She sighed."I've never owned anything before, and this purchase was scary.It took our entire inheritance, and I keep wondering.Is this what our parents wanted for us?What if it doesn't work out?What if I do too much and the business fails?My practical side tells me we should wait to do any updates.Our profit margin is so low right now.But I know it will be good for business too."
"You can do a little at a time, starting with what will give you the most bang for your buck."I hadn't meant that to sound sexual, but now that the wordbanghad left my mouth, I couldn't help but think about stripping her naked and sliding into her wet heat.Would it be different from when we were kids?
"And what would give me the best return on my money?"Natasha asked, oblivious to my dirty thoughts.
"The bathrooms.You'll want to retain the history of the place while modernizing it.I'm fairly sure we'll need to update the plumbing and electricity.But those upgrades are strategic because you won't want to wait for them to break before fixing them.You'd have a much bigger mess on your hands, and it wouldn't make a good impression on your guests."
She grimaced."Ideally, we should have done this before we opened."
I didn't know anything about running a business besides what I'd observed since I came to work for Cooper and my brothers."It made sense to get the inn up and running as quickly as possible to get money coming in.For what it's worth, I think it's smart to do it as you go."
She rested her head back on the cushion."Thank you for reassuring me."
I smiled at her."I'm glad I could help."
She reached for the papers on the end table."I signed these earlier, and I can email you a copy too.I have to say it's nice to do business in person."
I set the contract aside, and we gazed at the square for a while.The town was beautiful.I could see why couples and families visited for the holiday ambiance."Your parents would be proud of you."
She sucked in a breath."You think so?"
"Your parents wanted you to fulfill your dreams, and you've always wanted to run an inn."
She sat up."But this is so much more.Sometimes I wonder if we got ourselves into something that's too big to handle."
"You're not in this alone.You have Eve and now me.We'll talk every step of the way, and I won't do anything without your approval."
Natasha reached across the couch and squeezed my hand before leaning back."I'm glad it's you that I'm working with."
Did she feel like she could trust me because we had a history?That was a factor in my favor."Just think about how the rooms will look with updated bathrooms.Your guests will get the historic feel of the inn along with a luxurious spa feel.It's the best of both worlds."
Natasha laughed."That does sound amazing.You convinced me.How soon can you start?"
"I can have my crew here tomorrow.You want to start with the vacant rooms on this floor?"
"I'll get you a list and a key to the rooms.Once the existing guests check out, we won't accept reservations on this floor until the work is done.Then we can move to the next floor."
"That sounds like a good plan."
"You want to toast to our new relationship?"When she broke things off with me, I thought I'd never see her again.But now she was in my life again, and I wouldn't be able to avoid her.
Without waiting for me to respond, she stood and went into the kitchen, returning with two glasses of wine.
She lifted her glass, the twinkling lights on the railing reflecting in her eyes."To our new business relationship.May it be beneficial for both of us."
I lifted my glass, clinking it against hers."To our partnership."
The warmth of the alcohol slid down my throat.I couldn't lose sight of my goal.I wanted to prove to my family that I was capable of directing a job this size.And that I hadn't made a mistake in leaving the army.
The biggest challenge would be to view Natasha as just a business partner.
Chapter5
Natasha
Iwoke up early and went for a run.I liked to run through the town and the nearby trails.
I'd thought about setting up a light trail on the paths, but the thought was daunting.It was our first holiday season, and we were supposed to be sticking with the traditional events, except for the parade.I had enough on my schedule without adding one more thing to my to-do list.
