Page 56 of Driven Daddy

I pushed forward, and a dozen people followed me outside. Penn caught up quickly and a bunch more did the same. Once we were outside, I could breathe a little easier, but damn that man for getting right back up in my space.

I didn’t want to show people how unnerved I was but ignoring him was a lesson in futility. Especially since I still had some of him on my stupid skin. I’d cleaned up as much as I could in the bathroom, but there was no denying I’d had truly exceptional sex.

At least to me. Hopefully, no one else would notice.

I glanced at Christian who was frowning as he looked first at me then at his brother and back. Unwilling to show all my cards—or my ass—I smoothed my dress down and walked briskly to the edge of the sidewalk.

It was early afternoon and the amount of people outside was staggering. I was pretty sure there were even more people in line than when I’d arrived. At least it was sunny and clear, not to mention warmer than it should be at this time of year.

The line shifted forward and to the side like a ribbon in the wind when they noticed something was going on.

Christian sighed and went to his cruiser, coming back with a megaphone.

Surprised he’d have one of those on hand, I took it from him. “Thanks.” I found the button and tried it. My voice was too muffled.

Penn tried to take it from me, and I yanked it back. “Hi. We’re so sorry things got a little crazy. If you could just line up again, we’ll get the signing moving.”

“You’re not telling the rest about the workshop?” he asked under his breath.

“They can enter the drawing when they get their books signed,” I said over my shoulder.

“Fair.”

I nodded. “Finally, something we can agree on.”

The growl that came from his chest didn’t do anything to help my awareness of him, but at least he didn’t try to talk over me for once.

Colette came outside with a strip of old timey raffle tickets that looked like they belonged at a fair. That woman was ready for anything. “Goddess,” I said quietly.

She gave me a winning smile. “I’ll take that.”

We directed Colette to hand out the raffle tickets to the people who were inside, then they’d get a second ticket when they got their book or books signed inside.

“Happy now, killjoy?” Penn asked over my shoulder.

I whipped around to frown at him.

“Not you this time, Duchess.” He nodded to Christian, who still had his arms crossed over his massive chest, but at least he’d stopped with the nostril flares of annoyance.

Christian just stationed himself by the large window. “I’ll just make sure we maintain order.”

Penn rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

He disappeared inside and I was loathe to have to follow him, but we needed to get this show on the road again.

If only I could ignore that bonfire scent of him that made me crazy. I veered off to my side of the tables and found Ryan at her table throwing out tarot cards in a big spread.

I couldn’t help myself from stopping. “Who are you reading for?”

She gave me a secret smile. “Oh, no one.” She scooped the cards up, but not before I caught the two of cups, judgment, and the tower in her pile.

Because I lived for research and had featured a tarot card reader in one of my early books, I knew they were not amazing cards.

I really hoped they didn’t have anything to do with me.

TEN

“Just how long are yougoing to be signing your fingers off, mate?”