Page 53 of That Friendzone Feeling
So, yeah,I’mthe only fool with soggy feet and mud soaking up my jeans, whileMr. andMrs.L.L.Beanhere stride around like the perfect outdoorsy twosome.
“I’mglad you like it already,” she says. “Andyou’ve barely seen anything yet.”
WebroughtChasestraight to the big selling point—the view from the main restaurant and hotel.
Emilypulls her wool coat tight around her. “Let’sget out of the windand take a look inside.”
Thesun might be shining this morning, but it’s breezy out here on the point.I’mokay in my orange windbreaker, which isn’t even remotely giving me flashbacks to unzipping it offEmilylast night.
Shepoints at the concrete shell of the hotel building behind us. “Wecan at least show you how big the rooms are and what the views are like.”
“Great!”Chasesays, rubbing his hands together. “Thiswhole place has me fired up.”
Andit’s not the only thing, judging by the way he’s been looking atEmilyand flirting with her since he got here.Iregretted taking the front seat ofJoe’scab after we pickedChaseup at the airport, leaving the two of them to cozily chat in the back.
Emdoes know how to sell and schmooze, so maybe she was just humoring him.Shewas very convincing, though.
“Haveyou been to this area before,Chase?”Iask as we step inside the building with its unfinished walls, plywood floor, and cables dangling from holes in the walls and ceiling where the power points and lights will be.
Emilyundoes her coat and pushes the flyaway strands of hair that have blown from her ponytail behind her ears.
“JusttoMartha'sVineyard,”Chasesays. “MyfriendEdenBloomhas a house there and invites a bunch of us out forChristmasevery year.”
Emilygasps. “You’regood friends withEdenBloom?”Sheclutches her hand to her soft blue-sweatered chest. “Wow.She’sone of my favorite singers.Youcan’t beat a good female empowerment message in music.”
“Isthat what you see inTheDreamtownBoystoo?”Theteasing comment flies from my mouth before my brain remembersI’min a business meeting.
Emilyshoots me a barbed look.
“Oh,TheDreamtownBoysare hilarious,”Chasesays with his dazzling white smile. “IknowPax, the lead singer, pretty well.Hecould have a second career as a stand-up when he’s done with music.”Helooks at me and rolls his eyes. “Ifyou can callTheDreamtownBoysmusic.”
“Oh, you don’t know what can’t be called music until you’ve heardEmilysing,”Isay, making it clearIknow more about her quirks than he does. “Thatis the most un-music-like thing you’ve ever heard.”
Chasechuckles at my joke.
“Thankyou,Walker,”Emilysays, the barbs in her eyes turning to daggers.
“Anyway.”Shegestures to the room, bringing things back on topic and back toChase. “Likeyou saw in the renderings, the curved reception desk will be over there, and there’ll be a lounge area with comfy sofas and chairs over by the giant window.Andthe walls will have tongue and groove halfway up, in keeping with theCapeCodstyle.”
“Loveit already,”Chasesays.
Ineed to focus on how well this is going, how our company is on the brink of disaster, and this is the man who could pull us back from the edge.ButallIcan think about is whetherEmilymight like him as much as he obviously likes her.
“Let’sgo up to the fifth floor,” she says. “Andyou can see the one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view from the penthouse suite.”
“Theelevators aren’t working yet.”Ipoint at three holes in the wall where they will be. “We’llhave to take the stairs.”
“Noproblem.”ChasetouchesEmilyon the arm. “Youcan lead the way.”
Hewants her to go up first only so he’ll have her ass in his face.Thankfully, her coat covers it.Because, byGod, it always looks spectacular in those jeans.
Afteralmost an hour of touring the site and discussing projected occupancy rates, gross operating profits and the like,Chasecasts his eyes around the brewing facility.Emilycloses the door behind us and shuts out the wind.
Chase’sperfectly groomed eyebrows knit together. “Thisis some valuable real estate you have here.Doyou really think the best use of it is to brew beer?”Helooks up at the wood-beamed ceiling. “Youcould make some really cool rooms in this space that would bring in money every day.”
Emily’seyes meet mine, a flash of concern behind them.
Well, this is my area, soIguessIneed to try to save this one. “It’llbe just a small brewery, mainly for show.”Imove to the center of the empty building that’s awaiting delivery of all the equipment. “It’llbe for tours and beer-making demonstrations.Andwe’ll hold tastings and classes in here too.”
