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Sweet Stallion
Deborah Fletcher Mello
They’re not as different as she thinksAfter scoring phenomenal success in Phoenix with her organic food co-op, Naomi Stallion is ready to introduce Vitally Vegan to her Utah town. But meeting her half-siblings and the extended family she never knew isn’t the homecoming she’d hoped for. And now a nasty bidding war over the property Naomi wants to buy puts the unconventional lifestyle coach against sexy, uber-conservative, corporate attorney Patrick O’Brien.Behind the power suit, ruggedly handsome looks, and dazzling legal maneuvers, Patrick’s a country guy at heart. His attraction to the beautiful farmer who marches to the beat of her own unique drum makes him question his loyalty to the investment conglomerate he represents. The stakes rise when someone close to them both threatens Naomi’s business, forcing Patrick to choose between his career… and the woman he yearns to make his lifelong partner.


They’re not as different as she thinks
After scoring phenomenal success in Phoenix with her organic food co-op, Naomi Stallion is ready to introduce Vitally Vegan to her Utah town. But meeting her half siblings and the extended family she never knew isn’t the homecoming she’d hoped for. And now a nasty bidding war over the property Naomi wants to buy pits the unconventional lifestyle coach against sexy, überconservative corporate attorney Patrick O’Brien.
Behind the power suit, ruggedly handsome looks and dazzling legal maneuvers, Patrick’s a country guy at heart. His attraction to the beautiful farmer who marches to the beat of her own unique drum makes him question his loyalty to the investment conglomerate he represents. The stakes rise when someone close to them both threatens Naomi’s business, forcing Patrick to choose between his career...and the woman he yearns to make his lifelong partner.
“So, this is that awkward moment at the end of our date where I want to kiss you again but I don’t want to overstep any boundaries. Since we’re still getting to know each other, it might be too soon. And I would hate to get slapped.”
Naomi giggled, her eyes shifting in a slight roll. “Do you often get slapped when you kiss a woman?”
He grinned. “Not at all. But if I kiss you, it won’t be like last time. It won’t be a casual kiss on the cheek. Or a light peck on your lips. This time I plan to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed before.”
“Well, if I’m honest with you,” Naomi started, her weight shifting from side to side, “this is that moment where I want to be kissed but I don’t want you to think that I’m too forward. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression of me. Because I am not that kind of woman.”
Patrick leaned to drop his bag onto the coffee table. He took a step toward her, closing the distance between them.
Dear Reader (#u318d9da0-205e-50af-b6b0-d5ec89a95af1),
Let me warn you by saying there is nothing sweet about Sweet Stallion! Ms. Naomi Stallion is not the sugary sibling. As the eldest girl of the Utah Stallions, she is not known to hold her tongue and you’ll discover that she has no problems laying it all on the table.
Legal eagle Patrick O’Brien is a delectable mélange of yummy goodness! His attraction to Naomi is instant and the two light up the pages! I think you’re going to love, love, love everything about them.
I really like this story! Naomi gives me all kinds of feel-good moments and Patrick just takes my breath away!
As always, thank you so much for your continued support. I am humbled by all the love you keep showing me, my characters and our stories. I know that none of this would be possible without you.
Until the next time, please take care and may God’s blessings be with you always.
With much love,
Deborah Fletcher Mello
www.DeborahMello.Blogspot.com (http://deborahmello.blogspot.ca/)
Sweet Stallion
Deborah Fletcher Mello


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Having been writing since forever, DEBORAH FLETCHER MELLO can’t imagine herself doing anything else. Her first novel, Take Me to Heart, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2008, Deborah won an RT Reviewers’ Choice award for Best Series Romance for Tame a Wild Stallion. Deborah received a BRAB 2015 Reading Warrior Award for Best Series for her Stallion family series. Deborah was also named the 2016 Romance Slam Jam Author of the Year. In addition, she has received accolades from several publications, including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and RT Book Reviews. With each new book, Deborah continues to create unique story lines and memorable characters. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.
To my Diamonds,
Thank you for your support and encouragement.
You give selflessly each and every day, and I am grateful for you!
