Page 9 of Sensual Nights

He carried another box of kitchen items down the hallway, grinning as he walked. This move felt good to him. It felt positive, and he was finally ready. When he'd first come to Blossom Springs, it was an escape. A chance to get away from the haunted faces he still saw at night. Those he couldn't save. Maybe that's why that apartment always felt so oppressive. He'd selected it without looking at any others. He just needed a place to sleep. He then found out Jace was only hiring veterans and that seemed a good place to start for employment. Working as a bartender was so far removed from his days as a surgeon.

He set his box on the counter and turned to retrieve the final four boxes he'd brought with him today. Stepping outside, he sucked in the warm, humid air and closed his eyes. Gawd, he loved it here. The warmth seeped into his skin. Even though he sweated a lot, it felt good.

Pulling a box of dishes from the back of his truck, he hustled to the door, unlocked it with his key, and pulled it open awkwardly while juggling his box. He stepped inside and started down the hall, but the door didn't close. He waited for the 'thunk' it made, but it didn't. He turned to see a head disappear outside. Someone was out there.

Setting the box on the floor, he hustled to the still-open door and pushed it open. The hand of a man was holding the door, but he'd managed to open it easily. He glanced down at the short man with a slim build, scruff on his chin, and hair that needed to be combed. Disheveled. That's how he'd describe him. The man’s grayish eyes rounded as his head tilted up to stare into his.

"What can I help you with?" Mason asked, never looking away from the scrawny man.

"No..noth...nothing." He shuddered.

"You live here?"

"No. no." He shook his head.

"Okay. Well, you need to live here to be in here. Or know someone who lives here. Do you know someone who lives here?"

The man shook his head and moved back a step. His hands fidgeted together, and in a split second, he turned and ran toward Main Street. Mason watched him run. It wasn't the same man he'd chased the other day. That man was larger in build and neater in appearance. The little bit of it he'd seen anyway.

Sucking in a deep breath, Mason pushed the door closed tightly, checked that it was locked, and once he was satisfied it was, he turned to finish taking his dishes into his new condo.

Setting the box on the counter, he turned and surveyed his new place. His furniture would look great here. He shook his head to remove the suspicious feelings that invaded his mind after seeing that man try to enter his new sanctuary. He wasn't going to tolerate stuff like that here. The other owners needed to know that about him right away. Hopefully, he'd meet them sooner rather than later, and they could come to a consensus about safety.

He heard the entry door open and pushed himself off the counter he leaned on and stalked toward the door. His irritation rose to a new level for today and if that scrawny little bast...he halted when he saw Carley standing near the pool table with a clean-cut younger man. He looked recently discharged from the military. His high and tight still evident, though beginning to grow out. His posture was ramrod straight, and as Carley explained the common area, he stood nearly at attention.

Carley turned and saw him in the hall. Her smile grew as her eyes landed on his.

"Hi, Mason. This is Neil Ellis. He's looking at a place here. Neil, this is Mason Thompson. He's moving in today!"

Neil stepped forward and held his hand out. Mason planted his hand against Neil's and shook. "It's nice to meet you, Neil. I'm looking forward to living here."

"I am as well, Sir."

Mason shook his head. "Mason."

"Yes, sir...Mason."

He grinned at Neil. His eyes slid over to Carley's, and he smiled at her. "I just have a couple more boxes to carry in; then I'm off to work."

Neil stepped toward the door. "Let me help you."

He seemed nervous and Mason remembered those days when he was first out of the military. It was scary in so many ways. After years of someone barking at you and telling you what and when to do something, it was unnerving to be able to make your own decisions and choices. Or even to have to make your own decisions and choices.

Mason grinned at Carley. "I don't mean to hijack your showing."

She laughed. "Don't worry. Actually, if we all pitch in, you'll be moved in before you know it."

He nodded and held his hand out for her to precede him. Besides, he didn't mind watching her walk.

His eyes reluctantly drifted from her fabulous ass to the surrounding area as he stepped outside. He was looking for both the scrawny man and the man he'd seen the other day. For some reason, they were keenly interested in the Barracks. But why?

7

Carley entered the office from the back door. Striding to the front she grinned at her assistant, Addison. "I sold another one."

Addison clapped her hands together. "You're on fire!"

Carley laughed. "It's so easy I hate to take money for it, but I will."

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