Читать книгу Seduced by a Stallion - Deborah Fletcher Mello - Страница 16

Chapter 7

Mark Stallion watched as Matthew paced from one end of the room to the other, glancing down at the watch on his wrist every few minutes. He grinned broadly and gestured with his head, meeting John’s eye.

“Your brother’s got it bad,” he said.

John nodded, his own brilliant smile filling his dark face. “First time in a very long time.”

Mark laughed. “Not since junior high school and that crush he had on Millie Stanfield.”

John laughed with him. “I forgot all about him and Millie.”

“I can hear you two,” Matthew interjected. “And I did not have a crush on Millie Stanfield.”

John swiped at the moisture that had risen on his eyelids. “I know that’s right. You were head over heels in love until Millie slapped you in the back of the head for looking up her skirt.”

Matthew rolled his eyes, stopping in his tracks to stare down at the two men. “I would never have looked up Millie’s skirt. I have always been a gentleman.”

“You looked up her skirt, trying to figure out if her thighs were as thick as her calves,” Mark teased.

Matthew shook his head. “That’s not what I was looking for,” he said with a sly grin. “But you boys wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“I know Millie slapped the fire out of you for sneaking a peek. She had your ears ringing for a month afterwards,” John added, barely able to get his remark out in between laughter.

The three men chuckled warmly.

“So,” John said, regaining his composure, “what’s got you twisted tonight?”

“Don’t you mean who has him twisted?” Mark questioned, his eyebrows raised.

John nodded. “And the answer to that would be…”

Matthew smiled, shrugging his broad shoulders skyward. “Spend half as much time minding your own business and you won’t have any time to be minding mine.”

John laughed. “Told you!” he said, gesturing with his head toward Mark.

Mark laughed with him. “I think he told you, too!”

“So, who’s the lucky lady tonight?” John asked, his arms crossing over his broad chest.

Grinning, Matthew finally came to a halt, moving to take a seat in the leather wing chair that sat opposite his brother. “I’m having dinner with Katrina Broomes.”

“Didn’t you just have dinner with the judge?” John asked.

“We did brunch after church Sunday with her son. Tonight is an adult excursion. No one under the age of twenty-one permitted.”

Mark nodded. “Sounds like you have plans!”

“I’m just going to make sure the woman has a nice time,” Matthew responded.

John gestured toward the door and the driver who’d stepped into the entrance to announce that he was ready whenever Mr. Stallion was. “I see you’re taking the limo. I’m sure she’s going to have a nice time, indeed.”

Rising from where he’d briefly rested, Matthew moved toward the entrance. “Good night, John-boy. Good night, Mark. Don’t you boys wait up for me. I’m sure I’m going to miss my curfew!”

The brothers chuckled heartily as they stared after their kin.

When Matthew was no longer in sight, Mark shook his head from side to side. “I’ve got twenty dollars that says he’s dating a Playboy model by next week.”

John shook his head. “You don’t want to make that bet, little brother. I’m thinking Matthew might have finally met his match. I’d hate to have to take your twenty dollars from you like that!”

* * *

Katrina stood in the full-length mirror, assessing yet another outfit that might be fitting for her dinner date with Matthew Stallion. But it wasn’t as if this was a date date, she thought, wanting to convince herself that the evening wouldn’t be much of anything at all. It was, after all, just dinner.

She heaved a deep sigh at the navy blue suit that draped the wooden clothes hanger. It being just dinner didn’t mean she had to go dressed like she was going to a business meeting, either, she mused. There had to be something in her closet that made her look more like a woman who might be in want of a man than a woman who was trying to compete with one.

Stepping into the oversize walk-in closet, Katrina scanned the multitude of dark blue and black garments that ran from one end of the space to the other. It took no time at all for her to determine that she really needed to upgrade her wardrobe. Nothing remotely feminine was hanging there for her to wear.

She heaved a deep sigh and reached for her cell phone, punching in the speed-dial number to her best friend. After three rings, a woman’s shrill voice called out her name.

“Katrina, why are you calling me? I thought you had a date?”

“What I have are dinner plans. It’s not a date. And I’m calling you because I have nothing appropriate to wear.”

Lacey Hamilton laughed into the receiver. “I’m sorry. You mean this isn’t a suit-and-tie event?”

“Lacey, do you have a dress I can borrow, please?” Katrina asked, the exasperation ringing in her tone. “And I need it right now. My dinner companion will be here in thirty minutes.”

Katrina could almost visualize the smug expression on her friend’s face as the woman responded.

“Every time we go shopping, I keep telling you to expand your selections, but no, you’re the one who keeps telling me that white blouses, granny skirts and black slacks will suffice. Now you want to borrow something a little sexier?”

“I never said sexy. I just don’t want to look like I’m going to a business meeting.”

Lacey laughed. “So who’s the lucky guy?”

Katrina hesitated. “Matthew Stallion.”

