Page 63 of Crossing Paths
“Then you wouldn’t have to go out with her.”
“Are you sure you don’t have Mafia roots?”
“Pretty sure.” He shrugged. “I could ask my great-aunt though.”
She laughed, tickled by the thought of this surly beast of a man having a sweet little auntie who’d been involved in organized crime.
His answering smile came and went quickly. “I’m going with you tomorrow.”
She blinked. That had been easier than expected. “I was hoping you would.”
“What time?”
“Nine.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven. We’ll get food first.”
“Um…okay?” Somehow, an unpleasant few hours trying to figure out why an old acquaintance was being so persistently friendly had turned into an official date…not that she minded at all.
He leaned over the center console and kissed her firmly before getting out of the SUV. The kiss was so unexpected and intense and fast, it took a few seconds for her to come down off her Dash-inspired cloud. By that time, he’d rounded the hood and was opening her door for her.
Even without seeing it, she knew her scowl was unconvincing. “One of these days,” she told him as she took his proffered hand and stepped out of the SUV, “I’m not going to fall for that trick.”
He gave her his full-fledged smile, and it dazed her just as much as his kiss had. Keeping hold of her hand, he led her to the driver’s side of Molly’s car. When Dash didn’t immediately moveto open her door, she glanced at him, surprised by the un-Dash-like hesitation. He was glaring across the road at a nondescript sedan. When Norah followed his gaze, she saw Detective Mill was in the driver’s seat, watching them.
“Wonder if he’s been here all afternoon,” she said under her breath as she reached for the door handle. The detective’s stare made the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and she wanted to be out of his view. Before her fingers touched the handle, Dash’s big hand made it there first. Without looking away from Mill, he opened the door and ushered Norah into the car.
“What’s his deal with you?” he muttered, glancing at her as if to make sure she was in before closing the door with a solid thump. His scowl had returned, and his muscles vibrated with an annoyed energy that Norah didn’t think she should find as attractive as she did. She started the car and rolled down the window so she could answer.
“His partner was dirty, and we were part of the reason he was arrested.” Norah condensed the long, scary event into one sentence. If she mentioned that his arrest had been preceded by her wearing a belt full of explosives and Molly and John being shot at as they dodged booby traps, she had a feeling Dash would never let her out of his sight again. That wouldn’t bebad, but she was sure he had insurance claims to file and all sorts of other things to do that didn’t involve babysitting her.
“There’s more to that story.” It was like he could read her mind.
“Yes,” she admitted. “You’re not the only one who can answer truthfully while leaving a lot of important things out.”She smiled at him to show she wasn’t really annoyed. In fact, she was looking forward to doing some research on him. There was nothing she liked better than solving an interesting mystery.
He smirked at her before leaning in for a final kiss. “Stay safe. Text me if you need me.”
The different definitions ofneeding himbounced through her mind, and she knew she was blushing yet again. All she could manage was a flustered nod and one of her trademark awkward waves before rolling up the window. As soon as he stepped away from the car, she pulled forward, wanting to get away from Detective Mill’s watchful gaze almost as much as she didn’t want to leave Dash.
Tomorrow night, she reminded herself, unable to hold back a smile. Who would have thought she’d be smiling about spending time with Laken Albee, but the woman didn’t seem to matter much anymore—not when Dash would be with Norah.
An unfamiliar beep made her jump. As soon as she was out of sight of Detective Mill, she pulled over and checked her new phone. It was just a spam text, and she deleted it. She started to put her phone down but then hesitated.
“Just do it, you chicken,” she scolded herself before pulling up Chloe’s contact info.
Hi. This is Norah.She was tempted to add a smiley face, but Devon Leifsen had ruined them for her. Before she could reconsider, she quickly sent the text, her heart thumping as if she’d done something terrifying. Putting her phone in the cupholder, she moved to put Molly’s car back in drive when she heard the beep of an incoming text.
Her stomach was jittery but settled instantly as she read it and laughed.Norah!!! Finally!!!
Norah barely had three letters entered before a second text from Chloe showed up.
Can you sing?
Um…not like you can, but I’m okay. Why?
You and me. Chico’s. Tomorrow. Open mic night!!!
Her stomach instantly clamped down again before she remembered her plans at Dutch’s.Can’t. Have a date.
