Page 6 of Stone

“Hey, Nola.” A tall, toned, and beautiful redhead waved.

“Hi, Devyn.”

“Love the shoes,” Devyn said with a smile.

“Thanks. They hurt like hell.”

The rest of Nick’s friends appeared. They all worked at Sentinel Security.

His always-handsome boss Killian “Steel” Hawke stepped into view. He slid an arm around Devyn “Hellfire” Hawke. The pair were a matching set—both gorgeous and deadly.

The others were there as well. Italian heartthrob Matteo “Hades” Mancini and his clever wife Gabbi. Elegant Hadley “Striker” Knightley and her husband Bennett. Big Irishman Bram “Excalibur” O’Donovan was there too, but his wife Addie wasn’t with him.

“Hi, everyone,” Nola said.

Bram lifted his chin. “I can’t stay long. One drink, then I need to get home to Addie and the twins.” He shook his head. “They’re pint-size balls of energy, and by this time of the day, Addie is exhausted.”

“I don’t think so,” a sharp female voice said.

Nola turned and saw the final pair of the Sentinel Security team. Sexy Cain “Shade” Cavanaugh and Sentinel’s tech goddess, Jet—better known by her codename Hex. Pink-haired Hex was glaring at her man. Cain—whose tawny hair was up in a man bun that just begged a woman to slide her hands into it and mess it up—smiled a charming smile and murmured something quietly. Hex narrowed her gaze and shook her head, but then Cain pulled his wife in and kissed her. Hard.

Hex melted in about half a second.

Nola’s heart squeezed. The pair had so much chemistry.

It reminded her of the man who’d just rocked her world with a kiss.

“Hey, guys, I want you to meet—”

“Hey, Stone.” Nick reached past Nola, holding a hand out. “You found the place okay?”

Nola blinked and found Nick smiling at Knox.

“I did, Wolf. Thanks.”

“The whiskey here is amazing,” her brother continued. “You have to try some.”

Nola swiveled, and took in Knox’s composed face. Stone? His easy-going smile was gone. And he knew her brother’s code name.

“Nola—” Nick settled an arm over her shoulders “—meet Knox ‘Stone’ Holman. He’s the newest addition to the Sentinel Security team. He’s a former Marine, but I won’t hold that against him. Stone, my baby sister, Magnolia.”

Knox nodded at her like she was a stranger. Not a woman he’d just flirted with and kissed. She could practically feel the icy vibes shimmering off him.

He’d gone cold.

“Let’s get some drinks,” Killian said. “To welcome Knox to the team.”

“Come on, bestie.” Lainie slid her arm through Nola’s and urged her forward.

They found a large table, and Nola had no chance to talk to Knox. He was sitting at the other end of the table with Nick and Bram, not looking her way.

Nola sipped her drink, trying to ignore the squirmy feeling in her belly. She didn’t like it.

And she sure as hell wasn’t going to let the man keep ignoring her.

Or that kiss.

A kiss like that didn’t happen everyday.

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