Page 37 of Driven Daddy

“All right. If you’re not buying, you’re out!” A woman’s voice lifted from the back of the pack of fans.

There were groans, but most shuffled off. A few dispersed to the lines for coffee with annoyed glances over their shoulders at my avenging angel.

“Looked like you needed a rescue.” Macy grinned at me.

“I wasn’t expecting all that.” At all. I figured maybe a good thirty people would show, maybe a few more for Ryan. We’d sent out newsletters and that sort of thing, but Central New York wasn’t exactly a hub of fans. And it was a hell of a drive out for most people.

We’d expected the huge crowds when we did New York Comic Con and had planned accordingly.This?

My gut twisted uneasily. I hadn’t prepared for a crowd like this.

“You didn’t catch the line of people all the way down to the flower shop?” Macy broke into my mental spiral.

“What? No.” Shock had my jaw literally dropping. Brooks Greenery was all the way on the edges of Main.

“Well, not the big flower shop. You’re good, but you’re not Harry Styles, pal. A Flower A Day—Bess Wainwright’s new place.”

The name was familiar. “Asher’s wife?”

“Nope. The grandmother. I’d go so far as calling her a grande dame. She makes an entrance.” That Macy knowing grin was in place. “You’ll have to grab a bouquet for JoAnn. She loves that place.”

“Good to know.” I shook my head, still in awe of the cluster of fans. “Lots of changes while I was out of town.”

“Things are moving fast here these days. New houses and businesses popping up all over.” She held up a to-go cup. “Sustenance.”

I took it gratefully. “You are a goddess.”

She grinned. “That I am. Nice to see you, Penn. Don’t be a stranger. Now get out of here before all your fans revolt.”

“Going.” I zipped through the people lined up again, ducking my head when a few seemed to recognize me.

Don’t make eye contact.

When I got near Larsen, he opened the door, and I followed him out. The crowd was just as intense out on the sidewalk. Many seemed to be congregating over in the park across from Brewed Awakening. A few were taking photos with the skeletons in funny poses at the gazebo while others were making picnics along the waterline.

The pier was dotted with people taking their social media shots with the lake as the backdrop. Crescent Lake was a gem of the area, that was for sure. The nearby Onondaga Lake was just as gorgeous, but this one seemed to bring families in droves.

Helped that we had made sure to maximize our parks and walkways for pedestrian traffic. It brought people into town and had created a bustling commerce, as well.

Soon enough, the winter would cool everything down, including the tourists. Our one bright spot was the Winter Festival and then everyone in Crescent Cove settled in for snowpocolypse.

“Damn, man. Look at that.”

I turned to follow Larsen’s gaze, and my jaw dropped for the second time. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah. I expected an easy day.” He socked me in the arm. “Hope you have that signing hand ready, son.”

“I definitely do not, but I guess we’re doing it, anyway.” I wasn’t looking forward to walking into that mob of people.

“Is there a back way into the shop?”

I turned to him. “You’re a genius.”

“Why you keep me around.” He grinned. “Looks like there’s an alleyway, maybe?”

“Yeah. There’s a link to the back of The Haunt for food and the like. I think there’s a back way into Colette’s from there.”

“Well, go on. I’ll keep everyone on me.” He tugged at the bottom of his suit to smooth his already crisp suit.

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