Page 32 of Downward Dawg
“Sure do. Knees in the breeze is the only way to travel.” Jamie hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got my duties to take care of for another two hours, then we’ll tear down. The boys can help with that though. Wanna meet in the bar?”
“Absolutely.” Mad Dawg dug out his phone and unlocked it, handing it over. Jamie entered a number and sent himself a text, testified to by the ding from his pants pocket. “Just let me know when you’ve got a minute.”
Ella was standing in front of the table, chatting with Sapphire as Jamie made his way back to the author’s side of the surface. Mad Dawg’s gaze fixed on his woman, soaking up her pleasure and enjoyment at something so simple as connecting with an old friend.
She’s absolutely the most perfect woman for me.
As if feeling the weight of his gaze on her, she glanced at him over her shoulder. Face glowing with her excitement, she blew him a kiss. He lifted a hand and caught it, then noticed another banner just up the aisle.
“Hey.” He stepped closer. “Did you know D.M. Earl is here? She’s the writer with those movies we like, right?” Mad Dawg gathered the bags again, shifting the weight around until it was comfortable. “I’ve got Jamie’s number. He’ll let me know when they’ve got time for a drink or meal. I’m going to walk on a minute. I really want to meet D.M.” He stopped short, nearly stumbling. “What do I say to her? God, am I nervous? I never got nervous even when people were shooting at me. But Tink was such a great character.”
Sapphire laughed and shook her head, multicolored locks flying everywhere. “Just be yourself and tell her how much you enjoyed her work. That’s all any of us ever want to hear.”
“Be myself.” He rolled his shoulders back, lifting his head. “Yeah. I can do that.”
“Channel your inner badass,” Ella told him. “You got this, Dawg.”
“Oh, her name is Dawn.” Jamie threw in. “She’s biker, through and through. Good people. You’ll do fine, man.”
“Be myself, channel my badass, and remember her name is Dawn.” Mad Dawg threw Ella a self-deprecating grin. “I got this.”
“You so do.” She lifted to her toes, lips pursed in a silent demand he was glad to meet. The kiss was gentle, closed mouthed, soft and sweet. “My badass.”
“Always yours.”
As he stepped around her and down the aisle, he thought fleetingly of the tiny box hidden in his drawer at her house. It was past time to let his woman know he saw them as a forever thing.
Soon as we get home and pick up Nuggie. Gonna make her my wife.
“Hi,” he said to the woman in front of him as he joined the line in front of D.M.’s table.
“Hello,” she responded automatically. “Wait. Holy crap. Has anyone told you how much you look like Jamie Knight?”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “A couple of folks.”
Her turn was next, so she faced the author and Mad Dawg glanced back to see Ella still in conversation with Sapphire. Once the woman in front of him took the perquisite selfie with the author, it was his turn.
“Hi.” His mouth flapped closed and refused to open again.
“How are you?” D.M. stared up at him with a quizzical expression. “I’m D.M.”
“I know. You’re D.M. Earl. Dawn. You wrote Tink. My girlfriend and I love that movie. It’s amazing. How you captured the actual experience of a club, even from the female perspective, is amazing. It’s amazing. I already said that.” Once the dam opened the stream of nonsensical words flowed without pause. “I didn’t know you’d be here, or I’d have brought a book for you to sign. My girlfriend might have one, but I don’t know. She’s back down the way, but I couldn’t wait to meet you.” He sucked in a breath, willing himself to shut up. “Hi, I’m Mad Dawg.”
Laughter came from beside him as Ella stepped close. “I do have a book, but I also have a preorder. Hi, D.M.”
“Elodie,” D.M. exclaimed, rising from her seat. “Come give me one, sister. I need me one of your good vibe hugs.”
Mad Dawg stood there and watched the woman who’d becomehisfavorite author hug his favorite woman, and found he was just slightly jealous.
Then D.M. stepped around the table and approached him. “Put down the bags, big man, and give me a hug.”
And he did just that.
Epilogue
Elodie
Breathing in deeply, modeling what she wanted her class to do, Elodie transferred from cat/cow pose to a plank, sounding out a promise in a singsong. “We won’t be here more than a count of fifteen. Just until our muscles start to tremble. Now ten, and count it down with me so I know you’re breathing.”
