Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Keaton felt contentment wash over him at the simple, domestic routine he and Layne had fallen into.
He stirred the linguini again and told her she could begin tossing the salad, while he moved to the skillet where garlic, onions, wine, and spices simmered.
Tossing in the clams, he stirred and then covered the pan with a lid.
As Layne prepared an oil and vinegar salad dressing and drizzled it atop their salads, Keaton opened a bottle of white wine and poured a glass for them both, setting the glasses on the kitchen table.
After a few minutes, he removed the pan from the heat, adding butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and parsley, along with a dash of salt.
Although they went out occasionally for dinner, most nights they enjoyed cooking together. She had caught on quickly, and her confidence in the kitchen was growing.
The renovations at the inn would be completed in the next two to three days, almost three weeks sooner than his original estimate.
Then again, the work had moved quickly along because they had hired Joey’s crew to help with tasks beyond painting.
They had proved efficient and professional in tackling the interior and exterior of the B&B.
After the painting was completed, he turned over all the plumbing to them, while he worked on things such as restoring the floors and wallpapering, something Layne had assisted him with.
Remembering she had once enjoyed artistic endeavors as a child, she had helped choose items from curtains to cabinet hardware, learning to trust her gut.
He thought the inn would not only be restored to its former glory, but it would shine more brightly than ever before.
Stacy had offered to take the pictures to be used on the Bay Breeze’s website and had already completed the exterior photos, highlighting both the porch’s new furniture and the landscaping, which had been refreshened.
His gallery manager would then move to take all the interior photographs once work had been completed.
With Layne’s computer skills, she would place the photos on the website.
Already, she had written new copy for the site, including not only things about the Bayside Breeze but spotlighting activities and events around Driftwood Bay.
Those tabs would go up once Stacy finished up.
Even with the website being practically empty, several reservations had come in, most from longtime guests who were eager to see the new and improved Bay Breeze Inn.
She handed him two, large bowls, and he placed a generous portion of linguini and clams in them. Keaton took the bowls to the kitchen table and removed the bread from the oven, the final touch to their meal, and they took a seat, with Layne topping off their glasses of chardonnay.
“It’s Monday. Do you have your FaceTime with Mila and Piper tonight?”
He had learned the trio communicated this way a few times a month, often on a Monday night because the theater was dark and no performances were scheduled.
She nodded. “Piper will finish the run of this musical in two weeks.”
“Where does it conclude?” he asked.
“I think Kansas City, but don’t quote me on that.”
“Would you like to go and see her last performance?”
Layne’s face lit up. “Could we? That would be fantastic. Should we tell her—or surprise her?”
“You know her best. I’d ask Mila and Carson to join us, but he’s right in the heart of his basketball season. Do you think Piper is going to return to the Bay?”
The last time Layne had spoken with Piper, her friend had mentioned returning to Driftwood Bay after her current tour ended.
“She’s definitely leaning that way.”
A thought occurred to him, and Keaton asked, “How is the hunt coming for someone to manage the Bay Breeze?”
Layne frowned. “It’s not. I may wind up taking over, at least for this first tourist season.”
“What if you asked Piper to do it?” he suggested, gauging her reaction. “It wouldn’t have to last beyond this first season. It would give you more time to find a permanent manager and give her a source of income while she decides what she wants to do.”
She smiled. “That’s a brilliant idea. Let me hit her up with it when we talk in a few minutes. Changing subjects, have you thought anymore about offering art classes at the gallery?”
Layne had been sketching for the last few weeks, mostly animals and flowers.
She had raw talent and had asked Keaton to give her lessons.
He had been reluctant to do so, not wanting to infringe upon their personal relationship.
That’s when she had hit him up to open Gulf Coastal Gallery for lessons.
While he didn’t have any desire, much less the time, to devote to people making art a hobby, he had come up with an idea which he thought would please her.
“As a matter of fact, I’m meeting with Collin Barton the day after tomorrow about that very thing.”
