Soon she was in her car and on her way toward Mesa Verde. It wasn’t long before Mya was thinking that she should have left early in the morning, before it started getting hot. Much like the heater, the old car’s air conditioner didn’t work. Mya was stuck relying on an open window to cool the inside of the car.
All she knew was that the Sinapu lived near Mesa Verde, but she had no idea where. Donny hadn’t given her any specifics about where the village was located.
Slowing the car, Mya pulled into the parking lot of a gas station-convenience store. With so few gas stations on the highways of the reservation, she was fortunate to have found one.
As soon as Mya opened the door to get out of the car, she was slammed with a wave of dizziness. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the car door to steady herself. It took a few minutes and several gulps of air before the feeling passed.
She wasn’t prone to dizzy spells, but hell … she wasn’t accustomed to the intense Arizona heat either. That had to be what it was.
Once she managed to make it inside the store, she felt tons better. With blinds covering the large windows, the interior of the store was dark and cool. Though they were only running a swamp cooler, the air felt much better than it did outside.
At the back of the store, Mya picked up a bottle of soda and several bottles of water. She had no idea why she hadn’t thought to bring water with her in the first place. Though she hadn’t been in Arizona long, she was aware of how important it was to always have extra water with you when you traveled. On the reservation you could drive for miles and never see anyone, especially if you traveled the isolated dirt roads. The last thing she wanted was to breakdown somewhere without drinking water.
At the checkout, she was forced to wait behind two young boys. The children were in the middle of an argument. They only had a couple of dollars between them and one of the boys wanted to spend it on candy - the other wanted sunflower seeds.
Reaching into her pocket, Mya pulled out a couple of dollars and handed it to them. “Now you can get both.”
“Hey thanks lady.” One of the boys tossed the words over his shoulder.
When the boys were gone, Mya stepped up to the counter. The cashier’s dark eyes studied her with open curiosity. She should have been just as curious about him because he seemed way out of place. With short-cropped black hair, and clothes that would have been more appropriate for church than working at a convenience store in the middle of an Arizona summer, he almost appeared a little overqualified for his job.
The cashier began ringing up her purchases, but apparently his curiosity got the best of him. “You’re not from around here?” He phrased his question as a statement.
“No … I’m just passing through.”
Without saying anything more, he placed her water and soda in a paper bag.
Mya handed him some money before picking up the bag. “I’m looking for the Sinapu village that’s supposed to be around here somewhere. Do you know how to get there?”
Mya thought it a little comical how her question caused the cashier to freeze in mid movement. He stood there, gaping at her until she began to feel like some kind of freak in a sideshow attraction.
Finally he pasted a smile across his face. “Maybe you’re looking for the ruins at Mesa Verde … yeah?”
Mya shook her head. “No, I need to find the Sinapu.”
Though his smile remained, in his eyes she detected uncertainty, and maybe even a small amount of fear. “It’s not a good idea to go there.”
Now Mya’s curiosity peaked. “Why not?” she asked.
“They don’t like outsiders. Besides … there’s nothing there really.”
“Well there’s someone there I need to see,” Mya explained. “Do you think you could like … I don’t know … point me in the general direction where I could find them?” Mya didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. All of the secrecy she was coming across was really starting to irritate her. Why couldn’t she just get a straight answer for a change?
The guy looked crestfallen and right away Mya regretted losing her cool with him. “I’m sorry,” Mya apologized. “It’s just kind of important that I find this person.”
Mya heard the door open behind her, but she wasn’t really concerned about who was entering, at least not until she saw the look on the cashier’s face. The man was staring at something behind her. Terror mixed with relief gave him sort of a dumbstruck expression.
When Mya turned to see what the cashier was looking at, she felt her heart drop to the floor. He was standing at the door - staring at her, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
Chapter Six
David Bray was just as gorgeous as she remembered from the first time she saw him, maybe even more so. He wore black riding boots and blue jeans that were just tight enough that she could make out the thick muscles of his thighs. His tank top complimented the bulging muscles in his arms and shoulders perfectly.
The mirrored sunglasses he was wearing prevented her from seeing his eyes, and it was his eyes that she most wanted to see.
Mya suddenly realized that she had been holding her breath, and now she had to consciously force air into her lungs. When she had decided to search for David Bray, she’d prepared herself to expect the unexpected, but she had in no way been prepared for what she was feeling now.
She was nervous, and even a little afraid, but most of all there was an overwhelming feeling of utter bliss.
A week ago she’d have scoffed at the notion of love at first sight, but since that afternoon that she’d seen David Bray drive by on his bike, she’d been unable to get him out of her mind. Her thoughts of him had grown obsessive since she’d realized that he had been the one to help her after her accident.
