Page 19 of Crossing Paths
“Wait!” the obstacle behind her protested. “We can work out together. I’ll help you with your form.”
She ignored his words, just as she ignored all the other sounds filling the gym as she maneuvered through the second half of her treasure trek. No one else tried to stop her, and she found herself almost disappointed as she neared Dash’s stock-still form. As quests went, that one had been fairly uneventful. Still, her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest, and a triumphant grin stretched her lips as she stopped right in front of Dash.
Norah felt as if she should do something to show she’d claimed her treasure chest, like boop his nose or write her name on hisforehead with a Sharpie or make him wear aProperty of NorahT-shirt or something.
Unable to think of any claiming gesture that wouldn’t be brutally embarrassing, she just stayed still and quiet.
He watched her with that intently focused stare, his amusement fading as his expression settled back into unreadable lines. “I didn’t have time to kick everyone out.”
“I know. I’m early. I was forced to make a dramatic exit from a coffee shop.” That didn’t seem complete, so she tacked on a simple, “Sorry.”
His left shoulder lifted, wordlessly brushing off her apology. She expected him to question her about why a dramatic exit had been called for, but he simply asked, “You okay training with other people in here?”
She was still buzzing with the adrenaline it took to cross the gym, creating an illusion of invincibility, so she gave a firm nod. “I’ll just keep focusing on you.”
His gaze sharpened even as the corner of his mouth twitched up again. For a moment, he looked like a deeply satisfied lion who’d just eaten his fill of antelope. “Do that.” His eyes flicked down to take in what she was wearing. She almost caved in her shoulders when she remembered she’d bought a new workout top and was wearing it for the first time, but she caught herself just in time and straightened her posture. To her relief, he didn’t comment on the way her new shirt hugged her slight curves. Instead, he just met her gaze and asked, “Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
***
After a workout so intense she’d actually forgotten about her larger-than-normal audience, Norah tried to decide whether she loved or hated assisted stretching. As Dash pressed on either side of her lower back, encouraging her to stretch just that little bit further, her hamstrings locked up in panicked protest before finally grudgingly releasing. His hands burned her skin through the fabric of her top, and she mentally grumbled at Cara for putting the term “sinewy” into her brain. Before that excruciating conversation, Norah had never put much thought into men’s hands, and now she couldn’t stop obsessing about Dash’s.
Thanks to her twisting thoughts, she didn’t notice when Dash released her, and she stayed bent over in the stretch until a clearing throat made her straighten. One of the gym members hovered over her, offering a smile and a hand up. Norah hid a grimace. She wasn’t a fan of touching people, especially complete strangers—and sweaty strangers at that. Pretending she didn’t see the oversize mitt, Norah got to her feet under her own power. Once upright, she concentrated a little too hard on dusting off her leggings just so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact.
“Are you done hogging the new member?” the stranger asked, and she recognized his voice as belonging to the man obstacle she’d dodged when she’d first arrived at the gym. “And are you going to introduce me?”
“No,” Dash said flatly, and Norah ducked her head to hide her pleased smile.
“Why not?” From the laughter clear in his voice, the burly stranger wasn’t offended by Dash’s curtness. “It’s the least youcan do when your gym is basically a sausage fest.”
Ignoring the last part, Dash gave an annoyed grunt. Unlike the other man, he didn’t sound at all amused. “She doesn’t want you hitting on her. This is a gym, not Tinder. Stop bothering us, and go practice your side kicks. They still need work.”
Norah couldn’t hide her smile that time. She was the worst at turning away unwanted attention, but apparently Dash was the best—even better than Chloe Ballister. If he wasn’t Gigantor-size, she’d carry him around in her pocket so she could pull him out to act as a buffer for any awkward social interaction. It would be so wonderful not to have to deal with pushy guys when all she wanted was a cup of coffee or groceries or to work out in peace. If only he’d been there during her encounter with Laken last night, he could’ve sent the woman scurrying away, and their unpleasant coffee date might never have had to happen.
With a good-natured grumble, the other guy finally took the hint and wandered off. Norah watched him go, but the sight of the other gym patrons eagerly taking in the encounter made her stomach tighten. She snapped her gaze back to Dash. It was much easier to pretend they were alone in the gym if she didn’t look at everyone else.
“Good job today,” he said gruffly, and Norah blinked.
“What?”
“Good job.” He spoke the words a little louder this time, and she allowed the praise to soak in and warm her from the inside out. “Especially with an audience.” He swung an arm to indicate the people around them.
Although everyone had returned to whatever they’d been doing once Dash sent the pushy guy away, Norah still felt the burn of many eyes on her. It had taken a boatload of concentration to push her self-consciousness away and focus on what Dash was trying to teach her.
“Thank you,” she said, tucking his praise into a safe place in her mind where she could take it out and bask in it later when she was alone. “See you on Friday?”
“Yeah, but not here,” he said. “I’ll text you the address.”
Norah blinked, startled by this change in their routine. She knew he had to have a good reason to switch training locations though, so she just nodded.
His mouth tightened a little. “Heard anything else from the hacker?”
“Yeah.” Norah grimaced. While floating in a happy sea of endorphins and Dash’s attention, she’d forgotten about Leifsen for an hour. Real life returned with a crash. “Last night.”
At her words, Dash seemed to grow another couple of sizes as he drew himself up. “What’d he do?” he growled. Before she could answer, he glanced over her shoulder and asked, “Hungry?”
