Page 80 of Crossing Paths
“I know.” Reaching across the center console, she patted his clenched fist. “But that was just to check me out and see whatI’d been drugged with. They sent me home soon after.”Home to be watched over by four overprotective sisters and oneextremelyoverprotective Dash.
He blew out a rough breath, and she patted him again. If their roles had been reversed and he’d been the one drugged, almost kidnapped, and then hospitalized—even briefly—she would’ve wanted to keep him wrapped in very soft blankets in a secure location too, so she could empathize with how he felt. Still, she didn’t want to be trapped at home forever, so she brought out the big guns.
“Didn’t you want to take me on a nice, nonviolent date?”
“Yes.” The answer was grudging, almost sullen, and she weirdly found that—and him—adorable. She was so gone on him, it was ridiculous.
“Well, here’s our chance.” She gestured toward the busy, well-lit path leading away from the Saturn Canyon parking area.Well, nonviolent anyway.She was reserving judgment on thenicepart, since she wasn’t exactly a nature person, and the rocky cliffs loomed ominously above them, matte black against a star-studded sky. Plus, outside the venue lighting, bunches of evergreens created shadowy potential hiding places for stalkers, and she was still wary after the whole thing with Leifsen watching her.
The police had found feeds on his laptop from three high-resolution cameras Leifsen had planted the first of several times he’d broken into her house—in the kitchen, living room, and her bedroom. She was relieved he hadn’t put one in the bathroom; knowing he’d watched her in her bedroom was traumaticenough. Every time she’d changed her passwords and upped her security, he’d been watching. It was no wonder he’d been able to hack into their laptops. It’d been extraordinarily satisfying to find, remove, and reprogram the cameras for her sisters to use in the field. Charlie had suggested smashing them with a hammer, which would’ve also been pleasant, but she couldn’t waste such expensive tech. Plus, there was something especially gratifying about Leifsen funding equipment to help them bring in other skips.
Dash’s skeptical grunt drew Norah’s attention away from their ominous surroundings. “Please? I really want to hear Chloe’s band…and dance with you again.” She channeled Warrant and offered Dash her very best pleading puppy eyes.
His only response after a long pause was another grunt, but she knew ayeswhen she heard it. With an excitedmeep!, she reached for her door handle, only to pause at his “Wait.”
She rolled her eyes the entire time it took for him to get out and round the front of his SUV, but she did what he asked. When he opened her door for her, she tried to hold an exasperated expression, but she was too excited. The whole way along the trail, she clung to Dash’s hand and barely kept herself from bouncing.
Dash kept glancing at her, seeming reluctantly amused by her excitement, although she could tell the majority of his attention was on their surroundings. Except for a possible stray mountain lion or bear, she was pretty sure they weren’t in any danger, but she knew he wouldn’t let his guard down where her safety was concerned for a long time…probably not ever.
The entrance was a natural gap between two boulders. The bouncer checked their IDs and accepted the cover charge perfunctorily, which was a nice change from the one at Dutch’s. Her gaze drifted to his shaved head, and she had to cough to hide a laugh.
Once they were out of the man’s earshot, Dash leaned close to ask, “What’s funny?”
“Guess itispart of the bouncer uniform.” When he gave her a strange look, she ran a hand over her head, and his mouth crooked up as if he understood.
“No hair to grab in a fight.”
“Very logical.” She looked around, taking in the space. The canyon was a natural small amphitheater, the rocky ground sloping slightly upward away from the stage. Even the long bar to the side of the stage fit the setting, looking as if it’d been carved out of the rock surrounding it. Although the canyon was well-lit, the stars were still bright and clear, seemingly closer than in Langston. The place was crowded, and Norah was still uneasy in the midst of all the people, but having Dash there made it bearable. In fact, when he squeezed her hand and gave her that smoldering look he seemed to reserve just for her, everyone around them faded away.
Dash worked his way through the people, and Norah latched on to the back of his belt more from habit and for comfort than because she was actually concerned with being separated from him. There were a couple of stools at the bar open, and Norah climbed onto one and took a better look around as Dash ordered drinks for them.
The other end of the bar butted up to the side of the elevated stage where the band was setting up. She spotted long blond milkmaid braids and raised her hand to wave, only to pause in the middle of the motion, worried that Chloe would just look at her blankly, not recognizing her.
“Chloe!” Dash’s voice was gruff but still carried across the space.
Chloe turned, scanning for who’d called out for her. When her gaze snagged on Norah and Dash, she grinned and waved her arms over her head. “Norah, my favorite! You came!”
Flushed but pleased, Norah offered a return wave as Dash gave her hip an encouraging squeeze.
“Come find me after!” Chloe called, giving her one last smile before returning to setting up.
Turning on her stool until she faced Dash, Norah realized she was grinning.
He raised a teasing eyebrow. “Should I be jealous?”
She shrugged, too happy and too comfortable with him to be embarrassed by her girl crush. “Probably. If she invites me to run away with her in her van, I’d give it serious consideration.”
Dash just smiled at her as he slid a drink in front of her. She looked at it, a little wary since her last drink at a bar had been doctored. “It’s just Coke. Figured you’d rather have this than water.”
“I would, thanks.” She took a sip as her nerves settled. Dash had gotten the drinks, and there was no way he’d let anything happen to her again. He’d apologized at least a hundred times for focusing on the arguers rather than their table when Lakenhad given her that water with the cap removed. She knew he felt horribly guilty about not protecting her, but she also knew she should’ve been less trusting, especially with Laken of all people.
She and Kenslee were both out on bail after being arrested for their part in Leifsen’s plan, but Norah didn’t think they’d bother her. Her sisters had been loud about hoping the two women would skip out on their bonds so the Paxes would have an opportunity to tackle them and drag them back to jail. Norah couldn’t blame her sisters. She would’ve felt the same if Laken and Kenslee had targeted any of them.
Pike and Carson had been released after extensive questioning by police, since they’d sworn up and down they’d thought the plan was to try to charm the location of the necklace out of Norah. They had no idea who Leifsen was, and the two men had no part in planning her drugging, interrogation, or attempted kidnapping.
By the time her glass was empty, the band had started playing, the natural acoustics of the canyon filling the night air with music, and Norah was bouncing along to the beat.
Dash slid off his stool and offered his hand as he leaned in, his mouth against her ear. “Dance?”
