Oh. My. Word.
As Matt disappeared through the sliding door at the back of the B&B, Vienna tried to jump-start her balking lungs.
What had just happened here?
One minute she and Matt were talking about business, the next her heart was sputtering as she watched the very tantalizing lips of a man who was asking for her professional help.
A very married man.
How in the world could she be attracted to someone who was already taken? That wasn’t her style.
And in light of his almost panicked escape when the doorbell rang, he’d noticed her inappropriate reaction. Who knew what sort of look she’d had on her face in those few, charged moments?
Warmth spread across her cheeks, and she picked up her notebook. Fanned her face.
She had to get a handle on her wayward emotions before he returned. Behave in a businesslike manner.
Heck, maybe she even owed him an apology for her indiscretion.
But how could she bring up the subject without further embarrassing them both?
Could she pretend it had never happened? Compose herself and behave with proper decorum for the rest of this visit?
It was worth a try.
The door slid back open, and Matt reappeared, followed by a familiar man who was two or three inches shorter than Kay’s brother.
She did a double take.
The guy from the wharf was Matt’s potential contractor? The one who’d been deep in conversation with a woman at an adjacent bench? The one who’d sounded like he was in trouble of some sort?
As Matt introduced them, she stood and shook the man’s hand. He gave no indication he recognized her, but that wasn’t surprising. He and the woman had seemed insulated in misery that day. Oblivious to their surroundings.
“Vienna is assisting with marketing for a relaunch of the B&B.” However flummoxed Matt may have been by those few incendiary seconds before the doorbell rang, his even tone suggested he’d recovered his equilibrium. Lucky him. “I asked her to sit in on our meeting and join us on our walk-through. Shall we start with the tour to give you a feel for the scope of work?”
Andrew hesitated, shoulders stiffening as he clenched his fingers. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to fill you in on my background first. There’s a reason I’m looking for work with an ad on a community bulletin board, and if you’re not comfortable with my situation, it would be best for both of us to know that up front.”
Vienna sent Matt a quick glance.
Other than a slight elevation of his eyebrows, he gave no indication he was surprised by the man’s unexpected request.
“No problem. Please, have a seat.” He motioned to the patio table.
Once they all claimed chairs, Andrew folded his hands on top of his clipboard. “Based on what you told me about the job, I believe I’m capable of handling everything that has to be done. I can confirm that after the walk-through. The biggest issue, aside from what I’m about to tell you, may be the timetable.”
“It’s possible we can make it work, depending on your assessment of the length of the job after you review the scope of work.”
He nodded. “You didn’t ask about my experience on the phone, but I’ve worked in construction for more than a decade. I was with a large outfit in Portland for four years, then started my own business, which was very successful.”
Vienna studied him.
So far his story wasn’t matching the scene she’d witnessed on the wharf.
“I take it that changed?” Matt voiced the very question running through her mind.
“Yes.” A bead of sweat popped out on Andrew’s forehead. “As we won more and more bids, I expanded our crew. In the beginning, I not only worked in the field but handled all of the office duties. Eventually that got to be too much, so my wife took over the paperwork and bids. Three years ago, we also hired a business manager to handle finances—invoicing customers, paying bills, payroll. I was acquainted with him from high school, and he had a solid resume. That’s when our trouble began, though we didn’t know it at the time.”
As the man swallowed and fell silent, parallel grooves dented Matt’s brow. “If you’d rather not continue, please don’t feel—”
“No. I believe in being honest. If you hire me, I want it to be with full knowledge of my background.” His knuckles whitened, and a muscle in his cheek ticced. “To cut to the chase, a few months ago we discovered he’d embezzled almost a million dollars.”
Vienna sucked in a breath.
No wonder he and the woman who must be his wife had been dejected on the wharf.
And his story provided a heaping dose of perspective. She may have lost her job, but her life hadn’t been ruined.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Compassion softened Matt’s features. “Has he been prosecuted?”
“Yes, but the money is gone and we weren’t insured against that type of loss. So my wife and I liquidated all of our business assets and most of our personal property, including our house, to pay our suppliers and keep part of our crew on long enough to finish the jobs that were underway. We believe in honoring our commitments.”
“How did you end up here?” Matt rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepled his fingers, giving the man his full attention.
