The Mercenary Next Door (Rogues and Rescuers #2) - Lucy Leroux Page 0,41

They never came back for it. If you’re going to see them, maybe you can pass it on.”

“Yes,” Mason answered. He had no fucking clue where Laila was, or why she had moved out, but he was going to find her.

His new neighbor disappeared, returning in a minute with a small stack of envelopes, mailers, and magazines. Mason took them all, pressing the bundle against his body to keep from dropping them.

When his takeout finally arrived, he stuck in his fridge. Then he fished out the keys to his Mustang to drive to Gardullo’s Gourmet Grocery.

Driving one-handed was…challenging. But Mason did it, anyway, struggling a bit to make the sharp turn on Fifth. When he pulled into the grocery’s parking lot, he sighed with relief that he hadn’t crashed his car.

The cold February wind whipped across his face as he ducked inside the door of the small, privately owned grocery. Laila’s bakery counter was empty.

Fuck. Mason hung his head, fighting the urge to kick the wire stand of advertising circulars next to him across the room. A worry that she wasn’t here because she had left town twisted his stomach into a knot. He told himself it wasn’t likely, but then he hadn’t imagined she’d move apartments either.

It’s okay, he told himself. Even if Laila was no longer employed here, she had been all through school. Someone would know where she lived now. He would find her.

Mason was about to flag down the store manager to ask him about Laila when suddenly the woman herself appeared from the back of the store.

It was as if the angels in the heavens had decided to take a sideline as lighting directors. A shaft of sun from the front window hit Laila as she walked past the two checkout stands. She wore a sleeveless burnt orange dress that showed off her sleekly muscled arms. Her dark creamy skin looked as if she had a thin sheet of gold pressed over it.

Damn. Laila glowed. Mason put his hand over his heart. He was a little bit afraid it had just exploded.

She ducked behind her counter, bending to fiddle with something before rising, a tray filled with French macarons in her hand.

When she saw him, she stopped short, sending the multicolored pastries flying.

“Wha—” she cried out in surprise, snatching up a green-tinted macaron before it flew off the tray. At least half-a-dozen others weren’t as fortunate. They hit the floor, scattering all around her in a rainbow of sweet litter.

“Hi,” he said slowly.

Laila’s gorgeous brown eyes were fixed wide on his face. For a long moment, she simply stared at him. Finally, she blinked, her head jerking back. “H-hi.”

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t,” Laila said quickly, then she gave herself a little shake. “Well, you did, but it’s okay. I’m just surprised to see you.”

Her eyes ran over him, lingering over the sling and arm in the plaster cast as well as the spot high on his cheek that was still shiny after a scab had fallen off.

His face was otherwise unmarked, but given the way Laila gaped at him, Mason half wondered if he’d sprouted horns. Or she’s noticing how much smaller you are. He was a lot thinner than he’d been, having lost some muscle mass in recovery.

She set the tray on the counter. “What happened to you?” she asked, gesturing to his arm.

“I got hurt. It happened not long after I saw you last,” he said. The words felt thick on his tongue. He shut his eyes briefly, torn between turning away because it would be easier to speak and drinking her in.

Hungry for the sight of her, staring won. “I just got back to town.”

Laila paled. “Recently?

“Yes. Today, actually.”

“You’ve been gone this whole time?” Laila asked, her voice a touch unsteady.

Mason nodded. “Things went sideways on my last mission. I sort of got blown up.”

Her lips parted. “You what?” she squeaked.

He managed a weak one-sided smile.

“I’m fine now. Or I will be. But that’s why I’ve been gone so long. I was laid up in a hospital in Mexico City, wearing a cast up to here.” Mason gestured to his neck.

Laila appeared horrified. He was almost concerned she was going to faint.

She sucked in an audible breath. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Are—are you in pain?”

“I’m okay.”

Her eyes were skeptical.

“Well, I will be fine,” he amended.

The light was playing tricks on him. It almost looked like Laila had tears in her eyes, but then she blinked, and the