by Mary Quast
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Eagle Dance
Copyright © 2013 by Mary Quast
ISBN: 978-1-61333-723-3
Cover art by Cora Graphics
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Look for us online at:
www.decadentpublishing.com
Decadent Publishing Recent Releases
Complete Me by Catherine Peace
Frontier Inferno by Kate Richards
The Duke and the Virgin by Dominique Eastwick
Shockwave by D.L. Jackson
Rescue Me by Olivia Starke
Dry Spell by D.L. Jackson
Taming Rydin by CJ Durran
In From the Cold by Taryn Kincaid
One Night with the Groom by Sara Daniel
Winds of Change by Zee Monodee
Dragon’s Bond by Kali Willows
Blindside by Jayden Alexander
Star Spangled Surprise by Kimberly Quinton
High Speed Hunger by Shady Grace
The Big One by Louisa Bacio
Operation Owl by Tara Quan
Once Upon a Wedding by Sara Daniel
A Duel with Death by Louisa Bacio
Also by Mary Quast
Handcuffs and Silk
Crow Magic
Eagle Dance
A 1Night Stand Story
By
Mary Quast
~Acknowledgements~
To the Great Spirit who touches our souls and guides our spirits, and to the warriors who follow their hearts to fight for freedom.
Thank you to Barrie MacLauchlin, for naming the hero of this book. Thank you to Dyami Thomas for teaching me how to pronounce it. And special thanks to my darling hubby and research assistant, for “the one-liners.”
I would also like to thank MMA fighter, Benson “Smooth” Henderson for inspiring the tattoo for Dyami.
Once a man opens himself to the Great Spirit, a guardian in the form of an animal spirit will be gifted upon him. When this awakening happens, the animal is a part of his soul. The spirit within the chosen gives the body the ability to shift from human to creature at will. The man must maintain control over the magical power and instinctive urges. However, it is most wise for the man listen to the animal’s wisdom. The spirit can sense good and evil as well as the man’s one true love, the mate for both man and beast. – Indian Dave
Chapter One
Frilly snowflakes fell, decorating the sleeve of his Carhartt jacket. A pair of the crystals landed on the hard material, molded together to form a larger, even more beautiful design.
No two flakes are the same, yet they manage to find a mate. Is my design too different, and I’ll never find my match? Dyami sighed, white puffs of breath releasing the negative vibes teasing the edge of his mind. He straightened and stretched stiff back muscles. Everything in nature happens for a reason.
Over a few beers, several months earlier, he’d celebrated his own pity party with a friend. He’d vented his frustration at women staring at him with fear or disgust and had reached his limit of tolerating loneliness. His large size and dark Native American features often intimidated strangers. Women of his tribe whispered of his peculiar eyes and often walked away, repulsed.
Unfortunately, his nesting instinct had also recently kicked in. He wanted a good woman who would accept and love him for the rest of his life. His drinking buddy had mentioned an elite dating service, 1Night Stand, which set up blind dates that often led to a love match. Dyami’s spirit nurtured the seed of hope at the recommendation and persuaded him to fill out the paperwork for a date.
Then, a week earlier, he’d stood on his porch, drinking his morning coffee, when a hawk flew overhead. His people considered hawks to be messengers, and he’d wondered about the significance of the creature’s visit. With an impatient heart, he went inside, checked his email, and discovered a message from Madame Evangeline, the owner of 1Night Stand.
Following a day of work, he’d driven almost seven hundred miles in poor weather to meet his date. He’d planned to arrive at his destination with vim and vigor, not exhausted. Eventually, he’d given in to his fatigue and spent the night in a cheap hotel along Interstate 80.
Now, standing and waiting for his date, he watched a plow rumble on the road and the world grow white and admired the serene landscape. Giant evergreen boughs were laden with heavy snow, much like the mental weight he carried. The trunks stood strong, bearing the spirits of the earth. Crisp air filled his lungs. Around his neck hung a pendant with a small eagle mounted on an arrowhead, representing his lineage. Clasping it, he closed his eyes. The rough edges dug into his palm, yet gave him comfort. Some of the legends of his culture were true, such as those telling of people born with a totem animal or a spirit guide. His ancestors had been blessed by the Great Spirit. In every generation, one man was born not only with a spirit animal residing within his soul, but also the gift of shifting from man to the form of his spirit animal.
Drawing from the strength of his tribe, Dyami prayed he’d made the right decision to come on the date. The life force of the eagle fluttered against his heart, telling him to continue his journey. Since countless moments make a lifetime, a particular chain of them had brought him to the place he needed to be. Madame Eve assured him she’d found a woman who would accept his secret and dance with him. Confident in her assurances, he climbed the steps to the main building of the Castillo Poconos Resort.
