“You’re going to be fine.”
“It looks like everyone was able to make it. I was worried.”
Natalie shook her head. “Come on,” she said, as she pointed Naomi toward the back bedroom.
Adjusting the curtains, Naomi turned. As she did, the front door swung open and her brother Noah came through.
“Shouldn’t you be dressed?” he asked, noting the white terry robe she wore.
“She just has to slip her gown on,” Natalie said.
He nodded. “There’s someone here who wants to see you.”
Naomi eyed him curiously. “Who?”
Noah’s gaze bounced from one woman to the other. “Nolan’s here.”
Naomi’s eyes widened. “He came?”
Her brother nodded. “Everyone’s here. So, can he come in?”
She looked toward Natalie and back to her brother, feeling anxiety waft over her. She suddenly wanted Patrick there so he could tell her what to do.
Natalie answered for her, “Let her put her gown on. Tell him to come in and she’ll be back out in a minute.”
Noah nodded. He moved to her side and kissed her forehead, hugging her tightly. “I’m so happy for you. Patrick is a great guy. You done good!”
Naomi laughed. “Thank you.” She took a big breath and hurried after her sister.
Behind the closed door, she dropped down on the bed, clutching the spread with both hands. “I never thought I’d see this day.”
“You mean your wedding?”
Naomi shook her head. “Our father being at my wedding.”
Natalie smiled. “I like him. I know we still have a lot of years to make up for, but I like him. He’s going to come to Paris next month to spend time with me and Tinjin.”
“Looks like he’s making the rounds. He was in Los Angeles last week with Nathaniel and Nicholas. I hear they had a really good time.”
Natalie nodded. “Noah’s talking to him more, too. It’s just going to take some time.”
“I can’t get past the fact that he didn’t try to have a relationship with us. No matter what the circumstances, he didn’t try.”
“No, he didn’t. But he’s trying now. Let that count for something. What was that our mother use to say? When you know better, you do better?”
“Norris Jean never said that.”
Natalie laughed. “It sounded like something she would say.” She reached for the garment bag that hung on the closet door. After sliding down the zipper, she pulled out the gown that her husband had designed especially for Naomi.
Tears instantly misted her sister’s eyes. “Natalie, it’s so beautiful!”
“And the shoes are to die for!” she exclaimed, pointing out the low-heeled pumps adorned with crystals and pearls.
Naomi laughed. “Yes, your husband is a shoe master!”
Minutes later Natalie stood staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The dress was everything a modern romantic with a wanderlust spirit could wish for. It was a simple sheath design of barley-colored lace over satin. The sleeves were ethereal, the neckline plunging, with a satin ribbon tied around the waist. It was pretty and she looked stunning in it.
“Your dreadlocks are incredible,” Natalie said, as she adjusted the gold adornments crimped sporadically through the length.
“Patrick’s mother has this line of natural hair products that’s absolutely amazing. I keep telling her she needs to start selling it.”
“I want to try some!”
“There’s plenty in my bathroom. Just take them. Let me know what you think. I want to carry it at the farm, and Patrick has agreed to help her bring it to market.”
There was a knock on the door. Noah’s voice echoed on the other side. “You’re going to be late!”
Natalie pulled it open. “She’s fine. Stop making her nervous.”
“I wasn’t the one giving everyone a lecture last night about being on time.”
Naomi turned, and Noah saw her for the first time. Whatever else he was about to say was suddenly caught in his throat. “Wow!” he said finally. “Wow!”
Both his sisters smiled.
“You are beautiful,” Nolan Perry suddenly said, standing in the doorway. “Absolutely beautiful. Your mother would be so proud.”
Tears sprang to Naomi’s eyes. She fanned her hand in front of her face to stop them from falling and ruining her makeup. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I have something for you.”
Noah stepped into the room, moving to take Natalie’s hand. Their father followed, easing his way to Naomi’s side.
He looked older than she remembered, Naomi thought as they stood eyeing each other. Older and less intimidating. There was something gentle about his eyes. Something she often saw in her brothers, when they were at their best. She couldn’t help but wonder how it might have been different if he’d made different choices, had loved her mother more and had just been a better man.
He pulled a large velvet box from the inside pocket of his blazer. Inside rested a multistrand pearl necklace with a gold clasp and an integrated diamond dome bow pendant. Naomi gasped, unable to catch the tears that finally fell.
“I remember this,” she said. “You gave it to our mother.”
He nodded. “I did. They belonged to your great-grandmother. Norris Jean gave them back and told me to give them to her on our wedding day. She let you wear them for a minute in those pink bunny pajamas you loved so much. I remember you cried when she made you take them off.”
