My Stallion Heart (The Stallions Book 7) (4 page)

Natalie inhaled swiftly, the unexpected touch causing a wave of heat to shoot through her midsection. If she had not been standing on those six-inch stilettos she might have shifted her body from his but the unsteadiness of the ride combined with her precarious footing was a recipe for disaster. It felt good to be able to lean on him for support. She felt herself relax.

She turned her head to stare back at him. Tinjin smiled, an easy bend to his full lips. When she didn’t speak, moving her gaze back to the view in front of them, he let his fingers gently tease her flesh, tapping lightly atop her clothes. Three stops later Natalie stepped out of his arms, rushing out of the train to put some distance between them. She took a deep breath and blew it out heavily. By the time Tinjin reached her side, she’d heaved another deep sigh.

“Do you need help with your bag?” Tinjin asked. His eyes danced over her face, resting on the look she was giving him.

She shook her head. The carryall felt good in her hands, almost like a security blanket for her to hide behind. She continued shaking her head as she turned an about-face and headed for the lounge area.

Once inside both were surprised to find their original seats still vacant. Tinjin and Natalie would have both bet those front-row seats would have been grabbed while they’d been gone. Settling themselves back down, both sat staring to the outside.

Hours later they were still talking, discovering the six degrees of separation between them. In London they often frequented the same spots, had attended the same parties, were acquainted with mutual friends and despite running in the same circles had never before crossed paths. The more they talked the more they were both amazed at how their small worlds had never once collided and how much they had in common. Both were fans of English football, favoring the Manchester United team. Well-traveled, they both had mutual interests in Japan and Spain, disliked fast food, reveled in decadent desserts and preferred sandy beaches over winter weather. Tinjin stole a quick glance back out the window as Natalie shook her head.

Snow was still falling. It looked like large flecks of soft cotton as it dropped down against everything outside. A line of trees bowed heavily from the weight of the ice and snow that had accumulated against its branches and there was no distinguishing grass from pavement, everything blanketed in layers of white. You could feel the aura of calm and quiet that echoed gently in the distance.

Tinjin suddenly had a host of questions for the beautiful woman beside him but he held his tongue. Something about the moment made him feel that they would have all the time in the world to learn more about each other. As if it were the most natural thing to do, he eased his arm around her back and shoulders and hugged her to him.

Despite thinking that she should know better, Natalie liked the feel of his arms around her. Where she should have been hesitant, having known him for only a brief period, she wasn’t. And although that surprised her, it also felt very right to her. She leaned into his side, falling into the warmth of his body heat. She dropped her head down against the curve of his shoulder and lifted her legs to the cushioned seat, folding them back against her buttocks. Minutes passed before either spoke, both enjoying the quiet moment.

“Don’t get comfortable,” Natalie suddenly said. “This doesn’t mean anything. We don’t know each other that well.”

Tinjin chuckled softly. “Oh, it means something,” he said, as he tightened the grip he had on her shoulder and pulled her closer.

She cut an eye at the man. “Don’t push your luck with me, TJ.”

He shook his head. “I would never do that, Gnat.”

Natalie marveled at the level of comfort between them. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him back, looking out the window at the snow.

“Do you think it’ll ever stop?” she asked.

Tinjin nodded. “I’m sure it’ll start to blow over soon.”

“It’s so pretty!” Natalie gushed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful.”

Tinjin shifted his gaze to her face, watching her as she stared outside. He resisted the urge to lean and press a damp kiss to her mouth. “Me, neither,” he whispered. “Me, neither.”

* * *

Flight number 490 was boarding in thirty minutes, nonstop to Salt Lake City. Both Tinjin and Natalie sighed in relief. It had been a long sixteen hours, despite the ease and comfort they’d found in each other’s company.

“Finally!” Natalie exclaimed as the two maneuvered their way to the other terminal and the boarding gate.

Tinjin nodded. “I will be glad to get to the hotel for a shower and a bed. I’ll probably sleep for the next two days. What about you?”

A look of distress washed over her expression. “I don’t know that I’ll be getting much sleep,” she said as she turned away from him. “I’m already wishing I could just go back to London.”

Tinjin wasn’t sure he believed her. Something about her demeanor told him that she was anxious to get to whatever was waiting for her in Utah. And he was still in the dark about her reasons for going there. Despite hours of conversation that had solidified their friendship, she was still a mystery to him. He suddenly found himself wondering if it would always be that way.

