Pit Stop: Baby! (Crescent Cove 4)

“Who knows? And no, beyond my pops’s store, there isn’t much of a night life here.”

She blew out a breath. “No. And once the initial rush is over, people sort of just hang out in the cafe.”

“As one does.”

“I know, but look at all the space in here. What if we had a few projection screens? The one over here, and maybe next door. There’s a bunch of space to expand.” Her eyes brightened and she started to rev up with excitement. “Maybe a patio out back. I mean, it might not be feasible with second-run movies since they’re still pretty expensive. At least when I looked it up online.”

“So, you’ve looked into it?”

She looked down at our hands. “Unemployed and insomniac means lots of web browsing. But like in the summer, on a patio watching some old movies. Doesn’t have to be horror, though I bet there’s a case for them with the two schools we have on the outer edges of the lake.”

“And Halloween is making a comeback. Maybe old slasher movie nights. Do a theme?”

She leaned into me. “Yeah. And you tasted that popcorn. What if I could get Macy to whip up a recipe and we could make them in mass quantities. And Vee is a baker by trade. She makes most of the stuff in the little bakery section they have. But we also have Sugar Rush down the street. Maybe work with them and a few other places in town to use it like a sales area too.”

“You’ve really been thinking about this.” It wasn’t a question. I knew she was too smart to be working for someone. I dug my phone out of my pocket. “I saw this really cool couch on my buddy’s Facebook page.” I flicked through my feed and found his profile, then went through the pictures posted. “There it is.” I handed her the phone.

She enlarged the picture and chewed on her bottom lip. “That looks really expensive.”

“Well, Brian has a lot of money to burn. But you just so happen to know a guy who’s good with cars. Hell, there’s a half car in the junkyard at JT’s. A little buff and shine and redo the the cushions…” I felt the twinge again.

The same one I’d felt looking at the old Ford in the junkyard.

She peered up at me. “You could build that?”

I nodded. I could see the wheels spinning in her head. “You should talk to Macy about it. See how she feels.” I nodded to the menu screen full of movies. “Obviously, you have similar interests.”

“You should see the collection of horror and Grindhouse memorabilia she has hidden in with the mugs over in those cubbies.”

“I know.” I laughed. “I bought a travel mug with Michael Myers on it.”

“Good taste.” Her eyes sparkled, then dimmed almost immediately. “I probably shouldn’t. I don’t know anything about running a business.”

“How many different kinds of jobs have you had?”

She blew out a laugh. “Ran out of fingers and toes. See? That’s not a woman who should run a business.”

“Or it’s the perfect one who should. You know how to deal with people.”

“I also have a temper.”

“I know you do. Freaking hot.”

She punched my arm. “Shut up.”

“No, really, Ry. You should talk to Macy.”

“I—”

“Do your research. Make up a business plan.” I laughed at her face. “If it isn’t still interesting even after you look at it for real, then you’ll find something else to do.” I brushed my thumb over the wrinkle between her brows. “I know you will.”

“Oh, yeah with a baby on the way.”

“Some people need a time limit. You know you have a few months to figure stuff out.”

“I still need a job, Gage.”

“You want to work at another flower shop? Or at the school?”