Page 3 of Stone

Nola glanced back and saw the idiot from the bar trying to follow her. He took one look at the big silver hottie, then quickly turned away.

She smiled. “Not now.”

Knox Holman hadn’t expected to come into the bar and get bowled over by a pint-sized sprite with short, black hair and huge, blue eyes.

Not to mention the tiny, curvy body, and the tight skirt.

He’d been planning to have a few beers with his new workmates, then head back to his new apartment. Which, to be fair, was mostly boxes, but he was going to have to unpack them eventually.

He knew it was going to take some time to adjust to living in New York City. It was a long way from Camp Pendleton and California.

But he’d known it was time for a change.

“Thanks for the almost rescue.” The sexy fairy smiled at him.

Damn, she was gorgeous. She smelled good, too, and her white shirt was unbuttoned enough to give a hint of cleavage.

“You looked like you were doing fine on your own.” He glared at the back of the idiot who’d been hassling her.

“I’m a single woman in New York. I’m well-trained.” She sipped her drink.

Single. The word reverberated in his head as he watched her lips. They closed over the delicate rim of her glass, giving him ideas. Ideas of what else he’d like to see those pretty lips wrapped around.

Damn. Knox lifted his bottle of beer and sipped. He was forty-seven. Way too old to be knocked sideways by lust.

“I’m Nola,” she said.

“Knox.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Knox.” She cocked her head. “Military man.”

“Used to be. How can you tell?”

“My brother was in the Navy.”

“I made the better choice. Marines.”

Someone bumped into her, and Knox used his body to shield her. Taking her arm, he guided her to the edge of the crowded room. He found a quiet, shadowed spot by the wall.

“What brings you to New York, Knox?”

“How do you know I’m not a local?”

She laughed. “Accent and the lack of attitude.”

He lifted his chin. He liked her laugh. “A new job. I just started today.”

“Congratulations.” She clinked her glass against his beer bottle. “Have you got a place to stay yet? I’m a Realtor.”

“I do. My new employer helped out.” It was an added bonus that his new job also provided accommodation.

“That’s handy,” Nola said. “So, you liking the Big Apple so far?”

“Not really.” He leaned closer and pulled in her scent. It was something sexy and spicy. “But it’s growing on me.”

She smiled. “I saw you. Before.” Her gaze warmed.

Damn, he liked knowing she was attracted to him. It lit up his nerve endings. He really wanted to find out how she felt pressed against him. It had been a really long time since a woman had bowled him over like this.

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