Page 90 of A Wolfe in the Woods

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. It’s been slow.”

I realized that no cars had been in the lot except mine and Jonathan’s. No one had checked in since I’d arrived, as far as I knew.

My lips pursed. I remembered the small sign on the edge of the highway, the only marker that Juniper Hollow was even back here. Curiously, I asked, “How many cabins do you have available?”

“Right now…five. Almost six—just waiting on some furniture to be delivered.”

“And how do people usually find you? Online?”

That was how Megan had found this place, after all. On some booking website.

“Yeah. Only online. Or word of mouth.”

“So, you don’t advertise in Everwick?” I asked, frowning.

“Folks in town know this place exists,” he casually replied.

“That may be so, but if it’s notin front of them, people don’t think about it. Advertising reminds them,” I countered. “A little visibility goes a long way.”

He shrugged. “Promo isn’t really one of my strengths. I figured folks there already had places to stay anyway, or they just come to town for the day.”

“But people always comebackto Everwick. That’s who you target,” I said. I straightened in the armchair. “And…imagine if they picked up a flyer—no, a cute little postcard in one of the boutiques along Main Street, featuring these quaint lakeside cottages in the woods.”

“Postcards,” Jonathan repeated, his tone unconvinced.

It was all so clear. I felt a spark of excitement, the ideas suddenly flowing.

“Listen…you have a picture of your best cabin on the lake on the front. Cabin number five, maybe? Make sure to filter it with all these warm, really saturated tones. All it says isJuniper Hollow, and haveBed and Breakfastin a smaller font right underneath,” I said, sweeping my hand in front of me, envisioning how it would be placed. “You need a really good brand font. Hmm…something whimsical but rooted. I know plenty of good designers—I’ll get you one. And on the back, you keep it sweet and simple. A few pictures of the property so people can see how beautiful it is. A small bulleted list of amenities, but you really want to play up the fairytale, ‘cozy cottage in the woods’ vibes. That’ll sell, especially to weekenders from Graymore.”

“Fairytale vibes? Totally on brand with my style,” he joked, his brows raising again in disbelief. Hearing the word—vibes—from his lips was almost comical.

I could already see the buzz words.

Your woodland escape…wrapped in nature, rooted in comfort.

Where forest paths lead you to serenity.

Just minutes from Everwick—worlds away from stress.

Cozy cottage feel, modern B&B service.

“Gods, they practically write themselves,” I muttered under my breath.

“Blanche,” Jonathan said, a sliver of amusement quirking his lips. “I think I made the coffee too strong.”

I threw him a look of mock exasperation. “This is what Ido,” I told him. “Or…at least what I want to do. What I thought I’d do.”

I sighed.

The promotion that Skoll Corp had dangled over my head for years was the director position in the marketing department. It was what I’d gone to school for. I’d always been fascinated by the psychology of advertising. And I’d seen firsthand, here in Everwick even, what great marketing couldbuildyou.

Something in his eyes flickered in understanding. “I get it. You like this stuff and you’re good at it…and I appreciate that. I really do. It’s a talent. But do you really want to take on more work when you’re notatwork?”

“I don’t mind,” I told him softly. “When I was in middle school, I made up this entire business plan for my grandmother. She’d always wanted to have her own bakery, right in Everwick, but could never afford to rent out a place. And she was always daunted by the permits, the management, the hiring. But I told her that under the cottage food laws, she could sell baked goods from her own kitchen, so I had everything printed out and ready to be signed. I made her a website, social media accounts, marketing material designs. I figured out an online ordering system. And she was so excited about it all. We worked on setting everything up together.”

“What happened?”

A small sigh drifted from me. “She, uh, got sick again. For the second time.”