Contents
Cover (#u75ae8039-4748-5125-9499-c41b356b8939)
Back Cover Text (#u567af6cd-26ad-5170-827c-27071c2625b8)
Introduction (#u20635145-d01d-51fb-a33e-72a4b8fcffa3)
Dear Reader (#u9a8ee8be-2a40-5983-bb8c-5b092ce44fb0)
Title Page (#uf23b98fa-a75e-54d5-b526-bed672b95375)
About the Author (#u2e53ddc2-3958-5c85-a9a2-a2aae61d9a76)
Dedication (#ua2384260-e065-59e9-955d-bdd393e1336f)
Chapter 1 (#uf3bf182f-ae6f-57d6-b2be-35c0cf216cd0)
Chapter 2 (#uc726419e-ca9d-5e0c-adde-d8cb1304c0c5)
Chapter 3 (#u4c559243-79fc-57cb-b7c8-fa6faf06d608)
Chapter 4 (#uaf5c13e0-6c52-510d-8ee7-80d7ea99f764)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 1 (#u318d9da0-205e-50af-b6b0-d5ec89a95af1)
Naomi Stallion was standing in her big brother’s kitchen when he and his wife came through the front door of their Arlington Drive home. The couple was giggling, their voices low. Naomi winced, suspecting that she was about to intrude on an intimate moment. She called out to them, rattling a frying pan against the stove top as she did.
“Hello! It’s me! I’m here in your kitchen. Please don’t take your clothes off!” she shouted, remembering the last time the two had come running through the house not knowing she was there.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then laughter led Noah Stallion and Catherine “Cat” Moore-Stallion from their living room into the dining area.
“Hi, Naomi!” Cat chimed as she toyed with the buttons on her blouse and adjusted her skirt.
Naomi smiled. “Sorry about that.”
“Hey!” Noah said. He tossed up a casual hand as his eyes widened curiously. “What are you doing here?”
Naomi gave her brother a look. Before she could respond, Cat interrupted, exclaiming excitedly, “You cooked!”
“I did. I figured it was the least I could do after showing up unannounced,” Naomi responded. “To stay for a few days,” she added, the words coming rapidly. “Maybe even a week. Or two.”
The couple laughed, the two exchanging a look between them.
“So, to what do we owe the honor?” Noah asked as he moved toward the counter and settled down on a wooden stool. He reached for a stalk of celery that rested on a vegetable tray Naomi had pushed in his direction. “We weren’t expecting to see you until next month.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be here. But what about you? I’m actually surprised that you two aren’t in New York. Isn’t that where one of you was supposed to be?”
Noah nodded. “My plans changed. I needed to be at the corporate office here, and Cat flew in to see me before she heads to Dallas tomorrow.”
Naomi gave them both a smile. “My plans changed, too. The property adjacent to my farm is going up for auction next week. I want that land. If I can get it, I want to expand my business model here and get a second food co-op up and running.”
The farm Naomi referred to was the fifteen acres of land she owned in the Pleasant Grove area just outside downtown Salt Lake City. It had been a foreclosure investment that she’d acquired years ago, initially planning to wait for the real estate market to improve, and then sell it. Her decision to actually grow produce on the property and work it had come as a surprise to them all.
“How much land is it?” Cat asked, joining her husband at the counter. She reached for her own celery stick and dipped it into the cucumber dressing that filled a small bowl.
“It’s a good fifty acres. There’s an open house tomorrow and I plan to go walk it in the morning and talk to the Realtor handling the sale.”
Noah cut a quick glance at his wife, who was licking the dressing from her fingers. Naomi noted his expression, the color heating his cheeks as he bit down on his bottom lip. Cat laughed and Naomi rolled her eyes.
“I guess I should have called first,” Naomi said, a wry smile pulling across her face. “But I’m so used to just letting myself in I didn’t think about it. Now that you’re married, I should probably give your key back, big brother.”
Noah shook his head. “You’re here more than we are.”
“And you are always welcome here,” Cat added. “Don’t you even think about giving him that key back. This is your home, too.”
Naomi rounded the marble counter to give her sister-in-law a hug. “I really appreciate that.” She winked at her brother. “I still like this one. I’m glad you’re keeping her.”
Noah laughed. “So, what did you cook? Since I can’t get any dessert just yet, I might as well enjoy some dinner.”
“Noah! Really?” Cat laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
He shrugged, his bright smile filling his face. “It’s the truth!”
Naomi shook her head. “Set the table and we can eat. I cooked your favorite—vegetable lasagna.”
“That’s not my favorite. I was hoping for something battered and fried with lots of cheese and gravy. Not vegetable lasagna. And I bet you put tofu in it, too.”
“Tofu is good for you.”
“I hate tofu.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do!”
