“Chef will be out in a moment,” Dorothy said as she zipped by our table.
“Oh, good,” I smiled at Evie. “He’ll have great info for you.”
“What do I ask him? What if he?—”
I reached across the table, resting my hand on Evie’s wrist. “Remember who ran that hellhole? You’re a boss. You’ve been ready for this for a long time.”
“Thanks.”
It was barely a minute before the door burst open, and Simon came out holding six plates. I was impressed with his balance as he moved through the tables like a dancer. For a big guy, Simon had moves, and as he reached us, the remaining plates slid down his arm onto the table before he grabbed a seat.
“I hear somebody’s starting a business.” He poked the plate closer to Evie. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll do the talking.”
I didn’t need encouragement. The breakfast sandwich had been the right call. I’d thank Dorothy before entering a food coma. I barely had time to smell the herbs before I bit into the sandwich.
“Here’s the good news. You’d be the only bed-and-breakfast in all of Firefly. I don’t even think Merryville has one. You’ve cornered the market. That’s the easy part. The trick will be maintaining occupancy during slow times.”
I’d compare this sandwich to sex. Amazing. Messy. Delicious. I had barely started on this one, and I already plotted the next time I ordered. I’m pretty sure whatever he put… oh, I tasted the bacon. Cue the orgasm. I was about to melt into a puddle on the floor. They both eyed me as I let out a slight moan.
“Keep talking,” I muttered between chews.
“I only do special event dinners because I wouldn’t have enough customers for it. Firefly is a brunch town. Figure out your high and low seasons, and then, in the low, come up with strategies to hit those minimums.”
I mostly understood. Evie, on the other hand, nodded along in agreement. I hoped whatever he said instilled confidence. While they talked, I’d just drown myself in the sticky goodness of my sandwich.
The front door chimed, and to my delight, Bobby stood at the front of the restaurant, scouring for an empty table. Without thinking, I waved at him, gesturing for him to join us.
Bobby pulled up a seat, and Evie and Simon gave him a wave before they continued talking about partnerships and reaching the broader community. It turned technical. It’d be another minute before their business talk went over my head.
“Are they talking about the bed-and-breakfast?” Bobby asked in a low whisper.
I nodded, swallowing. “Yup. Speaking of, do you think you could come over and help us price out some work?”
“What are you thinking?”
“We have a massive attic, and it’d be good to have extra rooms to rent out.”
“Don’t just think of the Inn,” Simon added. “There are always other opportunities.”
Bobby nodded. “Sure. It might not be cheap, but if you guys help, we might be able to drop the price.”
“How do you mean?” asked Evie.
My raising a hammer would only end in disaster. I could help paint; at least, that was in my skill set. “I’m sure you’re super busy, but?—”
Bobby stole a hash brown off my plate. “It’s what neighbors do.”
Simon chuckled, pulling me back into their conversation. “I’ve started doing cooking classes online. It started with me teaching Jason how to cook, and the internet loved it. It’s become our fun evening activity.”
“Do you want just rooms, or thinking of plumbing as well?”
“We could feature all the small-town things that happen here.” Evie said, getting more excited with every word. “Selling Firefly’s small-town charm wouldn’t be hard.”
“Suites would be great,” I said.
Bobby and Simon grew silent before eyeing one another. What mischief went through their heads as both grinned. The boyfriends were up to no good. I could sense it.
“Are you talking about Valhalla?” Gladys to the rescue. She and Gloria had purses in hand, stopping by our table before they exited. Before anybody could answer, she continued. “I have some bed frames you’d love. Oh, and armoires, they’d be perfect for a small bed-and-breakfast. Consider it a fair exchange for all the treasures you gave me.”
