“Yeah. It’s low pressure. I’ll do it with you, and we can walk or run. It doesn’t even matter if we don’t finish, because I’m gonna make a donation either way. All the money goes to research and support for ovarian cancer. My mom lost her youngest sister to it a few years ago.”
She was hesitant, which I expected.
“Come on, sister-in-law. You need to get back to your factory setting.” I wanted to add that she needed to put that clown ass dude in her rearview for real, but I didn’t.
“My factory setting, huh?” She snickered. “You’re probably right.”
I walked us right to City Hall to sign up before she could change her mind.
Chapter
Three
Bailey
What I foundout was that hanging with Brighton Strong wasn’t so bad. He was hilarious, kind, and laid-back. He wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. Even though I shouldn’t have been paying attention to that, because I was still married.
After we signed up for the 5k, he told me that Bayliss wanted him to take me to see the bed and breakfast that he and my mom purchased.
As soon as Brighton stopped the truck, I hopped out. “I’m already envisioning ways to make this place super cute on the outside.”
“What are you thinking?”
I was almost caught off guard. It had been a minute since I was asked to expound on an opinion of mine. “Nothing that would compete with that view.” I gazed off at the majestic mountains. I knew they were miles and miles away, but they looked close enough to walk to. “Uhm, it’s cute . . . It just looks like a regular house. Nothing about it says bed and breakfast. The elevation is kinda flat.”
“I agree.”
My eyebrows went up in surprise. “You agree? Aren’t you, don’t you do, uh, something with houses or property or something?”
“Yeah, I’m a builder. I own a construction company. We do remodels, partial builds, complete builds, and custom builds. Keep talking. I’m with everything you’ve said so far.”
“What would you do for the elevation issue? I think it would look good with a gable right over the front door,” I suggested.
When he smiled at me, butterfly wings fluttered in my stomach. I mentally fussed at them. The last thing I needed to do was get caught up on the fineness of a man who lived in Jackson Falls. I was a married woman . . . even if my future ex-husband was a bumbling idiot.
“A gable over the door would definitely add some charm. I would put one on each side of the front door as well. And a wrap-around porch is a no-brainer.”
It was my turn to smile big. “Right? A bed and breakfast needs a large porch and rocking chairs. Places where people can walk right out the front door and take in this million dollar view.”
“Yep. I’d do a walkway from the little parking area. Big pavers. Then, I’d clean out this front lawn, put some Adirondack chairs and a bench or two in the grass. Maybe a small stone table. Then the front lawn becomes a place where guests can have snacks while they enjoy the view of the mountains.”
“Let’s see the inside.” I was encouraged by his vision and the way it connected with mine.
Bright opened the lockbox, took out the key, and opened the house. I did a full turn, three hundred and sixty degrees, taking in everything I could see from the foyer.
“It needs some modernization, but I’ll bet it has good bones,” he mumbled, leaving me standing by the front door as he went to explore.
I caught up with him. We walked through the place together. Since the home had always been used as a bed and breakfast, the layout was good. The décor choices were where the place sucked.
“Ugh. This wallpaper and carpeting. Those are the first things that have to go.”
“Wallpaper is trending again.” I figured he was teasing me by the dimpled grin he was sporting.
“Not this wallpaper,” I insisted. “I like my wallpaper in small doses. Like in powder bathrooms or on accent walls. I’m a paint girly.”
He nodded. “I’ll get somebody out to check the systems—my plumber, an HVAC guy, an electrician. Have somebody come out and inspect the roof and the foundation. Then I’ll know what I’m working with. I’mma hire you to work on the design aspect.”
Something that felt like happiness bubbled up in my spirit for the first time in a long time. “Okay.”
