Page 45 of Brewing Up My Fresh Start

“Just reviewing materials for tonight.”

“Right.” His expression suggests he’s not buying my professional focus act. “Want to talk about what’s really going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’ve been different for weeks. Distracted. You keep checking your phone, but when I ask about project updates, you look confused.”

I set down my pen and lean back, recognizing defeat. Scott’s been my business partner for eight years. He can spot emotional complications from three counties away.

“It’s the coffee shop,” I admit finally. “Michelle Lawson.”

“The woman leading the opposition against our development.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re falling for her.”

“I’mcrushingon the woman who’s trying to stop our biggest project,” I say, surprising myself with the honesty. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Scott processes this information with the careful consideration he brings to all complicated business problems.

“That’s either the worst possible timing in professional relationship history,” he says finally, “or the best possible motivation to find a creative solution.”

“There’s nothing to solve,” I say quickly. “It’s just... complicated attraction. Physical chemistry. Nothing more.”

“Right.” Scott’s expression suggests he’s not buying my casual dismissal. “Just physical chemistry that’s making you question a multimillion-dollar project.”

“I’m not questioning the project. I’m trying to find a way to make it work for everyone involved.”

“Including Michelle.”

“Including the entire community,” I correct, but even I can hear how defensive that sounds.

Scott leans back in his chair, studying me. “Grayson, in all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never let personal feelings interfere with professional decisions. Ever.”

“I’m still not.”

“Then explain why you spent hours yesterday redesigning the entire waterfront section to preserve sight lines from a coffee shop window.”

Because the thought of Michelle losing her view of the Atlantic made my chest feel like it was being crushed in a vise. Because I kept imagining her standing behind that counter, watching the waves, and the idea of taking that away from her felt like theft.

“Community integration,” I say instead. “Better long-term investment strategy.”

“Meaning you don’t have to choose between the project and Michelle. You need to find a way to make the project work for both of you.”

“The modified plans already preserve the coffee shop.”

“I’m not talking about building preservation. I’m talking about partnership. Instead of seeing her as opposition, start seeing her as a potential collaborator.”

“Scott, she questions everything about this development.”

“That’s because she’s protecting what she loves. But from what I’ve observed, she cares about Twin Waves’ future as muchas you do. She just needs to believe that development can strengthen the community instead of destroying it.”

I consider this, thinking about yesterday’s conversation. The way she talked about preserving what makes Twin Waves special while acknowledging the need for economic growth. Her genuine concern for longtime residents who might be displaced by rising property values.

“You think I should ask her to work with us?”

“I think you should ask her what would make this development serve the community better. Really ask her. Not as opposition to be managed, but as a soul whose opinion matters.”