They had promised to stay in touch, a tentative coffee date planned for when they both found themselves back in London. But Tinjin couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever see her again once they landed and headed in their separate directions. He was about to ask when Natalie beat him to the question.

“You’re not going to forget about me once you get back to your life, are you? It’s not every day that I like a guy who feels me up in an airport, so you better call me. You are going to call me, right?”

Tinjin laughed. “I don’t remember feeling you up.”

“You did,” she said matter-of-factly. “I would have slapped you if I’d known it was going to slip your mind that quick.”

He shook his head. “And you’re violent, too. You’re just a banquet of surprises.”

Natalie laughed with him. “I’ll take that to mean that you are definitely going to call.”

He wrapped her in a warm hug. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity.”

* * *

The flight from New York to Salt Lake City took in excess of seven hours. Two of those hours were spent at the Jetway while a maintenance crew fought to deice the plane and make it flight ready. By the time they made it to the runway for takeoff, everyone on board was irritated and tense.

Natalie had been able to retain her first-class seat, but Tinjin had agreed to be downgraded to coach rather than wait another half day for another flight. As he pretended to sleep, wishing away the senior citizen who’d been whining her complaints since boarding, he couldn’t get the exquisite Natalie off his mind. He’d enjoyed every moment of their time together. There was something special about Natalie and her presence excited him. Her desire to hear from him again was promising, going above and beyond any expectations he might have had.

Natalie shifted against the leather seat, twisting her body to stare out the window. She wrapped her arms around her torso as she watched the ground crew flit back and forth below. She found herself wishing that Tinjin was still by her side, still making her smile and laugh. There was something about the man and she found herself actually missing him.

* * *

Natalie was waiting for him when he finally made his way off the airplane. The elderly lady who’d been seated next to him clutched his arm tightly, bemoaning her travel woes as he escorted her down the jet bridge. Natalie stood by the guardrail, shifting from side to side anxiously. Her smile widened when she saw him and there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes when she spied his companion.

“Just don’t make no sense,” the older woman was muttering. “Took me three days to get here. Three days! Don’t make no sense at all.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tinjin said softly.

An airline attendant stood behind a wheelchair, welcoming them both to Salt Lake City International Airport. When the woman was safely ensconced in her seat, Tinjin wished her well on the rest of her journey.

“I’m home now. My son should be here to get me and then I’m going home. Don’t have to worry about me traveling no more,” she said. “Don’t make no sense to be stranded like that for three days. Don’t make no sense at all!”

Natalie giggled as the stewardess pushed the old woman down the length of hallway, her annoyance vibrating through the air. Natalie moved to his side.

“Don’t laugh,” Tinjin said, his eyes rolling skyward. “That was painful.”

“And here I thought you were having a good time with your new girlfriend.”

“I guess it’s a good thing we
both
don’t get paid to think, then,” Tinjin countered with a smug smile.

Natalie met his bright look with one of her own. “So where are you off to now?” Natalie questioned.

“The Grand American Hotel. My sister reserved a room for me there.”

“Very nice. I like your sister already. She’s got great taste and she obviously travels well.”

“I don’t know about all that. It’s where her family is staying. She married into a little money.”

“Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.”

“Says another woman who thinks a Black Card should be tattooed onto the palm of her hand.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Natalie mused. “Not a bad idea at all. Do you have one?”

“One what?”

“A Black Card.”

Tinjin took a step toward her. “Would you be impressed if I did?”

Natalie shrugged. “Not really. I actually have my own.”

He laughed heartily. “I like how you do things, Ms.
Natalia!” He suddenly paused in reflection. “Hey, you never did tell me your full name.”

She smiled. “I’m just Natalie to my friends and family. Natalia for those who only need to know me through my business.”

“So you don’t have a last name?”

She laughed, the light airiness of it moving him to laugh with her. “I’ll tell you the next time I see you.”

Natalie took her own step closer to him, pressing her body against his. She rested her palms on his chest, peering into his eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly, meeting his deep stare. “You made what could have been a miserable trip not so miserable. I really had a good time. So thank you very much.”

Tinjin smiled. “The pleasure was all mine. Let’s do it again. And soon.”