Now here he was, only a few feet away, and she had his full attention. Mya’s knees grew weak and she cursed herself inwardly because she was unable to stop them from shaking.
What the hell was wrong with her?
David Bray was just a guy. Sure, he was breathtakingly attractive, but still just a guy. But if he was just another guy, why did she suddenly feel like a schoolgirl who had just stumbled across her favorite teen heartthrob?
While she studied him, she got the distinct impression that he was even more surprised to see her, than she was to see him. She also had the uncanny feeling that if he’d known she was in the store, he wouldn’t have stopped.
But why?
He’d gone out of his way to help her, but now she was picking up vibes she couldn’t understand. It was as if she were the very last person that he’d expected or wanted to see.
The two of them stood there staring at each other for what seemed an eternity, but couldn’t have been more than a minute. It was the sound of the cashier’s voice that brought her out of that moment of suspended animation.
“This lady says she needs to talk to someone in Sinapu.” The store clerk’s voice cracked as he spoke.
Mya still couldn’t take her eyes from him, and though she knew she should say something, she couldn’t make her tongue form any words. Instead, she continued gaping at him like a terrified child.
“Who is it that you are looking for?” he asked in a voice so low that it might as well have been a whisper.
Swallowing hard, Mya tried to think of something to say. She finally decided that the best thing to do was to just come out with it. “I’m here to see you.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Okay … let’s talk,” he told her, opening the door.
He waited for her to exit the store before following her out.
Mya wasn’t thrilled about having a conversation with him under the hot sun, so she asked, “Do you mind if we sit in my car?”
“We can do that,” he said before opening the door and getting into the passenger seat.
Mya got in the car. She was trying hard to appear casual, but in reality she was terrified. She wasn’t even sure why she was so nervous.
&
nbsp; Clearing her throat, Mya took a deep breath. “I wanted to thank you for helping me the other night. If it wasn’t for you … I don’t know how long it would have been before someone showed up.” Mya hated the way her voice cracked when she tried to talk.
Now he smiled, revealing a set of dazzling white teeth. “You knew that was me?”
Mya nodded.
“How did you know where to find me?” he asked. Though his question seemed nonchalant, there was a hint of uneasiness in his voice.
“I asked my step uncle who you were,” she replied.
For a long time he said nothing. Mya couldn’t get over the feeling that beneath his glasses, those silver- gray eyes were boring right into her. In that instant, she was certain that he could see right through her, and that he knew exactly how being near him was affecting her.
“Well you’re very welcome. I’m glad I was there to help.” His smile was genuine, but guarded.
Now what? She’d thanked him and the most appropriate thing would be to say goodbye, but she wasn’t ready to do that yet.
She wanted to ask him if he’d been the one to send the roses, but knew that she’d feel completely stupid if it hadn’t been him. Mya decided that she would prefer to continue thinking that it might have been him, than to find out for sure.
Again she had to ask herself why she even cared. What was it about this guy that turned her insides to jelly?
Mya gave him a nervous - sideward glance. “There was something else I wanted to ask you about?”
“And that is?” There it was again. That same heart-stopping smile he’d given her a few moments before.
“Do you know the Metzger brothers? Did you know Ben Metzger?” Mya was already regretting the question before her words were completely out of her mouth. If Donny found out what she was doing, she could get into deep trouble. She just wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet and couldn’t think of anything else to say to him.
“Yeah. I mean … I don’t really know them, but I’ve seen them around,” he admitted.
“Did you know that Ben Metzger was murdered?”
His smile vanished. “I’ve heard that yes.”
Mya pushed forward. At this point it wouldn’t matter too much, she was already in trouble so she might as well find out what she could. “What about the idea that he was a skinwalker? Do you know anything about that?”
“Are you here as a cop?” he asked, a frown marring his handsome face.
Mya shook her head. “No I’m not,” she answered quickly. She in no way wanted him to think that she wasn’t truly grateful for his help. “I just figured that since I’m already here … that maybe you might know something?”
He seemed to relax some. “I’ve heard rumors that he was a skinwalker.”
“Do you know anyone that might have targeted Ben because of these rumors?” she asked. Mya knew that she was treading on dangerous ground now, but she really wanted to clear him of suspicion, at least in her mind.
He shook his head. “People around here are afraid of skinwalkers … they usually keep their distance.”
“What about the Sinapu?” she asked, knowing by the look on his face that she’d taken it too far.
“What do you know about us?” he whispered.
“Not much,” she admitted. “Just that the Sinapu don’t care much for skinwalkers.” Mya felt her face redden as she told him only half the truth. She knew one thing for sure, if she planned to be a cop someday, she was definitely going have to learn to be a better actress.
