Page 83 of Snowed Inn

“You look so . . .”

“Different?” I supply helpfully.

“Yeah.” He glances at me, fully smiling now. “Why are you showing me this?”

“Because,” I say, my voice smaller, “I want you to know I wasn’t kidding when I said I was awkward and got made fun of.” I take a deep breath. “And I know you get it.” I’m thinking about Pinewood Heights and I know he knows it.

He looks at the picture again. Then back at me. His throat bobs. “Yeah.” His voice is quiet. “I get it.”

For a moment, we just stand there. The air between us charged with something deeper than attraction.

“Thank you for showing me that,” he says, handing me back my phone.

I nod.

Then, after a beat, he clears his throat. “We should probably get back and prep for the party.”

I force a smile. “Yeah.”

“Big night.”

“Yep.” I let out a small breath. “And El will be there.”

I take a step but his hand on my sleeve stops me. I turn and he meets my eyes. “Maria?”

“Yeah?”

“You were cute even with the braces.”

Chapter 30

On the ride back to the inn, I’m basically a one-woman brainstorm, rattling off idea after idea for the Mockingbird. Drink menus, lighting, playlists, mood boards—I’m talking a mile a minute and I don’t even care. I haven’t felt this lit up about something in ages. My brain’s firing on all cylinders, and if I don’t say everything out loud right now, I might explode—or forget half of it.

“As for your social media accounts, make sure you post regularly. Remember, one post at the same time each week is better than ten posts in one day and then nothing. But if I were you I’d aim for at least one post a day.”

Jesse frowns. “There’s nothing to post.”

I shake my head at him like he’s just a baby. Then I reach out and pat his cheek. “You’re so wrong.”

He goes still, giving me a sharp sidelong look. “Fine, then what do I post?”

I shift in my seat, already warming to my new topic. “Show progress. Give teasers. Let people feel like they’re part of the journey.”

This time he straightens a little. “Like the construction?”

“Yes! It’s perfect. You can build buzz by showing the renovation process on social media. People love watching hot guys renovate.”

“Excuse me?” There’s that look again. The same one he gave me when I mentioned his six-pack.

I pull up my shoulder to touch my cheek. “You heard me.”

His lips slant in a smile. “If you say so.”

“I do say so. And once the opening date is firm, if I were you, I’d have a massive party. Make it an event. Invite everyone in the world. Push it on social media. All around town. In the city, everywhere.”

He chuckles. “Everywhere?”

“Everywhere,” I confirm. “Ask Charlotte to post about it on Pumpkin’s account too. It’ll help.”