“Really, you don’t,” Naomi said, eyeing him with a raised brow.
Cat laughed. “Well, I didn’t have to cook it so I love whatever it is.”
“She doesn’t cook for me. Do you still think I should keep her?” Noah asked teasingly.
“I do great takeout and I’m a master at other things you like,” Cat responded as she leaned against her husband, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“I will have me some dessert tonight,” he muttered against her ear.
“I made yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit,” Naomi interjected, grinning at the two of them.
“I’ll enjoy that, too,” her brother said smugly.
Naomi waved a dismissive hand in Noah’s direction as she returned to the oven.
Minutes later the trio sat at the dining table, laughing heartily as they caught up on the family news. Naomi was the second oldest sibling and the eldest girl in their close-knit family. The twins, Nicholas and Nathaniel, were only a year behind her in age and their sister Natalie was the baby in the family. It had been a few years since she and her siblings had lost their mother, Norris Jean Stallion, after a brief illness. But other than his name, they knew very little about their father. Noah had always acted as their surrogate parent, supporting them when they needed it most.
Watching Noah as he and his wife flirted shamelessly with each other made Naomi smile. Her brother was happier than she could ever remember him. He and Cat had been each other’s grade school crush and had reconnected at their high school reunion. They’d been inseparable ever since. Of all her siblings, Naomi was closest to Noah, both overly protective of the others, and he was one of her best friends. She trusted him with everything.
Her brother had been her biggest cheerleader when she’d purchased her first property, intending to make it the organic mecca of Utah. Despite her best efforts, the timing hadn’t worked for her. Then their mother’s health had started to decline and the older woman’s demanding nature had made it nearly impossible for Naomi to do all that she needed to do for herself. Shortly after, a beloved friend had afforded her the opportunity of a lifetime, bequeathing her an established farm in Phoenix, Arizona. Making the decision to leave Salt Lake City had been one of the hardest she’d ever had to make, but Noah had insisted, gently shoving her in the direction of her future.
Within a few short months of her getting settled and comfortable, the farm and her organic foods business, Vitally Vegan, had taken off and thrived. It had become everything Naomi had imagined and more. Now, she saw the opportunity to expand her business to her hometown as a large blessing in disguise.
Cat interrupted her thoughts. “This was good, Naomi. Thank you,” she said, as she swiped a paper napkin across her mouth.
“It was really good!” Noah echoed, sliding his index finger around his parfait cup to lick away the last of the strawberry and yogurt.
“Thank you. I’m glad you both enjoyed it.”
“Are you cooking tomorrow, too?” Noah asked, his tone teasing.
Naomi grinned. “Are you going to be here?”
Her brother nodded. “I am, and if you want me to, I can go with you in the morning before I head into the office. It’s been a while since I was last at your farm and I’d like to see the land you’re interested in.”
“I’d really like that. I could use a second opinion.”
Noah laughed. “I know you wanted to ask.”
Naomi grinned. “I did, but I didn’t want to interrupt anything else you might have going on.”
“Oh, you’re not interrupting anything,” he said as he rose from his seat. He leaned over, kissing the top of her head. “Not a thing,” he added as he winked at her. He reached for his wife’s hand. “We will see you in the morning.”
Catherine giggled as she allowed her husband to pull her to her feet and down the hall toward the master bedroom. She called out over her shoulder, “Good night, Naomi!”
Naomi laughed heartily. “Good night!” she said, and then she heard the bedroom door close and lock behind them.
* * *
With the dishes washed and put away and the kitchen returned to its usual immaculate condition, Naomi retired to the spare bedroom at the other end of the ranch-style home. Thinking about her brother and his wife made her smile. It also made her a bit misty-eyed. Would there ever be a day when she might know a love like theirs? It was only when she was in Utah, visiting with the duo, or talking to her sister, Natalie, and her husband, Tinjin, who lived in Paris, that she even thought about romance and love and a man who could be more than a friend in her life. Any other time she was too busy to give that kind of nonsense any consideration. She blew a soft sigh past her lips as she changed into her nightclothes, donning an old T-shirt and a pair of track shorts. She twisted the length of her hair into a high pineapple atop her head and wrapped the thick tresses with a silk scarf.
Naomi pushed the thoughts away, and the emotion they brought, as she crawled into bed with a file folder of documents about the property that had her interest. She reviewed the plat, making note of the property lines, and then examined the tax records. It would be a challenge, but if she could expand her crop, she would turn a quick profit in no time. She jotted her ideas down on a lined composition pad, doodling where she imagined Swiss chard and an assortment of beans being planted.