He turned to stare out the passenger window. “We’re no different than anyone else out here,” he answered. “No one likes skinwalkers.”
There was really nothing else she could think to say. Until he was officially a suspect, she probably shouldn’t ask him about an alibi for the night Ben was killed.
Turning back to look at her, he asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
Mya opened her mouth to say something, but instead she just shook her head.
He removed his sunglasses and turned his head so that he was looking directly at her. Their eyes locked and Mya felt the air rush out of her lungs.
“Good … now it’s my turn.” Though he was smiling, his eyes reflected the turbulent storm that was brewing within him. “As long as you are on this reservation, you are in danger. Especially if you are seen with me.”
His eyes held her captive and she had to force herself to concentrate on what he was saying.
“What do you mean?”
Now he turned away to stare out the window. “The skinwalkers … they will hurt you if you stay here.”
“But why?” Now she was really confused and on edge.
“Because of me,” he admitted.
Mya shook her head. “Okay … I’m really lost here. What are you talking about?”
“You will never need to know what I’m talking about … if you leave this reservation and never come back.” There was a sharp edge to his voice that hadn’t been there before.
“That’s not an option,” Mya snapped. She was really starting to get upset with the fact that everyone seemed to want her to leave.
“It’s bad for you to be here … it’s bad for you to be with me right now,” he said, turning back to look at her. “I don’t know how long I’ll be able to protect you from them … or from me,” he added.
Mya’s mouth dropped open. In her mind she’d imagined her first meeting with David Bray at least a dozen times, but never once had it gone anything like this. “Is there some reason why you would want to hurt me?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to hurt you, but it will happen if you stay. You’ll be hurt in more ways than one.”
Mya felt anger boiling up inside her. This was another fault of hers that didn’t blend well with police work. “What makes you think that I need protecting from you or anyone else? I can take care of myself.”
“Yes … I saw that the other night,” he smirked.
“That was an accident,” she insisted. “I had to swerve to avoid a deer.”
“No that was no accident … that was a skinwalker,” he stated in such a matter of fact way that he could as well have been saying that the accident was caused by a blown tire. There was absolutely no doubt in his voice.
At first Mya was speechless. What could she say to such a ridiculous assertion? “I doubt it. There’s no such thing as skinwalkers … not really,” Mya finally managed to spit out the words that had been caught in her throat.
“Don’t be stupid Mya. There are people here that want to hurt you … or that would use you for evil. You need to go away.”
Shocked, her mouth dropped open. What he was telling her was too much to process at once. She had a hundred questions, but all she could manage was one. “How do you know my name?”
He seemed amused by her surprise. “You’re not the only one that can do a little detective work.”
Mya decided that David Bray was way too good at putting her in defense mode. It was time to turn the tables. “Well I’m sure I’ll be talking to you again. I think you know more about the Metzger murder than what you are saying.”
“Is that so?” he laughed.
Mya nodded.
David drew his brows together in a scowl. “Let me give you a word of advice. Don’t come out here looking for me again … you might not like what you find.”
“Are you threatening me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
If there was one thing that would bring out her claws, it was being threatened.
David shook his head. “Just stating a fact.”
When she didn’t respond, he opened the door, but before getting out of the car, he turned back to face her. The next thing he did was so unexpected that she had no time to react. Leaning over, he brushed her lips with his. Though it was no more than a quick kiss, the warmth of his lips left her with a tingling sensation like no other kiss ever had.
“Sorry,” he gave her a sheepish grin. “I’
ve wanted to do that since I saw you standing on the corner in Window Rock.”
Mya was still too astonished to say anything.
David got out of the car and was ready to walk away, but as if struck with an afterthought, he leaned over to peer at her through the open window. “I hope you’ll think about everything I’ve told you. You’re bad medicine sweetheart,” he winked. “It’s not good for you to be here.”
Mya watched him disappear inside the store. After he was gone, she quickly started the car and drove away. She didn’t want to be there when he left the store. It might make him think she was stalking him like some love struck girl.
Though she was already some distance from the store, Mya was still so shocked by his behavior that she didn’t know what to think. She was ashamed to admit that she hadn’t acted very professionally today. In fact, Mya found it almost impossible to be professional when it came to David Bray. He was basically a suspect in a homicide investigation, but she could not stop her heart from skipping a beat as she relived the moment that he’d kissed her.
How could she hope to act like a professional during this investigation, if one of the suspects could make her swoon just by being too close to her?
Mya was glad that it was a long drive back to Window Rock. There was a lot that she had to think about. Even when she put aside her encounter with David, she still had a feeling that something bad was unfolding. There was something really weird going on, and she was struck with the certainty that a lot depended on her finding out what that something was.
Bad Moon Rising - Paranormal Romance Page 5
