AllFreeNovel
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She shook her head, and the man retreated.
“I get it,” she said. “I just think this whole thing is unnecessary. Someone’s just trying to scare me into quitting. I don’t need a babysitter for that.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” he said. “But I promised your dad I’d see you safely to New York, and I always keep my word.”
“Hello, miss,” another man said. “May I buy you a drink?”
“No, thank you,” Daisy said, holding up her mostly full beer. “I’m good.”
“The balls on these guys,” Noah said after the man left. “I’m standing right next to you, and they’re still hitting on you.”
“I’m novel because I’m new.”
“Novel? Pft. You’re probably the hottest thing this town’s ever seen. They’ll talk about you for months after you’re gone.”
“Ha,” she barked. “You have noticed all the women ogling you, right? At least my gender has the decency to not make a move while I’m within earshot.”
“Maybe if you covered up those legs,” he said, ignoring her compliment.
“What’s wrong with my legs?”
“Not a damn thing,” he said, wiping a brow. “They could make a grown man cry.”
A third man headed toward them. Noah grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor. “Maybe we can talk here without interruption,” he said, sliding his arms around her waist.
“At least those men ask,” Daisy said. “You’re very bossy.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s one of my best qualities.”
She laughed and draped her arms over his shoulders, holding her beer between both hands behind his head. It was nice dancing with someone taller than her. That didn’t happen often.
“Weird. I’m wearing heels and still looking up at you. That’s not a sensation I’m accustomed to. I forgot how big we grow ’em in the U.S.”
“Got tired of tiny French men? I hear their pansies too. That true?”
“Not everyone’s as tough as you.”
He shrugged. “So, what have you been doing while I’ve been scouring the town for you?”
“I picked up a few essentials at the general store and have been here ever since. I bought you some jerky.”
“That was nice. Thank you.”
“I figure it must be true what they say. You are what you eat. Next time, I’ll get sweeTARTS and see how that works out.”
He pulled her in close, presumably to shut her up. The long day and the alcohol caught up to her, and tiredness hit. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. A big, strong man hadn’t been on her list of things to worry about. Still wasn’t, but she had to admit, it felt pretty nice.
When they started the karaoke machine, she rallied and was all in. “Noah, come sing ‘Country Roads’ with me. It’s my jam.”
“It’s like you don’t know me at all,” he said. “I don’t know that song anyway.”
“Liar,” she said. “Everyone knows ‘Country Roads.’”
Without him, she took her turn and sang her heart out to one of her all-time favorite songs. By the end, everyone in the bar had joined in. Well, everyone but Noah. He just watched with a blank, unreadable look on his face.
“I’ve decided you must be a robot,” she said, returning to where he stood. “Who can hear ‘Country Roads’ and not sing along?”
He pointed two thumbs at himself. “This guy.”