Entering the rustic lodge, he paused to admire the fine craftsmanship of the building. The walls were made of massive timbers, hand-chiseled at the points where they met. Carved leaves emerged from solid pine lining each doorframe. Roughhewn tiles in shades of green and brown graced the floor, while a massive, three-tiered chandelier created from deer antlers cast a warm glow over the lobby. Impressive and inspiring, reigniting a life-long dream to build a log home. People relaxed on rustic furniture next to a crackling fire in the river-stone fireplace. A taxidermied raccoon family rested on the pine mantle. He carefully stepped around a couple attempting to corral their small child, who ran and pointed at the various taxidermy specimens on display. For a moment, he watched and smiled, thinking of doing the same with his own child someday.
Unzipping his coat, he released a weary groan. He looked forward to a shower and a chance to unwind in a private cabin before his date. Behind the main desk, clerks checked in a large group, the guests’ clamor echoing in the halls. Rooms in the resort hotel would be full due to the bad weather. Not one for crowds and noise, he wandered off to the gift shop to waste time until he could collect his key.
In contrast to the busy lobby, only a small number of people loitered in the store. A few books held his attention then he thumbed through CDs of locally produced music. He passed over the typical T-shirts and souvenirs in favor of the displays of local art and jewelry. Perhaps a small gift for his date would be a polite gesture. N
one of the figurines or trinket boxes intrigued him, but the fine silver pieces held appeal. A collection of sterling items with small, cast eagles caught his eye. Picking up a delicate bracelet and a necklace, he twisted toward a window for a closer inspection and bumped into a woman at a nearby display. She dropped the earrings she held.
“Oops.” He reached out to steady her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, it’s okay.” She stood almost as tall as he. Her blonde ponytail swayed and caught on her collar.
He bent to retrieve the fallen earrings and his head collided with hers. Taking a step back, he rose to his full height and squared his shoulders, prepared for the typical scowl and recoil most women gave when they first looked at him. The blow of a judgmental gaze never came.
With a laugh, she pressed her fingers against her temple. The light sound triggered a sudden need to chuckle, something he instantly stifled. After adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Long lashes fanned blue eyes set in a lovely face. He lowered his gaze to her mouth.
She smiled at him. “Great minds think alike.” The grin warmed his heart.
He held the jewelry out to her. Curling her fingers around the recovered item, she brushed his palm, giving him an electrical shock. She giggled. “Thank you.”
He cleared his throat in an attempt to be sociable. “Nice taste in jewelry.”
“Do you think so?” She held up both sets of earrings. “I’m not sure. I can’t decide which ones to buy. Give me your honest opinion. “
Lucky for her, he appreciated jewelry and would gladly offer his thoughts on the subjects in question. Eyeing the sterling feathers, he watched the shine and shimmer of detail. They swayed gently on the cardboard. He grabbed the highly polished disks with the decorative stamp work and shook them. The disks spun and glittered, similar to large scales.
“These look like fishing lures. The pair you’re holding shows fine workmanship, which should always be admired.”
“Well, then it’s settled.” She took the card with the disks from him and hung it on a rack. “The fishing lures will stay here. Thank you for saving me from a fashion mistake.”
“No problem. I’d hate to see a big old pickerel munching on you.” He winked. “Did you know a feather symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom? I think these silver feathers are classic and were created to complement a beautiful woman such as you.”
“Thank you again. You’re going to make me blush.” She spun on her heel then sent him a glance over her shoulder. “I’m going to put these on as soon as I pay for them. Maybe they’ll bring me good luck.”
The flirtatious gesture dumbfounded him. He couldn’t believe his good fortune in finding a gal who behaved in such an open and playful way with him. No one had flirted with him since his teen years. The taller he’d become, the more women kept their distance, and when he’d returned from the Marines, he must have been downright scary because they ran away.
He’d never met such a beauty with her height. Jeans, neatly tucked into boots, fit with tailored precision. A red wool pea coat covered what he suspected was a perfect ass. She pulled a small flight bag behind her, its airline tags flopping against the side, leather gloves precariously balanced on top. Eyeing her long legs, he imagined them wrapped around his waist.
Don’t let her go.
“Wait.” He held out the jewelry. “I want to buy one of these for a gift and can’t decide. Will you help me?”
She turned. “Fair is fair, let’s see what you have.” When she took his hand in hers, much like a fortune-teller reading his palm, warm waves of magic traveled up his arm. His animal spirit stirred with a mix of pleasure and curiosity.
Tucking the troublesome strand of blonde hair behind her ear again, she examined the pieces. “Oh, this is easy. You should get the bracelet.”
He didn’t want their conversation to end. “Why?”
“The wearer would only see the necklace when looking into a mirror.” She draped the bracelet over her wrist and held it out. Inclining her head, she said, “But when she wears this, she’ll be able to see it throughout the day and think about the person who gave it to her. Is it for someone special?”