“After the dust settled, we put our few remaining belongings into storage in Portland, borrowed a friend’s camping equipment, and drove south for some breathing space. We’ve been wandering for the past three weeks while we try to figure out what to do next, but we’re getting low on cash. It was my wife’s idea to post the ad in the bookstore. To be honest, I never thought anything would come of it.”
“Your timing was impeccable for me. Almost providential.”
“That’s what my wife said.” The corners of Andrew’s mouth lifted for a microsecond before flattening out again as he motioned toward his clipboard. “I put together a list of references for jobs we did in Portland, but if my company history is a deal-breaker, I won’t waste any more of your time.”
A few seconds ticked by as Matt regarded him.
“I’ll tell you what. Keep the references handy. If you’re interested in the job after the walk-through and we can agree on a timeframe, I’ll check references before you work up a bid. Sound fair?”
A tiny bit of the tension in the man’s features eased. “More than.”
“Let’s move on to the tour, then. Vienna, feel free to jump in and ask any questions you have as we make a circuit.”
“I will.” She picked up her notebook and followed along as the men talked paint and drywall cracks and hardware and missing shingles and a host of other problems. All of which would have to be addressed to realize the full potential of the property.
But she also focused on the softer items that were no less important to guests. While Matt and Andrew examined a warped window frame in one of the bedrooms, she zeroed in on worn spots in the upholstery, toiletries in the bathroom, towels, bedding, and decorating, scribbling copious notes.
Forty-five minutes later, after a full circuit inside and out, she’d filled several pages.
This was not a small job.
But tackling it could be an interesting challenge. More satisfying in many ways than being on the acquisitions team in her prior position, where every decision had to be consensus based and often took forever. Here, only Matt or Kay would have to sign off on ideas, meaning they could be implemented much faster.
It would be fun to get the project rolling before she left town to go wherever her next job took her. And that had to be soon. Taking two or three weeks to regroup was fine. A longer gap might be off-putting to potential employers, no matter what Mom thought.
They finished their tour in the foyer, where Matt asked Andrew for a topline assessment.
“I can handle all the repairs we discussed.” He tucked his clipboard under his arm. “Best case, I’d estimate it will take me five to six weeks to complete the work, depending on availability of materials. I can call suppliers as I prepare a bid and give you a firmer completion date in a few days. If you want me to take that step.”
An almost palpable tension radiated from the man as he waited for Matt’s verdict, and Vienna’s heart contracted in sympathy.
What must it be like to be in such dire need of work?
Hopefully she’d never find out firsthand.
But you had to admire a man who refused to sugarcoat or cover up his past to win a desperately needed job. Who’d offered absolute honesty and candor. That should count for something. Did count with her. If she was making the decision, she’d proceed in a heartbeat.
Matt’s next comment confirmed their conclusions were in sync.
“I’d like to go ahead and contact a couple of your references. If I get positive reports, we’ll proceed. Bear in mind that anything you can do to shorten the job without sacrificing quality would be helpful.”
Andrew exhaled, pulled out the list of customers he’d compiled, and handed it over. “Thank you for this opportunity. If it’s okay, I’ll go through again and take measurements while I’m here.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be on the terrace when you finish. Vienna, would you like to join me?”
Yes, she would.
But no way could she sit alone again out there with him, where a lingering bolt of electricity might zap her. At least not until she processed the earlier unsettling interlude and figured out how to deal with it going forward.
“Actually, I should be leaving.” To emphasize that, she pulled out her keys. “I want to dig into my research and sort through the notes I took during the tour.”
He didn’t try to deter her. On the contrary. An emotion that resembled relief washed across his face.
“I’ll walk you out.” He crossed to the front door and pulled it open.
It would be better if they said goodbye in the foyer. But left with no choice, she sidled past him and stepped out, trying to ignore the musky scent of aftershave that tickled her nose. A vast improvement over the pungent smells permeating this spot during her previous visit.
He closed the door behind him and joined her under the covered entranceway. “What do you think?”
“About the condition of the B&B or Andrew?”
“Both.”
“I’d be inclined to give Andrew a chance, if his references pan out and you can agree on a schedule.” She relayed her encounter with him and his wife on the wharf. “I think they’re in a tough spot. It’s one thing to lose your job, like I did, in a corporate reorg. It’s another to have your business wiped out by treachery from someone you trusted. But he went above and beyond to make it right. Most people would have filed bankruptcy and let clients with in-progress jobs fend for themselves.”
