“Does she ride,” Ella scoffed.“Only every day, rides her own most of the time.I’m a little jealous, because she gets to ride beside her old man.That’s Raggedy Dan there, next to Mad Dawg.You remember Mad Dawg, right?”
“Depends.Did he bring his courage this time, or is he back to his old blushing self again?”Dawn laughed low and rich, sounding comfortable among friends.
“You can’t hold me to what I did two years ago, Dawn.”
“You better believe I can.”Dawn reached out to pull Mad Dawg into a hug.“Good to see you, big man.”
“Good to see you, too, momma.”
“And who is this hanging around on your six?”
“Dan Sharp, ma’am.Raggedy Dan.I’m a brother of this one and old man to Riley.”
As she always did when he said his name proudly, Riley closed her eyes and swallowed hard until the tears no longer threatened.Leaning close, she rested her head against his shoulder, feeling the heat from the sweltering temperature outside still baking from his skin.
“I love you, Raggedy Dan.”
“Backatcha, Riley girl.Backatcha.”
“Aren’t they just the cutest?”Dawn laughed again.“I can nearly see an MC romance come to life in front of my eyes.I bet they’ve got a hella story to tell.”
“Don’t we all, D.M.?”A gorgeous woman in a beautiful dress stood behind the table to their left.“I agree, hey.They’re just the cutest.”She held out her hand.“Kathleen Kelly.What do you like to read, Riley?”
“Oh, I read about anything.”She leaned towards the woman’s table, giggling when Dan followed her without question.“What do you write?”
“Well, considering we’re at the Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem book signing, I will admit to writing under two of those genres.MC romance and paranormal MC.Have you read the MacKenny Brothers Series?”She pointed to a trio of books on her table.
“Oh, hell yeah,Spark.I loved that book.”
“Makes my heart warm to hear it.”
“Can I buy all three and have them signed?”
“You sure can.I’d be happy to.Want a photo too?”Kathleen sat down and pulled the three books towards her.“Do I make them out to Riley?Is that with one ‘Y’ or two?”
“Yes to the photo, of course.Riley with one ‘Y’.Forgive me if I’m being rude, but where are you from?”
Kathleen laughed as did the man standing behind the table next to her.“Not rude at all.I’m from Australia, just over for the signing.”
“Hey, I’m Stephen, her other half.”The man held his hand out to Dan, who accepted it with a look of gratitude.“And you are?”
“I’m Raggedy Dan, Riley’s ole man.”
“Well met, Raggedy Dan.”Stephen turned to Kathleen.“Do you need a bag or bookmarks, love?”
“Yes, please, to both.”Kathleen turned her smile on Dan.“Raggedy Dan, that does sound like it’s got a story behind it.I think D.M.is right, you both are an MC romance in the flesh.”
“If that’ll make Riley happy, then yes, we are.”Dan smiled at Riley.“I’d do just about anything for this woman.”
“He’s not kidding, either,” Ella piped up behind them, having finished her conversation with Dawn.“Hey Kathleen, SL, it’s so good to see you both again.”
“Yoga lady,” Stephen said brightly, giving a wave to Mad Dawg.“I remember you.”
“That’ll be twenty-four dollars,” Kathleen said, tucking the books into a bag.“And now for the picture.Come on in close, pretty girl.Dan, would you like to be in the photo too?”
To Riley’s surprise, he nodded, handing his phone to Ella.“Take a couple so we know we’ve got a good one,” he told her, stepping to Riley’s side so she was smushed happily between them.She adjusted her ponytail as she looked up at Dan, and he was smiling at the camera.
“Riley,” Dawg said, but she couldn’t turn away from the sight of Dan’s uncovered face smiling radiantly while surrounded by strangers.This would have been his horror story a year ago, but now?“Riley,” Dawg called again, and she turned to face front just as Ella snapped a handful of photos.