Page 29 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

“Funny you should ask. I need your help.” She shared how she and Cade were at odds, then described the agreement they had made. “So I have two months to sell the inn myself, and I have no clue where to begin.”

Quinn was silent for a moment, and Everleigh prepared herself for another lecture about how she was making a grave mistake.

“The first thing you need to do is decide on a price. Then we can purchase signs to post outside the inn and on the major streets leading up to it. If you want, I can come over and help you take photos. Then you can list the inn on a few websites and social media.” Quinn named off a few more websites Everleigh might find helpful. “I’m off tomorrow. Would you like me to come over then?”

“Yes!” Excitement mixed with gratitude overtook Everleigh. “Thank you so much, Quinn.” She let her shoulders relax and took another sip of her coffee.

“I guess it’s not going well with Cade, huh?”

Everleigh rubbed the edge of the table. “He’s... complicated.”

“How so?”

“One minute he’s a total grouch and gives me short, one-word answers to questions—if he talks to me at all. But then last nightduring dinner, he was friendly and funny. It was the first time I’ve seen him smile. He acted interested when I talked about nursing. Plus, he’s a chef and saved the terrible dinner I attempted to make. For a moment, I thought we might be friends.” Her smile faltered. “But he completely shut down when I brought up selling the inn.”

“And that bothers you.”

Everleigh perked up again. “I think he’ll come around once we get to know each other. I can tell he cared about Alana, and that means the world to me. At the very least, I hope we can get past our disagreement.” She took a sip of her coffee.

“And if you never become friends, then just think of it this way: Soon the inn will be sold, and Cade will be out of your life forever.” Quinn tapped her finger on the table. “Now, let’s make a plan to sell the place.”

Chapter 8

“Perfect!” Quinn told Everleigh the next morning. “Now let’s get a shot of the windows overlooking the pond.”

Cade leaned against the dining room doorway and glowered while Everleigh and her friend took more photos. Everleigh had spent several hours cleaning the inn from top to bottom—vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down the woodwork—even though he didn’t think it necessary. When he’d walked through yesterday, he found her rearranging the furniture in each room before putting it all back where it had been. He felt a twinge of guilt for not offering to help her, but selling the inn had been her idea, not his. He couldn’t allow himself to encourage her when he knew Alana would never approve of this.

Cade already regretted agreeing to her advertising the inn, but he held on to Roger’s belief that it most likely wouldn’t sell without a professional Realtor’s help. Everleigh was a nurse, and real estate wasn’t anywhere near her wheelhouse.

But had he given her too much time? It was already the middle ofSeptember, and October would be here soon. Maybe he should have told her October 1 was her deadline.

“I think that’s it for the inside,” Everleigh announced. “We need to get photos of the grounds now.” She spun toward Cade, and her smile became hesitant. “I left a draft of the listing on the counter for you. Did you look at it?”

He nodded.

“Are you okay with the price?” She appeared anxious for his approval, which baffled him. Why did she care about what he thought, when she was determined to sell the inn despite his objections?

He shrugged. “Sure.” But then he stood up straight. “Ask for more, if you want,” he suggested. If she inflated the price, then for sure no one would buy it.

“The comps I ran all pointed to this price,” Quinn chimed in.

Thanks, Quinn.He nodded his head and backed out of the doorway.

But Everleigh trailed after him. “Do you have any questions or concerns, Cade?”

He speared her with a sarcastic smile. “I’m sure you’ve thought of everything, partner.”

Her smile dimmed for a fraction of a second, but it lifted again when she turned her attention back to Quinn. “Let’s go get the outside shots. The view of the bay is just stunning. Alana loved it so much.”

While Everleigh and Quinn disappeared out the back door, Cade lingered in the kitchen for a few minutes and examined the ad she’d written. He hadn’t figured on her friend being a former Realtor, but he tried to convince himself that no one would want to buy a bed-and-breakfast.

But as Quinn and Everleigh strolled the property, the truth settled over Cade that Roger’s idea might backfire. Who was he kidding? Whowouldn’tjump at the chance to own six acres withan incredible view? This place would sell for sure, and then what would he do?

He walked out into the humid morning air. Everleigh and Quinn were standing near the bay, where Quinn held up a digital camera. He shook his head and continued to the garage, as Bryant appeared and trotted beside him, meowing.

“Hey, buddy. I promise I’ll take you with me no matter where I wind up.”

The cat meowed his approval, but Cade winced at the thought of leaving. He had no idea where he would go if the inn was sold. Sure, he’d have the money to go wherever he wanted, but he had no clue where that might be. He could buy himself a house in Coral Cove, so his parents would be close by. But what would he do for a living?

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