Page 5 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
Beau threw an arm around my shoulders in a sideways hug as we strolled across the rectangular parking lot toward room seven. “This whole place is looking great.”
“I was just thinking that earlier. It’s really coming together.” I smiled as I looked around at the front of the two-story, L-shaped building.
It was hardly recognizable from the motel I’d purchased. The once-faded yellow brick was now a crisp white. The posts that held up the second level’s balcony had all been stripped, sanded and stained a natural tan. Their bases had been faced with a beautiful gray-and-brown rock.
I’d even spent the money to replace the hollow-core white doors with solid wooden ones stained to match the posts. With the black shutters around all of the rooms’ windows, the iron railings running along the balcony and the fancy number plates I’d hung outside the fourteen rooms, my motel was far from the sterile and plain building it had once been.
“So what’s on your list for the weekend?” Beau asked, knowing that my task list was never short.
“I was thinking about getting a head start on summer prep. The flower bed around the sign needs fresh potting soil, and I’m going to drag the flowerpots out from the storage shed. I’m hoping to bust out room cleaning and laundry so I can get started on painting in here.” I slid the key into room seven and pushed open the door. The dingy smell that filled my nose would soon be a thing of the past.
I had three weeks to get this room finished before I needed it for customer reservations. With Beau’s help, I had already remodeled the bathroom, but there was still a lot of work to finish the bedroom. Paint. Carpet. Trim. Furniture. Décor. It was going to be a push to finish it all, but I had come to rely upon my aggressive to-do lists.
Idle time wasn’t good for my mental health.
Beau stepped past me and went straight for the bathroom at the back of the room, standing in the doorway to gaze at my latest masterpiece.
“Most amazing bathroom floor ever?”
He chuckled. “Damn straight.”
I had found this gorgeous artisan tile with an intricate pattern of charcoal geometric arcs on a white background. Eight tiles put together created two different patterns that gave the bathroom floors character and class. As I took it in, I stood a little taller.
“I’m proud of you, Maze.”
“Me too. But I wouldn’t have gotten this far without all your help.”
Even though I’d done this bathroom floor myself, Beau had spent countless hours helping to remodel other parts of the building. All the work he’d done had saved me thousands of dollars. I used to pay him with free dinners, but now that he had Sabrina cooking for him, I was going to
have to think of another way to thank him for his work.
“I’m always happy to pitch in,” he said. “Especially if you keep the cookie plate in the lobby full.”
“I can do that.” Cookies for construction. I’d bake a dozen of his favorite tonight.
I wound my arms around his waist for another hug. I loved both my brothers, but Beau had always been more than just an older sibling. He was my hero, and I was beyond happy he had found Sabrina. She was a wonderful friend, aunt and new member of our family, but more importantly, she made Beau happier than he’d ever been.
The ding of his smart watch interrupted our moment and I tipped my head back to give him a grin. “Tux time.”
He groaned and let me go, running a hand through his dark hair. “I probably shouldn’t miss this appointment.”
“Probably not.” I stepped behind him and planted both hands on his back, then just like I’d done as a kid, I tried to push him around. Using all of my might, I pushed hard, digging my feet into the ground. As per usual, he started laughing but didn’t budge.
“Come. On.” I grunted and pushed even harder but barely rocked him forward on his feet.
“Give up yet?” he teased.
“Never!” I repositioned my feet and gave him all my weight, holding my breath as I pushed, but still he didn’t move.
“Give up now?”
One last push with no success and I dropped my hands, panting as I straightened. “It’s like you’re made of rock.”
He grinned. “No, it’s because I’m a giant.”
I laughed as I walked past him out the door. Coby and Beau had a long-standing game of playing giants. If they were together, Coby was always riding on Beau’s shoulders, pretending to be a giant as they stomped Lego houses to smithereens or crashed cars off pretend roads.
After locking up the room, I walked Beau to his massive green truck. “Well, drive safe.”
