Page 107 of Driven Daddy

"I really appreciate that." Rita's grip tightened on mine.

I knew she was a little nervous to do the solo deal. As we got to know each other more, I could pick up on her tells.

Larsen stepped in the car first and we followed him. As soon as the door closed, Larsen hurled himself into my arms. "Holy fuck! I can't believe that worked."

I crashed into the cushioned wall of the elevator and laughed. "I don't know if we're at the celebration stage yet, my guy." I gripped him back and then Larsen hauled Rita in to add to the dogpile hug.

She squeaked, but then she was laughing like the two of us.

"I thought we lost him when he crossed his arms and gave us the king of the mountain look. Goddamn, he can be intimidating." Larsen gave me another thumping pat on the back, and then he moved to the other side of the car. "Sorry. But the more we talked about using what he had, the more we had him."

"That's if he can get the machines operational."

"Don't be a shit, Penn. You know he saw dollar signs as much as we did."

I shoved my fingers through my hair. "If this works, it could change everything. From the ground up."

"And that's what we're going to focus on." Larsen grinned at Rita then grabbed her and twirled her around. "Focus on the good because we all need it."

Rita's surprised giggle warmed me in spots that had been dark and cold for a damn long time. We'd been struggling with Duality Press for over half its life. I really hoped this would move us to a new level.

When we all tumbled out, the woman at the desk stood from her chair, surprised.

I waved at her. "Have a great day." I grabbed Rita's hand as we practically ran out of the lobby. "I need a drink. We all need a celebrational drink."

Rita laughed. "It's not even three in the afternoon."

"Sounds like it's time for one of those hard ciders to me. This place doesn't know how to build a good head on a lager."

"Snobby Scotsman," I muttered. "I'll pick up a six-pack and meet you at Rita's."

"Why my house?"

"Because it doesn't have a bunch of toddlers running roughshod over your living room," I said with a grin.

"Fair." She grinned. "See you in a bit, Larsen."

We made a pit stop at a liquor store near the lake. The town had been expanding a lot lately. With all the homes being sold near the lake, as well as the maze of cul de sacs being built to house the baby boom in Crescent Cove, there were stores popping up beyond the bustling Main Street.

One thing we didn't have to worry about was the lack of local brews. I decided to get a twelve-pack of variety ciders from Brothers Three Orchard, a local place just a town over from Crescent Cove. And because they were there, I snagged a bag of chips and pretzels. Rita had been busy on the other side of the store and had a box of wine bottles waiting for me on the counter.

Before I could pull out my wallet, she'd paid for the lot of it.

"Am I your kept man now?"

She grinned over her shoulder as she carried her box. "You are staying at my house." She bumped the door open with her butt and slipped out, leaving me behind. "Mind if I see if Colette can sneak away?" she asked while waiting for me to open the car.

"Absolutely not." I stashed both in the trunk and dragged her in for a quick kiss. "I love that you're making friends in town."

She linked her hands at the base of my neck. "Not sure I made friends with Colette, or she just assimilated me."

"Don't sell yourself short there. You're so fucking smart and funny." She looked down and I snaked my hand between us to lift her chin. "You are."

"I've been in hiding most of this year."

"Not hiding, healing."

She snorted. "Definitely hiding."

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