The existing farm already sourced sweet Spanish onions, celery, tomatoes and peppers to local restaurants. Along with the added land and produce, she would be able to promote a sustainable food system to consumers through a co-op, making natural, organic produce more affordable to the community. Just envisioning how she hoped to see her dream grow excited her. Figuring out the work that it would take wiped all thoughts of not having a man from her mind.
An hour later Naomi gathered the papers together and returned them neatly to the manila folder. After setting them on the nightstand beside the bed, she checked her cell phone one last time for any missed messages. Finding none, she plugged it into the charger, then dropped to her knees on the carpeted floor.
Her prayers were swift as she whispered the childhood chant their mother had made them recite nightly, and her own appeals for mercy, strength and guidance. With the litany billowing skyward, she crawled back into the queen-size bed and pulled the covers up around her lean frame. Minutes later, she was sound asleep.
Chapter 2 (#u318d9da0-205e-50af-b6b0-d5ec89a95af1)
The morning sun was shining brightly, indicative of the high temperatures that had been forecast. The sky was mostly clear, a rich shade of blue dotted with an occasional cloud. Everything about the landscape fulfilled Naomi’s wish list, and it took all her fortitude not to jump up and down like an excited five-year-old. The property itself was slightly overgrown, with high grasses interspersed with patches of brown dirt. There was a small abandoned home, condemned by the city, two outbuildings, a tree here and there, and nothing else but open air as far as the eye could see.
This was the only morning that the property was accessible for viewing, and several real estate agents in hiking boots or running shoes were tramping through with perspective buyers. Naomi eyed them all, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible as she tried to assess who might be her most serious competition. She ruled out the two women who’d shown up in high heels and designer dresses, both fanning away imaginary bugs from their newly coiffed hairdos. Eavesdropping on their conversation made it clear that neither had any interest in the property; they’d stopped only because they’d seen the open-house signs along the road. It seemed to be the case for many, who took one look at the abandoned house—an amalgamation of rotted wood, rust and mold—and scurried back to their vehicles, anxious to be far from the land Naomi coveted. There were a few men who seemed to be there with purpose, but only one or two looked like they might be interested in giving her a run for her money.
Naomi and Noah stood beneath a tent that had been pitched as a makeshift information center for perspective buyers. A Realtor from Cushman and Wakefield was pulling papers from a file folder that rested on a folding table. Other agents were trying to stir up interest from the few people standing with them, to no avail. The chatter shifted from hushed whispers to lighthearted quips and back. There were only a few serious questions posed, and most had come from Naomi.
Noah took a step closer to her, leaning in to speak without being overheard. “Someone’s got their eye on you!” he said, his singsong tone reminding her of when they’d been much younger and he would tease her about some boy having a crush on her.
Naomi’s eyes darted back and forth. “Who? What?” she whispered back.
Noah laughed. “Behind you. In the corner. Working his Rico Suave looks. Don’t turn around!” he muttered, grabbing her forearm.
They both froze for a second. “Okay, look now,” he told her in a low voice.
She shook her head. “You play too much,” she snapped as she tossed a quick look over her shoulder.
The man was standing with his back only slightly to them, but she could see his gaze reaching out into the distance toward where the property bordered hers. He appeared to be lost in thought, oblivious to all else around him. Naomi gasped, so loud that even her brother noticed.
Noah laughed. “Yep! Thought you’d like that!”
“Shut up, Noah,” Naomi said, her voice an even lower whisper. She took a deep breath, holding the air at the bottom of her lungs. She shifted her gaze back in the man’s direction.
Whoever he was, he was breathtaking. He could have easily graced the cover of any men’s magazine. His complexion was butterscotch with an abundance of rich cream. He sported a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee. His auburn hair had deep red undertones and he wore it closely cropped to tame his loose curls. He was dressed in torn jeans, a black cotton T-shirt and paint-stained work boots. On first impression, he looked like one of the many migrant farm workers who made the area their home seasonally, when it came time to pick crops. At the same time, he appeared out of place and slightly uncomfortable.
Naomi was eyeing him intently when he suddenly turned and they locked gazes. His eyes widened, a hint of surprise teasing the edges of his dark orbs. They stared and then his full lips lifted in a bright smile that filled his face.
