Page 30 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“Of course,” Levi looked at her card one more time before pocketing it. “While most of our transactions are discrete for legalities, I still remember how to be a true realtor.”

“That’s why you always were my favorite—a quick learner.” The lie burned Mikko’s tongue.

“Gotta earn my keep around here someway, boss.” The use ofbossmade Mikko cringe. “Regardless, she appears to be a harmless woman to do business with. I could see the brightness in her eyes at the idea of expanding her business and making it into something of her own.”

Mikko knew Anika was far from harmless, but kept his thoughts to himself. Aloud he said, “That’s what this business is all about: making dreams come true.”

“In more ways than one.”

Levi stood, walking over to the wet bar along the wall, his fingers running over the glass decanters. Mikko wanted to scold him, to tell him to stop touching his stuff and to get out. He got the information he wanted—all of it damn near worthless—but he kept calm. Leaning back in his chair, he watched his employee peruse the untouched alcohol selection.

“Is this one new?” Levi asked suddenly, his hand halting near a bottle Mikko couldn’t see clearly from his vantage point.

“I hardly pay attention,” Mikko replied. “Which one is it?”

“This one.” Holding up a dark amber bottle, its neck long and slender, he let Mikko take a look at it. “I don’t remember it being in here last time I was in your office.”

“You sneak in here often?”

Levi grinned and set the bottle back down. “Maybe.”

His own curiosity winning out over his annoyance, Mikko stood and met Levi at the small bar. Sure enough, the bottle’s color and silhouette was out of place among the rest of his collection. While he wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t touch these, his memories served him well.

This one was new.

And its label indicated it was tequila. His mind wandered to one person specifically.

“I’ll have to ask Emma if someone sent it while I was away,” Mikko said.

“Secret admirer maybe?”

Mikko’s heart stuttered. “If you think all the gruff ass men we work with are romantic types, sure.”

Levi laughed, “You got me there. Well, that was all I needed. I’ll be in touch with both you and Anika in hopes of closing out that sale.”

Nodding, Mikko kept his eyes on the bottle as Levi walked out. Slipping his phone from his pocket when he was alone once more, he dialed Emma’s direct line.

“What can I do for you Mr. Romanov?” she inquired after the second ring.

Cocking his head at the amber glass, he asked, “Did someone deliver a nice bottle of alcohol here for me?”

“Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you since you were busy with meetings all morning, but a local delivery service stopped by with it earlier. They told me it was for you and there was a note attached explaining the sender’s gratitude.” She shuffled papers around on her desk before she spoke again. “I didn’t read it since it was a sealed note, but it’s on your desk. Top corner under the base of your desk lamp.”

“Thank you, Emma.”

“Of course. Hope it’s from a pleased client, you deserve therecognition.”

“One can only hope.”

After she updated him on another upcoming meeting, they hung up. His feet already carried him to the corner of his desk, her directions succinct and stirring his anxiety.

He tried to think back through all the deals he’d closed the past few weeks, but nothing came to mind. At least none warranting an expensive bottle of liquor to appear with a note.

His calloused fingers pulled the stiff cardstock from under the lamp, the seal untouched. Ripping into it, his patience was nearly gone as his thoughts of Anika resurfaced while he read the typed words on the thick paper.

Pleasure doing business with you. Although if we’re to work together, I fear you’ll need to refine your palate…

Mikko scoffed, his mind flashing back to similar words falling from her plush lips a week ago. But there was more: