Page 23 of Stone

Once they made it to the small lobby, they tried to look like a normal couple. She hoped no one noticed that her feet were bare and dirty. They headed toward the restrooms. Knox opened the door to the men’s, checked it was empty, then pulled her inside.

“Barefoot on the sidewalk, and then in a dirty alley.” Her nose wrinkled. “Now a men’s room.”

Before she could say anything else, Knox scooped her up into his arms.

“Knox.”

“Hold on.”

He carried her to the final toilet cubicle, and stepped inside. Knox shifted her. “Put your feet on my boots.”

She did, keeping her balance by clinging to him. She spotted the bag tucked into the corner beside the toilet. Knox closed the door behind them and locked it.

He shuffled them closer, then closed the toilet lid. “Hold on.”

She clenched her hands into his shirt as he shrugged off his jacket. His shirt was white today, and warm from his skin.

Then he dropped his jacket on the floor. “There you go.”

Like an honest-to-God gentlemen. She stepped off his boots and onto the fabric, her gaze locking onto his face.

“What?” he said.

“I think you’re one of the good guys.”

He set the bag on top of the toilet lid. He pulled out a new jacket—this one made of brown leather—and a baseball cap.

“What, no sexy set of wire-rim glasses?” she teased.

He flashed her a look and slipped the jacket on. Next, came a blonde wig that would brush her shoulders.

Nola settled it onto her head and struck a pose. “What do you think?”

“I think I prefer your real hair.”

He pulled out leggings, a tank top, and a zip-up athletic jacket, all in pale shades of pink and gray. “These aren’t my size.”

She bit back a laugh. He handed them to her, then turned, offering her his broad back.

She felt the tension wind around them. She unbuttoned her shirt, then shimmied out of her skirt. She was so conscious of him standing within arm’s reach. She quickly pulled the leggings and top on. She zipped up the jacket. Then pulled out some running shoes and socks from the bag.

“Shoes!” She hugged them to her chest. “Devyn is good. Everything is my size.” She slipped the socks onto her dirty feet—she’d burn the socks later—then pulled the shoes on and tied the laces. “I’m done.”

Knox turned and scanned her. Then he stuffed their discarded clothes into the bag.

“All right. We have two blocks to travel. I’ve checked the map, and I think it’s best if we go through the Chelsea Market. There’ll be more people, and it should be easier to blend in and stay under the radar.”

Nola lifted her chin. “I’m ready.”

She was nervous as hell, but at least Knox was with her.

CHAPTER SIX

Knox kept a tight hold on Nola’s hand. She was being strong, but he could tell she was scared.

He hated the blonde wig. She looked much better as a dark-haired sprite.

They exited the building and he tried to stay relaxed, and not look like a man who was on the lookout for trouble.

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