Page 49 of Driven Daddy

I sighed and followed him. That was probably for the best.

The closer we got to the mouth of the hallway, the more nerves hopped in my chest. Going from coming my brains out to being in author mode wasn’t my usual milieu.

I wasn’t like some graphic novelists or authors who fucked their way through conventions and bookstore signings. Some definitely got off on the fan attention.

Me? I was more worried about networking these days. The fans were a release valve to remind me what I did mattered, not a pool of willing women.

Maybe early in my Comic Con days, I’d gotten a little more careless, but seeing one too many of my fellow artists get their ass into hot water had been enough to set me straight.

Even if the authors were above board, all it took was one unbalanced fan to torpedo a career. And many of my earlier colleagues had treated the convention circuit akin to a rockstar life. Including the drugs and booze that had gotten more than one of them slapped with lawsuits.

No, thanks.

No party was worth that for me.

Rita also wasn’t like those long-ago hookups. Even if it should have been based on the nameless game we’d played.

But there had been something there, even at the start. Something sparkier than just lust. When I’d tried to charm her in the café, there had been more to the flirtation.

At least for me.

Based on how we’d reacted to one another in the storage room, I knew that was a fact.

The crush of people snaking around the displays of reader-themed gifts and books dragged me back into the now. Colette had changed the store around for maximum customer effect. There were still corners for people to shop the crafts and one-of-a-kind artistry while they waited for their turn at the tables.

But it was a far cry from the store I’d been in a few short days ago.

Now it was probably a code violation—even though there was also a line going out and around the building. Just what we needed, Christian crashing the party. My brother was all about those rules and regulations.

I spotted Ryan on the dais with her table stacked high with copies ofTripodas well as the plushies we’d ordered for the signing.

She was her full-on witch self today with her long crystal necklaces, as well as dozens of bracelets and more crystals at her ears. Her obsidian dark hair fell around her shoulders, parted at the center with a few braids interspersed with more sparkles.

I wove my way through the customers waiting, waving, and smiling as I carried the cases of books. Ryan’s table was at the center clad in black cloth, showing off the books and baskets of Smoky the cat as well as Sylvia the fox on either side of her. An array of pens, Sharpies, and sticky notes were ready for use.

Rita was to the right of her with a green tablecloth with dozens of books on display. Most were the same as the one I was holding,Date with Disaster,along with an array of covers that looked like they could have been taken right here in the Cove.

Or perhaps the Adirondack area.

It wasn’t quite like our home, but so very similar.Our?

No,myhome.

Hell, not even my home. What the hell was wrong with me?

I brought the books over to where Colette and Rita were whispering. They stopped immediately when I stopped in front of them.

Rita’s green eyes were blank and distant. “Thanks.”

“Rita, I—” I fell silent.

She gave me a hard look.

Colette glanced from me to her and back. “Do you know each other?”

“Nope,” Rita said sharply. “I don’t know him at all.”

My molars snapped together. I knew her biblically. And would have loved to spend more time finding out just how many freckles were hidden under her dress.

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