Page 81 of Crossing Paths
She didn’t think that would evernotgive her good shivers, even if they were together for decades. She smiled at the thought.
He took that as the agreement it was and towed her into the crowd in front of the stage. They danced to the rest of the fast-paced song before the next one slowed dramatically. Glancing up at Chloe, Norah saw the singer give her a wink before starting tocroon the lyrics of a ballad. Leaning against Dash’s chest as they swayed to the beat, Norah clung to him, enjoying the moment of happiness and contentment. After all, she knew the craziness that was her life recently would start up again as soon as this night was over.
Pushing away thoughts of her mom and skips and stolen necklaces and burned apartments, she decided to live in the moment, just for one evening with Dash. Tipping her head back, she looked up to see him smiling down at her—his real smile, the one it seemed like he reserved for her.
Too soon, the song ended, and the band crashed into another one with a rollicking beat. Reluctantly shifting away from Dash, she started bouncing along, laughing when he did as well, his liquid jungle-cat moves even more mesmerizing when he was dancing than when he was stalking someone.
Song after song, they danced, never looking away from each other for long. Norah felt euphoric and giggly, even though she’d only had a Coke to drink, just from having Dash’s entire focus.
“I’m so happy we decided to come here!” she told him loudly.
Leaning close—which she was starting to think he did just to have the excuse to touch his lips to her ear—he said just loud enough to hear, “I’m happy too.”
When she looked at him, she saw that was true. He looked really, truly happy, his scowl erased for the moment. She’d caused that. Her. Introverted, anxious, quiet Norah Pax. It was an incredible feeling to know she wasn’t the only one feeling love fizzing in her blood.
Clasping either side of his face, she pulled him down fora short, intense kiss. As the song ended, so did their kiss. He stared at her, his mouth slowly curling into a wicked grin.
“Now I’m even happier.”
Tipping her head back, she gave a laugh of true joy.
“Norah!” It took her a moment to realize Chloe was saying her name into the mic. “Miss Norah, get your cute little butt up here. If you’re not going to sing with me at open mic night, you’re going to sing with me right now.”
Instant anxiety crammed all her words into her throat, so she could only make a chokedacksound.
With an amused snort, Dash took her hand. “C’mon. Let’s get you onstage with your girlfriend.” He sounded resigned.
Any other time, she would’ve been entertained by his teasing, but now her entire brain was frozen by the thought that she was going to beonstagewithChloe Ballistertosingin front ofall these people.
She automatically followed him, the crowd parting for them good-naturedly, until they reached the stage. Dash turned toward her just as she mouthed “But…”
He leaned in, and she took reassurance from the familiar warmth of his breath on her ear. “You know you’ll kick yourself later if you don’t take this opportunity.”
At the moment, she really doubted the veracity of that stateme—
“Ack!” She made the same strangled sound again as Dash grabbed her around the waist and lifted her effortlessly to sit her on the edge of the stage.
Then Chloe was there, smiling devilishly, and there was noway Norah couldn’t smile back at the woman who looked like a tatted-up milkmaid. She let Chloe help her to her feet, and then she was standing on the stage as the band kicked off the next song, a well-known cover Norah knew every single word to, and then she was leaning toward the mic and…singing? With Chloe? And maybe smiling? And…actually having fun?
It was impossible not to have a good time with that bouncy beat and Chloe’s grin surrounding her like a warm, friendly hug. When Norah started thinking about the crowd watching, she just focused on Dash. He didn’t take his gaze off her the entire time, and his steady, affectionate regard made her relax enough to let go and enjoy this amazing, unthinkable thing she was doing.
Feeling brave, she let her gaze sweep over the crowd. They weren’t even focused on her. They were dancing and singing along and having just as much fun, except… Her smile faded a little as she watched a guy at the bar, hunched on the stool closest to the stage. His face was tucked down, so she couldn’t get a good look at him, but there was something familiar about him that made the back of her neck prickle in warning.
Then Chloe was pulling her into a hug, and Norah realized the song was over. Pushing away the weird feeling seeing that guy had given her, she squeezed Chloe back. Normally, she avoided hugs like the plague, but this felt right.
“Thank you for that,” Norah said sincerely. She would’ve never thought she’d enjoy it, but Dash had been right to encourage her.
“I’m just glad that man of yours dragged you up here.”Chloe winked at her, and Norah gave a sheepish smile. “You’re not allowed to leave. We’re having a drink together when I’m done.” Chloe narrowed her eyes in a mock glare that somehow managed to look impossibly happy.
“Okay.” Giving a little wave, Norah moved toward the edge of the stage where Dash waited. She couldn’t stop grinning. It had been the best night.
“We’re taking a five-minute break,” Chloe told the crowd.
“Did you have fun?” Dash asked, looking up at her, his tiny smirk saying an obviousI told you so, but she was too elated to even care.
“Yup.” She grinned down at him. People had drifted away, heading toward the bar or clustering in groups, leaving the space right in front of the stage empty except for Dash. A little shriek made her glance toward the bar where a woman was fishing ice out of her cleavage. With a sympathetic wince for how cold that spill must’ve been, Norah started to turn back to Dash when a movement from the hunched guy at the end of the bar caught her attention.
His hand slipped under his jacket, and he turned his head toward the stage, but the brim of his baseball hat shadowed his face. There was a tenseness to him, a readiness that didn’t fit in with the relaxed, semi-drunken vibe of the crowd, and her body stiffened. Part of her wondered if she was imagining things, but her instincts were all blaring alarms. Somehow, she justknewthat this man was a danger.
