Page 42 of Crossing Paths
“Bruiser’s car,” Norah corrected, drawing a laugh from Molly and a growl from Dash. “Did you eat already?”
“Twice, but I’ll stay while you eat.”
His words made her stomach warm. “Okay. We’re going to get your SUV first so Mr. P doesn’t see you driving off in it.” She was tempted to mention Bruiser again but decided she’d teased him enough. It was just funny how unexpectedly annoyed he was by her imaginary dating situation.
He just grunted, but it sounded more like agreement this time and less like his grumpy inner badger was speaking for him.
“We’re turning onto Rock Street now. See you in a minute.” At his sound of acknowledgment, she moved to end the call but then hesitated. “Dash?”
“Yeah?” He must’ve heard something in her tentative tone, because he responded with an actual word.
“Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
Two words!Ending the call, she rested the hand holding her phone against her thigh, looking out the side window so Molly couldn’t see her smiling.
“You’re so gone on this guy.” Molly practically sang the words, and Norah had to laugh. Of course her sister already knew.
Ten
Cara decided she needed some fries too, so she rode along in Molly’s car while Norah drove Dash’s SUV to Bubbles. She didn’t want to mess up his settings for such a short trip, so she perched on the edge of the driver’s seat, stretching her leg to reach the pedals. It reminded her just howbigDash was, and she found herself flushing for absolutely no sensible reason for the entire drive.
As she parked in the diner’s small lot, she blew out a relieved breath and turned off the engine. She’d worried that something would happen while she was responsible for the vehicle, but she’d managed to get it here without adding any dents or scratches.
As she climbed out of the driver’s seat, she looked around, trying to be subtle about it but probably failing. Not only was she extra paranoid lately thanks to Leifsen, but now she had to worry about whether Detective Mill was lying in wait somewhere, ready to leap out when he saw her and Dash together.
The only other people in the lot were an older coupleslowly making their way to their car. Norah gave them her usual awkward stranger-greeting smile before hurrying toward the entrance. She knew she wouldn’t relax until she was inside, away from all sorts of spying eyes—whether real or imaginary.
The bell on the door jangled as she pushed inside, relieved to see that the small restaurant was mostly empty. It was a strange time—midafternoon—to be having a meal, and she figured it was late enough for most of the lunch crowd to have finished and left. She spotted Dash and her sisters at a table in the corner, and she smiled reflexively at the sight of him.
Dash watched her approach. His scowl and intense stare would’ve frightened off just about anyone else, but she found it oddly comforting. That was just how Dash looked. He had resting grump face.
He stood as she arrived at the table and pulled out the chair next to him for her. She eyed him sideways as she sat. “Is this like a not-swearing or car-door-opening thing?”
“Manners, you mean?” The corner of his mouth twitched up as he took his seat. “Yeah, my gran’s ghost would smack me on the back of the head if I wasn’t polite.”
Fighting an answering smile, she glanced across the table at her sisters, who were watching, fascinated. “What?” she asked self-consciously.
Molly and Cara exchanged a look before chorusing, “Nothing.”
Wanting the attention off her, Norah grabbed the small menu from the holder in the center of the table.
“Don’t you have that memorized?” Molly asked good-naturedly, turning her chair a little so she had a better view ofthe room. “We come here enough that I bet I could recite it word for word.” Pseudo casually, she glanced around, taking in the room. Molly hated having her back to strangers.
For a moment, Norah was surprised that Molly hadn’t taken her seat, but then she realized that her sisters had left it open for her because it was next to Dash. Flushing at the thought that this was sort of like a date—a well-chaperoned one—she studied the very familiar menu even more thoroughly. “They might have added something new,” she answered as her face heated even more. She knew without looking up that her sisters were smirking at her down-bent head.
“Mm-hmm,” was all Molly said, but Norah could feel her amusement from across the table.
“Oh, here.” Remembering she still had Dash’s keys, she pulled them from her pocket and handed them to him. Feeling the devil on her shoulder give her a bit of a poke with his pitchfork, she added, “Tell Bruiser thanks for lending it to me.”
With a look that just about set her hair on fire, Dash wrapped his fingers over not only the keys but her entire hand. “I’ll do that.”
The threatened retribution in the growled words made her want to squirm, but she forced herself to hold still. The feel of his hand enveloping hers sent a buzzing prickle along the length of her spine, and her heart beat quickly in her chest. It was a scary feeling but safe at the same time, like watching a horror movie or riding a roller coaster. She knew in her gut that Dashiell Porter would never hurt her.
Molly’s voice reminded her that they weren’t alone. “Since Idon’t have popcorn, I’m going to need some fries.”
Norah tried to pull free of Dash’s grip, but he had her hand fully and utterly caught. Very slowly, he released her and snagged his keys from her now-exposed palm. It took her a few seconds before she dropped her hand.
