My Stallion Heart (The Stallions Book 7) (7 page)

Noah nodded his head. “Yes, he sat in the back. But he didn’t stay long. He was gone before the end of the service.”

“Who’s Nolan Perry?” Tinjin questioned, asking what everyone else was thinking.

Natalie heaved a deep sigh. “Our sperm donor,” she quipped.

“Don’t be ugly,” Noah admonished. His gaze swept around the room. “Nolan Perry is our father, but he’s never had anything to do with us and we really don’t know him.”

“He’s never been a father,” Naomi snapped.

“But he came to your mother’s funeral so that means something, right?” Marah asked as she looked from one to the other.

Nicholas grunted. “He probably just wanted to make sure she was dead.”

Nathaniel laughed. “He’s going to get a surprise when he lays his head down to sleep tonight,” he said.

The siblings all laughed.

“Why is that funny?” Mark questioned.

Noah’s head moved from side to side. “Norris-Jean use to threaten to come back from the grave to haunt him if he even thought about showing up at her funeral.”

John chuckled. “Well, let’s hope she goes easy on the man.”

“Let’s hope she haunts the hell out of him,” Naomi retorted.

They all chuckled, the laughter ranging from anxious to liberating. The tense air seemed to dissipate as the family joked back and forth. An hour later the Texas Stallions rose to take their leave. Hugs and kisses filled the air, promises ringing between them all to stay in touch, everyone committed to building on the familial foundation that had been established.

Tierra wrapped her arms around Natalie’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “You have all my contact information, right?”

“I do,” Natalie nodded. “And I promise to call.”

“If you don’t, I will call you,” Tierra admonished.

“And she will,” Tinjin interjected. He palmed his sister’s shoulders and squeezed her gently.

Tierra swatted a hand at her brother before hugging Natalie one last time. Wishing them both well, she moved to the other side of the room to hug and kiss the rest of the family goodbye.

Tinjin pulled Natalie close and kissed her forehead. The gesture was sweet and gentle, the warmth of it feeling wholeheartedly natural as they stood arm in arm.

“So, when do you leave?” Natalie asked, looking in his direction.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“You’re not going back to Dallas with your sister?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I really don’t care what you do,” Natalie quipped.

Tinjin laughed. “Then why’d you ask?”

Natalie sucked her teeth as she shifted her gaze skyward. She took a deep breath. “I was just being polite.”

“It’s your lie, Gnat, tell it any way you want,” Tinjin said.

Natalie rolled her eyes a second time. “Well,” she started, “if you’re not leaving right away maybe we can spend some time together tomorrow.”

“Do you want to spend time with me?”

“I know you’ve never been to Salt Lake City before and a lot has changed since the last time I was here. I thought maybe we could explore the city together. But if you need to leave, I understand.”

Tinjin paused, pondering her comment. A slight smile pulled at his lips. “I’d like that. I’d like it a lot. I think I can hang around for another day or two.”

“So you don’t have to leave?”

“No. I don’t. And since you desperately want to spend time with me, I think I’m going to stay.”

Natalie smiled. “There is nothing desperate about me, TJ. Don’t get it twisted.”

She glanced over her shoulder. Her family had moved to the foyer, the goodbyes lingering as everyone tried to get in one last word and comment. She turned back to Tinjin and moved against him, tipping up on her toes as she pressed her palms to his chest. “Thank you,” she said, her soft voice brushing warmly against his ear.

Tinjin wrapped his arms around her. “You’re welcome,” he whispered back as he relished the feel of her.

He placed a gentle kiss against her cheek, allowing his lips to linger there for a minute longer than necessary. Her breathing eased as she relaxed against him. He dropped his cheek to her cheek, the warmth of her skin sending a swift chill down his spine.

Natalie slid her arms around his torso and hugged her chest to his. He wrapped his arms around her back, his hands resting against the silk of her dress. She fit nicely in his arms, her body melding beautifully with his own as they embraced. Letting her go was the last thing on his mind until he looked up and noticed their siblings eyeing them both intently.