The smile she gave him almost knocked him to the floor. Everything happens for a reason. Shit! What does this mean? Say something, you idiot. He stared at her like a tongue-tied dork. She kept smiling at him and fiddled with the handle of her bag. One of the gloves fell to the floor.
“Uh…I don’t know.” He reached down to collect the glove. “Allow me.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but how tall are you?”
Damn. He snorted, unable to hide his irritation. “I am six-feet, seven inches.” Two can play this game. “How tall are you?”
“I’m six feet tall, and no, I am not a model.” She rolled her eyes. “I get asked that all the time, and I hate it. I’m sorry for sounding like a goofy teenager.”
“I can’t picture you being a goofy teen.”
“Oh, but I was.” She threw her head back and laughed. “My friends say I still am.”
“Really.” He tapped his chin while pretending to imagine her as a kid. I’m enjoying this. “So…what’s your favorite color?”
“All right, sport, my favorite color is blue.” She pushed his chest with a finger. “What’s yours?’
“Green.”
“My turn.” She flashed a mischievous grin. “What’s your favorite food?”
“Pizza, of course.”
“Yes!” She grabbed his arm and squeezed. “With pepperoni and ham.”
He cupped her elbow. “And sausage, bacon, and—”
“Lots of cheese!”
“You’re a woman after my own heart.” He placed both hands over it.
“My grandmother always said a way to man’s heart is through his stomach.” She poked him in the belly then dragged her finger down his shirt a couple inches.
“She sounds very wise.” His body hardened from the intimate contact and he stroked her arm with the backs of his fingers. “I’m getting hungry.”
After a quick glimpse behind her, she stepped away and held up the earrings. “I’d better pay for these. The sales clerk is looking at us funny.”
“Maybe she thinks we’re going to shoplift,” he whispered close to Amanda’s ear, pausing to take in her scent. Cinnamon with a hint of vanilla appealed to him as much as her lively nature.
She gave him a good-natured shove and flashed a grin then walked toward the clerk. Her hair, pulled tight against her skull, accentuated her profile, revealing a natural beauty that only results from healthy living.
Oddly, he sensed a familiarity he couldn’t put his finger on, and a peculiar thread of awareness wove between them. His spirit pressed with additional interest. If he didn’t already have plans, he’d ask her to dinner. Damn! What do I do? Should I cancel the blind date? No. But, she’s so perfect. No. Following her to the register, he shook his head in confusion.
“I hope the line at check-in has gone down.” She paused after paying to put on the new earrings. “I think a travel bus came in just before I arrived, so I skipped the mob.”
“That makes both of us.” He took his boxed gift from the saleswoman and tucked it into a breast pocket of his coat. “I’ll walk over there with you.”
He insisted on carrying her bag and together they entered the foyer. The crowds had since slipped into their rooms and no one stood at the counter. He placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her ahead of him.
She pointed to a sign next to a clock and read, “If you are not greeted with a smile and processed promptly, your stay is free.”
“I don’t see anyone.” He looked around. “Maybe we will have to call them out.”
As if on cue, the desk clerk appeared and welcomed them with enthusiasm.
“The dude has way too much energy.” He leaned toward her. Her light, spicy fragrance tickled his nostrils again. Hmm�
��delicious, better than coffee. “I’ll bet they have an espresso machine in their break room.”
“Behave yourself.” She giggled and used her hip to push him away.
Boy, what he’d do for a cup of coffee or anything with loads of caffeine. But, then again, the gal next to him sizzled and he wished he could sample her. He ducked his head to hide his grin and set the bag on the counter next to her.
She said, “I need to check in. The name is Amanda Collins.”
The air rushed out of his lungs in a choking cough. My date?
“And you must be Mr. Schafer?” The man behind the desk raised an eyebrow and his smile changed to a shameless grin.
Dyami recovered his composure and read his name tag. “Yes, Danny, I ,am.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but how do you say your name?” The considerably shorter clerk stood with his hand on his hip, ogling Dyami with interest. “It’s such an unusual name; I don’t want to offend you by mispronouncing it.”
Was the guy checking him out? No fucking way!
“You say it like Dee-aww-mee.” Dyami enunciated slowly.
Danny frowned, repeated the syllables bit by bit then put them together. His tongue flicked over his lower lip as if tasting the name on his lips and savoring it.
Dyami rolled his eyes.
Amanda spun to face him in stunned recognition, her mouth wide open. He ignored the harebrained clerk and focused on the blessing from Madame Eve who stood in front of him. Chuckling, he put a finger under her chin to close her mouth. The battle in his mind claimed ultimate victory with the realization his date would be with the long-legged temptress before him. He looked forward to tasting her luscious lips all night.
“Wow,” she whispered and gave him a smile that spread to her eyes.
“I hope that’s a good wow.” He couldn’t hide his pleasure at what he assumed was her positive reaction.