Page 5 of Sensual Nights

"Yes. That's him. Do you know him?"

Addison shrugged. "Only in passing. I've seen him at the Sandbar, and my girlfriends and I like to watch him work. His hands are...efficient."

A little jealousy bug crawled up Carley's back and her shoulders stiffened. "Yes. That's my estimation as well."

Addison's brows rose into her bangs, but she didn't say anything further. Carley started toward the door. "I'll be back later in the day."

Carley finished her appointment with Douglas Sanders, catching herself a few times looking at her watch. He had a lovely home, though it was dated. But it seemed lately potential buyers didn't care as much if they got a good deal. Douglas Sanders was eager to sell, as he was moving this week to be closer to his children on the Space Coast and didn't want an empty house for too long. His eagerness was good news for her and any buyers she showed the property to.

As soon as noon came and went, she knew she wouldn't be able to meet up with Mason today. She swallowed the lump in her throat and drove to her second appointment.

Finishing up that appointment, she headed back to the office and cheerfully announced to Addison that she'd earned two more listings. She laid the paperwork on Addison's desk to enter into the system and schedule the photographer for photos.

She returned phone calls and checked her email, then decided to be brave and go to the Sandbar to give Mason his keys. She'd hoped to meet him privately, but honestly, what was that going to do for either of them? She shook her head at her silliness and chided herself for not being professional.

She parked at the Sandbar, took a deep breath, and let it out in a whoosh. She shook her head at her nervousness. After all,her sister and brother-in-law owned the Sandbar, and she was welcome any day and any time. It was natural for her to stop here. She was the one making it more than it was.

She entered the Sandbar, and her eyes landed on Mason immediately. He was chatting with patrons at the bar, two women and a man. The women were laughing overly loud and cocking their heads in the most flirtatious way. It rankled her, even though it shouldn't. After all, she sold him a condo and that was the extent of their relationship. He was the buyer, and she was the realtor.

But she liked his quiet strength. He didn't need to fill any conversational void with idle chatter. He could be quiet and present but not busy. He was different from anyone she'd ever known.

He stopped chatting with the customers at the bar and his eyes landed on hers. They held for a few moments, then he smiled, and her heart thudded in her chest.

4

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Carley walk in and stop near the door. The girls at the bar were being flirty and it made him feel skeezy when women he didn't know came on so strong. The chick in the tight white sweater was laying it on thick. From his peripheral vision, he saw her pull her sweater down to show more cleavage. She was on the hunt, but he wasn't interested in being her prey, or anyone's.

When Carley didn't approach the bar, he looked up to see what she was doing and saw she was watching. From her vantage point, it probably looked like he enjoyed the attention, but it was his job. The longer they stayed at the bar, the more money they brought in. He wasn't stupid; he understood capitalism as well as the next person. Since Jace had given him a chance to work here, he wasn't going to let him down by chasing paying customers out the door.

When his eyes met hers, he couldn't look away. She was a gorgeous woman. The first time she'd come into the bar, he noticed her. It was right after her sister's husband passed away. He didn't know anything about her, but he knew she was pretty and she always had a smile on her face. She took a few stepstoward the bar, and he set a napkin on the top, in front of an empty stool away from the flirty girl.

He smiled at her, and she smiled back. It lit up her face, and it took his breath away.

"What can I get you?" he asked, though his voice cracked.

Her smile grew, "I'd love an iced tea, please."

"Not a Sandbar Punch?"

She laughed and it sounded like music. "It's the middle of the day and I still have work to do."

"Fair enough."

He turned and poured her an iced tea, setting it on the napkin. She pulled a twenty-dollar bill from her purse, and he shook his head. "It's on me."

"You don't have to do that."

"I'm aware."

She smiled again, took a sip of her tea, and licked her lips. He watched every movement.

"Oh." She pulled her purse onto her lap. It was a ridiculously small purse with a chain for a strap. He figured she could fit her phone in it, and nothing else. But it worked for her. She pulled something small from inside, and her brows pinched together. She dropped it back into her purse and pulled out a set of keys. "I thought I'd bring these to you in case you want to get an early start on moving tomorrow."

She held the keys up, and he gently took them from her hand, brushing his fingers against hers. Her skin was warm and soft, though they barely touched, he could tell. Her eyes dropped to their hands, then flicked up to his eyes.

Her eyes were an incredible blue. Framed in dark lashes with a head of long dark hair, she was a picture.

"Thank you," he finally answered.

---