It wasn’t until Noah gave her a light pinch that she felt her own face lift in response, smiling back. She turned abruptly, spinning toward her brother. Her knees were shaking, and for the first time in a very long while, Naomi felt out of control and couldn’t explain why.
* * *
Patrick O’Brien was still smiling as he moved toward the man and woman standing near the outer edge of the tent. He’d taken notice of the two earlier, when they’d walked from the property across the way. It was the woman who had caught his attention, her lithe frame moving purposely, her arms swinging, her stride closer to a stomp if it hadn’t been for the sway of her hips and extremely delectable backside. She had the tiniest waistline of any woman he’d ever seen, and legs that were miles long. Her figure was complimented by formfitting denim jeans, a white button-down blouse and black leather cowboy boots.
He cleared his throat as he reached where they stood, extending his hand toward the man in introduction. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but you look very familiar. Have we met before?”
Noah nodded. “Actually, I was just thinking the same thing. At the courthouse, maybe? Probably in passing.”
Patrick pondered the comment for a moment before he responded. “You’re with the Salt Lake City police department?”
“I was. I’m in private security now. Noah Stallion.”
He smiled. “My name’s Patrick. Patrick O’Brien. I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation you and your wife were having. I was hoping I could ask you a question?”
Naomi’s brow rose curiously as she lifted her eyes to stare at the man. Her brother answered for them both.
“Patrick, this is actually my sister, Naomi Stallion. She is not my wife,” he said with a soft chuckle.
Naomi cut her eyes at her brother, grimacing slightly. She shifted her gaze back to the stranger, her palm sliding against his as he shook her hand. The touch was like silk gliding across her flesh, and she mused that he had probably never done a day’s worth of hard labor in his life. “It’s nice to meet you, Patrick,” she answered. “How can we help you?”
“I heard you mention the property next door. Do you mind sharing what you know about it?”
She looked him up and down, her mind’s eye assembling a photographic journal for her to muse over later. His eyes were hazel, the rich shade flecked with hints of gold and green. He was tall and solid, his broad chest and thick arms pulling the fabric of his shirt taut. His jeans fit comfortably against a very high and round behind, and he had big feet. Very big feet in expensive, steel-toed work boots. He exuded sex appeal like a beacon. She hadn’t missed the looks he was getting from the few women around them, one of whom was openly staring at him as they stood there chatting.
“What would you like to know about Norris Farms?” Naomi asked. She crossed her arms over her chest.
Patrick’s smile widened, his cheeks flushing with color. He struggled not to stare, drawing attention to the curve of her cleavage. “Norris,” he repeated. “That’s an interesting name. Is it a fully functioning farm?”
“It is. They use ecologically-based production systems to produce their foods and fibers. They are certified organic.”
“Is there a homestead?”
“There is.”
“Have the owners had it long? Is there any family history attached to it?”
Naomi hesitated for a brief second. “May I ask why you’re so interested? Are you thinking about bidding on this property?”
Patrick clasped his hands behind his back and widened his stance a bit. “I’m actually an attorney. I represent the Perry Group and they’re interested in acquiring this lot.”
Both Naomi and Noah bristled slightly, exchanging a quick look.
Naomi scoffed, apparent attitude evident in her voice. “The Perry Group?”
Patrick nodded. “Yes. They’re a locally owned investment company. Very well established and they—”
Her eyes narrowed as she snapped, “We know who they are.”
Patrick looked from one sibling to the other, feeling the rising tension that wafted between them. Frowning in confusion, he dipped his head in a slight nod. “Well, I head their legal department and our planning and development group thinks this would be a great location for their next strip mall project.”
“Were you behind the recent efforts to rezone this area?” Naomi asked, remembering the land assessment that could have potentially put her out of business.
“We weren’t behind it, but we supported it. Bringing more commercial business to this area would greatly benefit the entire community.” He took a slight step toward her, closing the space between them. The rise of her perfume teased his nostrils, the sweet scents of vanilla and patchouli wafting through the air. A wave of heat rose from deep in his midsection, erupting through every nerve ending in his body.
“Not really,” Naomi retorted as she took a step back, widening the divide again as she took a deep inhalation of air. She exhaled it slowly past her glossed lips.
Patrick gave her an easy smile. “So, I take it you didn’t agree?”
“Not at all. In fact, I opposed it vehemently.” She skated her gaze across his face, noting the intensity of his stare. It was heated and unnerving, and she was suddenly anxious to be free from it.