Chapter 7

“I
thought you were engaged to some business tycoon?” Naomi asked. She shifted her body against the queen-size mattress in their brother’s guest room. The two women had spent the night with their brother, still recovering from their mother’s funeral.

“Where’d you get that idea?” Natalie questioned.

“You were in a picture with him in
Forbes
magazine. It said you were his fiancée. Norris-Jean saved a copy of it. His name was Paul or John or something like that.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Jean-Paul Vivier is only a friend. We are not engaged and never have been.”

“Are you sure about that? Because he looked engaged. And, if I recall, that was a serious diamond you were sporting on your left hand. Eighteen carats, I think.”

Natalie laughed. “Let’s just say he was generous with his gifts.”

“Uh-huh...generous...I hear ya!” Naomi exclaimed as she laughed with her sister. “So tell me more about Tinjin. You two seem pretty cozy for having just met.”

“Being stuck together in an airport will make you cozy. But I like him.”

“So is this just a fling? A little one-night-stand kind of thing? Because that might be awkward at any future family events with our new cousins.”

Natalie shook her head. “I don’t know what it is, so we’re going to have to wait and see. I just think he’s a nice guy and I haven’t met a whole lot of nice guys.”

“I’m thinking if your boyfriends are so generous with gifts then you must be all kinds of nice, too.”

Natalie shrugged. “Jean-Paul likes to buy his relationships. I wasn’t interested in being bought. Money isn’t everything.”

Naomi’s eyes widened. “Well, that’s refreshing to hear! Before you left you would have sworn that money
was
everything.”

“That’s because we didn’t have any.”

Naomi shook her head. “I think we all felt that way at one point or another. But we’re doing well now.”

“Are you happy, Naomi?” Natalie asked. She dropped her body down on the bed beside her sister, crossing her long limbs beneath her.

The two women sat staring at each other as Naomi pondered the question. She finally nodded. “I am happy. Things are really going well. My business is growing. The boys are all doing well and my baby sister is home. So, yeah, I’m very happy.”

“Was Norris-Jean happy?”

“Our mother was as happy as she could ever be. I think
content
would be a better word to describe what Norris-Jean felt.”

“I feel so guilty. I should have...”

“Don’t,” Naomi snapped, cutting off her comment. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do. Noah stayed to take care of her, and Norris-Jean resented that more than anything else. He won’t admit it but it hurt his feelings. She loved us but she wanted us to go and do better. She was happy when we left. She loved being able to brag about everything her children had accomplished. She bragged about you a lot. So don’t you dare start throwing yourself a pity party! That’s not how our mother raised us. Honor her death by moving on and moving forward.”

“Life is about living your dreams,” Natalie said softly, quoting the words they’d heard the matriarch say over and over again growing up.

“A few years ago Norris-Jean cut a quote out of some magazine she’d been reading. I couldn’t tell you the author but it read, ‘Life is not meant to be lived such that we cross over well-groomed and attractive, but rather that we slide in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, clothes in tatters, our bodies completely worn and totally spent, shouting,
WOOHOO! What a ride!
’ After that she used to say, ‘live the ride.’ That’s what she wanted for all of us. We owe her that.”

Natalie smiled as she leaned to give her sister a warm hug. The two women held onto each other tightly. Both swiped tears from their eyes when they finally broke the embrace.

“Are you and Tinjin spending the whole day together? Because the city’s really not that big,” Naomi questioned, changing the subject.

Natalie laughed. “I just thought it would be nice to show him some of the tourist sites.”

“So where are you two going for breakfast?” Naomi asked. She glanced down to her wristwatch.

Natalie’s grin widened. “I don’t know yet. But I’m thinking champagne and strawberries would be a nice place to start.”

* * *

Tinjin was seated in the hotel lobby when Natalie stepped inside. He couldn’t help but notice the attention she garnered as she came to a stop and struck a pose as she looked about. She was stunning, looking every bit the high-profile fashion model that she was.

