Chapter 3
Alley
It was the kids' turn to shine.
Once we got everything, and everyone, through the doors, I pushed my things to the edge of the room so we could let the children do their thing.
With their very own wagon filled with two huge baskets heaping full of items for the dogs, cats, rabbits, and more, along with sacks of food too, all four kids struggled to push their goodies to the table outside the event room that housed the volunteers for the Humane Society.
They insisted they didn’t need our help, so we followed their lead. Authors, PAs, volunteers for the signing, along with hotel staff watched with smiles on their faces and vast interest. Little grunts echoed in the open space as the kids worked their way to their destination.
“We have a donation for you,” Embry announced with enthusiasm. At twelve, she always took charge and led the pack of kids.
My daughter, Noelle, hung on to her cousin's hand, nodding proudly.
“We love animals!” Hudson, Embry’s eight-year-old brother, exclaimed.
The two women sat at the table, eyes rounded with pleasant surprise. “This is wonderful,” they gushed with excitement.
“We know a lot of people and are very convincing,” Embry told the ladies, who laughed, along with many others around us taking in the scene.
Braxton moved close to his daughter and after getting permission to help, nudged the wagon against the wall next to the table. “We’ll all be here until after the signing, so we can help you take everything out to your cars and grab the wagon then.”
They stared at him, then both glanced around at our huge group. “All of you are staying for the signing?” one of the ladies asked.
He chuckled. “All of us but the kids.” Brax motioned to me. “My sister is signing today, and we came for moral support. Not that she needs it, but it’s kind of our thing.”
“Always the big brother,” I teased.
“That’s wonderful,” the other lady said. “And so are all these donations.” She addressed the little ones now. “You kids did such a fabulous thing here, and all these animals, along with the staff, thank you.”
Her hand fluttered across the table as she said it, and Dexter leaned over, taking in the pictures that lay on the table. “Wow, look at all the dogs and cats up for adoption. I have a dog.”
He turned around, waving to all the adults, motioning them forward. “You guys need to get one.”
After the words left his mouth, Noelle turned around with a set of puppy-dog eyes. She leveled those bright, baby blues at her father and me, and I knew we were in deep trouble.
Landon grabbed my hand, and we moved up behind her, where she was now pointing at a picture of an adorable cameo cream-colored Persian cat with amazing blue eyes like hers and the cutest squished face.
“I’m pretty sure we are getting a cat,” my husband said quietly, leaning into me.
He wasn’t quiet enough, though, because the ladies and all our friends laughed. My brother had the biggest mouth, so I pierced him with a stare, winked, and then, letting go of my husband's hand, I leaned over, tossing my arms around my niece and nephew’s shoulders.
“Show your daddy which one you guys like,” I said in a sugary-sweet tone.
“You pick,” Embry told her brother.
“Wait,” Braxton cut in. “What do you mean, pick?”
Jurnee saddled up to her husband’s side and wrapped an arm around him. “I think you've been had, sweetheart.”
“I want this one,” Hudson interrupted, pointing at an older-looking black lab.
“That’s a dam—” Embry spun around, and I caught myself. “That’s a darn good choice,” I said.
“Mom,” Noelle said. “You almost got caught.”
Embry shook her head. “I could have made a killing here with my swear jar if you let me stay.” Then her eyes lit up. “Maybe you could just leave it on the corner of your table, and people can drop the money in when they say bad words.”
Everyone snickered at that request.
“I don’t think so, kiddo.” I rested my hand on her beautiful blonde head. “But I will convince your dad you guys need a dog.”
“Deal,” she said. Then she spun around to look at her father, and that’s all it took.
My brother sighed, then turned toward the volunteers. “So how does this work?”
I nudged my husband. “You may as well listen in,” I told him.
“If all the kids were here, we’d all be in trouble,” Rowan said.
Embry scanned the group, then, with determination in her eyes, announced, “I’m going to talk to the others, so beware.”
“May as well take a peek now,” I teased Rowan, earning a playful glare.
Only a few in the group had pets, but it looked like more of us would be adding to our families. With the new addition of babies recently, we were really creating a whole army.
I looked around the group, taking them all in, and I knew I was a lucky girl to have them in my life. They’d all come for me.