Natalie rushed to pat the tears that mottled her sister’s makeup as the older man continued, “I never got the chance to give them to your mother, but I thought she wouldn’t mind if I gave them to you.”
“Oh, she would have minded!” both women chimed in unison.
Laughter rang throughout the room.
Turning, Naomi bent slightly at the knees, lifting her locks just enough for her father to secure the pearls around her neck. She glanced at her sister and brother for approval. “How do they look?”
Noah grinned. “Perfect.”
“Patrick is a fine young man,” Nolan concluded. “But he’s definitely getting the better end of the deal!”
Naomi smiled. “Thank you.”
The man nodded. “I’ll go find my seat,” he said, as he turned and made his exit.
The wedding planner suddenly came through the door. “Showtime!” she exclaimed. She held two stunning floral bouquets, passing the larger one to Naomi and the other to Natalie.
Jacquie gave directions as music suddenly sounded through the air. “Natalie, you first, and then, Noah, you’ll guide your sister down the aisle.”
Noah nodded and extended his elbow. As Naomi clasped her fingers around his arm, he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “You know, usually a girl wants her father to do this.”
Naomi snapped her head to stare at him. “Did he say something to you?”
Her brother shook his head. “I just didn’t want you thinking you would hurt my feelings if that was what you wanted. Because you’ll only get to do this one time.” He smiled. “At least we hope that’s the case,” he muttered softly.
Naomi took in a deep breath and then a second. Her brother’s timing always gave her reason to pause. Because as a little girl she had thought about a father walking her down the aisle. Back then she would have settled for any father, as long as he was willing to acknowledge her as his. As Nolan had made his exit, stepping down off the porch to go find his seat, the thought had crossed her mind again. She took another deep breath as her brother squeezed her hand.
Following the flower petals, Naomi felt herself begin to shake. Noah tightened the hold he had on her, his strength fueling her own.
As they rounded
the corner toward the barn, the view took Naomi’s breath away. Every seat was filled with their family and friends. Jacquie had decorated the white folding chairs with lace slipcovers and multicolored ribbons. It was just dressy enough and comfortably casual.
The music suddenly changed and the wedding march announced her arrival. The crowd came to their feet, everyone turning to gaze at her. Garrison stood at the front with Patrick, who was grinning from ear to ear. As Natalie finally made it to the makeshift altar, she turned to give Naomi an encouraging smile.
Every one of her Stallion cousins had made the trip to support her. Patrick’s Cuban Cajun relatives were front and center, and Nolan stood with Giselle and Georgina.
From where she stood, Naomi locked eyes with Patrick. He looked like pecan ice cream and butterscotch, a delectable confection with a big bow and her name engraved on the name tag. He was dressed in the most perfect brown silk suit, with a white dress shirt opened at the neck. They’d opted for no tie, but a tan pocket hankie was folded in an intricate design. As they stood staring at each other, every ounce of her anxiety faded into oblivion.
“You good?” Noah asked, his voice low.
Naomi nodded. “Yes.” She shifted her gaze to her brother. “So, you really don’t mind if I replace you right now?”
Noah smiled. “Do what you have to do, little sister!”
She met his eyes, tears misting her own. She took a deep breath, fighting not to cry the ugly cry. “I want to get married to the most amazing man, and I think I need my father to walk me down the aisle.”
Noah leaned to kiss her cheek, his lips lingering as he gave her a hug. With a nod, he stepped away, walked over to Nolan and spoke quietly. Surprise washed over the patriarch’s face as he turned to stare at her. Naomi smiled, her head bobbing up and down.
Making his way to the aisle, Nolan moved to Naomi’s side and extended his arm. “Thank you,” he said as she took it.
She smiled again, muttering under her breath, “This doesn’t mean we don’t still have some things to work on.”
Nolan nodded. “I understand.”
“You aren’t completely off the hook yet. At least not with me.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t expect me to be calling you Dad when this is all over, because that probably won’t happen.”
“I understand.”
She took another deep breath. “Thank you for doing this.”
“I love you, Naomi.”
At the end of the aisle, Nolan glided Naomi’s hand into Patrick’s. The two men exchanged a look.
“Be good to my daughter,” Nolan said, then he winked and turned to go back to his seat.
Patrick nodded, his smile so bright it could have illuminated the darkest sky. “Yes, sir.” He shifted his gaze back to Naomi, knowing in that moment he never again wanted to take his eyes off her. She was easily the most stunning woman he had ever known and she would forever be all his.
