The Lakeside Inn Page 7

  Penny wondered if moving around had also had some negative effects on his life. She’d moved from city to city for more than eight years, searching for the perfect job. Making friends and creating a life for herself outside of work seemed futile. But when you spent a lot of time at work, it was too easy to become lonely.

  “When did you start painting?”

  “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a paintbrush in my hand. I sold my first painting when I was fourteen and had my first exhibition when I was seventeen. Since then, it’s all I’ve wanted to do.”

  Wyatt opened his back door and Penny stepped into the high-ceilinged mudroom. She slipped off her sneakers and looked through to the kitchen. White, glossy cabinets sat beneath a sparkling quartz countertop. Silver appliances and gorgeous pendant lights completed a kitchen most people would adore. “You were lucky to find this rental. There aren’t too many in Sapphire Bay, especially homes that look like this.”

  “My friend Ethan called me as soon as the property became available. It’s a little large for me, but it’s perfect for painting. There’s lots of natural light and plenty of room to spread out.” Wyatt turned on the coffeepot. “I’ll show you my paintings before I make us a hot drink.”

  Penny enjoyed walking through the house. From the street, the two-story building looked like a standard, modern home with a plaster exterior and large windows. But whoever owned it had spent a lot of time and effort taking it from an ordinary house to something special.

  The wooden floors, gorgeous floor-length curtains, and beautiful furniture made it feel like a wonderful family home. “How long are you staying here?”

  Wyatt opened a door at the far end of the hallway. “My rental agreement is for another two months, but I can extend the contract.”

  An unexpected lump formed in her throat. When it was time for him to leave, she’d miss seeing Wyatt on the trail around the lake, or taking muffins and cookies across to him most days. “Do you think you’ll stay here for longer?”

  “I’m not sure.” Clearing his throat, he waved her into his studio. “Welcome to my world.”

  If Penny didn’t know better, she would have thought he was nervous. Cautiously, she stepped inside the room. Enormous windows filled one wall, sending sunlight cascading across the room. Temporary shelving ran along another wall, holding all kinds of interesting-looking things.

  “I bought the shelving from your parents’ store after I moved here. It keeps everything in one place.”

  Penny walked across to a large canvas sitting on an easel. Soothing strokes of blue and green washed across a lake. Shadows from the towering mountain range cocooned the landscape in a deep and dramatic embrace, drawing her into the scene.

  “This is amazing. I feel as though I’m standing on the edge of the water, waiting for something incredible to happen.”

  Wyatt sighed. “That’s good. The painting’s called Anticipation. I should finish it in a couple of days.”

  Penny studied another painting propped on a different easel. This time, the colors were rich and golden. A corn field stretched into forever, bending gently against a breeze that only her imagination could see. “I can almost feel the wind drifting across the field. How do you do that?”

  “Practice.”

  Her eyebrows rose as she looked at Wyatt. He was as deep and mysterious as the lake he’d created in the first painting. “I could practice for eight hours every day and I’d never be as good as you.”

  “Everyone has things they’re good at. For me, it’s painting.”

  Tilting her head to the side, she tried to work out if he was being modest or simply saw his gift as nothing unusual. “I sold a lot of multi-million dollar properties to wealthy clients. Their houses showcased some of the most incredible art I’ve ever seen. Your paintings, even unfinished, would make most of those canvases look like something I’d paint.” Penny pointed to the picture of the cornfield. “What would something like this sell for?”

  Wyatt picked an old rag off the worktable and placed it with some others. “The price isn’t important.”

  “It is if you want to pay your rent,” she said half-jokingly. “If I said three thousand dollars, would I be too high or not high enough?” She almost smiled when she saw Wyatt’s pained expression. She wasn’t an art collector, but she knew his paintings were worth a lot more. It was kind of cute to see how shocked he was.

  “If you bought it for that much, it would be the sale of the century.”

  “Okay. What about ten thousand?” The stubborn tilt to his jaw told her he wouldn’t tell her. “Have you given any of your paintings away?”

  “For free?”

  Penny nodded.

  “It’s not something I do all the time, but I’ve given away a few.”

  That was a surprise. “Who did you give them to?”

  “Different charities. The coffeepot will be hot. Come to the kitchen and I’ll get you a cup.”

  Penny took one last look around the room. “Can I see the paintings when they’re finished?”

  “I’ll call you before I send them to the gallery.”

  “And tell me the prices?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, but I don’t give up easily.”

  Wyatt smiled. “I’d noticed.”

  With an answering grin, Penny followed him into the kitchen. She’d noticed a lot about Wyatt, too, and she wanted to know more.

  Chapter 7

  Wyatt looked around the meeting room at The Welcome Center. Eighteen people had come to the first group meeting of the art project. They’d listened to what he’d said, asked questions, then moved into groups to discuss possible themes and ideas they might have.

  So far, everything had gone well. The only downside was that Jack and his dad, Richard, weren’t here.

  “How’s everything going?” Pastor John asked.

  “Better than I expected. Everyone seems happy to share their ideas and help with the murals.”

  “I didn’t think you’d have any problem finding volunteers. Penny looks as though she’s enjoying herself.”