Lacey’s tone perked up considerably. “The Matthew Stallion? Matthew Stallion of the prestigious Stallion family? Legal eagle Matthew Stallion? That Matthew Stallion?”

Katrina rolled her eyes skyward. “Yes. What does that matter?”

Her friend laughed warmly into the receiver. “I have just the thing for you,” she responded. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be right over.”

Disconnecting the call, Katrina heaved a deep sigh and dropped down on the side of the bed. She trusted Lacey wouldn’t disappoint her. The two women had been friends since they’d both prepared for the state’s bar exam, studying together over iced cappuccinos and glazed doughnuts. Katrina had purchased the home in gated Oaktree Estates based on Lacey’s recommendations, the immaculate landscaping and the twenty-four-hour security detail. Her friend owning the house across the cul-de-sac from her had been a bonus. The woman was like a sister to her, and Katrina trusted her implicitly.

Fifteen minutes later Katrina stood staring in the mirror, suddenly questioning if her very best friend in the whole world had completely lost her mind. She didn’t recognize the woman who stared back at her.

Lacey stood off to the side, her arms crossed over an ample bustline. Satisfaction painted her expression. “You look incredible,” she said.

Katrina’s wide eyes were glazed with shock. She shook her head from side to side. “I need to change!” she exclaimed, her voice quivering with emotion. “I can’t go out like…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the doorbell sounded from the lower level. It felt like mere seconds before Matthew’s deep voice resonated down below. He and Collin were chatting comfortably.

“You don’t need to change,” Lacey said excitedly. “You are going to take his breath away. You look fabulous,” she added as she gripped Katrina by the shoulders and pushed her toward the door. “Now go have fun!”

Katrina was suddenly gripped with fear. What she was wearing was so uncharacteristic for her. Feeling completely out of control, she couldn’t begin to imagine the evening going well at all. She should have worn the navy suit, she thought, blowing a deep sigh past her thin lips. But it was far too late for regrets, and she had no time at all to change into something else. Matthew Stallion was standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring up at her.

* * *

The muffled whispers on the stair landing above drew Matthew’s eyes upward. Collin was leaning against the railing, his own gaze drawn to the movement at the top of the steps.

“Hey!” he exclaimed loudly, surprise painting his expression. “Is that you, Mom?”

Katrina rolled her eyes, ignoring him. Lacey bounded down the stairs in front of her, grinning broadly.

“Hi. I’m Lacey,” she said, extending a hand in Matthew’s direction. “Let’s go, kiddo,” she said to Collin. “You’re hanging with me tonight.”

“Do I have to?” the boy whined. “I’m old enough to stay here by myself!”

“Now! Let’s move it,” Lacey responded, tossing a quick glance back over her shoulder in Katrina’s direction. Her hand was already on the front doorknob. “Make sure she has a good time,” she said, directing her comment toward Matthew.

He nodded eagerly, his gaze still locked on the woman slowly descending the stairs. He was at a complete loss for words.

Stunning was hardly the word to describe the exquisite woman who was moving slowly in his direction. But Katrina Broomes was absolutely stunning. Gone was the conservative style that he had half expected. The dress that adorned her curvaceous frame was a formfitting cotton bouclé sheath with a sexy V back and an empire waist decorated with clear faceted jewels. The fabric stopped midthigh. Her lean, graceful dancer’s legs were complemented by four-inch platform sandals.

Her hair cascaded in easy waves around her face and down about her shoulders. Her makeup was soft, complementing her angelic features. The woman was beautiful beyond words, and Matthew suddenly felt like she was a much-needed breath of fresh air. He inhaled her, drawing in a deep breath. It felt as if the sweet scent was nourishing his soul.

“Wow!” he exclaimed, the one and only word he could muster, though it was more an exaggerated gust of air blowing past his full lips. “I mean, wow!” he exclaimed a second time, his utterance feeling more substantial.

Katrina laughed nervously, a blush of heat tinting her cheeks. “Does that mean you approve?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am! I most certainly do!” His eyes were wide with appreciation.

“You clean up quite nicely yourself, Counselor,” Katrina said teasingly. And he did. Right then, the man looked like a GQ model. She couldn’t help but admire his black sports coat, gray slacks and white dress shirt, unbuttoned casually at the collar. A light tuft of black chest hair peeked from beneath his shirt, moving her to wonder what he might look like with his shirt off. Imagining him shirtless suddenly took her breath away.

Matthew felt like his face was on fire, heat flooding his dimpled cheeks. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so excited about a woman. But Katrina had him excited beyond words. He blushed profusely, embarrassed at being so tongue-tied. He took a deep breath to calm his excitement, his broad smile widening. “Shall we go?” he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

Katrina nodded, moving toward the door. As Matthew pressed a large hand against the small of her back, the two of them paused briefly, the heat sweeping between them suddenly consuming. Matthew met her gaze and held it; the lingering look she returned spoke volumes.

As they walked out the door, both cutting an eye toward the oversize mirror hanging in her front foyer, neither of them could miss just how attractive a couple they were together.