Page 28 of Sensual Nights

"Okay. Should we have a look at the common area? I can explain to you a little bit about what is going to happen out there."

"Sure."

Mason stopped at his door and unlocked it. The man walked out first, and then Carley exited. She had the door propped open. He was proud of her for that. She unpropped it, put the stopper in her purse, and grinned when she saw him. They stared at each other for a long time. He wanted to kiss her. Hold her close.

Instead, he smiled at her and said, "Nice job."

She smiled and whispered, "Thank you." She followed her customer down the hallway. The man turned and stared down the hallway, and Mason's stomach twisted.

He looked familiar, and he didn't look friendly. Mason relocked his door and followed Carley down the hall.

She explained about the common area, what they were going to be doing with the glass walls, and how it would be private and available to rent for special occasions. She asked him if he had questions.

"No."

"No questions?"

"I want to think on it, okay? I also want to see what the landscapers are doing outside."

"Okay. I can go out with you. You have my information and can get in touch with me anytime."

"All right, yeah."

He turned and walked out the main door, and Carley followed him out, but not without a glance Mason’s way.

Mason followed behind Carley. He hung back, but he wanted to be close. Where did he know this guy from?

The man stopped and watched the landscapers in front drop a couple of plants into holes they'd dug. "Well, what are they doing?"

She cocked her head to the side and responded to the ridiculous question. It was clear to see what they were doing.

But, ever the professional, Carley smiled. "They are putting in the landscaping. Not all these condos are finished yet, but because we have residents living here now, Quinn wanted it to look nice for our current residents. So, we're working on the landscaping. The security system is partially installed and will be completed tomorrow. The upstairs condos will be finished within the next three or four weeks."

"Alright."

He slowly walked around the edge of the newly planted landscaping, and Carley followed him. Mason followed her. He had a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach about this guy. And that nagging feeling he'd seen him somewhere before.

One of the landscapers stopped digging. He knelt down, holding the base of the plant in place, as his hands swiped dirt into the hole. A shiny object glistened in the dirt and Carley bent down and picked it up. She looked at it, turning it over in her hand. Her brows furrowed.

Her customer said, "What's that?"

She responded, "I don't know. Looks like a thumb drive or something. I'll give it to Quinn."

"Well, I'd like to see it."

"Um, it's just a thumb drive. And it belongs to the owner of the condos, and that's Quinn Kurtz, so I'll give it to him."

Not to be dismissed, the man asked again, "I'd like to see it, please."

Mason stepped forward and placed himself between Carley and this man. He looked at him, noting his military haircut and straight posture. His blue eyes were unfriendly and they were cold.

He said, "She'll give it to Quinn. I don't know why that bothers you."

"It doesn't bother me. I just wanted to see it."

Mason decided this conversation was finished. "And she showed it to you, and that's all there is to it."

"Right. Well, I'll be in touch, Ms. Page."

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