Page 26 of Crossing Paths
“That’s why I try to act how my gran taught me. I know that’s my way out of that life.”
Her chest warmed at the idea. “I’m glad you had her. If I didn’t have my sisters, I’d probably be right there in the getaway car with my mom.”
“Nah.” His voice was certain. “You’re stronger than that.”
Even though she doubted the truth of that, she liked that he’d said it anyway.
“Ready?” He jerked his head toward the bar.
She resisted the urge to tell him to drive them home. Dutch’s wasn’t her favorite place. “I guess.”
“Don’t worry.” He must’ve picked up on her reluctance. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Norah frowned. The whole reason she’d started training with him was that she was tired of being the weak link who couldn’t keepherselfsafe. “Please don’t treat me like I’m fragile. If you hadn’t noticed, I have several sisters who already do that.”
He eyed her for a long second before finally raising one shoulder in a partial shrug. “Nope. Can’t help it. I’m going to keep protecting you.” Leaving her momentarily speechless, heopened his door and got out.
“You can’t just…” She trailed off when she realized he’d already closed his door and was three-quarters of the way around the front of the SUV. Realizing what he was about to do, she fumbled for the door handle, but it was too late. Her door swung open, and Dash waited for her to get out, looking rather too pleased with himself.
“Smug is not a good look on you.” Even as she said it, she knew her words rang false. Everything was a good look for Dash. His mouth twitched up at the corner as if he knew what she was thinking. With a sigh that was embarrassingly close to a huff, she slid out of the SUV and allowed him to close the door.
As she crossed the parking lot, she tried to come up with a plan to convince Dash to quit treating her like she was breakable. She couldn’t figure out how a guy who she paid to beat her up—albeit gently—on the regular had turned into a white knight who opened her car door and wouldn’t even swear around her, not to mention his insisting on beating and/or killing all her harassers.
“Need to see your ID.”
Norah jerked her head up to see the huge bouncer right in front of her. She’d been so distracted by thoughts of Dash that she hadn’t even noticed him or her trek across the creepiest, shadowiest parking lot in town. Normally, just the idea of going to Dutch’s made her want to hide under her bed, but this time, she’d marched right up to the terrifyingly huge and scowling bouncer without even a shiver of apprehension. She darted a quick glance at Dash next to her. Despite his annoyinglyexcessive protective side, she had to admit he was an excellent distraction.
She pulled out her license and handed it to the bouncer, whose frown deepened as he read it. “No.”
“What?” Genuinely startled, Norah stared at him. “Why? I’m over twenty-one.”
“You Pax women are trouble.”
She grimaced. Jane’s bad reputation had stained the whole family. Norah was used to everyone thinking she and her sisters were trash just because Jane played a little fast and loose with the law. “I’m not like my mom, I promise. I’ve never stolen anything in my life.”
He rolled his eyes as he returned her license. “Your mom never caused any trouble here. Your sisters though…”
“Oh!” Norah was startled into smiling. For once, her sisters were the cause of the trouble, not her sticky-fingered mother. “Don’t worry. I’m the quiet one.”
“That’s what the one who blew up the bar said.”
“Technically, Sonny Zarver was the one—”
“And that’s what the one who caused a brawl, a shoot-out behind the bar,anda visit from the feds said.” Peering at her face more closely, his eyebrows drew together until they touched. “Hey, you were here that night!”
“Yes, but only because I wasdraggedhere against my better judgment.”
Dash coughed, but it sounded like he was disguising a laugh. He held out some folded bills. “We won’t cause trouble.”
For a long moment, the bouncer eyed the money as ifdebating whether it’d be worth whatever drama Norah and Dash would cause, but then he heaved a silent sigh and accepted the bills. “If either of you even breathes funny, you’re out, and I won’t be gentle about it.”
Norah opened her mouth to protest the unfairness, since her sisters hadn’t caused any of the previous chaos at Dutch’s. Well, they hadn’t causedmostof it, and what they had started was for a good and fairly lawful reason. Before any words could escape, Dash wrapped an arm around her back and swept her through the door.
“One more strike, and you and your hundred and one sisters will be out for good!” the bouncer called after them.
The door swung shut behind them, cutting off her chance to respond, and she gave Dash a reproving look.
“I know,” he said. “But arguing was just going to piss him off.” His mouth quirked up as he looked down at her with amusement mixed with approval. “Didn’t think you were the type to fight with the bouncer.”
