Page 24 of Stone

“Stay calm, relaxed,” he murmured to her. “Smile and look happy.”

“Right. Piece of cake.” Then she grabbed his arm and smiled up at him.

That brave smile hit him in the gut.

He reached out and toyed with some of the blonde hair. “We’ll head straight to the market, pass through, and the apartment is close by.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

As they headed down the sidewalk, they tried not to walk too fast. They passed a Starbucks, and a laughing trio of women holding takeout cups.

“That was me yesterday,” Nola said. “I got a mocha. I was smiling, hoping I’d get the job of selling the High Line Tower penthouse.” She made a sound. “Think I would have turned it down knowing what I know now.”

He wrapped an arm around her. “It’s going to be all right. I promise.”

“You sound like Nick. That certainty, no hesitation.” She set her shoulders back. “So why do they call you Stone? Because you’re as hard as stone?”

“Not exactly.” He pulled her closer, and they dodged around an arguing couple on the sidewalk. “On an early mission, my team was sent in to rescue a pair of abducted engineers in a country that I can’t name. They were being kept in a cave, and there were too many bad guys for us to storm it.”

“And?”

“I blew a hole through the wall into the cave with explosives. Rock went everywhere. Buried half the bad guys. After that, the guys started calling me Stone.”

“And the engineers?”

“We got them out safely.”

“You’re a regular, all-American hero.”

He hated that word. “No, I’m just a guy who tries to do the right thing.”

She looked up at him. “And now you’re helping keep me alive. That sounds like a hero to me. There aren’t that many guys who’d do the right thing, or put themselves in danger to do it, Knox.”

Her words filled a space inside him. He’d been given medals before, but Nola’s sincere praise hit deep.

“Thanks for coming for me, Knox. Especially when you made it clear that you don’t want to be around me.”

He jerked her to a stop. “I never said I didn’t want to be around you.”

She blinked. “You said—”

“I want you too much. That’s the problem.” And right now, he couldn’t let himself get distracted. Her safety was his first priority. He tugged her back into a fast walk. “Come on.”

Soon, the brick building and sign for the Chelsea Market came into view. He spotted the entrance, and steered them toward it. They crossed the street at a pedestrian crossing, and joined the trickle of people heading for the door.

“I love the Market,” Nola said. “I haven’t been here for ages. The old, industrial vibe of the building is amazing. It used to be an old biscuit factory. The food on offer is amazing.” Her natural exuberance shone through. “Donuts, chocolates, lobster, fresh pasta. You name it, you can find it here.”

Was there anything she wasn’t passionate about? Nola seemed to be a woman who threw herself into every experience.

Knox didn’t care about food right now. He fixed his gaze on the front door. Get her inside. That was his goal.

“Knox.” She squeezed his hand hard. “To our right.”

He casually glanced over and saw two guys. Big, wearing boxy, black suits, looking out of place. The men were looking at their phones, and scanning around.

Damn, they probably had a photo of Nola.

He quickly reached the door to the market, and pulled her inside.

---