  Wyatt looked across the room. Penny was smiling and making notes about what her group was discussing. It felt good to have her here, to have her experience what art could bring to a community. “I think she’s enjoying herself more than she realized.”

  John smiled. “Everyone’s enjoying themselves. This project is exactly what the tiny home village needs. We’ve grown so quickly over the last eighteen months and it’s time we found something to bring us together.”

  “If this doesn’t work, nothing will.” From first-hand experience, Wyatt had seen how powerful a well-run art project could be. “I updated the project plan to include a barbecue lunch after we finish the murals. Mabel and Allan Terry said they’d sponsor the food, so all I need to do is find some activities for the children.”

  “I know a company in Polson who’ve helped us with other events. I’m happy to call them if it saves you time.”

  “That would be great. Penny can help with anything that needs to be done. If we include her in our meetings, she could coordinate everything for us.”

  “How’s life with the Terry sisters as your neighbors?”

  Wyatt wasn’t sure what John meant. “I’m enjoying their company. I see Penny more than her other sisters. Charlie, Diana’s dog, doesn’t bark so often and, most days, someone brings across some home baking.”

  “It sounds as though you’ve got the best of both worlds. Peace and quiet when you’re painting and company when you need a break.”

  He supposed he did. After living on his own for the last few years, knowing Penny was next door with a fresh pot of coffee made a difference. Instead of dwelling on his own thoughts, he could talk to her about whatever was going through his head.

  John looked across the room as the meeting room’s doors swung open. “Thank goodness for that. I didn’t think Jack and Richard were going to make it.”

  Instead o
f the serious young boy Wyatt always saw, Jack had a smile on his face. It probably had a lot to do with his dad bringing him to the meeting. When he saw Wyatt, he raced across the room. “Are we too late?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “It’s the best time to be here. Everyone’s talking about what they’d like to see in the murals. I’ll show you which group you can join.”

  “Dad’s staying, too. Do you know where we’ve been?”

  Wyatt shook his head. Wherever it was, it seemed important to Jack.

  The little guy’s big blue eyes filled with excitement. “Mrs. Armstrong gave Dad and me a ride to the hospital. The doctors were real nice and helped Dad’s leg feel better.”

  “That’s great.”

  “And they said if Dad sees them later in the year, he might get a new leg.”

  Richard met them halfway across the room. Usually, he was in his wheelchair when Wyatt saw him. But not today. He stood tall and proud, looking more confident than when he’d last seen him.

  “Sorry we’re late. I had an appointment at the hospital.”

  Wyatt shook his hand. “So I heard. It’s good to see you again.”

  “We haven’t missed much,” Jack told his dad. “Wyatt said we can join one of the groups.”

  It didn’t look as though Richard was as excited as his son. In case he decided to leave, Wyatt pulled two chairs away from the table on his right. “You can sit here.”

  Andrea, a volunteer at The Welcome Center, was taking notes at the table. “Hi, Richard and Jack. Ellie just suggested a fish theme for one of the murals. What do you think?”

  Richard looked as though he’d rather go to the dentist than discuss Ellie’s idea. Jack, on the other hand, eagerly sat forward. “Dad and I go fishing on Flathead Lake. We catch brown trout. Sometimes, we don’t even use bait.”

  Ellie looked intrigued. “How do you catch fish without bait?”

  “You just throw in your line and it works. We even gave my friend Danny a fishing line with no bait and he caught a fish. You have to be real quick with your net. Otherwise, the trout jumps away.”

  As the other people at the table joined in with their fishing tales, Wyatt had a feeling the lake would feature on more than one mural. He looked at each of the tables, trying to gauge whether they had finished discussing their ideas.

  As his gaze skimmed across Penny’s table, she looked up. Their eyes collided and a sharp jolt of awareness hit him with the force of a sledgehammer. As if sensing his shock, Penny’s smile disappeared.

  Taking a deep breath, he forced his gaze away from her. He hadn’t been attracted to another woman since his wife died. He’d loved Anya with all his heart and couldn’t imagine feeling the same way about anyone else.

  But Penny had worked her way under his skin, filled his dreams, and made him terrified of what it meant.

  Penny waved a French fry in front of Wyatt’s nose. “Are you listening?”

  The faraway look in his eyes disappeared. After the meeting with the residents of the tiny home village, she’d dragged Wyatt to The Welcome Center’s café. After some not-so-gentle persuasion, she’d convinced him that everyone needed to eat. Especially people who had six hours of painting ahead of them.

  “I’m listening,” Wyatt grumbled. “You were telling me how much the property values in Sapphire Bay have increased over the last three years.”

  “And why did I mention it?”

  Wyatt stared at her blankly.

  “I knew you weren’t listening. Trust me, this is the best time to buy a house, especially if it’s beside Flathead Lake. Compared to other locations, lakeside properties here are still selling well below the national average.” She dipped the French fry into a blob of ketchup. “If you’re looking for a solid investment, you’ll get better returns if you buy a property instead of putting your money in the bank.”

  “I’m happy where I am. I’m not staying in Sapphire Bay permanently.”

