Coyote Gorgeous Read Online Free PDF Page A

"
    She raised her
glass. " Congratulations on a
perfect delivery. "
    A smile lit his face at
the compliment. He raised his glass to her then set it on the
table. " I’ll be right
back. "
    When he turned his back to walk into
the house, Madison had to remind herself that she had come to catch
a killer, not enjoy an evening of fine wine, good food, and
pleasant company. Why did she feel so attracted to Kal? He was
nothing like the men she knew, all cops and rangers. But Kal should
remain a suspect. Madison had better watch how much she
drank.
    " I have a few
hours before the night predators emerge, " Madison said, making conversation toward the open
door as she settled against the chair cushions and tried to relax.
The sun dipped behind the hills, streaking red across a dark
turquoise sky. " With the soft
background music, it feels like a wide screen documentary
from Arizona Highways out here. "
    Kal appeared in the
doorway holding two plates. " Hope you like classic jazz. "
    " I
do. " It had been a long time
since someone had treated Madison like a lady. Not since that
sonovabitch, two-faced cheater, Jake. She didn’t want to rehash bad
memories. Not tonight.
    " It’s Sydney
Bechet on the clarinet. " Kal
set the two plates of appetizing salad on the table. " Mixed greens with balsamic
vinaigrette. "
    " I love
Bechet. " Madison couldn’t
help but smile. " Enticing,
slow and rhythmic, with a freshness and spontaneity no electronic
instrument can replicate. "
    " So, you
really like jazz. " He smiled
mysteriously as he sat across from her on the bench.
    " Didn’t I say
so? " Madison had eyes only
for Kal, the way his muscles moved, and the play of the orange
light on the regular planes of his face. He seemed in perfect
control of his slightest movements at all times, like a cat, or a
fine-tuned martial artist. Certainly, there could be no harm in
enjoying the scenery.
    She bit into a piece of
lettuce and cherry tomato, making small appreciative sounds. " It’s good. "
    He dropped a napkin in his
lap and dug into his salad. " I didn’t want to sound like a cliché by playing the Native
flute. Although I have an extensive collection, if you
prefer. "
    Madison shook her head and
smiled. " Maybe
later. " Redirecting the
conversation might avoid his probing into her plain, boring career
and disastrous experiences with men. " Mrs. Esteban said you grew up on
the Reservation. "
    " I am Hopi.
It means the people of
peace, " Kal said it with
pride. " And my name,
Kaletaka, means Guardian of the
People , according to the
legends. "
    " What kind of
legends? " Enjoying the food,
Madison welcomed a lesson in Native American culture.
    " Silly
things, really. " As he
reached for the salt, his hand brushed her fingers on the
tablecloth. Accident? Unlikely. Not according to the piercing way
he stared into her eyes.
    Shuddering with the electric charge of
his contact, Madison quickly pulled back her hand. She’d enjoyed it
a little too much, like the wine. She must remain sharp, and this
man had a way of throwing her off balance. She felt herself blush
under his insistent gaze as she set aside her empty
plate.
    To hide her embarrassment,
she looked down and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. " I’m curious about these
legends. "
    A strike of dry lightning illuminated
the distant hills.
    Kal glanced up and
smiled. " My tribe believes
that on a night like this, skinwalkers might walk the
land. "
    The muffled sound of faraway thunder
rumbled all around.
    " Skinwalkers? " Madison
had heard the word before but knew nothing about its
meaning.
    " Great
Coyote, the creator of the universe, enters a human body so he can
walk as a human for a while. And under the full moon, the man
becomes half coyote. " He
stood and took away the salad plates.
    Left alone on the deck, Madison
pondered Kal’s story. Skinwalkers? Three dead animals under a full
moon. Coincidence? Or was Kal trying to sell her on a shapeshifter
legend? Night had fallen, and the moon