Who's the Daddy (Crescent Cove 3)

“You were too worried about putting your ankles up to the sky to read the fine print, you hussy.” Ally parked the stroller and did some weird snap and twist and the carrier came out with a crazy handle. “Are you sure we can go in here? Especially with Alex?”

“Yeah, Macy wanted to show off a little. We’re going to do a tasting.”

Sage perked up. She was always interested in food. “What kind of tasting?”

“Come on in, ladies,” Macy yelled. “No, not there. Not every customer is six-foot-three.” Macy rushed around the counter to the front of the skeleton of shelves along the longest portion of the cafe.

A tall, bearded man set his drill on the shelf in front of him. “You said you wanted a higher shelf for stock.”

“Yes, but not that high.” Macy put her hands on her hips. “Then I have to get the ladder out every time someone wants a damn mug. I’m not as tall as you are.”

He crouched in front of her and slid out a little step stool that matched the espresso-colored wood. “Care to test it out, Ms. Devereaux? I’d say we could see eye-to-eye give or take an inch or two.”

“No, that’s fine.” Macy cleared her throat. “That’s good.”

My eyebrows shot up at the blush climbing Macy’s neck. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her be anything but cool and calm with a side of surly since I’d met her.

“Hey, Gideon.” Sage settled her substantial self into one of the U-shaped chairs that was actually unwrapped.

“Hey, Sage.” Tall, dark and beardy glanced over at us. “I miss you over at the diner. New girl doesn’t smile like you.” A quick flash of bright white teeth peeked from his bearded face. Pretty green eyes crinkled at the corners before he put yellow safety glasses back on. He nodded to all of us then flicked his drill back on.

“Aw. Such a charmer.” Though Sage definitely flushed with pleasure. With the new baby on the way and her hands full with reopening her family’s inn and her new staging branch of Hamilton Realtors, she didn’t have time to work at the Rusty Spoon anymore.

Sage’s life was just like a fairy tale. One day, she was a waitress, and practically the next day, the wife to a millionaire.

Not that I was jealous.

Okay, maybe a little.

I spun around one of the chairs so Ally could tuck the carrier in before sitting across from Sage. Alex was dozing, his bottle tucked into his side, his little mouth slack.

“Milk drunk is my favorite,” Ally said and dropped into a chair. “He’ll be out for at least forty minutes.”

Macy winced. “I didn’t know you were bringing the kid.”

Ally curled her fingers into her palms. “Was I not supposed to?”

“No, it’s cool.” She nodded to Gideon. “It’s just not exactly quiet in here.”

“Oh, that.” Ally waved her hand. “He’d sleep if a high speed train came through the room.”

“Well, then, baby away.” Macy flicked her dark braid over her shoulder. “Thanks for coming in to test a few things. I don’t have a lot of caffeine-free options, but I’ll concoct something for you. Sage, right?” Macy swiped the dusty table with a cloth.

Sage patted her belly. “Appreciate it.”

I dropped my head onto my stacked arms. “Me too.”

“What?” Macy stopped cleaning.

“Me too.” I sighed hugely. “No caffeine.”

“I thought we went over this already. I’ll make you love coffee, Teach. We already have a few taste tests on the books.”

“I loved that Orgasm one. I would love to have one every day of my life.”

Macy blinked. “Did you mean Chocolate Orgasm?”

“Yes.” I frowned. “Oh, well, I like having the other kind too. In fact, it’s kinda why I can’t have your lovely cup of coffee anymore. Even though it’s like heaven created a liquid.”