Chapter 13
BOONE
When I woke up, Kennedy was still sleeping. I moved carefully off the bed, needing to go to the bathroom. I washed up and pulled on a pair of sweats. Then I went to the kitchen to start coffee and breakfast.
I loved having her in my space. Usually I preferred to be alone so nothing could distract me from work. But since I'd started sleeping with Kennedy, I'd been able to hyperfocus when I was in the shop and get more done than usual.
I had plans to see if anyone could help me design a website that was simple and easy to update. I needed to start marketing and hire someone to handle the public-facing side of my business.
Clara had gotten help with her online store from Beck's sister. I wondered if she'd be willing to help me. She was a college student, so she might not charge as much as a professional.
I was cooking the eggs when I heard Kennedy moving around. She got out of bed and pulled my shirt over her head.
"Hey, you," I said as she moved toward me. Her hair was mussed, and her eyes were puffy. "Are you tired?"
"I had trouble falling asleep last night."
I smiled. "I'll have to wear you out more tonight."
She smiled in return, but something was off. "You cooked?"
"Eggs. Nothing fancy. But I can make something else if you'd prefer."
She moved away to sit on the counter stool. "Eggs are fine."
"Listen, if this isn't working for you anymore, we can stop." I didn't want to stop for any reason, but I'd respect her wishes.
She looked away. "I don't want to."
I stretched the kink out of my neck. "I don't either."
"I'm not sure getting involved is the best idea for my business. I'd rather no one know about it."
I could see why she needed to keep it a secret. She was here for work after all. But it still bothered me. "There's no reason to tell anyone. This is between us."
"Everyone thinks we can't get along. We need to keep it that way."
I nodded in agreement, even as my stomach rolled with indecision. "Keep doing what we're doing."
"I'm only here for a short time. Then I'll be gone. No one ever has to know."
"Is there a particular reason why you don't want anyone to know?" I could understand if it had something to do with her business. But it seemed like more.
She sighed. "When I worked directly for a hotel, I dated the manager. When everyone found out, I was the one who had to leave. Shane took credit for my ideas. I decided to go out on my own. The focus should be on the work, not who I'm sleeping with."
"I'm sorry that happened to you." He was a jerk for letting her take the fall, then stealing her ideas.
"It was a bad decision on my part."
"You couldn't known that would happen." I hated that she'd experienced someone like that.
"Everyone is out for themselves," she said as if that explained everything.
I frowned. "Maybe in your world. But not here. We look out for each other."
She sighed. "I guess that's the difference between a city and a small town.
Everyone is looking to get ahead, and they don't care whose work they steal or whose life they ruin.
I can't even be sure he was with me for the right reasons.
I had a hard time trusting anyone after that.
I've been solely focused on my business. "
"That's understandable." Was that the reason why this arrangement worked well for her?
She didn't have to get close to me. She kept me at arm's length.
There was an easy out, an end date on the calendar.
Even if I wanted something more, she didn't. She was protecting herself, and I couldn't blame her. That guy really was a jerk.
"I'm over it now. It was a long time ago."
Yet it clearly still shaped her decisions. "Have you dated anyone since then?"
"Mmm. Nothing serious. My business comes first, and I travel a lot. Most guys don't like the amount of time I spend on my business."
"It doesn't bother me. I like that you already own a successful business. If anything, you're pushing me to do more."
She smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah, you've motivated me to get a website and start doing some real marketing." I was preparing myself for the possibility that she wouldn't be recommending my work to my parents. I was making a plan for when that happened. I needed to build the business without my family's help.
I plated the eggs and set them in front of Kennedy. Then I poured coffee for both of us. I stood at the counter, shoveling the scrambled eggs in my mouth. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"I need to take some notes and brainstorm. I've seen the rooms, the inn itself, the restaurant, the brewery, and I've hiked a bit."
"Are you planning to give your conclusions to my parents soon?"
"Usually I get a sense very quickly, but it's taking me longer with Hart Inn, so I'm not sure."
"I hope I'm not clouding your judgment."
She frowned. "You might be a distraction. I should probably take a few days to myself instead of sightseeing."
"I can use the time to get caught up on a few jobs." And get started on my plans to elevate my business. But I'd miss spending time with her. I'd gotten used to taking time off from work to show her around.
"I think I'm going to approach your parents to talk about the snow room."
I set my empty plate in the dishwasher. "You still think that's a good idea?"
"It's the one thing that I think could make your inn stand out among the others."
I turned to face her. "You know I think it's a waste of money."
She looked away. "We'll see what your parents think."
I ground my teeth, trying not to tell her that I really thought the idea was crazy. That no one expected it to snow indoors at a mountain inn. It wasn't going to draw any guests, because our visitors expected to experience the outdoors. "Do you need me there when you talk to them?"
"Probably not. Especially since you seem to be against the idea."
I was fairly confident they were all going to think it was a ridiculous waste of time and money.
"It's the one thing I feel the most confident on. I'm not really getting a sense of which direction we could go with the furniture yet. I'm going to spend the next few days researching a few options."
"Do you want to see what I planned? I have a sketchbook of ideas."
She shrugged. "Sure."
I went to my desk where I kept my laptop and paperwork. I found the file folder where I put the sketches that I'd made over the years. Then I carried it to the kitchen.