“He’s the one we saw at Bayside Brewery the other night, right?”
“The very one. Collin is one of the most promising artists in the area, and his paintings are starting to sell at the gallery. He works at a gas station days and paints at night and on weekends, but I think he’d be willing to devote a couple of nights a week to teaching art classes.
The thing is, you know the gallery doesn’t really have room for something like this. We’d need another space.”
“I might have a solution to that problem. Mila told me that the tenant next to her mom’s shop is going to be leaving soon when his lease ends. He and his wife are retiring. They’ve just bought an RV, and they’re going to spend the next few years seeing America.”
“Good to know. The square would be a great location to hold classes. I’ll stop by and visit with him. Check out the space and see if it might work. What’s his name?”
Layne told him and said that all the tenants on the square rented their space from a management company.
“I believe Hillary handles transactions for them. You might also want to check in with her tomorrow regarding the rent.”
“Will do.”
Keaton told her he would clean the kitchen so that she could get on her FaceTime call. By the time he finished and joined her on the sofa, he saw Mila and Carson in one frame and Piper in the other.
“Hey, everyone,” he said, sliding an arm about Layne’s shoulders.
They greeted him, and the five of them spoke for a few minutes until Lily arrived.
”What are you doing out of bed, honey?” Carson asked as Lily climbed into his lap and looked at the screen, saying hello to all of them.
Then she leaned forward, wiggling her tooth, which barely hung by a thread. Looking at her dad, she said, “I’m afraid it’ll fall out, Daddy. If I swallow it, the Tooth Fairy won’t come because it’ll be in my tummy and not under the pillow.”
Mila spoke up. “I think it’s time to pull it, Lily. That way you can put it under your pillow tonight, and the Tooth Fairy will leave you something.” She looked to the screen. “We’re going to go handle pulling this first tooth. Talk with you later.”
The Andrews signed off, leaving just the three of them.
“How is the house sale going?” Piper asked.
“You know it sold after only eight days on the market. I’m happy to report that the closing was finalized last week,” Layne said.
“I’m sure that additional cash will help pay for the renovations at the Bay Breeze,” Piper said.
“Speaking of that, you know I’m looking for someone to manage the inn for me.” Layne paused. “Keaton suggested that you be the one to do so.”
“Me?” squeaked Piper.
“Are you coming back to the Bay or not?” Keaton asked. “If you are, you’ll need a place to stay, and the manager gets the owner’s suite downstairs as part of the job.”
“That’s a really generous offer,” Piper said. “I know I could handle the business end of everything, as well as the cleaning. I remember your mom used to make wonderful, big breakfasts, though, Layne. I’m not much of a cook, and I know people would expect a hot breakfast if they stayed there.”
“We can figure that out,” Layne said. “Even if it means Keaton and me coming over and making breakfast until we find someone permanent.”
“You? Cook?”
“Keaton’s been teaching me how to cook. I’ve actually gotten pretty good, especially with breakfast. This guy is an excellent teacher.” She flashed him a smile.
Piper nibbled on her bottom lip. “Part of me wants to tell you that I’m going to think it over, but the biggest part of me is screaming yes.”
“It’s a yes?” Layne asked.
Piper nodded. “A temporary yes. I don’t know if managing the inn is something I want to do full-time or not, but I’m definitely willing to move in and give it a go during the spring and summer seasons.
By then, I should have a good idea if it’s something I want to continue doing or let you know you should find someone else. ”
“That’s fabulous!” Layne exclaimed.
“I can’t thank you enough for thinking of this, Keaton,” Piper told him.
“I know with Mom and Dad retiring at the beginning of summer that they sure don’t want a thirty-year-old child moving back in with them, cramping their style.
Staying at the inn and being employed by you will keep me from having to move home.
You need to make a list for me, Layne. Everything that I’ll be responsible for doing.
