect. And plenty of cocktails,” Jules insisted. “This weekend is just getting started!”
They headed up the coast to Provincetown, a larger town on the tip of the Cape. Brooke had recommended a cute little bistro, which they found tucked away on a winding cobbled lane, boasting fresh seafood platters and the best gimlets around.
“That’s more like it,” Jules gave a happy sigh, when they were settled at a corner table with drinks and a huge spread of food. “I’ve been craving a good fried oyster. And look at all these tourists!”
“You’ve been craving a nibble on one of them, too?” Evie joked.
Jules laughed. “No, but they’re going to eat up your new inn. Have you gotten started with your website yet?” she asked. “Social media pages? Branding?”
“Umm, nope!” Evie said. “I haven’t even picked out my theme yet.”
Jules looked surprised. “You need a theme?”
“Isn’t that what people expect from a B&B?” Evie asked, munching on a crab cake. “All cute and matching. Like rooms named after local sea captains, with nautical decor.”
Jules looked thoughtful. “You’re right, it is a cute gimmick. And gimmicks are easy to sell. Do you have any ideas?”
“Well … I could decorate each room after a different flower—or maybe a type of bird?” Evie mused out loud.
“Or a famous serial killer,” Jules suggested.
Evie snorted with laughter. She could just imagine how that would go down with the pensioner crowd. “You should meet my new friend Mackenzie,” she said wryly. “I think you two would get along. Ooh, how about naming each suite for a female author? The Austen room would have lacy doilies—”
“And a framed picture of Colin Firth, emerging from a lake,” Jules agreed with a wicked grin.
“The Jane Eyre room could be all moody, with lots of green and gray …”
“And a framed picture of whatshisname, the Heathcliff guy from that movie, wet in the rain,” Jules said.
“Blake Callahan?” Evie laughed. “I’m beginning to notice a pattern.”
“Hey, play to your strengths,” Jules grinned. “Everyone loves a rugged hunk of man.”
“What about the male guests?” Evie countered, amused.
“Didn’t you know? Cape Cod is a major gay travel destination. ” Jules argued. “They’ll appreciate a wet shirt, too.”
Evie smiled. “I’ll put that on the ‘maybe’ list. But as for all the social media stuff … you know I’m terrible at that.”
Jules beamed. “Which is why I’m here.”
“Really?” Evie teased her. “I thought it was to ask prying questions about my love life.”
Jules laughed. “I’m a capable woman. I can multitask.”
“Well,” Evie began hopefully, “I was actually going to ask if maybe you could give me some help—”
Jules whipped out her phone. “I thought you’d never ask. I’ve actually been drawing up a game plan. I registered you a website, Twitter handle, Instagram page …”
Evie gulped. She’d barely gotten her head around everything she needed to do with the inn in the real world, let alone the virtual one. “Do I really need all of that?”
“If you want word of the inn to get around, absolutely!” Jules exclaimed. “Every successful business in Sweetbriar Cove has one. Look, there’s a pottery shop, a lingerie store, a fancy hotel up the coast... Even the Sweetbriar Cove Firefighters have an account.”
“They do?” Evie jolted to attention—and Jules smirked.
“Yup, right here.” She showed Evie the pictures of the crew—running events, offering fire safety tips. And there, in almost every frame, was Noah.
Relaxing in his uniform with his buddies. Carrying a kitten down from a tree. Hoisting a small kid on his shoulders so she could ring the firehouse bell. He looked strong. Brave.
Irresistible.
Dammit. Evie stifled a sigh. Was he trying to make her heart melt?
“Good strategy,” Jules remarked approvingly. “If I had that smile, I’d be putting it front and center, too.”
Evie cleared her throat and passed the phone back like it meant nothing at all. “OK, fine, once I get the place in shape, I’ll put up a few photos.”
“Why wait?” Jules asked. “People love a good before and after. Why do you think I’m so addicted to those property renovation shows? If you start posting now, people will be able to follow along with the transformation—see how the magic happens.”
Evie made a face, still not quite convinced. “People really want to see Eggsy installing new wiring?”
“Fine, I’ll show them how the magic happens,” Jules said with a laugh. “Send me some photos, I’ll write up the posts, and I guarantee, you’ll be booked solid before you even open.”
“Deal.”
They gossiped over dinner and drinks a while longer, then headed back to the inn, which was blissfully free of construction chaos by the time they got back. Jules must have sensed that Evie wanted a break from thinking about Glen or Noah—or any of her romantic entanglements—because she didn’t say a word until they were kicking off their shoes, wriggling out of their bras, and making cocoa on the kitchen hot plate.
“So, are we finally going to talk about the elephant in the room?” Jules asked, giving Evie a knowing smirk. “The hunky, firefighter-shaped elephant? Lover of small children and animals?”
Evie groaned.
“Come on,” Jules said, already unwrapping their leftovers. “I need to live vicariously through your romantic adventures.”
“You have a boyfriend!” Evie protested.
“I’m not sure for how much longer,” Jules said with a grimace. “But don’t think you can change the subject now, I’ve been waiting patiently all evening, When are you going to go on this big date with Noah?”
Evie stirred the cocoa and avoided her friend’s expectant look. “I’m not sure I should.”
“What do you mean?” Jules asked. “He’s hot, single, and you already know he’s an excellent kisser.”
“That’s the problem.” Evie sighed. “The way I feel about him, it’s just so … new.”