She was dressed in a long-sleeved white crop top featuring a crew neckline, spandex fabric at the front and a sheer textured fabric at the back. She’d paired it with a matching pencil skirt, its perfect fit an essential in every woman’s closet. The skirt was high waisted with a slit at the back and it complemented her lean frame. Five-inch black platform high heels with signature red bottoms were her shoe of choice and she carried a red Hermès Birkin bag.

He rose from his seat and eased his way over to her side, surprising her as she stared in the opposite direction. Natalie jumped, startled by his touch as he slid an arm around her waist and leaned to kiss her cheek.

“Good morning,” he said, his warm breath blowing against her skin.

“Hey!” Natalie responded, her face flushing with color. “You scared me!”

“I didn’t mean to,” he said with a soft smile.

Natalie smiled back. “So what would you like to do today?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you’d like. I’m riding shotgun.”

She smirked, the pull to her face lifting her eyes brightly. “I hate driving.”

Tinjin shrugged. “Oh, well.”

“I’m better at giving directions,” she persisted.

He laughed. “I’m on vacation and this is your stomping ground,” he countered.

She narrowed her gaze as it swept over his face. Amusement danced with the bright light that flickered in her eyes. Tinjin resisted the urge to fall headfirst and lose himself in the stare she was giving him. He changed the subject.

“I love the outfit. Who’s the designer?”

“Vivian Chan.”

“Beautiful,” he said as he took her hand and gave her a slight spin.

“I’m impressed, as well,” she said as her gaze ran the length of his body. His slacks and blazer were a deep charcoal gray over a dark gray silk T-shirt that he’d partnered with casual black suede loafers. He was polished and well put together. And he had the brightest, most endearing smile.

“We both know how to dress and dress well,” Tinjin said. “That’s a good sign. It shows we’re compatible.”

Natalie laughed. “And vain.”

Tinjin chuckled with her. “Very vain. But it’s a necessary vice in our business.”

Nodding in agreement, Natalie slipped her arm through his. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go play tourist.”

* * *

Hours later Natalie and Tinjin were laughing heartily as they waited for their first meal of the day to be delivered to their table. Natalie had spent the morning driving them around as she’d reminisced about her days growing up in the city. She’d driven him past her former high school, the church she’d been raised in, the small building that had housed her first job. Then there’d been those places she’d been unable to frequent, the ones that had been too pricey or simply inaccessible to a girl who’d been raised on her side of town. Places she could now buy and sell without blinking an eye. The memories had been bittersweet as she’d pretended to not be fazed, trying to keep the emotion from her eyes. But Tinjin had not missed the lingering looks that had spoken volumes when she’d drifted off into reflection.

She’d eventually chosen the Copper Onion for their midday meal, an upscale eatery that boasted a gourmet menu sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Tinjin had selected the wine, a chenin blanc blend that paired nicely with the steak salad that he’d ordered and the portobello-and-white-mushroom risotto she’d chosen. Natalie savored the first sip as she stared at him.

“Nice selection,” she said as she palmed her glass between her hands. “Very nice.”

“Thank you.” He looked around the room. “So how long has this place been here?”

Natalie shook her head. “I don’t know. This whole area was dirt and dust when I left. I can’t believe all the changes since I’ve been gone.”

Tinjin chuckled as a wave of sadness flushed her cheeks. “Don’t feel bad. It’s just a sign of the times. You could come back in two weeks and something else would be different. Unless you’re standing still there’s no way you can keep up with things changing!”

“I guess you have a point,” Natalie said.

There was a brief lull in the conversation as the waitress came to a stop at the table, hot plates juggled precariously in her arms. When their meals were settled in front of them and the waitress moved on to another table, Tinjin bowed his head in prayer. Natalie watched as he whispered a word of thanks and gratitude. When he lifted his head, his gaze resting on her face, she felt herself blush, heat warming her cheeks.

“You don’t bless your food?” Tinjin questioned as he took his first bite.

She smiled. “I do, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen any man do it. Not a whole lot of black Baptist churches and congregations in London.”

“Baptists aren’t the only ones who pray, Gnat.”

“You know what I mean.”

He smiled back. “I do. It took me a while to get used to the European aesthetic, as well.”

“It’s definitely not Salt Lake City. I like London, though. I like everything about it.”

