Page 121 of Driven Daddy

“I do not.”

I laughed and went downstairs. Our usual visitor was laying at the back door, so I let Bruce in and started a brew in the chemistry set.

The Newfie was always down for some breakfast, so we shared an egg sandwich while we waited for Rita to get ready.

To expedite our escape, I made two to-go mugs for our coffee. When Rita came down, she was wearing the pink sweater with a pair of charcoal slacks and heeled boots.

I crossed to her and curled my arm around her. “You took my advice?”

“Maybe.” She went on her toes and kissed me, smelling of mint and the cucumber soap she preferred. “It was a good call. It’s chilly enough this morning to need the sweater. It’s finally starting to feel like October.”

“Only took until nearly the end. I’m not mad about it. The winters in the Cove are brutal, and my back appreciates when there isn’t any snow.”

“In October?” She went to the fridge and pulled out some mangos and Greek yogurt.

“Lake effect is no joke in Central New York. You’ll see.”

She dumped a few of the cubes of fruit over a small cup of yogurt before returning the rest to the fridge. She leaned her hip on the kitchen island.

Bruce padded over to her, and he got a bit of mango for his trouble.

“I’m excited to see it. The city is generally just dirty snow.”

“And angry cab drivers,” I added.

“That too.” She licked the back of her spoon. “Do you need to go back soon?”

I sipped from my coffee. “With all that’s going on with Asher, it’s just easier to stay here.” I set down my mug and moved in front of her, then I took her spoon and set it in the sink. “If that’s okay with you.”

She licked her raspberry-stained lips. “It doesn’t suck to have you here.”

“Gee, thanks.” I took her empty cup and held it out for the dog who gently took it out of my hands.

She grinned. “I do like things the way they are.”

“Good. Me too.” I kissed her lightly. “Now let’s go find out how many crazy people want to listen to us talk.”

Her fingers curled into the waffle material of my thermal shirt. “I still can’t believe I offered it up. I’m an idiot.”

I laughed. “No, we were just in rival mode. And damn, were you hot when you got up there and showed exactly why I call you Duchess.”

She rolled her eyes. “Stop.”

“It’s true. All that regal bearing and this long, perfect throat that makes my mouth water all the damn time.” I lowered to kiss my way to the fuzzy collar of her sweater, then I nipped her lightly.

The quick giggle was exactly what I’d been looking for.

“Now let’s go see how many crazy people Colette signed up for us.”

We left Bruce snoozing off his snack on the couch. We’d be back this afternoon, and Judy and Kelly were used to him spending most of the day at our place.

We’d pretty much adopted him.

The library was at the end of Main Street past Nelson’s Grocery. I was tempted to stop in at Brewed Awakening for another hit of coffee, maybe this time with a shot of espresso, but I kept on driving.

We’d taken Rita’s SUV since we’d have to hit one of the big box stores for supplies once we knew how many people were coming to the workshop.

I figured around fifty, but Colette had been close-mouthed about how many she’d actually signed up with our raffle system.

---