Cougar in Texas (Rugged and Risque 3)

“This isn’t just a home,” she told them.

Standing, Caleb rested an arm on the railing as he continued to eye her with intrigue in his sky-blue eyes. “What do you mean?”

“It would accommodate a large family, yes. Not to mention an extended family. But it’s so much grander than that. Wilder isn’t known for ostentatious settings or ancestral estates. But that’s not to say a legacy wasn’t in mind when the house was built.”

Sam chuckled. “Well, Caleb, you’ve gone and created quite the conundrum. It’s not as though any of our extended family will be hunkering down with us. And we’re both single. Did you intend to start an orphanage?”

With a snicker, Caleb said, “Think I’ll have my hands full with twenty horses. But she’s right. I didn’t give any thought to the house when I purchased the property. It’s sittin’ here, ready to be moved into, but seriously? The two of us occupying the whole damn thing, Sam? We might bump into each other in a hallway once a week, if that.”

“Or,” Sam said, “maybe the woman with the wheels churning in her brain has another idea in mind for this place.”

Reese nodded, her pulse suddenly racing. “Indeed.” She pinned Caleb with a pointed look and repeated, “This isn’t a house. It’s an inn.”

“Huh?” Caleb gaped.

“Stay with me boys,” she said in an exuberant tone as ideas came at her from all mental directions. “Picture round tables with umbrellas on the deck. A large grill in the corner, with steaks and burgers cooking, their scent wafting on the breeze. More tables and chairs on the lawn.” She turned toward the lake. “Further down, a white arch or maybe even an elegant gazebo, trimmed with vines and fresh flowers for a wedding ceremony. Sitting regally on the grass with the water and the distant mountain range as a backdrop.”

“You two have something to tell me?” Sam joked.

She laughed. Over her shoulder, she said, “Not our ceremony. Ginger and Ryan’s. She’s in wedding planning hell trying to turn the Elks Lodge into something beautiful and worthy of the fairytale event she’s dreamed of since Ryan proposed. Dripping that place in gold couldn’t compare to all this fresh air, beauty and grandeur. This would be the perfect setting for their wedding.”

Caleb took two steps down at a time with his wide stride and joined her on the lawn.

“I’d be more than happy to give them full run of this place, Reese. Even if I’ve got horses boarded at the time, the stables and pens are so far away, they won’t disturb anyone.”

“Lord,” she said on a sigh, “think of all the grooms—and even some brides—who’d loved to ride in on a recovered stallion or in a horse-drawn carriage. This is Texas, after all.”

His eyes squinted against the sun, or perhaps because he was trying to envision the concept she was suddenly enamored with.

Sam joined them. “She’s got a point. And if you add a dock and boats at the shoreline, you’ve got fishing expeditions for the inn’s guests.” He seemed to give the entire notion some additional thought before saying, “Speaking of the horses, the ones you’ve nursed back to good health will need exercise. Guests could walk them or ride them. I’m sure there are plenty of trails in this deserted area.”

“You’ve got twelve large rooms upstairs, Caleb,” Reese continued the scenario. “You could reduce them to ten and use the spare square footage to add private bathrooms. Blow out the wall between the dining room and the family room downstairs and make it one cavernous, yet cozy restaurant with both fireplaces and all those windows to add ambience. The foyer is huge and perfect for a lobby and reception area. And the living room is big enough to accommodate guests as a lounge, study and board game room.”

“Kitchen’s industrial sized.” Sam dropped another hint.

Caleb was silent, as though absorbing their ideas. Finally, he mumbled, “I’d just have to change from a nonprofit to a private organization. Check the zoning. Shit, I can practically smell the steaks on the grill right now.”

Reese clapped her hands together. “Think of the events you could hold here. Wilder is in desperate need of a venue such as this. And the locals will come for cocktails and dinner. Pietro’s is closed on Mondays, so you’d likely pick up that clientele. Plus visitors wanting to come for the lake activities, the hiking and the horses.”

Caleb rubbed his forehead. “Nice visuals, I’ll admit, but I don’t know the first thing about running an inn.”

Everyone fell silent. E

ndless moments ticked by until Sam ventured, “Well, Reese, wouldn’t you have an inkling, given you run a B&B?”

Her breath caught. To manage this estate? To help bring the whole operation on line from start to finish? That might be biting off more than she could chew. She had four rooms for rent at the B&B. And with the exception of Amy’s help when there’d been multiple guests at a time, she’d been able to handle the small volume. But an inn of this magnitude…?

She hedged. Caleb slid a gaze her way and asked, “Would you even consider it?”

She looked around her again, finding the entire setup grandiose and beautiful… And a blank slate. Yet…

“This would be a more extensive undertaking than I’m accustomed to. When I bought the B&B, it was already established. All I did was move in and take over management. My lawns are too small for weddings or parties, and the interior isn’t conducive for such things, either. We’re talking apples and oranges here.”

“Yeah, but you do have experience,” Sam contended. “And vision. Not to mention, you know all about customer service and attending to guests. I’ll bet you also know right down to the tiniest detail what supplies and furniture would need to be purchased. What sort of staff would have to be hired…”

“Yes, but…” Her brow furrowed and her stomach twisted with both excitement and apprehension. She stared up at Caleb. “Are you seriously considering this?”

His gaze swept over the grounds again and his jaw worked vigorously, probably in time with the thoughts running rampant through his mind. Finally he asked, “What the hell else am I going to do with a house with twelve rooms?” He let out a hearty laugh. “I mean, why not consider it?”