“I like London, too. But I love Paris.”

“Do you speak French?”

“Je parle français et plusieurs autres langues couramment.”

“And several other languages fluently,” she echoed. “I’m impressed, TJ.”

“You should be.”

“And your several other languages include...?”

“Ich spreche deutsch. Yo hablo español. Parlo italiano.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “And I speak just a smidgen of Japanese,” he said.

“You’re quite the Renaissance man, aren’t you?”

“Girl, I’m the new breed of alpha male. I’m the whole enchilada, the bag of chips
and
I’m in touch with my sensitive side.” Tinjin dusted off his left shoulder with the backs of his fingers.

Natalie laughed. “You’re full of yourself, too!”

“Much like you, beautiful lady, I have my moments.” He met the look she was giving him, laughter shimmering in his eyes.

Tinjin’s smile was captivating, the depths of it brightening his face. His eyes were dazzling, seeming to illuminate the entire room. Natalie found herself relishing the warmth he exuded, everything about the man feeling like comfort food and home.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur as they hit all the tourist spots, snapping an endless stream of cell phone selfies to commemorate their time together. Tinjin couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard or as much. Natalie was great company. She had a quirky, dry sense of humor and her quick wit kept him on his toes. Together they played off each other like two dance partners who’d been performing together for years. It was the most natural give-and-take of any relationship he’d ever had and they were far from being in a relationship. But they were quickly becoming fast friends and Tinjin liked the dynamics growing between them.

“How long are you staying in Salt Lake City?” he asked as he savored the last bite of his late-night dessert, a crème brûlée from a little coffee shop in the downtown area.

“I’ll probably head back to London at the end of the week. My brother has to be in Los Angeles for a game on Sunday so he and Nathaniel both are leaving Friday. And Naomi is heading back to Arizona on Saturday. What about you? Where are you headed next?”

“Dallas. I want to spend time with my grandmother and a few more days with my sister and her family before I go back to London.”

“How long will you be in London before you move to Paris?”

“Just a few weeks. I have some meetings set up about my business and once I’ve finished those I’ll need to get right to work.”

Natalie nodded. “If you can squeeze it into your schedule I would love to cook dinner for you when you get back to London.”

“You can cook?” he questioned, one eyebrow raised.

She stared at him. “I’m a very good cook,” she snapped, her tone curt.

Tinjin laughed. “Why’d you say it like that? I just asked the question!”

“You were trying to be funny, TJ, but you’re not. You’re not funny at all!”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t trying to be funny. I just asked if you could cook because you don’t look like the type of woman who’d know her way around a stove.”

“What kind of woman do I look like?” Natalie said, her body tensing with rising annoyance.

Tinjin grinned, his smile wide and teasing. He gave her a deep stare but said nothing, ignoring her question. “So what do you cook that’s good?”

“Everything I cook is good. I’ll have you know that I’m a master around the stove,” she answered, her eyes becoming thin slits.

Tinjin nodded. “I believe you.”

There was a moment of pause as Natalie gave him a harsh look, exasperation painting her expression.

“I do,” he repeated. “I really do. I’m sure you’re a superior cook and everything you touch tastes like heaven.”

Natalie pursed her lips tightly, a full pout pulling at her mouth. “Now you have jokes.”

Tinjin laughed. “Don’t get your knickers twisted. I was just teasing,” he said with a soft chuckle.

Natalie rolled her eyes. “I’m leaving. Find your own way home,” she said as she stood up abruptly. She put her cloth napkin on the table and grabbed her purse. “And don’t call me!”

Wide-eyed, Tinjin watched her as she stomped toward the front door. He called after her. “Natalie, wait!” He placed cash onto the table to cover the tab, then rushed behind her, grabbing at her elbow just as she stepped out the door. “Really, I was just kidding!” he said as he spun her toward him.

Natalie laughed, merriment shimmering in her eyes. “So was I,” she said. “But I like how you came after me. I liked that a lot.”

“You play too much!” Tinjin exclaimed. The look across his face wafted between annoyance and amusement.