“I’d be curious to know why,” he said, seeming intent on drawing her into a lengthy conversation.
Naomi hesitated, then shrugged. “If I had the time, I’d tell you, but that’s a long conversation and my brother and I need to get back to work.”
“What do you do?” he asked curiously.
Naomi shot him a look, pausing for a second time before she answered, “I own that farm next door.”
Patrick’s expression lifted in fascination. “So, you definitely have a concerned interest in who acquires this land.”
“I do, and I definitely don’t want to see it go to the Perry Group.” There was the faintest hint of bitterness in her tone.
He nodded but didn’t respond, watching how her long dreadlocks waved effortlessly with every movement of her head. Her hair was thick and abundant, falling to her midback, and he found himself resisting the sudden temptation to twist his fingers in the lengthy strands. He clenched a tight fist against his pant leg.
Noah’s expression was smug as his gaze shifted back and forth between them. He extended his hand a second time. “It was nice meeting you, Patrick. And good luck. You’re going to need it,” he said matter-of-factly.
Patrick chuckled, his head shifting in amusement. “It was a pleasure meeting you, too, Noah,” he answered. He looked back at Naomi, his smile widening. “I hope to see you again, Naomi. Maybe at the auction?”
She glanced at him one last time, noting the eagerness in his stare and how the bend of his mouth pinched dimples in his cheeks. There was something about the way he was looking at her that intrigued her, but Naomi pushed the rising sensation away. She took a deep breath and held it, counting silently in her head before blowing it softly out again.
With a slight nod she turned toward the real estate agent who’d been standing in wait with a handful of pamphlets and papers. As the two walked off, Noah hesitated, then tossed Patrick a wide grin, shrugging his broad shoulders. “She’ll be there,” he said with a light chuckle. “She will definitely be there.”
* * *
Naomi didn’t find her brother’s teasing as humorous as he did. He’d been giving her a hard time since they’d finished walking the property. Usually the too-serious sibling, Noah was suddenly the life of the party, his quips and banter more like something she or Natalie would share. She cut her eyes at him, the look expressing her annoyance. But this action only made him laugh harder.
“It really isn’t funny,” Naomi said, her tone snarky.
Noah laughed. “No, it’s actually hilarious. That man had you speechless!”
She rolled her eyes. “He did not.”
“He had you something.”
“He had me irritated. How could anyone want to work for the Perry Group? He said it like it was something to be proud of.”
“He can be proud if he wants,” Noah said, his goofy smile turning into a deep frown. “They’re a good company. People who work there can’t help the kind of man their employer is.”
Naomi sighed, her eyes rolling one last time. “Whatever.”
“So, what are you going to do if they outbid you? Have you thought about that?”
“The Perry Group is not going to beat me. There is no way I’m going to let that happen.”
“I imagine they have access to resources you don’t have, Naomi. You might not have a choice.”
She scoffed, waving a dismissive hand in her brother’s direction, and otherwise didn’t bother to respond.
Noah continued, his tone softer, consoling. “Be smart about this, please. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of making a wise business decision.”
Naomi met the look Noah was giving her with one of her own, both understanding that nothing else needed to be said.
* * *
By the time Naomi was ready to settle down for the night, there wasn’t much that she didn’t know about the Perry Group. It was a large conglomerate of mixed-use shopping centers and mall ventures. If they were successful, outbidding her at auction, the land they were both interested in would become just another residential and business project added to their portfolio.
The company had been founded by Nolan Perry and was currently under the leadership of his son, Garrison. Both were renowned not only for their business acumen, but also for their philanthropic efforts in the community. On paper Nolan Perry was a pillar of the community, beloved by the church he had pastored for many years, and a loving husband and father. His son was following in his footsteps.
Off paper, only a few knew the truth about the man many still called Pastor. But Naomi was aware and so were her siblings. They knew his darkest secrets. They knew, because they were his darkest secrets. The five of them. Noah, Natalie, Nicholas, Nathaniel and she were Nolan Perry’s biological children. The kids he had never wanted to know. The children he had never bothered to love or provide for.
Naomi stared at the image of her father and his family that looked back at her from her computer screen. Pastor Nolan Perry sat with his beloved wife by his side. Their three children, a son and two daughters, smiled obediently behind them. The Perry children had all benefited from private schooling and a privileged upbringing. Growing up, they had never crossed paths with any of the Stallion siblings, who had lived and gone to school on the other side of the economic tracks. If she were honest with herself, Naomi was glad for it. She would give almost anything to keep it that way, having no interest in a relationship with that side of her family.
