Page 24 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

She handed it to him, the cream paper and dark text much classier than his, but she kept her opinions to herself.

His eyes narrowed at her title. “A financial data analyst, huh? Sothe leather goods really is just a hobby?”

“You could say that.”

Levi pocketed her card before placing a hand between her shoulder blades and leading her out. “I do love a business savvy woman.”

She fought to shake him off.

This shit better be worth it…

* * *

Mikko

Fuck.

He was in so much trouble.

Despite telling himself he wasn’t ready to face Anika, he’d still found his way to the property.

So much fornotdoing anything stupid.

Mikko had ridden his motorcycle to work that morning, and so he’d donned his gear once more and headed out. Since the exhaust was loud and conspicuous, he’d been forced to cut the engine and coast up the side alley leading to the warehouse. His tires crunched over the small pieces of gravel littering the road, but that was the only sound he made.

He tucked himself away into a space diagonally opposite of the property before locking the handlebars of his bike and walking the rest of the short distance. He crept closer, his identity hidden beneath his helmet while he focused on keeping his breathing calm and his mind semi-clear. All things he was discovering to be nearly impossible when Anika was involved.

Slinking between the historic brick walls, he honed in on theside entrance of the warehouse Anika had requested to view. The neighboring facilities looked similar and were also vacant. Soon, this area would be revitalized, sporting shops and cafés and living spaces for those eager for a taste of what it was like in the industrial part of the city.

Until then, the area was quiet as if holding its breath. The ghosts of its past were silent for now.

Rounding a corner, he heard Levi’s muffled talking. Striding closer, he remained concealed, but popped his visor up to let in a breeze along with a clearer version of Levi’s voice.

“—just needs some TLC,” Levi stated. His charm was turned on, forever embodying a salesperson. Mikko also assumed talking to a beautiful woman inflated his ego farther, his chest puffed out to impress.

“I feel like that’s a line you’reobligatedto tell me.” Her voice was as he remembered it, enticing and dangerous. Although now, it seemed as though she’d lightened it, her own business facade slipping into place.

Pressed against the brick of a nearby building, he listened as they walked closer toward the entrance. Caution flared in his gut.

Levi chuckled at her words, and Mikko gritted his teeth. “I’m on your side here. At the end of the day, our clients’ satisfaction means the most to us.” The way he said it made Mikko’s gloved fists tighten. He could only imagine the way Levi’s eyes roved over Anika.

Yet here he was, hiding out like a scared child, forced to listen to Levi—a shameless flirt—while he talked with Anika. Maybe Mikko should’ve known this was the direction his employee would’ve taken things, but he’d been too preoccupied with avoiding her altogether.

Thecreakof metal hinges snapped him back to the present, his hairline prickling with sweat. After a few moments filled with his deep breaths, he finally peeked around the corner. With them nowinside, he knew he wouldn’t be spotted. There, parked in the drive was Levi’s shiny BMW and behind it was what he assumed was Anika’s car. Her black sedan, a Kia K5, glinted in the evening sun.

Mikko added her carmake, model, the color black, and her tags to his ever-growing mental list.

He strode toward her car, confident the dilapidated interior of the warehouse would keep them preoccupied. Peeking into the passenger window of her vehicle, he made to find out more about her. The tint made it difficult, but he managed to see a stack of papers laid on the seat held together by binder clips. A water bottle and coffee cup littered her cup holders. Cherry Chapstick and what appeared to be a perfume roller—the brand name mentally noted as well—rested on the middle console. Clean and mundane. No indications could be seen as to who she was. She didn’t even have anything dangling from her rearview mirror. There was nothing here to give him any clues to her personality or her passions.

With a deep sigh, he rounded the car, putting it between him and the warehouse in case she, or Levi, glanced out one of the tall, dirty windows.

Crouching down to better conceal his tall frame, he stripped off a glove and wrote a note of his own on the back of the warehouse real estate listing he’d tucked into his jacket pocket.

To devour me, you must have teeth.

He smiled, tucking the paper under her windshield wiper. Time to fight fire with fire. Now if only he had a stick of gum to chew on and use it to adhere his note…

With one last glance, he crossed the alley and returned to the location of his motorcycle. He’d be able to see a sliver of her when she came back out, but the evening shadows were lengthening andhis own lurking form would be indistinguishable.