My Stallion Heart (The Stallions Book 7)

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “My father died from a brain aneurysm when I was five,” Travis noted. “I lost my mother a few years ago from breast cancer.”

  John nodded. “We were young when our parents passed. It was a car accident. I was seventeen and Luke was barely out of diapers.”

  “I was out of diapers,” Luke interjected as he tossed his brother a look before continuing. “John stepped in and became our father then.”

  “And I never got the chance to meet our father,” Phaedra said. She took a deep breath. “I grew up in New Orleans with my mother and my brothers were raised in Dallas.”

  Natalie smiled. “Looks like we have more in common than we thought. We never knew our father, either. Noah was the law in our house.”

  “You didn’t know him at all?” Phaedra asked, shifting forward in her seat.

  “Papa was a rolling stone,” Naomi said softly. She threw a look at her brothers, then Natalie.

  “We knew him but he didn’t want to know us,” Nathaniel said, a hint of bitterness in his tone. “He’s actually still alive. He lives here in Salt Lake City with his wife and family.”

  “But Norris-Jean loved us enough for him and her,” Nicholas countered. “She wasn’t very traditional about it but it was love.”

  Matthew smiled. “Well, we’re happy that we can be here to support you and to celebrate her life. We regret that we never met her but we look forward to learning about her through you.”

  Noah nodded. “Thank you. So what do you all do?” he asked, curious to know more about his new cousins.

  “I know John’s the CEO of Stallion Enterprises,” Naomi interjected. “I did a Google search for you.”

  John laughed. “That I am, and my brothers all work for the company. Matthew is an attorney and heads our legal department. Luke manages our acquisitions division and Mark...well, Mark likes to spend our money on anything that goes hard and fast.”

  Mark nodded. “Yep, I do. I do.”

  “I had money on you in the last Moto Grand Prix,” Nicholas said. “If I’d only known then that we were related!”

  The family laughed.

  “I’m the only one that doesn’t work for the family business,” Phaedra said. “I’m a professional photographer. So I couldn’t help but recognize you, Natalie. I have a really good friend who shot the Dior collection last year. Your images were stunning!”

  Natalie blushed. “Thank you. So you know Hopper?”

  Phaedra nodded. “He and I go way back.”

  “It’s a small world,” Natalie said. “He’s one of my favorite photographers to work with.”

  “So you’re a fashion model?” Luke questioned.

  “I am. I’m based in London. This is actually the first time I’ve been home since...” she paused momentarily “...well, in a long time.”

  Noah reached out and squeezed his sister’s hand, stalling the tears that had risen in her eyes.

  Luke smiled, a wave of understanding washing over his expression. “My wife Joanne is a fashion designer. She’s the brain trust behind JLD. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them.”

  “Joanne Lake Designs!” Natalie said. “I’ve been wanting to do a piece on her and her clothes for my fashion blog, Pretty, Pretty. She’s showing her new fall line at New York fashion week this year, isn’t she?”

  Luke nodded. “She is.”

  “My brother-in-law’s in the fashion business, as well,” Travis said. “I couldn’t tell you what he does, but you’ll get to meet him a little later.”

  “What about you guys?” Matthew questioned, looking from one face to the other.

  “I’m just in law enforcement,” Noah answered.

  “He’s not just in law enforcement,” Naomi interjected. “Noah is the lead detective in the Salt Lake City police department’s criminal investigations unit.”

  “That’s impressive,” John said, everyone nodding in agreement.

  “And I play ball,” Nicholas said. “Professional football.”

  “Hot damn!” Mark said, jumping to his feet. He pointed his index finger at the man. “I know who you are. You played college ball at Auburn. You were an All American and you won the Heisman your sophomore year. If I remember correctly your first Iron Bowl game against Alabama you went twenty-five for twenty-seven for 356 yards and four touchdowns! You were ranked one of the nation’s top-rated passers and went number three in the NFL draft. The Raiders picked you to be their go-to guy to fix their losing streak, then never gave you the ball!”

  Nick laughed. “Well, Douglas just retired so that’s about to change.”

  “About damn time!” Mark said excitedly as he sat back down. “I am getting my season tickets before I go to bed tonight!”

  “Do you get to the West Coast often?” Nathaniel asked.

  John chuckled. “Mark goes wherever there’s a game or a race. If it’s moving fast or hard he wants to ride it or watch it.”

  There was a round of laughter.

  “So what do you do, Nathaniel?” Luke asked.

  “I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I specialize in sports medicine.”

  “Your own personal team doctor! I like that,” Matthew said with a nod at the two brothers.

  “I like it, too!” Nicholas said.

  “You would,” Nathaniel responded, rolling his eyes at his brother.

  Natalie smiled as she turned to stare at the two of them. A tear dripped past her lashes as she suddenly realized just how much she’d missed her family. She took a deep breath and held it, fighting to stall any other water that threatened to rain down her cheeks.

  John gave her a warm smile. “I’m sure your mother was very proud of each of you and of your accomplishments. Noah told me that you had some struggles growing up but it sounds like you’ve all done very well for yourselves.”

  Noah nodded. “Just like you, we had each other. We made it work for us.” He gave each of his siblings a look, pride gleaming in his dark eyes.

  “Why don’t we head down to dinner so you can meet the rest of the family,” Matthew said. “I imagine we’re going to have a lifetime to catch up and get to know each other.”

  Noah wrapped his arms around his sisters’ shoulders. “We like the sound of that, cousin. We really do.”

  * * *

  The laughter ringing through the room was thick and full as the Stallion family dined in the hotel’s banquet room. The menu was a smorgasbord of everyone’s favorites and it was served family-style, large platters of entrees and sides for them to enjoy. The abundance of food was rivaled only by the abundance of love that filled the space.

  Natalie laughed until her sides hurt as she and her siblings recalled the antics of their mother, sharing stories from their past. They were enthralled as John and Travis spoke lovingly about their fathers, the uncles Natalie and her siblings had never met. There was an air of sadness that passed between them as they thought about the men who would probably have been excellent role models for them to emulate, if only their mother had not closed herself and her children off from them. As Natalie sat there in reflection, studying the smiles and laughter around the table, an air of melancholy washed over her spirit. She blew a deep sigh.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by two cherubs suddenly standing at her knee, eyeing her curiously. Both little girls were wide-eyed and red cheeked, bouncing with energy as they rested for the first time since entering the room. Natalie smiled brightly. “Hello!” she chimed softly. “What are your names?”

  The older child tilted her head slightly. Her gaze was wary as she pondered whether or not she was going to speak. Her father’s booming voice caught her attention.

  “Aunt Natalie is speaking to you, Irene. She asked you what your name is,” Mark commanded.

  The five-year-old tossed her father a quick loo
k before turning her gaze back on Natalie. “I like dat,” she said, pointing at the strand of pearls around Natalie’s neck.

  “Thank you,” Natalie said, her hand brushing against the necklace.

  “You have pretty jew’ry!” Irene exclaimed as she played with the bangles around Natalie’s wrist. Irene’s companion played with the gold bracelets on her other hand.

  Natalie smiled. “So are you going to tell me your name?” she questioned a second time.

  The youngest munchkin giggled softly. “My name Gabi!” she exclaimed excitedly. “My name Gabi Stallion,” she repeated, emphasizing her last name.

  John laughed, his face glowing with pride. “That one belongs to me and Marah. She’s been practicing her name for weeks now and has finally gotten it down.”

  Natalie laughed. “And are you going to tell me your name?” she asked, her gaze meeting the other child’s.

  “Irene. Irene Stallion,” she said with an air of attitude before she bounded off in the opposite direction. Gabi raced after her bestie, the two little girls spying a rubber ball to entertain themselves with.

  Michelle shook her head. “That one’s her father’s child. And those two together are trouble waiting to happen.”

  Marah nodded. “I’m going to hate it for us all when those two hit their teens. Both are hell on wheels already. Tweedledum and Tweedledee.”

  A round of laughter rang around the table. Natalie wasn’t used to the commotion that came with toddlers and infants. She’d never been exposed to so many kids together in one room and none of her friends had started having children yet. Noah seemed the most comfortable as he rocked Travis’s infant daughter in his arms.

  Natalie turned to Tierra. “I was hoping to meet your brother. Travis said he’s in the fashion business.”

  Tierra nodded. “He is.”

  “What does he do?”

  “He’s a designer but at the moment I don’t think he knows what he wants to design. One minute it’s clothes, the next shoes. Next week he’ll want to design airbags for all we know. I love him to death but I think he’s still trying to find himself.”

  Natalie nodded. “I actually met a shoe designer the other day who seemed very certain about what he wanted to do. He really impressed me. I’m sure your brother will find his way eventually. Hopefully he’ll be able to join us tomorrow. I’d love to talk to him.”

  Tierra nodded. “I’m sure he will. He was nursing a headache and I think jet lag finally set in so I told him to order room service and just rest.”

  The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a high-pitched wail. Everyone turned to see what had happened just as Gabi kicked Irene in the knee. Before either’s parents could get to them the girls had each other in a wrestling hold, rolling across the floor with everything in them. John reached the fray and separated one from the other, the duo hanging in midair as he held them high, his look chastising. Both girls were crying, their arms flailing as they pointed at the other, racing to tattle about who had done what to whom.

  The laughter was thunderous, the Stallion men thoroughly entertained as both mothers shook their heads. Marah threw up her hands as she tossed a look at Michelle, whose own frustrations spilled out of the eye roll she gave her sister-in-law.

  Natalie laughed heartily as her sister gave her a warm hug. “Now that brings back memories!”

  Chapter 6

  Tinjin navigated his rental car to one of the most coveted addresses of downtown Salt Lake City. In the affluent Federal Heights neighborhood, homes dated back to the early 1900s. As he drove through the area he was enthralled by the mountains that sat to the north and impressed with the campus of the University of Utah, which rested to the south and east.

  Cars lined the street and driveway of Noah Stallion’s Arlington Drive home, people moving into and out of the residence. The brick home offered a timeless design and modern touches. Tinjin was impressed as he made his way inside. The interior design had been well planned, the floor plan offering effortless entertaining and main floor living options. From where he stood in the front foyer he could see bold French doors that led to a shady patio area. As he moved farther into the house he took note of the marble surfaces, custom cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances. Vaulted twenty-foot ceilings gave the space an inviting openness.

  Mourners mingled in close clusters, friends and acquaintances coming to support the family and offer their condolences. The mood was somber, voices echoing in hushed whispers. The repast was well attended and as Tinjin moved from room to room he was hard-pressed to recognize a familiar face. When he walked into the family room he finally found his sister and her husband seated on the leather couch, in conversation with an elderly couple.

  Tierra waved him over, her face brightening at the sight of him. She politely excused herself from the conversation and jumped to her feet. She moved in his direction, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “Hey, sorry I’m late,” he said, his voice low. He hugged her tightly, sensing her distress.

  Tierra nodded her head against his shoulder.

  “Are you okay?” Tinjin asked.

  She nodded. “The funeral, it was just so sad.”

  Tinjin met his sister’s gaze. “It was a funeral, Tea. Funerals are always sad.”

  Tierra rolled her eyes. “Don’t be snarky, please.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be snarky, Tierra. You know how much I hate funerals. This is not how I wanted to be spending my holiday.”

  Tierra narrowed her gaze on her brother. “I know and I appreciate you coming. I just needed to spend some time with you. And I wanted you to spend time with your niece and nephew.”

  He nodded. “Well, the baby was sound asleep when I left. And one of the nannies was entertaining Lorenzo and Gabrielle. All the kids were good.”

  Tierra suddenly gestured to someone behind him. “Let me introduce you to Travis’s cousin,” she said as he turned to see where she stared.

  The man approaching them was clearly a Stallion. He stood as tall as Tinjin’s brother-in-law, and his features were much like those of the Texas family. He kept pulling at the neckline of his dress shirt, looking uncomfortable in the double-breasted suit he wore. He smiled politely as he joined them, his fingers passing one more time from ear to ear across his neck.

  Tierra rested a comforting hand against the man’s arm. “Noah, let me introduce you to my brother Tinjin,” she said softly. “Tinjin, this is Noah Stallion, Travis’s first cousin.”

  Noah nodded as he extended his hand in greeting. “Thank you for coming,” he said by rote, the comment having been repeated over and over again.

  Tinjin shook his hand. “I wish it were under different circumstances. I was very sorry to hear about your loss.”

  Noah smiled as he took a deep breath. “Thank you. Your sister has been a godsend. I really appreciate everything she and your family have been doing for us today.”

  Tinjin smiled back. “We’re all your family now, too, brother.”

  Noah paused for a moment, Tinjin’s words blowing warmly through his spirit. He nodded, his smile smoothing the worry lines that had creased his forehead. He extended an arm and the two men bumped shoulders in that one-armed hug men were renowned for. “Thank you. I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.”

  Tierra smiled brightly. “Noah, can I get you anything? Have you eaten?”

  He shook his head. “I’m good, Tierra. I appreciate you asking. But I am worried about my baby sister. She’s been on edge and I’m afraid she might break.”

  “I saw her a moment ago and tried to get her to eat something but she refused,” Tierra said. She stole a glance around the room. “There she is. Let me go check on her again,” she noted as she tossed both men a quick smile. “I’ll be back.”

  Tinjin shifted his gaze to follow w
here his sister headed. His eyes suddenly widened with recognition. “Natalie is your sister?” he asked, his gaze snapping in Noah’s direction.

  The man nodded. “Yes, my youngest. Do you know Natalie?”

  Tinjin’s head bobbed against his neck. “I do,” he said. “I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection.”

  Noah tapped him against his shoulder. “I’m sure she could use a good friend right now. Why don’t you go say hello. I have a few more people I need to speak to,” he said.

  Before Tinjin could respond Noah moved off in the opposite direction, expressing his appreciation to other friends who had come to call on the family. Turning his attention back to the beautiful woman who stood alone against a back wall, Tinjin took a deep breath. He’d taken his first step in her direction when she suddenly looked toward him, her gaze catching his. Surprise painted her expression.

  Tierra had just made it to Natalie’s side when Natalie brushed past her, moving quickly toward Tinjin instead. He crossed the distance between them and met her halfway, opening his arms to welcome her against him.

  “Tinjin!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me your mother had died?” he questioned as he tightened the hold he had around her torso. “You should have told me.”

  Tears suddenly seeped from her eyes. She intensified the grip she had around his waist and sobbed quietly, her tears dampening the front of his shirt. He continued to hold her, his gaze sweeping around the room. His noticed concerned stares, people eyeing them both compassionately. He didn’t miss her brother’s anxiety as Noah took a step toward them. A woman who resembled him and Natalie stalled his approach, her hand against his upper arm holding him back. Even his sister, Tierra, eyed them both with trepidation, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other clutching nervously at the pearls she wore around her neck.

  When Natalie was all cried out she took a step back, moving herself out of his arms. She swiped at her eyes, then met the concerned look he was giving her. “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”