Page 37 of Stone

“Darling, you’ve gotten to know me pretty well the last few hours.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“I don’t have one.”

“What?” She lifted her head. “That’s illegal.”

He shook his head. “What’s yours?”

“Aquamarine and Aegean blue.”

His brow creased. “You just made those up.”

“No, I didn’t.” She played with the hair on his chest. “I have to admit the color silver is growing on me too.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“What’s your favorite food?”

“Steak.”

She rolled her eyes. “Such a man.”

“Which I think you just proved over the last few hours you really like about me.”

“True. My favorite meal is spaghetti carbonara. The creamier the better. I don’t eat it too much or my skirts get too tight.”

“Babe, trust me, your skirts can never be too tight.” He squeezed her hip. “Or your curves too curvy.”

“Definitely spoken like a man.” She paused. “How come your marriage didn’t work out?”

He was quiet for a moment. “We were too young, but I think we got married for the wrong reasons. Friends around us were getting married, so it just seemed that we should too.”

“You didn’t love her?”

He shrugged. “I cared about her, but I wasn’t in love with her.” He tugged Nola back down. “I think most marriages are doomed. Too many expectations.”

“All because yours didn’t work out. That’s only one data point, Knox.”

“My sister is divorced. Asshole cleaned her out, and barely sees his kids. And my parents… My father wasn’t a nice guy, and he made my mom’s life hell. They never got divorced, but I never saw them happy.”

“Well, my parents’ marriage isn’t perfect by any means, but my mom and dad are happy together. Nick and Lainie are a wonderful example of a happy marriage. All the Sentinel Security guys are.”

Knox grunted.

She snuggled against him. “You’ll see.”

He’d told her that she was his. Maybe it was just the heat of the moment talking, but Nola knew deep down that Knox Holman was made for her.

If he tried to walk away again, she was going to fight for him.

A wave of tiredness washed over her, and she snuggled deeper into his arms. “I have something else to tell you.”

He cocked a brow. “Yeah?”

“I’m an unsettled sleeper. I have been since I was young. I toss and turn, and tend to tear the sheets up. My last boyfriend started sleeping in the guest bedroom when he stayed over. So, if you need me to sleep on the couch, I understand.”

He hauled her close, across his bare chest, until their noses touched. “You’re sleeping right beside me.”

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