  That odd sinking feeling hit Penny’s chest again. “You don’t have to live here permanently to earn a great capital return. You could buy a property and rent it to someone else. The rental market is crying out for new houses.”

  Wyatt helped himself to one of her French fries. “I like the house I’m renting. Looking for something else would take too much time away from my painting.”

  “You could always ask the people who own the house you’re renting if they want to sell?” That suggestion went down just as well as the one of buying an investment property.

  Sitting back in his chair, Wyatt studied her face. “You’re having withdrawal symptoms.”

  “From what?”

  “Work. You’re so used to wheeling and dealing in the property market that you can’t stop—even when you’re living with your sisters.”

  Wyatt was right, but she wasn’t ready to admit that she could be a workaholic. “It doesn’t matter who I’m living with. Profit is profit, and house prices in Sapphire Bay will increase like they have in other towns around Flathead Lake. Just look at Woods Bay. Four years ago, you could buy a really nice three-bedroom home with a lake view for under two hundred thousand dollars. Similar properties are selling for at least half a million dollars now.”

  “Are you thinking of expanding your property portfolio?”

  “I don’t have enough equity in my Seattle home to buy an expensive property, but I’m thinking about buying a fixer-upper and starting from scratch.”

  “Have you talked to a realtor?”

  “Not yet.” That was on her list of things to do tomorrow. “I asked a few businesses if they were looking for staff, but no one has any jobs available. Buying a house was my next idea. Diana needs a job, too, so I thought she could help with the remodeling.”

  Wyatt plucked another French fry out of her basket. “Has she done anything like that before?”

  “No, but she’s enthusiastic and ready to learn.”

  Wyatt’s eyebrows rose. “If that’s all it took, we’d all be aerospace engineers and doctors.”

  “Haven’t you heard the saying, girls can do anything?”

  “You still need to know the basics. Otherwise, someone could get hurt. Do you want the rest of your fries?”

  Penny pushed the basket closer to him. “I’ve had more than enough. If Diana doesn’t help me, she’ll have the same issue when she looks for work.”

  “Have you thought about starting a business a little closer to home?”

  Penny frowned. “You can’t get much closer than remodeling houses in Sapphire Bay.”

  “Yes, you can. The other day, you told me I was lucky to find somewhere to stay.”

  “You were.”

  “And why was that?”

  “Because there aren’t many houses to rent.”

  “What’s the next best thing to renting a house?” Another fry disappeared into Wyatt’s mouth.

  “Renting a room?”

  “Exactly.”

  She waited for his cryptic comment to make sense, but it didn’t. “Tell me what you mean.”

  With a sigh, Wyatt picked up a paper napkin and wiped his fingers. “How many spare bedrooms are in your grandmother’s house?”

  “You think we should rent rooms to strangers?”

  “You and your sisters inherited an enormous house. Renting the spare rooms would be another way for Diana to earn money while she waits for you to buy a property or looks for another job. Before I moved here, I looked at different accommodation options. There aren’t many Bed and Breakfasts on this side of the lake.”

  Penny’s mind was moving at a million miles an hour. “I never thought of starting a Bed and Breakfast. There has to be a reason there aren’t a lot more around the lake.”

  “Most people don’t have the room that you do. It’s something to think about.”

  It was more than something to consider. Wyatt’s idea was brilliant.

  The first thing she needed to do was talk to her sisters. Diana would be the perfect host. With Barbara’
s marketing and digital skills, they could have a website and social media advertising up and running in no time. Even Katie, if they could convince her to come home, would enjoy meeting their guests and using her amazing cooking skills to create mouth-watering dishes.

  Wyatt leaned forward and smiled. “You’re already ten steps ahead of me, aren’t you?”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. We have more than enough room and, if we cleared out the attic, it would make the perfect honeymoon suite. We could showcase local crafts and food, and organize sightseeing trips for anyone who wanted to explore the lake. Thank you for your amazing idea.”

  “You’re welcome. If you need a glowing review of your home baking, just ask. I haven’t tasted muffins and cookies as good as yours in years.”

  “I’ll let Barbara and Diana know you’re impressed. They do most of the baking.” Penny held up her coffee cup. “To great ideas, good friends, and an exciting twelve months.”

  Wyatt clinked his coffee cup against hers. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”

  Penny smiled. “Even if it means more noise coming from our house?”

  “Make as much noise as you want. I bought a pair of earplugs from your mom.”

  The teasing light in Wyatt’s eyes made her sigh. Remembering that he would only be here for another couple of months was even more important than telling her sisters about his idea.

  Wyatt looked through his studio at his neighbors’ house and frowned. The earbuds he’d bought silenced most sound but, for the last fifteen minutes, an almighty screech had set his teeth on edge.

  The painting he was working on was going nowhere so, instead of wondering what on earth Penny and her sisters were doing, he cleaned his brush and headed across the lawn.

  Charlie was lying on the back veranda with his nose pressed to the ground and his paws over his ears. If Wyatt had to be in the same house as the noise, he’d cover his ears, too.

  With a quick knock on the door, he let himself into the kitchen. No one was there, so he followed the noise into the dining room.