“Hold up,” I said, gesturing at the television, which displayed a mockup of a new guest room. “Where’s the charm? The character? We can’t just turn this place into some cookie-cutter resort.”
Chase nodded. “That’s the challenge, Eli. We need to find that balance between preserving Sunset Siesta’s soul and embracing necessary changes.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, conflicted. “Yeah, but?—”
“If I may,” Jules’s crisp voice cut in. She turned to Chase, all business. “What’s the projected ROI on theserenovations? And more importantly, how do you propose we finance them?”
I blinked, brought up short. Trust Jules to zero in on the most pressing issue. As she fired off questions about cash flow projections and financing options, I found myself riveted by her. Not just by her sharp mind, but by the fire in her eyes. She cared about this place.
“Substantial financial backing will be needed,” Chase admitted, his tone grave. “You’re looking at a very, very substantial investment.”
“Not sure I like the sound of that,” I said weakly as my stomach flopped like a landed fish inside me.
“Oh, boy,” Harper said quietly as she rubbed a finger over her forehead.
Jules’s brows drew together. “Perhaps we should phase the renovations? Starting with the most critical areas and reinvest profits as we go?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Look at you, Julianne. Playing financial Tetris with our future.”
She shot me an exasperated look, but a smile lurked at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes caught mine at my use of her formal name. “Someone has to think about the bottom line, Eli.”
“And thank God for that.”
“I’m simply doing my job,” she replied, her voice prim but with an undercurrent I recognized all too well. Warmth flooded my chest. Not heat—a warm, squishy feeling.
But as quickly as it came, it faded, leaving behind a gnawing worry. What the hell was I doing? This thing with Jules—Julianne, whoever the hell she was—it was fun, sure. But with everything going on with the resort… were we being really stupid here?
Harper’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. “Chase, what about eco-friendly upgrades? Could we integrate solar panels or other sustainable tech to offset long-term costs?”
“Excellent question,” Chase replied, his tone warm. “I’ve actually outlined several green initiatives in the proposal. If you look at page twenty-seven…”
I watched them, the easy back-and-forth, the way Chase’s eyes softened almost imperceptibly as he answered. They worked well together, these two. Weird that I’d never noticed that before. Then again, why would I? Chase got along with everyone.
My gaze drifted back to the proposal in front of me. This wasn’t just some minor facelift. This was a full-blown transformation. The scope of it hit me like a wave, leaving my breath tight.
Ben leaned forward with a frown and adjusted his baseball cap. “Look, I get it. We need to make changes. But how do we preserve the soul of this place? Our family’s history is in these walls.”
Braden, usually quick with a sarcastic quip, nodded solemnly. “Ben’s got a point. We can’t just slap on a coat of paint and call it fixed. But we also can’t lose what makes Sunset Siesta… well, Sunset Siesta.”
For all our bickering and differences, we were united in this. I smiled fondly. “What if we focus on enhancing what we already have? Like, upgrading Driftwood Grill so it appeals to locals and not just resort guests. We keep our character but add some modern flair.”
Jules’s eyes met mine, a hint of approval in her gaze. “That’s a solid start, Eli. But we need to address the elephant in the room.” She turned to face the group, her voice taking on that no-nonsense tone that now impressed me rather than irritated me. “The renovations Chase is proposing? They’re necessary, but they’re alsovery expensive. We’re looking at significant external financing.”
The room went quiet. My earlier optimism deflated like a punctured beach ball.
“How significant are we talking?” Braden asked.
Jules’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Based on these projections? We’re looking at a multimillion-dollar investment or loan.”
Chase nodded. “That’s what I came up with too. It’s outlined in chapter nine.”
I let out a low whistle, my mind reeling. “That’s a lot of beer we’d need to sell.”
“Eli, this isn’t a joke,” Jules snapped. “We’re talking about the future. Your family’s future.”
Her words hit me like a sucker punch. The weight of it all made me scrunch down in my chair. “So what do we do? How do we even begin to tackle this?”
Chase cleared his throat, drawing our attention. “By taking it one step at a time. Yes, it’s a significant undertaking, but it’s not insurmountable. And it’s really necessary, guys.”
