‘The rooms he’s decorated are gorgeous.’ Lisa had loved the flamboyant floral-patterned wallpaper and bold colours chosen for the rooms. She would soon have to think of ideas for the baby’s nursery. A warm tingling sensation spread through her as she instinctively stroked her growing bump. Cassie smiled.
‘You feeling all right? Not too tired?’ She’d noticed how much Lisa had grown over these past weeks.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Sure?’
‘Yes, and thanks, Cassie, for giving me this opportunity.’
‘My pleasure, you’re doing brilliantly, Lisa. I’m impressed how well you’ve picked everything up.’
Lisa beamed. ‘To be honest, I much prefer the admin side of things. In fact… I thought of maybe a few suggestions?’ she tentatively asked.
Cassie looked interested. ‘Yes?’
‘What about putting more on the blog, like with the renovated rooms, before and after photographs, you know, just to keep people updated, that kind of thing?’ She spoke quickly and with passion, which Cassie appreciated.
‘That’s a great idea,’ she eagerly agreed. ‘Let’s start today, you could take a few pictures of Max putting up the curtain poles—’
‘And the new fabric of the curtains, maybe say who made them, you know, advertise other businesses, then they could do the same for the inn.’
Cassie gaped at her. What talent had she tapped into?
‘Lisa, that’s a fantastic suggestion.’
A wide grin spread across her face. ‘It’s all about social media, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, think hash-tags.’
‘Absolutely,’ Cassie nodded her head. ‘And Max, we could mention him and his business, a local one at that.’
‘Yes, then he in turn can mention us on his website.’
‘Lisa, you’re a genius.’
And to think this girl with such innovation had been busy scurrying round the hotel with a hoover and duster.
Later that afternoon Max arrived as planned. As his van pulled into the car park, Lisa was ready to meet him, along with a camera. He frowned in curiosity at Lisa taking a snapshot of the side of his vehicle. Getting the poles out of the back, he laughed as she squatted low to get a better angle of his van.
‘What’s this for?’
‘Our blog. We’re doing a piece on the newly furnished rooms.’
Max liked the sound of that. His van had his company name sprawled all over it. ‘The Hot Spot’ in thick, black lettering, with a silhouette of a blacksmith hammering iron. Underneath was his website address. A picture of this on the inn’s blog would do his business the world of good.
‘That’s great, thanks,’ he said as he carried the poles to the entrance. Lisa quickly followed.
‘We were thinking you might like to mention us on your website, you know, say who you’ve been supplying?’
‘Yeah, course I will. Right, where are these going?’
Cassie appeared in the foyer.
‘Hi, Max!’
‘Hello gorgeous,’ he smiled, making her eyes roll. Still the same old Max, forever the flatterer. She and Max had grown up together in Lilacwell and attended the same schools. They’d always been just friends, although Max had never disguised his attraction for her. Cassie knew his wild flirtation was harmless fun and aimed at many, so never took him seriously.
‘Do you want a hand? Darren isn’t here today and,’ she turned to Lisa, ‘we thought a few more promotion shots?’
‘Fine by me. I’d have scrubbed up if I’d known.’ He sent a cheeky wink their way, making Lisa giggle. Personally, she thought Max was looking pretty good with his slightly charcoaled skin and muscular arms bulging from his overalls. Hmm, very masculine; she snapped a few more discreet photos.