Natalie nodded her head. She licked her lips, her tongue tipping lightly out of her mouth. She eased her arms around his torso and hugged him gently. When she drew back, tears misted her eyes.

Tinjin drew his palm along the side of her face, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. He leaned toward her, his face a mere inch from hers. She held her breath, the air suddenly heated between them. He leaned in a second time, then gently pressed his mouth to her cheek, purposely avoiding her lips. His touch was silk, the gentlest brush of his flesh against her flesh.

She suddenly pushed him from her. “You better call me, Tinjin Braddy,” Natalie snapped as she turned, moving away from him. “Or I will hunt you down and hurt you!”

Her smile was a mile wide as she waved her hand once more and disappeared into the crowd.

Chapter 4

N
oah Stallion and his sister Naomi stood by the luggage carousel, staring toward the walkway for passengers who’d just disembarked. Both were nervous, anxiously searching the rush of faces for one that resembled their own. Naomi saw her first, suddenly jumping up and down excitedly.

“There she is!” Naomi exclaimed, pointing with her index finger. “There’s Natalie!”

He and Natalie locked gazes. A slow smile pulled at his mouth as he nodded in greeting. Tears suddenly fell from Natalie’s eyes as she moved to where her siblings stood. Noah opened his arms and Natalie stepped into them, throwing herself into her big brother’s embrace. Her tears were suddenly a low sob and Noah tightened his hold as she cried against his chest.

“We’ve missed you, Natalie,” Noah said, his voice a loud whisper. “Welcome home.”

Natalie moved from her brother’s arms to her sister’s, the two women hugging each other tightly. Naomi kissed her cheek, then held her at arm’s length. “You’re so pretty!” she exclaimed. “Look how grown-up you are!”

Natalie laughed. “You’ve aged some yourself,” she said teasingly.

Naomi swatted a hand at her. “That’s what happens when you’ve been gone for so long.”

Natalie winced. She looked to her brother, who was smiling at the two of them.

“You’re home now, that’s all that matters,” Noah said.

Natalie nodded. “I’m sorry. I should have come sooner,” she said.

“Norris-Jean didn’t want that,” Noah said. “You know better than anyone that if she’d wanted you to come back she would have told you so. She was proud of you and she was proud of the fact that you were able to get away and build a life for yourself that made you happy.”

Natalie nodded, not sure that she believed her brother.

Naomi hugged her a second time. “Let’s collect your luggage and get you home. Nathaniel and Nicholas can’t wait to see you.”

* * *

It felt like home. Natalie was amazed how easily she and her siblings slid into a warm rhythm with one another. The ride from the airport to the family house had set the tone, their conversation easy, the banter comfortable. Her older brothers were all bigger and louder and her sister still as protective as she’d been when they had been little girls.

Noise echoed through the twelve-hundred-square-foot manufactured home, all of them trying to give her an update on their lives and ask questions about hers. The home had been updated since Natalie last saw it. But even with the new bathroom and kitchen it still felt like the place she’d grown up in.

“Who still lives here?” Natalie asked, looking from one to the other.

Naomi shook her head. “No one. We’ve all moved out. Norris-Jean was the only one here.”

The noise level dropped substantially.

Noah nodded. “Whenever we could, we all tried to come back for Sunday dinner.”

Natalie sighed deeply. Her brother Nicholas moved behind her, gently massaging her shoulders. “Don’t sweat it. Noah’s the only one who was able to come back on a regular basis. Nathaniel and I are both based in Los Angeles now.”

“And I’m in Arizona,” Naomi added.

“I just feel horrible,” Natalie said, her voice dropping. “I should have made more of an effort to come back.”

“Yes, you should have,” Noah said, a hint of attitude in his tone.

Natalie bristled, meeting the look her brother was giving her. Noah was the eldest, the son who’d taken it upon himself to be the father figure none of them had known. He’d protected them, supported them and ensured they’d known right from wrong. He’d been there to take care of them when their mother had been working three jobs or was too tired from working so hard to take them to the playground or show up at their school activities. Noah had been the one to see they had what they needed when he himself had nothing at all. He had pushed them and admonished them to do well. And, growing up, not one of them had wanted to disappoint Noah.

Her big brother had also supported her decision to leave Utah and pursue her modeling career. He’d given her permission to go and she had. Now he was making her feel bad about doing so.

