Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance by Jean Oram
Authors: Jean Oram
Tags: Chick lit, Romance, Contemporary Romance, romance series, best friend romance, Blueberry Springs
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glanced up from his phone. "You have to go with Apple Green."
"Sorry?"
"Our décor is dictated for consistency and brand recognition. The film strip banner is mandatory, as are the movie posters."
"Of course," she said quickly. "I'm sure that would really perk up the place and give it a inviting vibe."
"But not too inviting. You want as much turnover as possible, especially in a small space. You don't want people hanging out if they aren't spending money. Get them to empty their wallet and leave. That's the only way a place this small will survive."
"Yes. Right." She nodded, acting as though she knew all this. God, she was in over her head. She didn't think like a cold-hearted businesswoman. She wanted people to come into her restaurant and use her bathroom even if they weren't customers. She wanted people to sit around and drink coffee all afternoon. She didn't want to hustle anyone out the door. Ever.
She was going to have to adjust so many of her habits and ideas in order to fit into the business world.
"So this is it?" He took a brief look, barely moving from his spot by the door. His attention moved back to his phone.
"It is. This wall can come out to create more dining space." She slapped a half wall that cut through the back portion of the room, leaving a dusty handprint. Ugh. She surreptitiously dusted her hands, trying to remind herself not to touch anything else, including her lovely dry-clean-only skirt.
"It's a bit tight but it might do." He stepped to the door.
She met him on the sidewalk, feeling as though he was slipping away. "There's another space that's bigger, although it is at the end of the street. And even though this place is a bit tight, I think it's a better location. Did you want measurements or pictures before I lock up?" She held the door open, in case he wanted to step through it again.
He shook his head and held up his phone. "I've got to skedaddle, but it was a pleasure meeting you." He stepped closer and she could smell his sweet coffee breath warm her cheek. He gave her upper arm a squeeze, his look apologetic. "I'm sorry I wasn't more attentive. I'll look over your application and get back to you within a week."
She watched him peel away in his shiny SUV, feeling as though she'd just lost the winning catch in the middle of a high-stakes fishing derby.
* * *
She let out a defeated sigh as the SUV rounded the corner at the end of Main Street and vanished from sight.
Who had she been trying to kid? Of course she'd lost Seth. She'd dressed up like a businesswoman and thrown some lingo around, but she had to be pretty darn stupid to think all that would fool a true businessman—especially one who had nurtured his successful chain from the ground up. He wouldn't risk his brand and income on some small town girl playing dress-up and hoping to find herself swimming in the big leagues.
The air beside her changed, bringing with it a hint of motor oil and peppermint. Frankie.
"Hey," she said, facing him. Dust from the street blew up and she turned away, shutting her eyes against the grit. She sighed and tried to boost her shoulders up from their slumped position. Maybe when the street cleaners had brushed away the grime and debris from the long winter, she wouldn't feel that oppressing weight pushing her flat against the world and begging her to change her life. Maybe then, she could be happy just the way she was.
"Ran off, huh? I figured he was too slick for us," Frankie said, arms crossed over his chest. He rocked back on his heels and glared in the direction the SUV had gone, as if he had super vision and could still see the man, despite the buildings and distance between them.
"You may as well give in and let Mary Alice open a bingo parlor in your building. I'm pretty sure I won't be needing it." She sighed and began walking toward Benny's Big Burger so she could change into her hideous uniform. If there was ever a fire in the place, she'd become shrink-wrapped in
"Sorry?"
"Our décor is dictated for consistency and brand recognition. The film strip banner is mandatory, as are the movie posters."
"Of course," she said quickly. "I'm sure that would really perk up the place and give it a inviting vibe."
"But not too inviting. You want as much turnover as possible, especially in a small space. You don't want people hanging out if they aren't spending money. Get them to empty their wallet and leave. That's the only way a place this small will survive."
"Yes. Right." She nodded, acting as though she knew all this. God, she was in over her head. She didn't think like a cold-hearted businesswoman. She wanted people to come into her restaurant and use her bathroom even if they weren't customers. She wanted people to sit around and drink coffee all afternoon. She didn't want to hustle anyone out the door. Ever.
She was going to have to adjust so many of her habits and ideas in order to fit into the business world.
"So this is it?" He took a brief look, barely moving from his spot by the door. His attention moved back to his phone.
"It is. This wall can come out to create more dining space." She slapped a half wall that cut through the back portion of the room, leaving a dusty handprint. Ugh. She surreptitiously dusted her hands, trying to remind herself not to touch anything else, including her lovely dry-clean-only skirt.
"It's a bit tight but it might do." He stepped to the door.
She met him on the sidewalk, feeling as though he was slipping away. "There's another space that's bigger, although it is at the end of the street. And even though this place is a bit tight, I think it's a better location. Did you want measurements or pictures before I lock up?" She held the door open, in case he wanted to step through it again.
He shook his head and held up his phone. "I've got to skedaddle, but it was a pleasure meeting you." He stepped closer and she could smell his sweet coffee breath warm her cheek. He gave her upper arm a squeeze, his look apologetic. "I'm sorry I wasn't more attentive. I'll look over your application and get back to you within a week."
She watched him peel away in his shiny SUV, feeling as though she'd just lost the winning catch in the middle of a high-stakes fishing derby.
* * *
She let out a defeated sigh as the SUV rounded the corner at the end of Main Street and vanished from sight.
Who had she been trying to kid? Of course she'd lost Seth. She'd dressed up like a businesswoman and thrown some lingo around, but she had to be pretty darn stupid to think all that would fool a true businessman—especially one who had nurtured his successful chain from the ground up. He wouldn't risk his brand and income on some small town girl playing dress-up and hoping to find herself swimming in the big leagues.
The air beside her changed, bringing with it a hint of motor oil and peppermint. Frankie.
"Hey," she said, facing him. Dust from the street blew up and she turned away, shutting her eyes against the grit. She sighed and tried to boost her shoulders up from their slumped position. Maybe when the street cleaners had brushed away the grime and debris from the long winter, she wouldn't feel that oppressing weight pushing her flat against the world and begging her to change her life. Maybe then, she could be happy just the way she was.
"Ran off, huh? I figured he was too slick for us," Frankie said, arms crossed over his chest. He rocked back on his heels and glared in the direction the SUV had gone, as if he had super vision and could still see the man, despite the buildings and distance between them.
"You may as well give in and let Mary Alice open a bingo parlor in your building. I'm pretty sure I won't be needing it." She sighed and began walking toward Benny's Big Burger so she could change into her hideous uniform. If there was ever a fire in the place, she'd become shrink-wrapped in
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