Free Shadow of Time - Book 1: (Paranormal Romance) by Jen Minkman

that means a lot, coming from someone that talented.”
    Emily smiled. “I’m happy to hear he’ s so sweet to you. It’s obvious he feels close to you.”
    “I wouldn’t mind feeling him even closer.”
    “Ooh, Slutsville.”
    Hannah giggled. “Shut up .”
    They walked past the deck of The Winking Shrimp. Hannah’s gaze wandered to the jetty where Josh had been next to Ben a few days ago, nearly giving her a heart attack with his sudden re-appearance after their meeting at the gas station. Last time here, she’d been a high-school student, and Josh had still been a kid. On the reservation, he’d always called her sha’di – the Navajo word for older sister. Josh called Ben shik’is , his brother and friend. In Diné culture, it was common to avoid using people’s names in their presence out of respect. Family members were addressed by their title, because those relations were important. Even the name ‘Josh’ was a nickname based on his real Navajo war name. It was a name devised to be used by whites. Josh had once told Ben and her his real name, though, but she’d forgotten it along the way.
    “What’s Josh’s real name again?” Hannah wondered aloud.
    “ Shash ,” Emily replied. “It means ‘bear’ in our language.”
    Hannah blinked. “You mean the animal?”
    So his name referred to the strange birthmark on his chest? That was just freaky. Of course, if it had actually been a birthmark, it wouldn’t be so strange – his grandparents could have given him the name because of his mark, but that wasn’t possible. Something inexplicable must have happened during his quest. But what could it be?
    The two girls sat down at the waterside. Hannah ga zed at the beach, where a group of guys were sitting around a bonfire, roasting marshmallows. Even though the three boys didn’t look like the drunk teenagers of last night, they reminded her of them. Somehow, their presence felt the same. She shivered.
    Emily followed her stare. “What’s up? You look spaced out.”
    “I was harassed by some guys last night,” Hannah said softly.
    “What , really? Those guys over there?”
    “No . I just ... they sort of reminded me of the situation.” She quickly told Emily what had happened. She didn’t want to dwell on it for too long. Thinking about it cast a shadow over her good mood.
    “Good idea to file a report,” Emily said. “I hope they get arrested. You’re lucky nothing happened to you.”
    Nothing had happened, but somehow she now felt irrationally scared of people who had nothing to do with her assailants. Maybe that fear had made her dream such strange things last night. It was as good an explanation as any.
     

     
    Whe n the two girls got back to the house, Nick was hammering away on Ben’s laptop while Josh was stirring up the coals on the barbecue.
    “Enjoy your walk?” Josh asked when Hannah came over to him.
    “I did. Enjoy Nick’s interview?” She looked at Nick, who was now typing and chatting to Emily at the same time. “I see he’s still processing data?”
    “He borrowed Ben’s laptop so he could take notes faster.” Josh wiped the sweat o ff his forehead. Hannah laughed when he smeared a stain of soot across his eyebrow.
    “What?” he asked, a faint smile around his lips.
    “You on the war path?” she teased, laughing even more when she saw the bemused look in his eyes.
    “You talk in riddles,” he said with a grin.
    “You have a war stripe on your brow.” Hannah reached out and rubbed the black stain, trying to get it off his skin.
    Josh moved closer. “Where?” he said, reaching for his forehead. His fingers touched hers, and he looked at her from up close.
    “Yes – there,” she stammered.
    “Is it gone?” he mumbled.
    “Yes.”
    “Do I still look like an idiot?” He stared down at her with a twinkle in his eyes.
    “No.” Hannah wondered when exactly her entire voc abulary had turned monosyllabic.  She stared at him in the silence stretching