Matt’s forehead pleated. “I agree with you about Andrew. And I’m sorry about your job. I didn’t realize you’d been let go.”
Vision misting at his caring tone, she gave a stiff shrug. “It happens. I’ll admit I never expected to be a corporate casualty after all the hours I worked and everything I sacrificed for the company. But I was, and that was a wake-up call. One I probably needed, as I’m sure my mom would agree. She always thought I worked too hard.”
“You did mention earlier that Sunday work wasn’t unusual for you. No day of rest in your schedule?”
“On occasion. But I expect everyone works a Sunday now and then.” If not every Sunday, like she had. “Don’t you?”
“Only in emergencies.”
Vienna gave him a wry smile. “People have different definitions of what constitutes an emergency.”
“In my case, it was a life at stake.”
She digested that piece of news. “Are you a doctor?”
“Veterinarian.” His mouth flexed. “And in many cases, my animal patients are beloved, faithful companions that often provide their owners with more comfort than human friends or relatives do. So . . .” He swept a hand over the B&B and guided the conversation back to business. “What do you think about this place?”
She forced herself to shift gears. “All the cosmetic work you and Andrew discussed is essential. From there, it depends on your sister’s vision for the place. There’s a big difference between a mid-range, casual B&B and a high-end luxury property that generates top dollar. This has the potential to be the latter, if she wants to go that direction and feels confident she can pull it off. Everything from amenities to service to food would have to be first-class.”
“Define top dollar.”
“For a location like this, more than you may think.” She threw out a number that would probably send a shockwave through him. But she also added a caveat. “That’s assuming a major redo. The décor is dated, and much of it should be upgraded. I would recommend investing in premium-quality linens too, like plusher towels and higher-thread-count sheets. Indulgent toiletries would also be a selling point. Names like Oscar de la Renta, Ferragamo, Hermès.”
He gave her a blank look. “You lost me back on thread count.”
“Sorry.” She flashed him a smile. “I didn’t mean to overwhelm you. Why don’t you worry about getting the structural repairs going and let me focus on the branding side? But first your sister should weigh in on what sort of image she wants for the place. There’s more money in a high-end operation, but not everyone has the skill set to deal with a demanding clientele. Once she gives us direction, I’ll work up some ideas.”
Faint creases scored his brow, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not expecting you to invest hours on this project for free, Vienna. If this is going to turn into a true consulting gig, I want to talk to Kay about compensating you.”
She waved that aside. “Putting together a few preliminary recommendations is no big deal. If my role expands beyond that, we can regroup. For now, I’m happy to help out. Let me know what Kay says on the image question, and then I’ll dive in. I can give you a call Tuesday or Wednesday and let you know where I am.”
“That works. And thank you for coming out today.”
“It was my pleasure. I hope you and Andrew can reach an agreement on timing.” With a wave, she pivoted and strode to her car.
He waited until she was pulling out to lift a hand in farewell, then retreated inside.
As she drove down the gravel drive, she lowered her window and drew in a lungful of the crisp sea air.
And what an intriguing man.
Matt Quinn seemed like one of the good guys. After all, how many people would invest such a significant amount of time and effort to help a sibling?
No wonder some woman had nabbed him.
Except . . . where was his wife?
Vienna hung a right on Starfish Pier Road and tooled back toward 101.
Perhaps she had a demanding career back in San Francisco that didn’t allow her to get away for the extended stay Matt had planned.
But whatever the explanation, the question was irrelevant. Matt Quinn was off limits. The surge of electricity on the terrace had been a one-sided aberration, and it would not happen again.
Period.
Besides, even if he was available, they were both temporary residents of Hope Harbor. Ships passing in the night—or, in this case, the fog. Getting involved with anyone here could mess up her plans for the future, restrict her options and opportunities. The executive-level career she wanted was far away from the quiet seaside town Mom now called home.
At the intersection, she paused, checked both directions to verify the road was clear, and pulled onto the highway. While she accelerated north, she put her cell on hands-free and rang her mom. If she didn’t report in, as she’d promised to do when they parted after breakfast, Mom would call her. She’d seemed inordinately captivated by the Beachview B&B project.
