We had two full days to get the Dune Scape into some recognizable form of motel residency. I was ready to take this Wednesday by storm.

“You’re really going to be cutting it close with all that you’ve spent on the renovations and with the utilities you have due at the end of the month.” I had gone over the numbers several times and I was confident I hadn’t missed anything. “If the Dune Scape had just a few more rooms, you’d be able to offset your costs more easily.”

Cole was staring out of the office window toward the ocean.

I had set Grayson up at the desk with a new box of crayons. He had decided he only wanted to color with blue.

“Have you thought about raising the rates?” I asked Cole. “Ten dollars here and there could really help.”

“No, my grandfather was set on not increasing prices for the college students. He said that too many people tried to take advantage of them and he could give them a place to stay at a fair price.”

Cole had been in the office with me all morning, going over the numbers I had put together for him.

I cleared my throat. “Well, your grandfather sounds like a sweet man, but he’s not here to face the reality of the bills. These are the same rates the motel had in the nineties. People wouldn’t even flinch.”

“No, Kaitlyn. I’m not raising the rates. Would you really want to pay more to stay here? Look around.” He pointed to the rows of rooms outside the window.

“It’s not that bad.” Ever since my nights were filled with Cole, I had come to love staying at the Dune Scape, but I remembered my first impression of the motel. “Well, we could at least free up two more rooms for you.”

He turned from the window. “What do you mean?”

I pulled up the listing on my phone. “I don’t know if you saw this, but it’s next door.”

Cole turned from the window, taking my phone. “This is right behind the Dunes.”

“Yes. I set an alert last night after you told me about Grayson. It showed up this morning. It has two bedrooms and a small office.”

Cole’s forehead was crinkled, and he walked toward me, taking his time with each step. This wasn’t going to go well. I had overstepped my boundaries. Shit.

He leaned down and kissed me.

Ok, that was not at all what I was expecting, but my stomach filled with butterflies.

“So, do you want to see it?” I stepped back to gauge his mood. His smile was wide and his blue eyes toyed with me.

“I think it’s a great idea.”

“Ok, since you like that one so much, I have another one for you.” I was worried my second pitch might not be so easy.

Cole was focused on the edge of my tank top. The more he stared, the heavier my breathing became. “Hey, I’m trying to help you here. Can you stop undressing me every second with your eyes?” I looked over to see if Grayson was listening or watching us, but he was gripping a yellow crayon now.

“Would you rather I use my hands?” He tugged on the edge of my shirt, and I felt the heat tingle under my skin.

“Cole, for real. This is serious.” I pushed his hand down. “And we aren’t alone. I have an idea that might get you over this financial crisis, temporarily at least.”

He backed away. “Ok, if you have something, I’m all ears … and eyes.”

“One of the best views in this whole place is from the pool deck. From there you can see the ocean. You’ve got the pool, and it’s right in the center of the Dunes.” I nodded to the pool at the end of the motel’s property.

“Ok, go on.” He leaned against the wall.

“So, I think there is a way to capitalize on what you have. What if you have a luau and charge a small cover? We can get Sasha and her friends and Cal and Lance to help us organize it and spread the word.” I smiled and waited for his reaction.

Cole crossed his arms. “You want me to host a keg party?”

“It’s not just a keg party. I know you’re not into the party scene and neither am I, but I’ve been to a few and they can make a ton of money. We can advertise online, and I bet Sasha could sneak a few flyers through the resort. Come on. It could work. We’re talking an easy few thousand dollars. It will be enough to give you some breathing room until the end of the summer. And with Grayson here, I think it’s worth a shot.”

“I’m going to guess you already ran this by Sasha.” Both of his eyebrows were raised, making his blue eyes bigger.

“I might have mentioned it to her.” I bit down on my lip and walked from behind the desk.

“A few thousand dollars definitely wouldn’t hurt.” He rubbed his jaw.

“I’ll organize the whole thing. You just keep working on the rooms and I’ll take care of the luau, and Grayson. I can do social media posts while he naps.” I stopped in front of Cole. “Really, all you have to do is promise to be my date.”

He hooked my waist with his right hand and drew me against his chest. “Deal. But you have to promise it will stay under control.”

“Nothing crazy. Promise.”

“And you’ll wear one of those coconut bras.” His finger traced the strap along my shoulder.

I laughed. “If I can find one.”

“A party planning business woman,” he teased as his head dipped toward the exposed skin on my chest. I leaned back to let him kiss me.

“Yes, and if I’m going to pull this off, I need to get started, and you need to get to work on showerheads or doorknobs.” I inhaled as his lips grazed the top of my breast.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Party planning was definitely less appealing than Cole taking me on the office desk again, but this was business. We’d have all night to play. After we put the little one to bed.

“Go. Go fix something.” I shoved him out the door and turned to face my new work buddy.

I pulled out my phone. I needed to call Sasha before I purchased the first tiki torch.

“Hey, you have a second? I could use your help. Cole says the luau’s a go.”