Page 118 of Driven Daddy

My stomach twisted a little. Could I really work with someone again?

Could I trust it wouldn’t go horribly wrong?

Penn’s gaze met mine. I think he could see the panic rising because he gave me that smirky smile that made everything inside of me soften.

Bridget swung her gaze to Penn. “No way. Elaine will shit bricks.”

He laughed at that, as did Travis. “I mean, we aren’t Macmillan or anything, but we do our best to keep our authors happy. We’d be honored to take you on, Brig.”

She cupped a hand over her mouth. “Holy shit, really?”

“Yes, really. We will have to read what you have first, of course, but I have no doubt we can make this work for all of us.”

Bridget rushed to grab him in a giant hug before whirling around to hug Travis too. “Sorry, I’ll let you read it first, of course. Just so much was going on, and I didn’t even think about work.”

“That’s just fine. We have an entire lifetime to get caught up.” He cupped the base of her head to tuck her against his shoulder. “I love you. I’m so proud of you.”

She sniffled and squeezed him back.

I wasn’t used to seeing people so easily show how much they cared for one another. I was a little surprised that they were so close, as well. I hadn’t known we’d hired a real-life couple for the photo shoot.

Bridget’s smile was so infectious, I couldn’t hold back my smile in return. “You have to come over this weekend.” She looked back at Travis before linking fingers with him. “We can have a celebratory cookout. That work for you guys? We can offer many mini marshmallows for s’mores, if we go shopping.” She laughed.

Suddenly, she threw herself at me, and I caught her with a laugh. I couldn’t help but hug her back.

“Sorry, I’m an emotional mess,” she said between tears as she gripped my hand. “I was basically the biggest ass ever and ran away from my family, but somehow, they seem willing to take me back. And even new family too?”

I had no idea there was this much going on. Penn and I had been in our own little combative bubble for what seemed to be a lifetime.

Penn came forward and covered our linked hands. I wasn’t quite sure what to say, but she was so refreshingly honest, I didn’t want to retreat into my usual clam self.

Bridget went on. “We’ll let you both enjoy the evening now, but I’m so glad I eavesdropped and came down here.”

I laughed.

Bridget grinned. “So, are you going to stick around here now? Spoiler alert—they don’t make small towns better than Crescent Cove.”

“Yeah, as long as you’re okay with little people,” Travis put in.

“Like real little people? You know, like smaller ones?” I was confused.

Penn laughed heartily. “You’re about as little as they come here. She means kids. Many babies in the Cove.”

“Oh.” I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah, I haven’t given those much thought.”

“You’ll be thinking about them now.” With a wink, Bridget patted my arm. “I’d love having you close. I’m kind of in the market for some girlfriends.”

I exchanged a look with Penn, and his indulgent smile made me relax the rest of the way. “Funny, me too.”

“Well, seems like our timing is good here all around then.” Travis slung his arm around Bridget’s shoulders. “We have Halloween decorations to fuss with before our kid gets back, so we’ll just leave you to…whatever.”

“Whatever works for me.” Penn’s smirk made me roll my eyes.

But when he came down to meet me at the edge of the patio, there was no ego there. Not the man who hurt me at the signing with his offhand comment after I’d had the first real moment of connection with a man in my life.

No,thiswas the real guy behind the humor and the sly remarks. I’d seen part of him in Asher’s office. The heart and worry he held for his company and the artists he wanted to support.

How much he knew the publishing world could crush people was evident in every move he made. But here, I saw the man behind it all.

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