Page 8 of Stone

“When I was in my twenties and in the Marines.”

Nola raised an eyebrow. “So, a long time ago.”

“Yes.”

“Have you got kids?”

“No, thankfully.”

She tilted her head. “So, you failed once and that stops us getting to know each other? Enjoying each other?”

He sighed. “Nola…”

“It sounds like an excuse to me.”

He turned to face her, and his rugged features looked like they were carved from the stone he was named for.

“It was nice to meet you, Nola, but I’m not interested.” He nodded, then strode back to join the others.

Well. Nola blindly stared at the whiskey bottles lined up behind the bar. A hollow feeling filled her, and deep inside it was hurt.

She’d been resoundingly rejected.

She dragged in a breath. You barely know the guy, Magnolia.

Which meant it shouldn’t hurt this much.

The next morning, Knox stood as still as his nickname in the elevator as it descended.

The large, brick Sentinel Security warehouse had been completely remodeled. Killian had told him it had been a cargo warehouse back in the 1800s. The brick walls and arched doorways contrasted with the sleek, modern furniture and fixtures. There were also lots of green walls, filled with lush plants.

The ground levels were the main offices, and housed cyber security, corporate security, and the admin staff of Sentinel Security. The more modern steel and glass addition at the top of the building was all high-end apartments.

The elevator slowed and stopped. He stepped off into the secure lower level. This one was where Killian’s top team worked. The place sure was something, with top-of-line computers and gear. He was grateful for the short commute. The last thing he wanted was to battle the subway or the traffic.

He strode through an archway into his new office. He shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the back of his chair. Suits and ties were not his thing. Jeans and a sports coat were more his speed.

He sat at his desk, facing the new computer. It might take him a while to get used to sitting at a desk. It wasn’t something he liked. He preferred being outside.

“Morning.” Devyn appeared in the archway, clad in fitted black pants and a black shirt. Her red hair swung in a ponytail behind her. “If you need caffeine, we have a fully stocked kitchen, and a great coffee machine.”

“I saw the machine. Figured I needed an engineering degree to operate it.”

She laughed. She was stunning, and he could see why she’d caught the eye of a man like Steel.

But Knox also knew she was former CIA. It would pay not to underestimate her.

“I’ll make you a coffee,” she said. “Since it’s your second day.”

“Thanks. I take it black.”

As Devyn walked out, Knox saw Nick on the phone in his office across the corridor.

Of course, that made his thoughts turn to Nola.

Who was he kidding? He’d been thinking of her every minute since he’d laid eyes on her last night. He’d relived that damn kiss a hundred times. His body tightened and he growled under his breath.

She was off-limits. She was Nick’s sister, and he wasn’t going there. It had messy and complicated written all over it. Besides, she was too young.

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