“Hello, sweet girl. How was your meeting?”
“Interesting. Do you have a minute to talk, or are you busy with customers?”
“It’s quiet here at the moment. I’m working on a necklace in my jewelry corner. Are you going to be able to help Matt and Kay with the B&B?”
“I offered to put a few ideas and recommendations together, but the place needs a massive makeover.”
“You could always stay longer, spearhead the effort for them. With all your experience, I bet turning that place around would be a piece of cake for you.”
“I have to find a real job, Mom.”
“That would be a real job.”
“Not on a resume.”
“Why not? A consulting gig is a consulting gig. And saving a floundering B&B would be a feather in your cap. Plus, you could use the project to buy yourself more time here. Turn an extended visit into a career asset instead of a liability.”
Huh.
She pursed her lips as a diaphanous tendril of fog descended and executed a sinuous dance around her car.
Her mom’s idea wasn’t half bad. A success story with the B&B would indicate she was a self-starter with excellent organizational and marketing skills.
That could be an impressive credential for her resume.
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”
As Mom spoke, she peered at the pavement, which was playing hide-and-seek as more wisps of fog joined in the dance. “Yes. Matt actually mentioned paying me to consult, but I got the impression finances are tight.”
“Do it for free.”
“I guess I could offer that.” It wasn’t like she had to tell anyone she’d provided her services gratis. “But I’m not certain he’d go for it.”
“You could always suggest the barter idea again that I threw out to him in the shop.”
No, she couldn’t.
Staying alone on the same premises as a married man would be pushing the bounds of propriety, however innocent the arrangement might be.
“I don’t think that would work, Mom.”
“Why not? You’re not still worried about your safety, are you?”
“No.” Not her physical safety, anyway. The pleasant, conscientious, churchgoing man who’d greeted her at the door had come across as eminently trustworthy.
It was her heart she couldn’t trust, after the incident on the terrace.
But she couldn’t admit that to Mom.
“Then what’s the problem?”
She’d have to go with propriety, despite the fact that that excuse wouldn’t cut it with Bev Price, who’d always been a march-to-the-beat-of-her-own-drummer kind of woman. While she’d mellowed in some ways, her refusal to let decorum dictate her decisions hadn’t likely changed.
“I’m not certain it would be appropriate to stay on the property alone with a married man. He may feel the same way. That could explain why he didn’t latch onto your idea.”
A beat of silence ticked by.
“Did he tell you he was married?”
“He mentioned a wife.”
“That’s strange. While Kay and I were waiting for our orders at The Perfect Blend a few weeks ago, she told me he was a widower. I’m sure if he’d been planning to remarry in the immediate future she’d have said so, as long as we were on the subject.”
Vienna squinted at the center lane marking as it appeared and disappeared in the mist, throwing off her sense of direction.
That put a different spin on a whole lot of things.
“His marital status aside, it may not be wise to stay there.” For a ton of reasons.
“But consider the convenience factor.”
Not to mention safety. It was getting harder and harder to see the road.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Well, if I were you, I’d . . . Whoops. Zipping the lips right now. I’m done pushing and prodding. It’s your life and your decision. Are we still on for cinnamon rolls at Sweet Dreams tomorrow morning?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“What’s on your agenda for the rest of the afternoon?”
“I’m going to noodle on ideas for the B&B.”
“Could be fun. Let me know how it goes.”
They rang off, and Vienna made a course correction as the car drifted a tad too close to the shoulder.
Enough with the fog.
Maybe she’d follow up with the Gull Motel tomorrow, get a best-guess estimate on when a room might be available. Or suck it up and give Mom’s place a try.
Or broach the barter idea with Matt.
A tingle rippled through her at the thought of sharing the same roof with him.
But of course she had no intention of exploring the sizzle of attraction that had blindsided her on the terrace. This was all about practicalities. Commuting in pea soup wasn’t fun, and adding to her woes with a rental car accident would be the pits. It would also be much easier to work on ideas for the inn if she was living on-site.
The fact that the temporary innkeeper was hot, charming, and available had nothing to do with her sudden willingness to consider that option.
Nothing at all.
And she’d keep repeating that mantra until she convinced herself it was true.