“I’m very proud of you,” he said, tilting his head after Nolan.
Her head dipped slightly as she gave him a look.
He chuckled softly. “I love you, my sweet Stallion!”
“I love you more,” Naomi said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her face to kiss his lips.
The pastor leaned in, his voice loud. “I love you both. Now, let’s save some of that for when I pronounce you husband and wife.”
* * * * *
Check out the previous books in THE STALLIONS series by Deborah Fletcher Mello:
SEDUCED BY A STALLION
FOREVER A STALLION
MY STALLION HEART
STALLION MAGIC
A STALLION’S TOUCH
Available now from Harlequin Kimani Romance!
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE UNEXPECTED AFFAIR by Monica Richardson.
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The Unexpected Affair
by Monica Richardson
Chapter 1
Whitney Talbot went over the details of her Man Menu in her head. First and foremost, he needed a college degree. Beyond that, he needed an ample salary and he needed to own at least one piece of real estate. He needed to be tall—at least six feet—dark, handsome. He shouldn’t have any children or have been previously married—she didn’t need any baby-mama drama. He needed to appreciate the arts and music and love children—because she intended to have at least one, maybe two. He needed to be a conversationalist, because she enjoyed a good conversation.
Her Man Menu was a page long, and she used it loyally. She used it because she and her friends had developed it at the Starbucks just down the street from their college dorm during their Texas A&M. days. They had spent hours pulling it together. It was their bible—their source. They wouldn’t be stuck with the wrong man under any circumstances.
After college, Kenya had ended up with Will. Though she spent more time alone because Will traveled 90 percent of the time, she swore that she was happy. He was providing for his family, she always defended him. And though Tasha’s husband, Louis, had fathered another woman’s child during their marriage, she still swore that he was the perfect man, according to their Man Menu. Yes, he’d made a mistake, but they were repairing their marriage. Marriage took work, she’d say.
All of it terrified Whitney, which was why she had remained the single one in their threesome. She wanted love at the top of her list. Otherwise what was the point? But she wasn’t confident that she would find all of the things on her Man Menu plus love. She’d lost faith in that long ago. And as a result, she would date a man just long enough to discover that he was getting too close. Then she’d break things off, regardless of whether he lived up to her Man Menu list of qualities or not. It was easier this way. And though her best girlfriends both proclaimed they were living in romantic bliss, she knew that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The dating game had become exhausting and a huge disappointment. Her younger sister, Jasmine, and her older sister, Alyson, had found happiness with good men. She wanted what they had, but men like her brothers-in-law didn’t come around that often and surely didn’t exist in Texas. She was convinced that they didn’t even exist on the planet. And she wasn’t taking just any-old-body home to meet her family. Her family was a traditional Bahamian family, and they were certainly a down-to-
earth bunch. But their impression of her was that she’d gone away and done well for herself—and she needed to live up to that image. If she took a man home, he needed to be perfect and their connection needed to be real. Her family would see right through her. She was the middle girl and didn’t need nearly as much attention as her other sisters, but she needed a man who loved her. And she needed to love him, for that matter.
She’d gone to college in Texas and landed a teaching position at a local elementary school in Dallas. She wasn’t crazy about Texas but vowed never to return to the Caribbean for any length of time. She needed her independence, and her family wouldn’t allow that if she moved back home. They would be all up in her business, running her life. She had almost entertained the thought of it when she and her siblings had inherited three historical properties from their grandparents. Her family had since transformed the properties into beautiful B and Bs along the Bahamian coast. Though she hadn’t been there during the renovation, her siblings had been instrumental in making the Grove the extraordinary property that it was. It had quickly become one of the most sought-after properties on Harbour Island.
She’d promised her family that once the property was up and running, she’d return home after the school year ended and help out with the family business. Unfortunately, returning never happened and she hoped they wouldn’t bring it up. After the Grove was fully staffed, she figured there was no need for her services, and she was fine with that.
Her older brother Edward had recently remarried his ex-wife, Savannah. They’d fallen in love all over again—or was it that they’d never fallen out of love? Whichever the case, they were throwing a huge soiree in the Caribbean at the family’s property to celebrate their nuptials. The entire family was expected to be there, and she was no exception. It seemed that every time she turned around, the Talbot family was celebrating something and expecting her to hop on a plane and traipse to the islands as though they were just around the corner. She loved her family and loved spending time with them, but she was tired of returning home for these parties and celebrations and she was the only one without a man. So before she headed off to the Bahamas for another blessed event, she was determined to find that perfect someone to accommodate her.
Sweet Stallion Page 17