Free Stone Walls by A.M. Madden Page B

hand out to her partner. A few words are exchanged, and she then moves to the edge of the mat, grabbing a towel to pat down her glistening skin.
    I quickly look over at Nole. Taking advantage of the fact he’s on the phone, I beeline toward the mat. Her back is to me as she chats with her partner. The redhead looks over Ella’s head to acknowledge my presence. Ella turns, and the smile falls right off her face.
    “Are you following me?”
    I can’t help but laugh. “No. I’m checking this place out. I live around the block.” She rolls her eyes at my response. “What part of what I just said offends you the most?”
    “I’m just so thrilled with the realization that we live in the same neighborhood.”
    “Is this your gym?”
    “For now. Our firm represents the owners. Perk of the job.”
    Andrea’s firm is representing Politto? I wonder if Rob knows. Keeping that bit of information to myself, I nod and ask, “If I decide on it, maybe you can show me your Taekwondo skills.”
    Ella grabs her water bottle and says, “Sure. I’d love the opportunity to kick your ass.” She smirks and walks away, leaving me smiling and very turned on.

What the hell ?
    Why is it that I can be turned on by the way his brown eyes skim over me as if he’s undressing me in the process? Yet, that same perusal makes me want to slap his face?
    I shower quickly, dress quicker, and slowly open the door of the ladies locker rooms. I’m equally hoping that he’s there, and he’s not. As I round the corner, Mr. Stone stands leaning against the wall, arms folded, clearly waiting for me.
    “Done already? Are you sure you’re a girl?” He smiles wide at my eye roll. “I have a question.”
    “No.”
    “I haven’t asked it, yet.”
    I noisily release air through my nostrils, wordlessly walking toward the exit. He walks beside me, closer than necessary, and watches me amused. We reach the street, and he is yet to ask me his question. Turning to face him, I bark out, “What?”
    “Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”
    His question stuns me. Of all the things I expected, that wasn’t it. “Why?”
    “Why can I buy you a cup of coffee, or why coffee? Do you prefer tea?”
    Oh my God , I’m going to kill this man.
    He shakes his head at the sour puss that I’m sporting. “Andrea keeps saying that you’re so sweet, but honestly I don’t see it.”
    I spontaneously laugh at his comment, in spite of myself. He throws me a genuine smile and effectively knocks the breath from my lungs. He is so handsome. Why can’t he be ordinary looking so it would make hating his guts so much easier?
    “Listen, we got off on the wrong foot. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be friends. Just think how proud Andrea would be by seeing us playing nicely together in the sandbox. The way I see it, Rob and Andrea are on their way to joint checking accounts, and we should get along. Otherwise, things could be very awkward when they choose me over you.”
    “Why are you such an ass?”
    He clutches his chest and says, “Ouch.”
    “Fine. Will you go away after one cup of coffee?”
    “I never make false promises,” he says with a wink, forcing another eye roll from me. Leaning closer, he adds, “By the way, the eye rolling thing doesn’t suit you.”
    He motions to our left and I follow his lead. I know exactly where we are going. Once we get to the local Starbucks , he opens the door to let me in. Side by side, we step to the counter, and he asks, “What would you like, Ella?” The way he asks has me turning my focus from the menu board to him. Like an idiot, I wait two seconds too long to break eye contact.
    “Um, I’ll have a large latte with skim and Sweet n’Low .”
    I watch his profile as he orders his large coffee, black. His strong jaw is covered in scruff. He keeps his hair short and neat, very cop-like. His full lips move fluidly as he tells the barista to add two muffins. He looks over and asks if that’s okay, catching me staring. A