Page 35 of No Going Back
Branna nodded. “I’m getting used to it. Do you think they have a hardware store where you can pick up whatever you need to start working on the farmhouse?”
“I doubt it, but I’m sure we can order stuff from wherever is nearby.”
“Where do we start?”
He grinned at her. “You’re going to help?”
“Absolutely. I don’t enjoy sitting around with nothing to do. Between doing the books, scheduling staff, ordering supplies, and working the pub, I’m used to being busy.” Waves of sadness pressed in on her at the words. She’d never be back in her pub again. There was no way she could go back to Miami to all those memories. Not with Prince and his herd patrolling the streets, killing those who didn’t want to pay their extortion.
Sean’s arms wrapped around her. “It’s okay to be sad, Branna. Don’t hold it in or pretend it’s not there.”
She leaned into him. “Thanks. I loved that pub. My childhood memories are wrapped up in learning to run the business. All the ins and outs of bookkeeping, ordering, and staffing. Serving and cooking. I learned so much math from my mom that it was always an easy subject for me at school. I remember being amazed that other kids didn’t know how to apply discounts to bulk orders.”
His chuckle warmed her. “If you’re good at math, you’ll be more help than I thought.”
“Hey.” She poked his chest while she straightened. She knew he was teasing to help lighten the mood, but he would be surprised. She’d helped with the repairs and upgrades to the pub, so she knew her way around a toolbox.
“The wiring and plumbing were all updated when the previous owner tried to sell, so we don’t have to worry about that. We can work on one room at a time if you like. Where do you want to start?”
She looked back at his plans. “What do you think about starting with the other big bedroom upstairs? It’s got an attached bath as well. We could do both of those at the same time?”
He nodded. “Good idea. We’ll have to look at colors and finishings. No sense in having the house become a patchwork of different styles. The hallways should be the same up and down, with the rooms in colors that coordinate. They don’t have to be all the same if you don’t want, but sometimes that look pulls everything together.”
It was her turn to poke fun. “Looks like you’ll be more help with the decor than I thought.”
Laughing, Sean shook his head. “Like I said, smart.”
For the next few hours, they wandered the space with his tablet, debating styles and colors for everything from floors to walls to bathroom fixtures. Branna wasn’t sure the last time she’d had this much fun. “Are you sure we shouldn’t ask Troy for his input? It’s his house, after all.”
Sean shrugged. “He told me he wanted me to renovate, so I’m renovating. If he wanted input, he should have said. And there’s no way his ideas would be nearly as good as ours.”
It was going to be spectacular. Warm and homey. Cozy and friendly. Exactly like she’d want her own home one day.
“Have you thought any more about what Troy said about the Saloon here in town?”
She had. A lot. “I don’t think he was serious. He doesn’t even know me. And he didn’t say much at all, really.”
Sean raised an eyebrow. “I thought he was very serious. He runs a general store and works with the Midnight Security team at Midnight Lake. I think he wants the Saloon to be a reality, but it’s way outside his lane, and he doesn’t have any time to deal with it. We’ll have a look at it when it’s safe to go into town and see what you think. We don’t have to decide anything quickly. There’s lots of time.”
Branna’s heart filled with warmth. He’d used we as if he believed they’d be together long-term. Exactly as she hoped.
Could she stay in Vermont and run a pub? Did she want to? At the moment, that was a resounding Yes, but she didn’t want to make any decisions until they had Prince in jail.
Then she’d see if a pioneer saloon was a good place for an Irish pub.
CHAPTER 12
Back In Business
Sean rolled his eyes. “You can’t just sprout plumbing lines in the middle of the house. They have to be connected to something.”
Branna rolled her eyes right back at him. “Obviously. And figuring that out is your job. Each of the bedrooms needs to have their own bathroom. Not only for privacy for the rest of your team if Troy can talk them into coming, but for resale value. This property would make an excellent B&B in the future. If you’re ripping out walls to update things, it makes sense to do the plumbing at the same time.”
She was right, but Sean enjoyed seeing her so passionate about the building.
Ignoring his grin, she gestured at the current bedroom. “The biggest two rooms already have attached baths. These four need them as well. And we don’t want the bedrooms to be too small. Could we reconfigure everything to make three bedrooms with attached baths?”
He was still grinning when she turned back to him. Her eyes widened momentarily. “You’re messing with me. You’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”