My husband, Braxton and Jurnee, Gyth and Summer, Teal and Kace, Rowan and Brinley, Lyric and Ruby, Gemma and Bodie, Capri and Paxton, Lance and London, Bronson and Lake, Huntley and River, and the latest to make it official, Jett and Patience.
The kids would have all gladly come too if they could have, but it was only for those eighteen and older because of some of the content. It would be interesting to see how the guys reacted to the whole event and some of the things they might see.
“Can a couple of you guys help me get my things to my table so Brinley and I can set it up?”
Running behind already, I needed to get a move on.
Rowan, Lyric, and Bronson jumped in to help, grabbing my stuff.
Before I headed into the main room, I leaned over and kissed my husband. “See you in a bit,” I told him.
He needed to make sure Noelle was good to go. Jurnee’s parents were picking the kids up and taking them back to their house. Our daughter would stay the night there, and we’d pick her up in the morning.
Missing her would be a given, but I was looking forward to a night alone with my husband. It might seem silly staying in a hotel when we lived not too far away, but it was like taking a one-night vacation.
And I planned to make it a good one.
Motioning to the guys and Brinley, I said, “Follow me.”
I waved at everyone else. “See you soon.”
It was about to go down.
Excitement traveled through my body as we waited the last few minutes before the doors opened to let people in.
I scanned my table to make sure everything was in place, then glanced around the room. I’d taken a lap around it once already to meet people, check out their tables, and take a peek at their books.
Brinley was a hoot. She was in book heaven. Not only did she plan on buying some books, but she also met authors that she talked with and planned on stocking their stuff in her bookstore too. And if that wasn’t enough, she most likely gained some new clients she would be editing for.
My friend was amazing as she was, just as my others were as well. One of my friends owned amazing non-profits for kids; a few were in the nursing field; one was an EMT; another taught grade school; then there was a therapist, a model, and more.
The men in our group were no slouches either. My brother and friends ran No Surrender, a security company that dealt with other things too. There was a policeman in the group, a firefighter, and I couldn’t forget my hot lawyer husband. Most of them were ex-military.
I was surrounded daily by phenomenal men and women who showed me about love, devotion, and friendship. Their love stories were those that books were made from. Each of them inspired me in many ways and also gave me ideas for some of the stories I had written.
My gaze drifted to the tables close to me. I’d already met some killer authors and exchanged information with them to keep in touch.
Sasha Marshal was the woman who ran the Hot I thought that if anyone needed a pick-me-up, she was your girl.
Her fun spirit and bright smile lit up the room.
Next, I turned to the woman behind me, Randi.
I’d met her at a previous signing, and we hit it off.
I was so glad she had come to this one. She was kicking butt and taking names under two pen names: R.
Valentine, writing paranormal romance, and Ariadne Breyland, who writes Romantasy.
I must add that she was way better at social media than I was and had been kind enough to give me some hints to help me out.
There were so many amazing authors here, some local to the PNW who didn’t live far from me, like SM Stryker. I’d eyeballed her table on the way around the room, and she was definitely on my list of books I needed to check out.
I’d met many others as well, most of them new to me.
I was looking forward to talking to everyone more, but there was one person I was missing for sure.
My author friend J.E. Parker wasn’t able to attend.
I tried to get her here, but it wasn’t in the cards this time around.
Her hot covers and awesome books would be missed.
“Eek, are you ready, girl?” Brinley asked, clapping as she bounced on her butt in the chair next to me.
I tossed up my hand for a high five, and she smacked my palm with enthusiasm. When the ladies around us started laughing, we reached out and snagged high fives from them too.
My gaze drifted to the line that had accumulated outside the doors, filled with VIP guests waiting to get in.
Then, a few hours after that, even more people would arrive for general admission.
All my friends were in the group coming in at an earlier time.
Since all the girls got VIP tickets, their husbands decided that’s what they would do too.
Silent laughter rumbled inside me.
Anticipation rolled through me as we waited, but then a huge smile stretched across my face when I saw them all walk in together like a conga line. I wasn’t prepared to see the men waltz in with VIP book bags slung over one shoulder.
Brinley and I laughed like hyenas when we caught sight of them, and I had her snapping pictures to keep as memorabilia.
And maybe for some jokes or blackmail too.
I wasn’t wrong, though. If I’d thought they’d had heads turning outside, it was nothing compared to when they made their grand entrance.
It was a sight to behold.