She sighed loudly as she finally shut down the laptop, sliding it to the nightstand beside the bed. Naomi had vague memories of her father and his visits to see their mother. The two had been lovers for many years, but she and Noah had been too young to understand why he came and went so sporadically. There had been a time or two when he’d come with candy and sweets for them, but very little else. As a family, they had struggled, more often going without than not. Hunger had been common, new clothes nonexistent and toys a luxury their mother could never afford, raising five children as a single parent.
Growing up, all they’d known about their family was that their mother, Norris Jean, had come from humble beginnings. She had been a teenager herself, pregnant with Noah, when she’d followed their father, a traveling minister, to Utah from Dallas, trusting the promises he’d made to her. Those promises had been broken when Norris Jean discovered the man of her dreams had a wife and another family who were more important to him.
After Noah and Naomi were born, a second string of promises, which had never been fulfilled, led to the birth of the twins, Nicholas and Nathaniel. Their mother should have known better by then. But it wasn’t until Natalie had come into the world that Norris Jean finally accepted that the man she loved with all her heart had never loved her enough.
Naomi had never understood their mother’s fascination with the man, but Norris Jean Stallion had loved Nolan Perry with every fiber of her being. Sometimes, Naomi thought, she had loved him even more than she had loved her own children. She had loved the tears he made her cry, the pain that had pierced her spirit, the heartbreak that had been the foundation of their illicit relationship. Norris Jean had often prayed for him, begging God to bring him back to her, feeling abandoned when those prayers hadn’t been answered. For years, her longing for Nolan Perry had bordered on obsessive.
Naomi imagined that her mother would have always been satisfied if Nolan had kept coming back to her. If he had allowed her to remain hopeful about the two of them having a future together. But then, just like that, he stopped coming, discarding her and her babies as if they had never been anything to him at all. After that Norris Jean became bitter, anger fueling frustration, disappointment tainting her spirit. The woman’s heart hardened and what little joy she’d known had evaporated like mist under a summer sun.
Naomi and Noah had been old enough to remember the storm when it had come crashing down upon them. They remembered the mother who had laughed often, light filling her face. And they remembered when she was gone, stolen from them, leaving them with the mother who had been a semblance of her former self. Despite her best efforts, the younger three had gotten the Norris Jean who’d been broken and shattered, their memories of her dark and tainted.
Noah had wanted to know their father more than Naomi ever had. He’d searched him out once, only to have the door slammed in his face, Nolan refusing to even meet with him. Nolan hurting her big brother had only further fueled her hatred for the man. She’d believed Norris Jean when her mother had said that he was evil incarnate and lower than scum. Naomi saw him as a sperm donor and very little else. Now he wanted to take something else from her, without even knowing she wanted it. Not knowing Naomi would do everything in her power to keep him from it.
She twisted a dreadlock around her index finger. She needed to make an appointment with her stylist to have her hair conditioned and the new growth twisted. She moved to the oversize mirror above the dresser, staring at her reflection. For a woman who’d recently turned thirty-six she didn’t look half-bad, she thought. Her complexion was crystal, not one blemish marring her skin. She had a natural glow that made makeup unnecessary and she attributed that to her organic diet. She wasn’t supermodel stunning like her sister, Natalie, but she didn’t look half-bad, she decided as she suddenly found herself wondering what Patrick O’Brien might have thought about her. Had he found her attractive? Did he like her dreadlocks? Would he like her?
She gave herself a mental scolding. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by any man. Especially a man who probably hadn’t given her a second thought. Thinking about dinners and dancing and dating wasn’t something she had time for with anyone. Imagining a man in her life, fantasizing about finding love and lust, was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Besides, she had a business she was building, and despite wanting to expand that business into Utah, her life was in Arizona. Patrick O’Brien’s life was here in Salt Lake City. It wouldn’t work in any case, and luckily, she didn’t want it to. Or did she? She released another sigh, the question spinning with a vengeance through her mind.
Brushing the thoughts aside, she took one last look at her reflection and turned in the direction of the bathroom, suddenly desperate for a cold shower.