When I approached, Kennedy pushed her plate away. "Let's see what you've got."
I opened the folder, feeling a little vulnerable.
This was my creative work that I rarely shared with anyone.
For the most part, people told me what they wanted.
This was the first project that I'd drafted on my own.
I had no idea if it was any good, especially presenting it to someone who was more likely to lean toward buying new than constructing something from scratch.
She started to peruse the sketches, slowly turning one page, then another. "These are really nice, Boone."
"Really?" I hadn't expected her to appreciate something that was hand drawn.
She looked up from the sketch. "I'm really impressed that you can draw something and then make it out of wood."
I shrugged. "It's something I enjoy doing.
I make tables that people gather around for holidays and meals.
It's important work. They want their table to be strong and sturdy and to represent them.
With the furniture at the inn, I wanted it to be strong and durable but also beautiful.
Something a guest would actually notice and not just dismiss. "
"I can't even imagine the cost difference between something like this and something that is mass produced for hotels.
Usually every room is designed the same.
The photographs online then represent all the rooms. With something like this, I don't know how it would work.
You're still proposing that each room be different? "
I sat on the stool next to her. "I thought the lower floors could be the same, and then I could do something different on the top floor."
Kennedy moved back to shifting through the sketches. "Do you mind if I take these? I want to take a closer look."
"Of course." I'd already scanned them into my laptop, so I had them saved.
She tidied the stack of papers and closed the folder. "Thanks for breakfast, but I'd better get to work."
I stood, grabbing her dish. "I'll drop you off."
"I'll just get dressed." She gathered her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.
Was my furniture too nice and expensive for what she'd recommend for Hart Inn?
I wanted to do the right thing for my family.
At the same time, I saw how many people enjoyed my furniture at the brewery, and I liked the idea of it in the inn for years to come.
I thought it set our brewery apart from others.
We had a history that guests enjoyed learning about. Wouldn't it be the same with the inn?
I put her dish and mug in the dishwasher.
Kennedy was sitting on the bed. "Are we going to be able to continue what we're doing while I'm working? I'm worried that it will influence my decision."
"That's up to you." I went to my dresser, which was one of my creations, and pulled on a T-shirt. Then I grabbed a pair of jeans, since I was planning to spend the day working in the shop.
"I want to make sure that"—she gestured from her to me—"this thing between us isn't influencing my opinion."
I turned to face her, not sure what to tell her. "Only you can decide that. It doesn't make a difference to me. I hope you choose to incorporate my furniture, but ultimately the decision is yours."
"You don't have to render an opinion." She leaned back on the bed.
"I thought we were going to keep everything separate? Nights are for us, and daytime is for work."
"That's the plan."
"I'll take you to the inn so you can get some work done." I didn't want to pretend that this wasn't a problem for me. I could see that it was turning into one. What if she chose to use mass-produced decor? How would I feel?
I would feel devastated, even though I was preparing myself for that possibility. And I didn't know what that would mean for us. This wasn't just physical for me anymore. I was falling more each time we were together. It was getting harder to separate work from pleasure.
"I need time and space to think."
I winked at her. "Maybe some time in the hot tub on your balcony will help."
She flashed me a smile. "Are you suggesting that you join me?"
I shook my head. "After you get some work done."
"Usually ideas come to me easily, but there's something about this project that seems to be blocking my creativity. I can't make a decision, and it's frustrating."
"Except for the snow room."
Her shoulders lowered as we walked toward the door. "I'm confident about that one."
That was interesting because I was really put off by the idea.
It felt like a gimmick, and maybe the brew bath could be considered one too.
But the snow room didn't make sense in a cold climate.
Everything I read about them was that celebrities liked to add them to their homes in warm climates.
Why would anyone come here because we had a room with snow?
"A snow room is such a cool draw. It's romantic for couples and fun for families."
I locked the door, and we headed downstairs and got into my truck. I turned on the engine to keep it warm.
"I get all tingly thinking about the snow room. That tells me that it's the right decision. I'm not getting a strong feeling on anything else but the wall frames."
"You'll get there." I reached over and covered her hand with mine as we drove over to the inn. The drive was too short, and before I could formulate a better response, I was pulling up to the back door.
"Thanks for the ride." She kissed my cheek and then hopped out. She'd closed the truck door and swiped her card for the door before I could say anything.
What did it mean that she wasn't getting a strong feeling about the furniture?
Was I really blocking her? If we weren't sleeping together, would she know the right thing to do?
Were her feelings for me clouding her judgment.
I didn't like the idea of that. I didn't want to be a block.
I wanted her to make the decision that she would if we weren't together.
I didn't want her to take pity on me and do something that wasn’t right for the inn.
Maybe I should withdraw my woodworking services from consideration. Our relationship was getting tangled up in this decision, and that was the last thing I wanted.
I sighed as I pulled the truck away. I didn't want to make things harder for Kennedy, but at the same time, I wasn't ready to walk away from the idea of my furniture being in the rooms at the inn. It was what I'd always dreamed of. It was hard to let go of the idea. It had been my goal for so long.
I thought we could keep our nighttime activities from inhibiting our work, but now I wasn't so sure. I had a feeling this was all going to blow up in our faces sooner rather than later.