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One
Murphy
Veronica Dixon: BABY DADDY WANTED
Single, personable woman seeking a man for the purposes of procreation. I wouldn’t mind if he looks like Chris Pratt, but that’s not required. No further interaction with the child is necessary, unless desired by father-to-be. Child will be created the old-fashioned way, assuming both parties agree. Contact V at goodtothelastdrop.
I dropped my phone. It clattered against my coffee cup at the edge of my makeshift desk and splashed up to soak my work shirt and the sketch paper I was using. “Oh, crap.” I stood and stumbled back, knocking into the pail of cement behind me. I quickly yanked off my shirt, swiping at the sticky mess.
“Watch it, Moose.”
“Sorry.” I turned to steady the pail.
John Gideon, my best friend and pseudo-boss, shook his head with a half grin. “Finally stripping for Mrs. Gunderson?” Suddenly, he winced. “Oh, man. Macy’s thermos keeps coffee blistering hot, God bless her.”
“Emphasis on the blistering.”
“Go splash some water on it before it blisters for real.”
“Yeah. Fu—” I swallowed the swear words. This particular client didn’t like cussing. She had a comment or opinion on just about everything when it came to the Cove. Unfortunately, she was one of Gideon’s best clients. She contracted at least four big projects a year. Personally, I was pretty sure she just liked to have shirtless guys in her backyard—especially Lucky. Though most women hung around to get a look at Lucky, to be honest.
And he liked to be looked at.
I shook off my phone and wiped it against my cargo pants before sliding it in my pocket. “I’m going to go change my shirt. I’ve got one in the truck.”
Gideon nodded. “Go on inside first. We turned off the outside water, remember?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t want to go inside and have Mrs. Gunderson fuss over me. Or stare at me. I hissed as I wiped at the sugary coffee sticking to my chest hair. Macy at Brewed Awakening knew my weakness. Caramel toffee chocolate coffee. Tasted damn good in the cup, not so much on me.
I resisted the urge to pull out my phone again. I couldn’t have read that right. Everyone in Crescent Cove checked the town Facebook page. Lost dog, lost cat, even a lost guinea pig last week. Those, I understood. But Vee posting that?
No way.
I had to be going crazy. Or maybe it was because I just wanted to see her name. It almost didn’t compute. She was just Vee to all of us in town. The sweet baker and barista who worked at Brewed Awakening. Huge blue eyes and soft blond hair tipped with a rainbow of colors. I never knew what color she’d be sporting when I got my daily dose of caffeine.
She was the highlight of my day.
Always.
“Stupid, Moose,” I muttered and pulled my phone out again. Sure enough, there it was. An ad for an honest to God baby daddy. What was she thinking?
“Murphy Masterson, what have you done to yourself?”
I looked up from my phone and shoved it back in my pocket. “Hi, Mrs. Gunderson. I had a little accident with my coffee. Think I could wash up right quick?”
“Of course, come on in.” Her bluebell eyes lit. “Can I make you another cup? I know I don’t do nearly as well as Macy and Veronica, but I have one of those Keurig machines.”
“Don’t go to any fuss, ma’am.”
“It’s no fuss. Speaking of Veronica. What was she thinking posting that on the town group page? It’s not a meat market.”
; I swallowed hard. “I don’t know, Mrs. Gunderson.” And I was just as surprised. God, had everyone seen it?
“But you did see it.”
“It’s none of my business.”
“You’re a good man, Moose. I appreciate that you wouldn’t talk about that sweet girl out of turn, but the whole town is talking about it.”
How the heck would she know? She’d been here the entire time we were working. Then again, Judy Gunderson could work a phone tree faster than the school snow day listings.
“Do you have a towel?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. I’m just so distracted.” She opened a drawer and handed me two plaid towels. “We’ve been talking about this Veronica thing all morning. I just can’t believe it.”
Neither could I, but I really didn’t want to discuss it with Mrs. Gunderson. I took the towels with strained smile. “I’ll just—”
“When you go over there for lunch, you better check on her.”
Did everyone know how many times a day I went to Brewed Awakening?
“I brought my lunch.”
She clucked her tongue. “You always go over for another coffee. You and John are practically addicted.”
I huffed out a breath. “I’ll be sure to check on Vee.” I hurried down the hall to her bathroom before she could interrogate me any further. I ran the water and splashed it against my chest with a hiss. Her bathroom had been our last remodel. I didn’t remember the mirror being quite so big when I’d helped Gideon put it in.
My chest was bright pink under the chest hair that spread across my pecs. What I needed was a shower and a tube of triple antibiotic. “Shit,” I mumbled as I did the best I could with the tea towel she’d given me.
But while I had the space to myself, I leaned against the counter and checked my phone again. There were already eleven comments on her post and a dozen likes, hearts, and many shocked faces. Not a single reply from Vee herself though.
