Goodbye Arizona Read Online Free PDF Page A

Deb squeezed his shoulders, her thumbs pressing hard in the trapeze muscles. Marcus mewled in pain and pleasure.
    “You’re awfully tense. When was the last time you had a massage?”
    The young man opened one gleeful eye. “Are you offering?”
    “Sure I am.”
    Deb stretched to grab the phone and dialed. “Hi, room 267 here. I’d like to book two massages for this afternoon, please. Yes, two o’clock is perfect. We’ll be there. Bye!”
    “That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” complained Marcus.
    She grinned. “I know.”
    His dark gray eyes reflected the light, a sign the tempest still raged inside him, fed by lassitude, worry, and helplessness. Her Marcus always tried to shoulder the world. She hated herself for adding to his burden. “I have to call the Traveler . They left two messages already.”
    The objection she anticipated never came. Marcus was looking out of the window. She followed his stare. The view from her room was cut by the north wing of the building and a black patch of asphalt from the backyard parking lot. Somehow, the black and beige colors enhanced the electric blue of the late morning sky.
    “What is it?”
    Instead of answering, he pushed up on his elbows, brows furrowed.
    “Marcus?”
    “Hum? Sorry, nothing. The thought’s gone.”
    He lay back on the pillows, wrapping his arms around her waist so she joined him. “I suppose they want you to investigate for them. Sybil’s murder is all over the net already.”
    She rested her head on his chest, unsure if she liked the quiet or if she was annoyed, he took the time to surf the web before coming back to her. “Thank you, Twitter.”
    “Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr—the whole thing is buzzing like a hive. I’m surprised no one started a blog yet: The Phoenix Curse—Anasazi’s Last Prophecy Comes to Haunt us…”
    “Nice title. You should write books.”
    “Shut up, Deb.”
    Her giggle morphed into a sigh as he closed her mouth with his. Deb turned in his arms, nestling closer. The kiss warmed and blossomed in kind, gentle brushes of lips and breaths. The caress overwhelmed her senses, as potent as his caveman conquest of the night before.
    Suddenly, she wanted nothing but to stay like this, alone with him, away from the world, no responsibility, no agenda, just the two of them. Safe. Happy. “Let’s leave, Marcus. Make Eden happy. Keep R.J. alive for a while longer, and let’s go.”
    His body responded first, inviting hers into the seducing dance they had shared for years. Hips brushed and locked, fingers laced together. She longed to give in. Deb cupped his neck for another kiss. The short hair on his nape teased her palm. No other man would ever make her feel this alive, cherished, the way he did. It used to scare her. In the last fourteen months, she’d come to accept it. “Please, Marcus. Take me home.”
    ****
    He’d heard the same words before, whispered in the heat of passion, or chocked in tears. He’d said yes before. Marcus stared into those witchy eyes, so clear they would make crystal jealous. She worried about him, he realized. Funny, of the two of them, he always thought he was the one who cared the most, the one who stayed behind and brooded.
    Marcus pressed his forehead to hers to murmur, “I can’t. Not yet. I have to finish this.”
    “Why? I don’t understand.”
    Her eyes brightened to a pulsating green. He kissed her cheek gently. Her shaky draw of air almost emptied his lungs. Marcus released her reluctantly and straightened up. “I promised you R.J.’s first interview. It’ll explain everything. Come on.” He offered his hand. “I’ll buy you lunch.”
    ****
    An hour later, they sat in an authentic cantina, with the biggest enchilada he’d ever seen between them. Deb cut a corner of her share. The spiced aroma from the corn tortilla made his mouth water.
    “Are you sure you want to talk about this here?”
    The little restaurant was full. Waitresses in immaculate peasant dresses