Page 38 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

Pressing the button on his Bluetooth, he stopped his music all together. His senses prickled on high alert, his eyes scanning for Anika when—

“Have a good night!” a feminine voice called out, her tone light as it echoed off the hardscape around them.Anika.

“You too, I’ll see you next week,” another woman answered back. Mikko craned his neck to see her over the tops of the cars in the parking lot. He caught the back of a woman’s head, a blonde ponytail swinging as she walked away. “Don’t eventhinkabout canceling!”

Anika’s head shook playfully before she crossed the street. Her own hair was pulled back to reveal the angles of her face and the lethal set of her brows and nose.

His heart fluttered.

Fuck, I’m acting worse than I did in grade school.

Although, he never stalked anyone then…

Despite the steadily cooling wind blowing off the nearby river, Anika’s workout outfit didn’t reflect that. Deep emerald green leggings hugged her muscular legs and a matching tank top showed a sliver of her skin. A skintight shrug hugged her shoulders, ensuring her toned arms were on display even if her skin was hidden behind a layer of fabric.

And the closer she walked, the more Mikko’s mouth dried up.

Glancing over her shoulder, she noted her surroundings before cutting through the gap between the nearest car and heading straight for him.

He should’ve slouched, leaned into the inky depths around her car—anything really—but he was frozen. Why was it that every time he saw her, in person or through a screen, his body glitched.

He was in deep,deepshit.

A smart aleck comment tried to form on his tongue, but nothing. Mikko’s words were suddenly failing him and—

“I hope you didn’t scratch my paint,” Anika stated, voice dark as her keen eyes spotted his hulking form. It sounded nothing like her friendly goodbye moments before. “Since you deemedthatan adequate parking spot.”

Clicking his visor into place with his gloved hand, he reminded himself she didn’t know it was him. With a smirk, he spoke. “Have a lil’ faith in me, yeah?”

“Last time I trusted a man, it didn’t end well”—she looked him up and down while walking closer—“for him.”

Mikko’s grinturned into a full blown smile. So devious. Out loud he said, “I think I can hold my own against you.”

“Well, let’s hope we don’t have to test that,” she said, stopping by the hood of her car, keeping the hunk of metal between them. “Until then, I’ll wait,” she gestured for him to move.

“If you’re expecting me to move, I just got here…”

“Shame, I needed to put these things in my passenger seat.” She held up her empty protein shake bottle and small duffle bag.

He nodded to the back of her car. “Trunk’s still an option.”

“For my things? Or you?” Anika cocked her hip, defiance written all over her glistening face. From this distance, he could see the thin layer of sweat coating her skin. The frizzy flyaways framing her countenance made him picture her with a dark, wicked halo.

Fitting,he thought.

Turning his handlebars and putting his kickstand down—the distance between their vehicles closing even more—Mikko got off his bike. Maybe his height would be more persuasive…

But even from where he now stood, he’d forgotten Anika was much taller than most women. Her strong and lithe figure still reached his jawline.

Ignoring her insinuation, Mikko slipped past his motorcycle and closed in on her. Even though she should’ve seceded, she didn’t. Her sneakers remained firmly planted on the asphalt, resistance etched into her alluring features.

And that fucking money piece—a sliver of light amongst the darkness. A drop of salvation. It was reminiscent of the slash of a crescent moon hanging low in the sky

My little moon.

The nickname fell into place before he could stop himself.

“You’re quiteboldfor being out here all alone,” he said, voice low from beneath his helmet.