I had worried if I came back to the Bay, especially without a college degree, that I would have trouble finding work.
This will give me time to regroup and help you out at the same time. ”
“I’ll get started on the list and email it to you,” Layne promised. “Will you go to New York after your show closes to get your things?”
“I don’t need to. I gave up my share in the apartment before this current tour began because I was never there. I had one of my roommates who was in town at the time ship me the few clothes that I’d left behind, so I can rent something and drive back to Texas once the show is done.”
He nudged Layne. She looked at him, and he nodded.
Turning back to the screen, she said, “We were going to surprise you and come to your final performance, but we can drive up in Keaton’s truck. It would have plenty of room for whatever you want to bring back to the Bay.”
“You guys would do that? Really?”
“I’d love to see you perform before you put your touring days behind you,” he said. “We’re happy to have you ride back to the Bay with us. Just let us know what theater the performance is in so we can get tickets and a hotel room.”
“The tickets are on me. I promise you’ll have the best seats in the house. The hotel we just arrived at is nearby. Modest and affordable. If you’d like, I can book you a room here, and we can leave the Monday morning after the Sunday matinee.”
“Sounds good,” he said. “Just text us any details we need to know.”
“You two are lifesavers,” Piper declared. “And while I’m not certain my future is in B&B management, taking care of the Bay Breeze for you will give me time to figure out what I want to do with my life.”
They said their goodbyes, and Layne wrapped her arms around him, kissing him enthusiastically.
“You are brilliant, Mr. Maxwell. I don’t think Piper is the final solution, but it’ll definitely give me more time to get things settled with the B&B.”
“Remember, you don’t have to maintain ownership of it. You can always sell it.”
“I’m sentimentally attached to it, though. It would be hard to let go of it, especially seeing how it’s coming back to life. I’ll think long and hard on it, though.”
He saw her eyes light with mischief.
“Right now, I believe we need to make love a final time in this house since this time tomorrow night, we’ll be in the new one.”
The Smiths had vacated the premises, and the sale of their house to him had gone through without a hitch.
Layne didn’t know it, but Keaton had Hillary include Layne’s name on the deed.
Along with shopping for furniture for the inn, they had also picked out numerous pieces for the new house.
The furniture would be delivered tomorrow to both the B&B and their new house, which is why they had waited to move in.
While not every room would be furnished from the start, they had furniture for most of the great room, the kitchen, and the primary suite.
He had taken a break from the reno and spent a majority of today moving art supplies to the caretaker’s cottage and getting everything set up exactly as he liked.
He’d set up shelves and bins in the storage area to house everything from tubes of paints and brush holders to cleaning solvents.
He had adequate room for easels, as well as storing paintings once they had dried.
The small fridge was stocked with bottled waters, and he had bought snacks, such as cashews and protein bars, things he enjoyed nibbling on as he sketched or paused during painting, thinking about which direction he wished to head.
Keaton was itching to begin the next series he had been mulling over during the renovation, and his new studio was calling out to him.
Keaton stood and leaned down, scooping up Layne. She entwined her arms about his neck and gave him a lingering kiss.
“To the bedroom, Mr. Maxwell,” she commanded.
He laughed. “At your service, Miss Larson.”
In the bedroom, he slowly undressed her.
Already, he had her every curve memorized, he ran his hands along her body, reveling in the feel of her smooth skin.
Heat filled him as she pulled him down for a passionate kiss.
His appetite for her had proved insatiable, and he made love to her with urgency, shouting her name as he came and collapsing atop her, driving her into the mattress.
She kissed him hungrily. “I love you so much, Keaton. I can’t wait for the reno to be completed so that you can get back to painting. It’s what you’re meant to do.”
“That—and love you,” he said huskily, seizing her mouth again.
This first chapter of their romance was now closing. They had met. Fallen in love. Moved in together. Now, they would leave this house tomorrow and head to their forever home.
Keaton decided that once they did, he would ask Layne to marry him.