Page 2 of Run with Me

“And they had it converted into a chapel?”

“You don’t sound as smart as you look. Where are you comingfrom?”

“East coast. First I’m entertaining, and now I’m stupid. You’re one confusinglady.”

He leaned his head to the side, and I felt my nerves pick up. I’d never seen anyone like him. Clean cut, perfectly trimmed nails, and no stubble on his jaw. “Your glasses and that shirt… you’re wearing a suit in the middle of a desert.”

My voice trembled, and the sweat that had been collecting underneath my dress began dripping down my thighs. “The only time people wear suits around here is for weddings and funerals.”

“I am on my way to a wedding. Or at least, I was on my way before I got lost. I’m low on fuel. Is there a gas station aroundhere?”

I chuckled. “No. But Mr. Garcia has a supply of gas containers. You could buy some from him, but you’ll need to wait. The Assumption Fiesta’s this weekend, and the road is closed.”

His forehead creased into funny lines, which added that extra layer of maturity to his look. He appeared older than me, with years of life experiences.

He coughed once and then again. I quickly moved to the bench and grabbed a bottle of water I’d brought with me. “Here – it’s the dust. It’s not so bad once you’re used to it. There’s going to be plenty of it this weekend.”

He reached for the offered water, and our fingers touched at the exchange. A shock of electrifying pleasure coursed through me, and I almost jumpedback.

Almost.

“Thank you. What’s yourname?”

“Anna. It’s short for Joanna.”

“I’m Xavier. Would you mind showing me to town, Anna?”

“No, but I urge you against staying at the motel.”

“Is there a different place I couldstay?”

“Um… the parish? Father Francis is quite hospitable, and he wouldn’t hurt you. There’s an extra room, and I really don’tmind.”

“You live at the parish?”

I nodded.

He looked at me funny, appeared to want to say something and opened his mouth, but then he closed it, thinking over whatever was going on in his mind. I didn’t know where else I could suggest, though, unless I asked around town. There wasn’t much in Pace – one main road that curved through town, with the Cortez family ruling at one end and everyone else trying to live in peace at the other.

“Do you make a habit of living in holy places?” He looked around the chapel.

“My family owned this piece of land. When the house burned down, I buried my parentshere.”

He looked down at his feet, then shifted uncomfortably to the left and back to the right, as if fearing that someone would grab his foot from beyond the grave. I did believe in life after death, but I was pretty sure that my parents weren’t the type to play ghost.

After my parents died, the official report concluded that the stove had been left on; but what else was I supposed to expect, when the report was written by Mateo Cortez? With that family name, you owned everything in Pace, including every single last soul. They stole, cheated, and vandalized. There were a few good men left in Pace who stood up to them, but each time they did, they risked their lives. Faith had kept us strong thus far, but I’d found myself wondering more often these days how long Faith would keep us alive. I had no proof of the murder, but I knew it was them. They wanted my parents’ land, and now they were afterme.

“Your parents are buriedhere?”

“They’re in a crypt beneath this chapel.”

He loosened the tie from around his neck, which made him look even sexier than before. “If you’re trying to freak me out, it’s working.”

I laughed. A sun’s ray moved over his face, drawing my attention back to his eyes. They were gorgeous and captivating. A pang of guilt swept through me as I remembered that someone I loved deeply was waiting for me back in town. He was the only reason I still lived in Pace. I saw his gaze lower from my face down to my neck, then to my shoulder as he whispered, “Don’tmove.”

Time slowed when he took that step toward me. I took a sharp inhale and closed my eyes. His breath was on my left cheek, the feel of his heat slammed into mine, as I waited for him to do something to me… anything.

But nothing happened. When I opened my eyes, I saw a scorpion dangling by its tail between Xavier’s fingers, right in front of myface.

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