Noah dropped into the seat beside her. He leaned forward, dropping his elbows atop his thighs as he reached for her hands. He pulled her fingers between his own as he met her stare.

“We missed you, Natalie.
I
missed you. You were our baby and our baby ran away from us. I understand why you left and I was the first one to want you to go and do well, but it hurt when you wouldn’t let us be a part of your life and celebrate your successes. It hurt us more than it ever bothered Norris-Jean, and when you remember how we were raised I would have thought that you would have known that. None of us would be where we are today if we hadn’t all been there to support one another. All we wanted was to be able to support you.

“So, yeah, damn it,” Noah concluded, “you should have made more of an effort, because we really missed you.”

Natalie leaned forward and pressed her lips to the back of her brother’s hands. “I’m sorry,” she said, their gazes locking one more time. “You’re right. I should have done a better job of staying connected but I promise I’ll do better going forward. And I missed you all, too,” she said, glancing around the room. “I did call Norris-Jean on the regular, though.”

Naomi laughed. “Yes, you did. And every time you called, Norris-Jean made sure we heard about it.”

“She also made sure we knew when you sent a check,” Nathaniel added.

Her siblings all laughed.

“I know that’s right,” Nicholas added. “If you sent one hundred dollars, she let us know she expected to see that much or more from the rest of us.”

“That was your mother,” Naomi said, walking over to the wooden bookshelves and taking down a collection of photo albums. She carried them back to the table. “She scrapbooked everything she could find about you. Every photo of you, every magazine spread that showcased you is here. She missed you. She missed us all, but she really didn’t want any of us to come back home.”

Noah chuckled. “No, she really didn’t.”

Natalie shook her head. None of them had ever called Norris-Jean Stallion
mother
. For years she’d wondered why. Norris-Jean had loved her children with everything in her, but the circumstances of her life had made being a mother a harder task than she’d been able to bear. Their father’s rejection had broken the matriarch’s heart and that hurt had been too difficult for her to bounce back from. She’d loved her children, but as they’d left home, going off in their own directions, loving them from afar had been easier for her to endure. They heaved a collective sigh.

“How come we never called her Mother or Mom or Mama?” Natalie suddenly asked, breaking the silence that had wavered through the room.

Noah laughed. “I think it was because we never heard anyone else call her that. I only ever heard her called by her given name so that’s what I called her. She never corrected me.”

“The rest of us just did what Noah did,” Nicholas concluded. “It was all we knew.”

“Hey, every family has some kind of dysfunction. That was ours but we were happy!” Nathaniel chimed in.

“Yeah, that we were,” Noah echoed.

Naomi giggled. “We weren’t that damn happy!” she crooned cheerily. Her siblings laughed with her.

“So what now?” Natalie asked.

Noah answered. “Well, all the arrangements for the service have been taken care of. We were just waiting for you to get here. Norris-Jean’s home-going is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and then we’ll have the repast at my house right after. Tonight, though, we’re having dinner with family from Dallas.”

Question lines creased Natalie’s brow. “What family from Dallas?”

“We have cousins who live in Dallas and they’re flying in for the service,” Naomi replied.

Confusion washed over Natalie’s expression. “What cousins? We never had any cousins!”

“Actually, we have a whole family we never knew about,” Nathaniel interjected.

Noah explained. “After Norris-Jean passed I was going through her personal papers and discovered that she had two brothers.”

“
Two
brothers?”

Noah nodded. “Yes. James and Joseph Stallion.”

“We have uncles?”

Naomi shook her head. “We did. Unfortunately they both died years ago. But our uncles had sons.”

Noah continued. “I was able to track down Uncle Joseph’s son. His name is Travis and he’s married with two kids. He put me in contact with Uncle James’s family. Uncle James had four sons and a daughter and all of our Stallion family is coming to meet us.”

Natalie stared at her brother. “This is crazy! Why didn’t Norris-Jean ever say anything?”

“I think she was embarrassed,” Naomi mused. “Five kids and no husband. Plus, I did a little snooping on Google and apparently the Dallas Stallions were the wealthier side of the family.”

“Even more reason she should have reached out to them,” Nicholas added. “Back in the day her brothers might have been willing to help us out when things got hard.”

“Well, maybe they’ll be able to tell us something,” Noah finished. “But we might have to accept the fact that we may never know what was going on in our mother’s head.”

