Page 37 of Midnight Escape

Realizing Cowboy spoke to Luke and he looked sick to his stomach, she turned back to Danny. “What’s going on here? Why is Cowboy harassing Luke? Now that you’re here, why do I have to go home?”

Laura approached. “I can see you’ve got a ride, but are you still watching Dublin 5 with Luke and me?”

She did still want to listen to the band, but she also wanted to be with Danny. Maybe she could have both. “Can we stay and listen?”

His jaw working but not grinding told her he was considering it.

Looking at his watch and the growing crowd around the stage nearest them, he asked, “What time do they play?”

“Half twelve.” She remembered she’d used an Irish phrase and corrected herself. “Twelve-thirty.”

“No,” he said without hesitation. Actually, he’d barely said no when he clipped, “Grab your purse and let’s go. Oh, you might want to give back some of that green.”

She witnessed a quick quirk of his lips.

Cowboy returned from speaking with Luke, and he and Danny looked at each other and must’ve had some mental telepathy going because when Danny turned back and after Cowboy walked off, he demanded, “Take me to your booth. We’re leaving.”

Chapter Fifteen

At the sight of her booth and the few paintings, the thought of taking her over his knee became more of a probability. He couldn’t decide if she’d been defiant or didn’t understand what would happen if she was found by the wrong people.

He wanted to kick something. “Dammit, Moira. They have your signature on them. I thought we discussed you’d have to use something else.”

“Those are paintings I brought with me. I couldn’t change my signature.”

His head dropped while his thumb and forefinger held the bridge of his nose, reminding himself she might not understand. Dropping his hand and looking up, he willed himself to be patient. “Not everyone that attends are locals. Those who bought your paintings might show friends, display them prominently in their home or office, or even send them to a friend in Ireland.” To prevent the rebuttal he saw building in her, he raised his hands to cut her off. “Don’t try to interrupt me and say those things don’t matter, because any of them might post their new acquisition on social media, along with the painter’s name.”

Hell.He’d made her eyes water, which was one step away from crying. “My intent wasn’t to upset you, Moira. I just need you to be more careful.” Wanting to give her comfort, he stepped close, then at the last moment, he slid his hands up and down her arms. They stood so close that her green-colored lips called to him. Transfixed, it took a moment for Cowboy to break their searching gazes. Searching for what, he wasn’t sure.

“Let’s get this together and go,” Cowboy insisted, trying to collect all of her paintings under one arm. “We didn’t get to eat.”

That snapped her attention back to her work. “Nay. Nay. Don’t carry those like that.”

As he watched Moira and Cowboy argue about everything, he pulled Luke aside.

“Look,” Luke said, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t know she shouldn’t leave the area where we live.”

It appeared Cowboy had had a nice chat with Luke. “She’s not on a lockdown, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m asking if you saw anyone paying her special attention or always coming to her with crowds, or anything like that? Think good before you answer.”

After what appeared to be deep thought, he shook his head. “I didn’t see anyone like that.”

That relieved him greatly. “How many days have you been here?” Based on the date of his car accident, Mark had given him that answer, but he wondered if he’d get the truth.

“This is our second day.”

“Why didn’t you come home to sleep instead of camping out here?”

His face brightened. “It’s so much fun to camp out with everyone. The fun almost never ends.”

Danny wanted to tell him this was the Ritz compared to some of the camping he’d done with HIS. He didn’t want to get into a long conversation, so he opted instead to say, “Thank you for watching out for Moira.”

Luke blushed a little. Actually blushed. Danny chose to ignore it so as not to embarrass the man any further.

“I was just doing what any friend would do.”

Danny slapped him on the shoulder blade to express his gratitude. “I appreciate it, all the same.” He turned and walked to Moira. Now they just had to make it home where he could breathe easy.

His two travel companions had somehow agreed on packing. They even smiled at each other after the fighting they’d done. Damn Cowboy and his ability to charm any woman. He didn’t see it, but women did.

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