Page 2 of Sensual Nights

She chuckled. "I agree with you, but it's a large purchase."

"I'm good."

She blinked and then smiled. This was the easiest sale ever! "Okay. How about if we walk down to the community area? There's a table we can use, and I can get the offer written up."

He nodded. "After you."

She moved toward the door to the hall. As she stepped into the hall, something moved in her peripheral vision, and she squealed.

Mason stepped out behind her. "What's wrong?"

"I just saw someone run out the door."

Mason took off at a run and pulled the main door open easily. She hurried down the hall, pulling her phone from her slacks pocket in case she had to call the police. As she arrived at the door, Mason stepped inside and they nearly collided.

"Was there someone here?"

"I saw him run into the woods at the back."

"Oh, my God." Her knees shook in earnest, and her breaths came in spurts.

"Where would he have been hiding? These condos are all locked, aren't they?"

She swallowed, "They are, but the upstairs isn't quite finished and some of the units don't have doors yet." She paused remembering the door to his unit had been unlocked. She'd need to tell Quinn to remind his guys to lock up behind themselves.

His voice was low and soft. "Let's go and take a look upstairs."

2

Mason led the way up the stairs in case someone was still up there. He was happy he was buying a lower unit; he wouldn't want to do these stairs all the time. Climbing stairs was not hard, but he preferred his workout to be more of an organized effort. Weights, then rowing, then a swim. On alternate days, a nice long jog.

He stepped onto the landing of the second level and stood to the left to wait for Carley. He was torn between asking her to stay downstairs or letting her follow him. What if someone was still down there? What if they were still up here? He'd been away from his military training for a few years now, it was supposed to be ingrained in him so tightly that it'd never leave. Where was it now?

Carley stepped into the upstairs entryway. He watched her swallow and hug her folder to her chest. His heart felt heavy for her fear. He'd never know what it was like to be a woman and feel afraid that someone would harm her. He'd been in combat; he'd hurt people as part of his job, and he'd lost people. Some of them due to acts of war and some because he couldn't save them. Those were the people who haunted him at night. The blankstares of men and women on his operating table after they'd passed on, because he couldn't save them. If he'd been a better surgeon, he could have helped them.

She turned her face up to him, her smile faltered slightly, and he sucked in a breath. He had been told he could look menacing at times. It was usually when he thought of his past life as an Army doctor. He had so much darkness in his past and he carried the weight with him every day.

He took a deep breath and let it out. "Do you want to wait here while I check the units?" he asked.

Her smile grew and she shook her head. "No, I can check them out."

"How about we go together?"

Carley's face brightened and the fear that had been so present a moment ago seemed to vanish. He smiled at this beautiful woman. He'd watched her at the Sandbar when she came with her sister, Margo, who was married to his boss, Jace Marriott. She stuck with the women she came with and refused the many passes from the single men who frequented the bar, especially on music nights. She also seemed sad and that's what he first noticed about her. This little dark-haired beauty seemed sad. As sad as he was. His soul called to her, but she didn't answer the call. She never made an effort to come and chat with him. He couldn't take the step of talking to her though, after all, he was a bartender and as damaged as anyone could be. What on earth would she want with him?

He placed his hand lightly on the small of her back and matched her steps as they moved to the first unit on the left. The door was locked, and that seemed to put her at ease. She unlocked it, and they stepped inside together. Mason quickly did a recon, checking all points where someone could hide. When he returned to the living room from the bedroom, Carley stood facing him.

She smiled sweetly. "You've done that before."

He shrugged and felt his cheeks heat. "Military training."

She nodded. They stared at each other for a moment before she took a deep breath. "On to the next?"

"Sure."

He followed her out the door, waited as she locked it, and stepped to the next unit. Within a few moments, they'd checked all the units and found no evidence that anyone had been there.

She shook her head. "I feel silly."

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