Page 49 of The One Night Dash
I reach over the back of the seat and snag the bottle chilling in the ice bucket. “Already ahead of you, Noelle.” I pop the cork with a lowthudand hold up the label so she can see. “This isn’t gas station bubbly. This is the good stuff—Veuve Clicquot. Classy, right? Doesn’t even have a screw top.”
She laughs, the sound spilling out of her like champagne bubbles, and takes the flute I pour for her.
“Not what we drank in college, huh?”
Her nose wrinkles. “God, don’t remind me. That was more sugar water than wine.”
“Yeah, and gave us hangovers from hell,” I say, clinking my glass against hers before taking a slow sip.
The SUV slows to a stop in front of the bakery. I drain my glass, set it down, and slide out. “Be right back.”
Inside, I don’t half-ass it. I point, nod, and order like a man on a mission: cheesecake, strawberry shortcakes, chocolate mousse domes, lemon tarts, almond croissants, cannolis, macarons in every color they have, and more.
When I slide back in the SUV, Noelle’s eyes go wide, then narrow. “Dash … what did youdo?”
“Secured our happy ending,” I tell her, pulling out a couple of the pastry boxes and setting them on my lap. “Don’t worry, Noelle; I’m sure I got your favorite in here somewhere.”
Joel glances in the rearview mirror, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. I hand a smaller box up to him over the seat. “A couple of eclairs and some cannolis for you, Joel. Thanks for putting up with us.”
He chuckles, a low, easy sound. “Much appreciated.”
When I turn back to her, she’s staring at her screen, mouth agape.
“Hand it over.” I hold out my hand. “You don’t need to deal with anything but me, you, desserts, and whatever else we may get down to tonight.”
When she hands me the phone, I’m a little shocked and dare I say hopeful that she’s being agreeable? And then I see the text chain.
Sofie
Dash flew out last night. No one knows where he is. Everyone’s freaking out.
Nalani
Correction, we didn’t, but we do now. He’s with YOU!
Claudia
Girl. Pics don’t lie. Dancing. Sitting with college buds. And, yep, arm around you, getting in the SUV.
Right in the middle, she replied.
Noelle
Do NOT freak out. Seriously. It’s fine.
Three seconds later, the flood resumes.
Sofie
They call him the ONE NIGHT DASH. Noelle, tell me you didn’t.
Nalani
If you did … bless you. Also, DETAILS.
Claudia
He looks like trouble. Delicious trouble. But still trouble.