Natalie hugged her arms around her body. She suddenly wished her new friend TJ were there to make her smile.

* * *

“So, how’s your love life? Are you dating anyone?” Tierra questioned. She gave her brother a curious stare, eyeing him as he rocked her daughter against his shoulder.

“Leave your brother alone, Tierra,” Travis said with a deep laugh. “These should be his ‘hit it and quit it’ years. Tinjin shouldn’t be thinking about love.”

Tinjin laughed as his sister rolled her eyes. “Actually, I’m not dating it, hitting it or quitting it,” he said. “Work has kept me too busy, Tea. Although I did meet someone I liked at the airport. She’s a model.”

“A model!” Travis said. “Bikini, I hope?”

Tinjin was still laughing. “She was a Victoria’s Secret angel,” he said nonchalantly.

Travis tossed up both hands. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

Tierra’s head moved from side to side. “You’re impossible,” she said, directing her comment at her husband. “You should be encouraging him to settle down.”

Hit it and quit it
, Travis mouthed behind his wife’s back.

“I see you, Travis Stallion,” Tierra said as she tossed him a quick look over her shoulder. “And you’re not funny.”

The two men laughed.

Tinjin shook his head. “All in good time, little sister. Maybe I’ll think about settling down after I get the design house launched. But until then I won’t have time for anything else, not even a casual relationship.”

Tierra dipped her head slightly as she gave her brother a narrowed gaze. Before she could comment, little Tianna let out a loud wail, twisting against her uncle’s torso.

“I think she’s hungry,” Tinjin said. He passed the baby into her mother’s arms.

“We’ll finish this conversation when I come back,” Tierra said as she pulled her daughter to her chest.

Tinjin held his arms up as if he were surrendering.

“I mean it,” Tierra said as she moved to the door of the adjoining hotel room.

When she disappeared through the entrance and was out of earshot, Travis dropped into the seat she’d vacated.

“So tell me more about this model that you met at the airport and really like,” he said, eyeing his brother-in-law curiously. “She must be pretty special.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because if she wasn’t you wouldn’t have even mentioned meeting her. So, I’m thinking she’s a woman you’re really interested in getting to know better.”

Tinjin grinned broadly. “Yeah, I would,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. “Her name’s Natalie.”

“I’m surprised your sister didn’t pick up on that. She’s usually a little sharper.”

Tinjin chuckled softly. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one. I don’t know if I’m ready for Tierra to know anything yet.”

“This woman must be very special!” Travis crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat.

“I liked her. She had a lot of spirit. She lives in London, so hopefully our paths will cross sometime soon and I’ll get a chance to see her again.”

Travis nodded. “I hope that works out for you. I really do.”

“You hope what works out?” Tierra said, moving back into the room.

The two men exchanged a quick look.

“That my new business will do well,” Tinjin said as he broke the eye exchange with Travis.

Tierra nodded. “What all do you need?”

Tinjin paused for a quick second before answering. “Money. I’m dumping my entire life savings into the initial collection but it would be nice to have some seed money to fall back on to keep things rolling until the designs really take off. So I’m hoping to find an investor. Someone whose interests are also in the fashion field.”

“Well, you know Travis and I will help as much as we can. But you might want to talk to John and his brothers while you’re here. They’re always looking for investment opportunities.”

“I agree,” Travis added, “although Stallion Enterprises likes to have controlling interest in all of their business ventures. That might be problematic if you’re looking to have free rein.”

“I am, which is why I want someone who knows the industry and how it works. I just need a short-term investor with deep pockets who’ll buy in while I get off the ground and who won’t mind being pushed out when we’re rolling.”

“Well, good luck with that,” Travis said as he moved back onto his feet. He quickly glanced to the watch on his wrist. “We should start getting ready. We’ll need to be downstairs soon.”

Tierra nodded. “This is so exciting! Actually finding family you’ve never known about.”

Travis chuckled. “It is, but a part of me wishes it was your family and not mine.”

Tinjin laughed. “No thanks, brother. If we started unearthing siblings and cousins, both Tierra and Mama Dee would be even harder to deal with. The two of them are already difficult enough.”

“We are not!” Tierra exclaimed, pouting profusely. She swatted a heavy hand in her brother’s direction. “You wait until I tell her what you said.”