Dashing Through the Snow Read Free Page A

one-syllable responses.
    “Rest assured you have nothing to fear from Dash. He’s probably the safest person you could choose to travel with, and if he isn’t, you call me and I’ll give him a good tongue-lashing.”
    Ashley smiled and noticed that Dash had finished with the paperwork and was studying her through narrowed eyes. “You’d better give me the phone,” he said, holding out his hand.
    “In a minute,” Ashley said, enjoying teasing him. She turned her back on him and started walking away. “Tell me more,” she said, making sure her voice was loud enough to carry.
    “Hand it over,” Dash insisted, thrusting out his hand.
    “Oh all right.” Admittedly, she wasn’t very gracious as she returned his cell.
    Dash grabbed it and instantly demanded, “Mom, what did you tell her?” This was followed shortly by a burst of “Mom!”
    Ashley batted her eyelashes at him. She shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as she was. She wasn’t sure what his mother said, but whatever it was, the conversation was over in seconds.
    Ashley dutifully followed Dash to the waiting area for the bus that would drive them to the rental car lot. Sure enough, there was only the one car in the entire vicinity.
    They thanked the driver and walked toward the car.
    “I hope you’re reassured I’m not going to take advantage of you,” Dash muttered, as he opened the trunk. “I want it understood that despite what my mother might have said, I’m not interested in a relationship.”
    “Well, I’m not, either.” Ashley bristled, refusing to admit she was disappointed. The men she met at school and the diner were often not worth the effort.
    “Fine, then we understand each other.”
    “Perfectly,” she assured him, and felt inclined to add, “Besides, you’re not my type.” She didn’t really have a type, and if she did, he’d be at the top of the list, not that she’d tell him that.
    “Oh, really?” he said. He snorted a laugh as if to say the opposite sex found him irresistible.
    “You might think all women will fall for that strong, mysterious persona, but not me. I’ve got to finish school before I even think about getting involved with anyone.” That part was true.
    “Do you mind if we talk about something else?” he said, looking bored.
    “No problem.”
    He placed his suitcase in the car’s trunk and reached for hers.
    “I can lift my own, thank you very much.”
    He raised both hands and stepped back. “Fine with me, have it your way.”
    Lifting the large suitcase was harder than she realized. Ashley had stuffed the bag as full as she could with clothes and gifts and everything else she thought she might need for the next seven days.
    She snuck a peek at Dash, who rolled his eyes, which she pretended to ignore.
    When she’d finished loading her suitcase, he opened the driver’s-side door. His phone beeped and he reached for it, apparently reading a text message. She couldn’t afford another smartphone. Hers had gone through the washing machine. Now she had only an old flip-top style that she hoped would last her until Christmas. He removed his coat, opened the back door, and tossed his jacket inside before climbing into the driver’s seat. Ashley got into the car, too.
    Once comfortable, she snapped the seatbelt in place and casually asked, “What kind of name is Dash, anyway?” To her way of thinking, his mother must have needed to get to the hospital in a hurry. She once met someone named Rush. He got the name because he arrived early and his mother said he was in a rush to make his grand entrance into the world.
    “I was named after Dashiell Hammett.”
    “Do you have a sister named Lillian?” she asked, half joking.
    Dash regarded her with fresh eyes, as if surprised she’d made the connection. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
    “Dashiell Hammett and Lillian Hellman are both great authors.” Ashley had read their work and long admired their stories, particularly Lillian