Page 15 of Dead Girl Running

What did that mean? “The job.”

“No boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Got a bad relationship in your past?”

Kellen faced Mara and moved close enough to make her point. “Not that I discuss.”

Yet Mara wasn’t done. “You came here to feel safe.”

Kellen flinched.

“It’s okay.” Mara tossed her hair and headed back to the weight rack. “All of us out here are running away from something.”

What should Kellen do? Tell Mara to mind her own business? Deny she was running away from something? Ask what Mara was running away from?

No. She hadn’t come to Yearning Sands to exchange confidences. That left her with no good choices, and one more reason to dislike Mara Philippi.

Like a waif from below, Xander appeared.

ALEXANDER RISCHARD:

MALE, WHITE, 41 (LOOKS 30), THIN, SHAVED HEAD, PALE BLUE EYES, BROAD PALMS, LONG FINGERS, BIG KNUCKLES. YOGA, MEDITATION, MASSAGE. REIKI SPECIALIST. VEGETARIAN, ALL ORGANIC.

Yet—Kellen liked him.

Like an East Indian guru, he put his palms together and bowed. “I regret to report the universe has presented us with a challenge.” He picked up a pair of binoculars from the windowsill and handed them to Kellen.

Through the veil of rain, in the distance, two coyotes fought over a bone while vultures dived and scolded. Kellen texted Temo. “Someone in maintenance will go out and pick up the skeleton.”

Mara took the binoculars and looked, too. “Do you know how upset guests get when they see scavengers cleaning up a dead deer or a raccoon or whatever?”

“Some people are not meant to appreciate the fullness of an outdoor life.” Xander spread his fingers above Kellen’s shoulder and let them hover there. “You’re in pain. I have time on my schedule for a massage.”

“Thank you, Xander, but I’ve got another couple of appointments, then I need to see where we are on orders and bookings.”

“You will have time later for a run, won’t you?” Mara asked. “Not far—we’ll race each other back to our cottages.”

“You’ll win,” Kellen said. “My cottage is the last one.”

Mara smiled brightly. “Iknow!”

Xander’s hands settled over Kellen’s SC joint and massaged. “Something long denied is fighting to erupt from your spiritual center and to ignore it would have dire results on not only your well-being, but the well-being of the resort, which you now lead.”

Kellen questioned Mara with wide eyes and a pursed mouth.

“Better go for a quick massage,” Mara said. “Last time he said something like that, Destiny spilled a bottle of lavender massage oil on the rug and we had to have it cleaned twice before it stopped exuding inappropriate amounts of serenity into the air.”

Kellen stared at them both. “Inappropriate amounts of serenity?”

“The scent of lavender creates a tranquility of the spirit,” Xander explained.

Kellen realized again why she needed to succeed as the resort’s assistant manager. Mara might be a competent spa manager, but she knew nothing of real life and real combat. And a woman like Kellen, who didn’t realize lavender could exude inappropriate amounts of serenity, needed to stay on the practical side of the business.

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