Page 5 of Heart of Stone

Much to my disappointment, Stone slowly removed his arm from around my waist, took a step back and released my hand. Once he was sure that I was steady on my feet, he broke his gaze from mine and turned his head toward Jim. I could no longer see the look on Stone’s face, but it must have intimidating. Jim seemed to visibly cower and took a few steps back.

Mr. Roberts, having noticed the tension that was on the verge of boiling over, made a loud show of clearing his throat and was quick to dismiss Jim to do some other task in the dairy department.

“But, Mr. Roberts, I was supposed to –,” Jim started in protest.

“Jim, please go help Melanie. Now. She’s alone in the department today and I’m sure she could use a hand unloading the truck that just arrived,” Mr. Robert ordered Jim sternly.

Jim looked in my direction, his face creased in a scowl, and stomped away. I couldn’t care less about what Jim was supposed to do. I was still thunderstruck, having uttered no more than four words since setting my eyes on the daunting Mr. Stone. Normally I was a chatterbox, but I was so taken by the man in front of me, I had been stunned into silence. I forced myself to do a reality check.

Pull yourself together already!

I looked at the two remaining men. Mr. Roberts had a worried expression on his plump face. Stone, on the other hand, wore a look of amusement. I followed the direction of his stare and realized that he had been looking down at my espresso stained work shirt, wet and plastered to my torso.

Once again, I began to feel an embarrassing flush creep up my neck.

So what? I fell. Big deal. Accidents happen. Sure, I’m a stuttering idiot too, but that isn’t my fault either. Nobody should be allowed to be as savagely gorgeous as he is. My reaction is just natural. I’m sure every woman he meets wants to jump his bones.

Jump his bones? Did I really just think that?

It was time to leave – and fast. I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t understand how this man was able to unnerve me so. I couldn’t even talk, let alone form a coherent thought. I only knew that I was mortified and could no longer endure his penetrating stare.

I began to slowly back away, using caution so that I didn’t slip again on the wet floor. Mr. Roberts was rambling on about terrible planograms and schematics that needed to be changed. Stone continued to watch me a moment longer before turning his attention back to Mr. Roberts. I took advantage of the distraction to make my escape, but not before chancing one more glance at the hypnotizing Mr. Stone.

He was looking at me again, a bad-boy smile curling up the edges of his lips. He held up his hand to silence Mr. Roberts.

“Have a good day, Miss Cole. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

He said it like it was a promise.

And then the realization struck me – he was the investor.

****

I watched her walk away. Actually, run away would have been a more accurate description. I smiled to myself, intrigued by the very embarrassed, yet delectable, Miss Cole. Her pouty mouth, round chocolate colored eyes, and ready blush made my dick twitch.

“I’m so sorry about that Mr. Stone. Krystina and I were just discussing how that display needed to be changed. It just goes to show how much our vendors know about merchandising,” the round man in front of me said with a nervous laugh.

“Yes, indeed,” I murmured absently, my eyes still following the captivating young woman as she continued her way to the front doors of the supermarket chain. “Walter, tell me about that woman. I assume she’s an employee?”

“Oh, yes. Krystina has worked here for years. Great eye for merchandising, that one does,” Walter Roberts observed, following my gaze. “I hate the thought of losing her.”

“Is she going somewhere?”

“Hopefully not, but I’m sure it won’t be long before she lands herself a fancy marketing job,” Roberts said regretfully.

“Marketing, you say?” I asked, turning my attention back to the storeowner.

“Yes, I believe that was her major,” he answered cautiously.

Roberts narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously.

Hmm…protective of her, are we?

I glanced back again, only to barely catch a last glimpse of her tight jean clad ass, as the front doors closed behind her. I wished that I had more time to converse with her, but between her fall and that annoying store clerk, there had been little opportunity for talking before she took off.

That clerk…what was his name? Jim something or another?

I absently wondered if he was her boyfriend, and was surprised to find that the possibility bothered me. I hoped that he wasn’t.

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