Free Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) by Jennifer Rose

with a skeptical glare that took a few moments to pass. “We’re turning the fourth floor into Mik’s new apartment…let’s go up, Scott’s got the apartment plans.”
    “An elevator would be a fuck of an idea,” Mason said, when they reached the top step and looked around the open space.
    The room was a builder’s delight. Untouched skeletal walls, floors and ceilings meant it was only a matter of insulating, erecting interior walls, installing plumbing, electrical wiring and dry wall. Once it was given a slap of paint and some carpet was laid, voila, a new apartment in just a few short weeks. Mason’s heart tightened when he realized his time with Mikala was being cut shorter, not only because she had bolted, but thanks to his best friend’s brilliant idea and endless monetary generosity, she wouldn’t need him.
    “The elevator goes over there, private of course and I want it secured. A camera maybe with a pin pad code?” He turned to Mason when he got no response. “You listening, jackass?”
    “I hear you.” Mason snapped.
    “Why so glum?” Chase asked.
    “It’s nothing.” He shrugged Chase’s inquiry off. “Let’s see these plans?”
    The four of them talked over what was and wasn’t possible, what was overboard and what Mikala could and couldn’t live without. Her needs were not overly demanding. Chase seemed more concerned with modern conveniences and all the frills than she did.
    Mason couldn’t help watching her every move, fixed on her every word.
    She asked for a small kitchenette by one of the windows so she could have a breakfast nook; she always wanted a breakfast nook. But the one thing she really wanted from the Reno and wasn’t budging on was an old fashioned claw style tub, she said big enough for two but quickly looked away when Mason’s eyes met hers.
    Since she was busying herself with anything too avoid talking to Mason, he went downstairs to begin working, but he was determined that he was not leaving the building until they talked.
    Mason sat at a lone table off to the side of the bar area downstairs with a clean set of plans and roughed in the security system for the dance club and private club. The new elevator demanded a bit more planning. Mikala needed access to the elevator from all four floors and it had to be accessible by staff, but the apartment needed to be accessible only by her with its own code.
    His eyes narrowed as he studied the third floor. The floor of private rooms needed security, yes, but it also had to assure complete privacy for it patrons. Accomplishing both without the threat of law suits was something he dealt with on a regular basis; however this came with an entire set of new rules. The people that were going to be frequenting these rooms were not your average Joe’s. They were Celebrities, politicians, well-to-dos with money to burn and the means with which to ruin those that stood in their way. These were influential people this club could ruin with rumors alone and in turn they could destroy this club and Mikala. Why she took the risk he would never understand.
    “What are the plans?”
    Mason looked up to see Mikala standing looking over his shoulder with two mugs. He directed her to sit and she handed him a fresh coffee.
    “Thanks.”
    “It still smells terrible in here,” she said, scrunching her nose and taking a sip from her mug.
    “It won’t for much longer. Before you know it will all be finished,” he answered, finding his disappointment hard to conceal.
    “Yeah, I’ll be moved back in here soon by the sounds of it,” she said.
    He thought for a second that he detected a tiny shred of disappointment in her tone, although a cheer returned to her voice when she noticed his stare. “Chase really knows what a girl wants, the apartments going to be great. He even wants to open up a wall and put in two of those big windows like you have in the loft,” she smiled, but he could not manage a smile to match hers.
    “That’s nice,