Amber Foxx [Foxx - Snake Face

L as Cruces, NM

S tamos Tsitouris, The Greek God, strolled into the college library five minutes late wearing a smile that wasif Mae read him rightmore flirtatious than apologetic. Mae was sitting alone on the couch near the coffee counter, reading over her notes for the group project theyd be working on, her mind on school, not Stamos. His expression took her by surprise. He couldnt really be interested, could he?

At twenty-seven, Mae Martin was considered mature by her younger classmates. They looked up to her and leaned on her. Stamos was even more mature, though, and he intimidated them. The girls called him the Greek God behind his back, but could barely get a word out to his face.

He deserved the name. He was about forty, with a touch of gray at the edge of his wavy black hair. His features were strong and symmetrical. A short, neat salt-and-pepper beard framed his jaw, and he had twinkling brown eyes and heavy brows, a look both powerful and playful. Every inch of his body was an intentional masterpiece. Though he was about five-eight next to Maes five-foot-ten, she didnt sense in him the awkwardness she sometimes noticed in shorter men.

Stamos took a place beside her, set his laptop and several books on the table, and looked at the empty chairs around them.

So, we have only the elders willing to work on a Friday night. His Greek accent was faint, barely a trace left, just enough to add charm to his deep, soft voice. Are we surprised?

The absent members of their group were two eighteen-year-old young men.

The others might still show up.

I doubt it. We can get more done without them, anyway. Well tell Dr. Mendoza who did what, of course. Then well be done in time to go out for dinner and still have hours for a walk, or some music, perhaps.

A fair-skinned redhead, Mae blushed easily, and to her discomfort she felt the color warm her face now. She hadnt been looking for dates or relationshipsin fact shed been avoiding them. Im sorryId be embarrassed if I misunderstoodbut did you just ask me out?

I did. Were in all of our freshman classes together, the lonesome foreign adults in Health and Exercise Science. It only seems right, dont you think?

His referring to her North Carolina origins as foreign made her smile. Her accent was a lot stronger than his, and harder for New Mexicans to understand. The moment of humor put her more at ease. The suggestion of interest from this self-possessed man had caught her off guard, but it also flattered her. If she said yes, her first real date since her separation from her husband would be with him . The Greek God. All right, yes. Dinner would be nice. Thanks. Wondering what shed gotten into, and if she was really ready to do this, she ducked her gaze to her notebook. I reckon wed better get this work done, then.

She opened her notes on the presentation, and Stamos opened his.

Have you been to Mesilla, to the old town? he asked.

Not yet. Shed been so focused on her grades for the past few months she was practically a stranger to her new home state except for a few days in the capital, Santa Fe, and her commute to school in Las Cruces from Truth or Consequences, the small town where she lived. Ive been meaning to. Ive heard its pretty.

It is. And it has good restaurants and entertainment. But I can see you are all business right now.

They turned their attention to the project and quickly put together an outline on collaboration and referrals between fitness professionals and health care providers.

Mae checked her phone for messages as Stamos made some revisions in the outline. I feel bad about leaving Jeff and Hal out of this without checking on them one more time. They needed to learn from it more than we did. Mae was already certified as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and taught classes at the college fitness center. The little she knew about Stamos was that he owned a Pilates studio in Las Cruces and had a business degree as well as his certifications. The class was an introduction to the range of careers available within their major, but they were both in school to enhance the careers theyd already chosen, not undecided like their classmates who hadnt shown up. If something held them up, we should at least give them a chance to do part of the work, to make the slides or something. She texted the other two group members, got no replies. Thats weird. Those guys are glued to their phones.

Thats in class when they are bored. I dont think you should worry about them. Stamos typed something on his keyboard. I will bet you that theyre doing something interesting. Herewe have Hal on Facebook. Update as of eight oclock this morning. The boys are climbing Organ Peak.

Mae glanced out the librarys front window. In the distance she could see the jagged teeth of the Organ Mountains and that sharp peak the young men were climbing. A friend of hers, if Jamie was still a friend, had a history of some bad rock climbing accidents, and the thought of anyone ascending that peak made her uneasy. Wouldnt they be done by now?

Of course. The guide would have them off the mountain well before dark, and you cant do that climb without a guide. Its much too dangerous.

You mean youre not supposed to. Mae looked at her phone. No messages from the boys all day. They werent close, only classmates, but she expected anyone involved in group work to be responsible enough to get in touch. Even if academically lazy, Jeff and Hal were energetic about texting. What if they did it on their own and had an accident?

Stamos frowned. Then they are lying out in the middle of nowhere in very bad shape. There are some terrible drops off Organ Peak.

Does the Facebook post say anything about a guide, or when they plan to start, or anything?

No. Just an illiterate declaration of intent.

Shoot. How would anyone find them, if they cant get in touch? Like if theres no cell reception, or they lost their phones, or theyre unconscious?

Are you a worrier?

For other people, Mae acknowledged. I like to take care of em. And if theyre lost, I find them.

This wasnt something she shared readily, but she didnt want it to damage a relationship again. If she was going to date Stamos, even casually, she wasnt going to leave this aspect of herself a secret. I dont know what youre gonna think of this, but I have a way of looking for them.

I see. With a thoughtful lowering of one eyebrow and a quizzical twist of his mouth to the same side, he regarded her for a moment, then asked, What do you do exactly?

She took the velvet pouch of crystals from her purse and dumped them into her palm. I use these to help me focus, or for healing or protection. My Granma was a folk healer back in the mountains at home, and I take after her. I can see the past, or where lost people or animals are.

Stamos looked at the crystals. Quite beautiful. He met her eyes. You didnt want to tell me about that at first?

Not really. I thought you might think I was a quack or a nutcase. Or a witch. She slipped most of the crystals back into their little velvet bag and put it away, keeping one clear quartz point out. Its part of why my husband and I split. He and his folks dont like that I do this. Nobody back home cared for it.

Thats unkind. I think its interesting. My aunt Christina has premonitions. He exaggerated his accent on the word, seeming to imitate his aunt. Shes very dramatic and spooky about it, and she can be wrong sometimes, but when shes right I find it ... hmm ... intriguing . I think its possible to have a real talent for it.