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She blinked. Then smiled. “If you mean in the stubbornness department, then yes. Actually, more so.”
He shook his head and she thought she heard him mutter, “I won’t stand a chance.”
When she gave a surprised giggle, his eyes darkened with something that looked suspiciously like tenderness. He moved closer and she gulped. Going still, she watched him, her heart thumping in anticipation of what she could see coming, what she welcomed. He didn’t disappoint her as he pulled her close and slanted his lips across hers.
Time stood still as he offered her comfort, love—and a whole mix of feelings she wanted to explore. At a better time. In a different place. Mason must have sensed her slight emotional withdrawal because he lifted his head. “I suppose you still want to get what you came for.”
Lacey sobered. “Yes. Working is helping keep my mind occupied. I never stop thinking about her, but—” she shrugged “—it just helps.”
His face softened in the light of the dim lobby lamp. “I understand.”
She looked out of the window toward the parking lot. The darkness seemed ominous. The back of her neck tingled and she shivered. Mason’s eyes shifted and the hand on her arm tightened. “Do you think someone’s out there watching?” she whispered.
“I don’t know, but I’ll feel better once you get what you need and I deliver you safely home.”
She nodded and looked around. “I wonder where Pete is. He’s usually sitting right inside the door.”
Mason’s hand hovered over his weapon as he looked out the window.
Anxiety twisted inside her. “Do you see anything?”
“No.”
“But you felt it, too, didn’t you? You had that feeling of being watched.”
“Yes. And that bothers me.” He turned and ran a hand down her arm. With a start, she realized she had goose bumps the size of small mountains.
His touch didn’t do a thing to diminish them. If anything, it added a few more. She shivered and stared up at him, the memory of that kiss still in the forefront of her mind. “Should you call the police?”
“For what? A suspicion?” Shaking his head, he patted his gun located in the shoulder holster on his side. “I’ll keep watch. If I think we need some help, I’ll call for it. Get what you need and let’s get out of here.”
Lacey nodded and headed down the hall to her office, wondering once again where Pete was.
“Pete? Are you here?”
No answer.
Pulling out her key card again, she started to slide it through the slot and found her door cracked.
Puzzled, she pushed it open and flicked the light on. Looking around, she didn’t see anything out of place. Moving to her desk, she flipped the small lamp on and started opening her mail. Might as well see what she’d missed over the last couple of days.
“Hey, Ms. Gibson, what are you doing here?”
Lacey looked up. “Pete. I wondered where you were. Is everything all right?”
The fifty-something gray-headed man with the round belly scratched his chin. “Sure, I was just in the restroom when I heard the door chime.”
She smiled at him. “I just came to get something to finish up a project. I have a friend with me.”
“Yeah, I met him. Nice fellow.” He waved a hand in the direction of the front of the building. “I’ll just be in my office if you need anything.”
Lacey nodded and went back to her mail.
The last piece was an interoffice envelope. She opened it, reached in and pulled out the contents. A younger version of herself gazed back at her from the picture. She gasped, letting the photo fall to the desk.
“What is it?”
She whirled to find Mason standing at the door, frowning.