Page 1 of Designing with the Mountain Man
CHAPTER ONE
Steeler
With a thermos fullof iced coffee and a bag full of snacks, I headed to my desk, ready to get my day started. I had a few jobs I was currently on, bouncing back and forth between each one, and working long into the night.
I liked it that way. So busy I couldn’t think, couldn’t feel, couldn’t do anything but work, eat, and sleep. With the occasional bonfire and beer on the weekend.
I needed the distraction, mostly.
Because I was still madly in love with a woman who was no longer in my life.
And it fucking hurt.
Every God damn day.
Probably why I landed the nickname Grumpy from the crew. Oh well. Go through what I did, and you’d be grumpy, too.
Heartache was no joke. I learned my lesson the hard way.
As I clicked through my email, I opened one from Lyric, a close friend of mine, who had a client needing a mural done.
I didn’t know any painters, nor could I think of one in town, but immediately an image of Marlowe popped into my head. She had a talent for drawing and painting. I bet she’d kick ass on a mural.
My sweet Mar…
Ugh, why did every damn thing have to remind me of her? Couldn’t my fucking heart stop it already?
Maybe my boss, Thane, would know someone. I walked over to his office and knocked on his slightly open door. “Hey, got a minute?”
“Always for you, Steeler. Come in, take a seat.”
“Thank you. Just a quick question for you.” I said, as I took a seat. “Lyric emailed me earlier about his client. They’re looking for someone to paint a mural on the wall of their child’s bedroom. Nothing too complicated. A rainbow in the sky, with some clouds. Any ideas?”
Thane sat up straight in his chair and leaned forward on his desk. “Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ll have to think about it. Maybe an artist of some sort? A painter?”
“Yeah, the problem is finding one. Especially around these small towns.”
“I know. My wife’s flower shop wouldn’t be able to help unless one woman knows how to paint. We could always ask. There aren’t any other businesses I can think of around that might help. I heard a new bakery is opening in town. Hope it’s just as good as Ruby’s bakery, Appleridge Sweets. No one can replace her apple cinnamon muffins.” Thane grinned.
I should be excited. Should be ecstatic. Now I wouldn’t have to drive over to Appleridge to fix my sweet tooth cravings, cravings my ex used to fill for me with her amazing baking skills. Which was why, on the inside, I was freaking the fuck out.
Who was opening a bakery in town?
Was it Marlowe?
The thought caused my heart to skip several beats.
Is your sweet Mar back home?
The one woman I’d never stopped loving.
She left town to chase her dream of baking school with her best friend, Genevieve, exactly four years ago. Enough time for her to graduate and move home. But it couldn’t be. She would’ve told me, right?
It’s not like you’ve talked once in the four years she’s been gone…
“Oh, there is? Do you know who’s opening it?” I asked as I tugged at my beard, one of many nervous ticks of mine.
“Marlowe and Genevieve.” Lyric, my close friend, announced, walking in with a tray of coffees and a bag of muffins. The very ones Thane mentioned a minute ago. “Just heard through the apple gossip chain.” He clapped me on the shoulder and shot me a worried look.