Chapter 3 (#u318d9da0-205e-50af-b6b0-d5ec89a95af1)
It was going to be a long day. And not an exceptionally easy one. Patrick O’Brien needed to run and he needed to get it done and out of the way before heading into the office. After his day started, he wasn’t sure when he’d get another opportunity and it had been a week since he’d last worked out. As he stepped out into the early-morning air he took a deep inhalation of oxygen. It was just minutes from daybreak and a promise of nonstop sunshine and extreme heat. The weatherman was predicting triple-digit temperatures with a zero percent chance of precipitation. It was already warm and uncomfortable and was only going to get worse. For a moment, he considered driving his car to the gym and running on the treadmill, but he needed more than that and he needed to sweat.
He started out at a slow jog, circling his downtown neighborhood. His South Temple address was mere minutes from the City Creek Center, a retail, office and residential development spread over twenty-plus acres of prime Salt Lake City real estate. The luxury high-rise where he resided was one of the many new buildings, refurbished office towers and retail space that had brought a lively and diverse vibe to the city.
Born and raised in Miami, he’d found his move to the state of Utah had come with some challenges. Being far from his family was lonely at times, but when the chance had come to head the Perry Group’s legal department, he hadn’t been able to let the opportunity pass him by. His association with the Perry family came through his friendship with Garrison Perry. The two had been roommates, both graduating from Brigham Young University.
Freshman year, Patrick had been one of only a handful of minority students, and most students he met were surprised that he was there on an academic scholarship. Weary of the assumption that he must have been recruited for the basketball team, he found Garrison’s invitation to go play hoops with a group of his friends hitting him the wrong way. The two had bumped heads, hard, almost coming to blows. Both were ready to change roommates when an astute resident advisor pulled them aside and insisted they mediate their issues. Working through their personal biases had come with a challenge or two, but then, before either realized it, they’d become the best of friends. Patrick had no siblings and he and Garrison both referred to each other as brothers from another mother.
This was going to be a big day for his best buddy. Since assuming the reins for the family business, this would be his first major project without his father’s input. Since forever, Nolan Perry had been a stern taskmaster, never quite letting go, his hands somewhere in the mix of everything going on at the Perry Group. But this time he’d sworn to stand back and let Garrison rise or fall all on his own. Determined to prove himself worthy, Garrison was set on making his father proud.
Understanding completely, Patrick was committed to helping his friend make that happen. His thoughts suddenly flew to the exquisite woman who would be at the auction...and who wanted the land as much as Garrison did. She was going to be highly disappointed, and that thought suddenly pierced Patrick’s spirit.
He came to an abrupt stop not far from the Starbucks on Main Street, his hands on his hips, his breathing slightly labored. Naomi Stallion was going to be disappointed. The finality of that had him off-kilter. He didn’t know how deep her pockets were, but he couldn’t imagine she could keep up with the bankroll the Perry Group had their hands on. Garrison wanted that property and Patrick didn’t imagine him holding back. His friend had a selfish streak and he didn’t like to lose.
Patrick blew out a soft sigh. He hadn’t been able to get Naomi Stallion out of his head since meeting her. Those few minutes in her presence had him intrigued, and he wanted to know more. A Google search hadn’t turned up anything about her. No Facebook or Twitter page to follow. Nothing about her farm or her business.
In his mind, she was like a brand-new book, waiting to be explored and devoured. Everything about her was intriguing, like a new language to be learned and appreciated, with the promise of a happy ending. She was that sweet discovery on the top shelf in the back of the bookstore and he wanted to study her, to uncover the nuances that lay between the lines.
A woman suddenly brushed by him, bumping him slightly and pulling him from his thoughts. “Excuse me,” she said, juggling the cup of coffee in her hand. Her blue eyes shimmered, and her long auburn hair curled past her shoulders. Her expression was curious and inviting, and though there was once a time when he might have taken the bait, right then he wasn’t falling for it.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, stepping to the side and out of the way.
She smiled, stopping in her tracks as she eyed him curiously. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?” she said, in an attempt to draw him into conversation.
“It is,” he responded. “Have a nice day.” And he turned abruptly and resumed his run, thoughts of Naomi Stallion chasing after him.
* * *
Patrick O’Brien was standing just inside the doorway of the Cushman and Wakefield offices. His imposing stature caught Naomi off guard and made her breath hitch. Although she had expected him to be there, seeing him so suddenly had her nerves frazzled, and she couldn’t begin to explain why. He wore a designer suit that fitted him like a second skin. He looked different from how he had the other day, in the gray silk jacket, white dress shirt and paisley-printed necktie. His shoulders were pulled back even straighter, pushing his broad chest forward more and complementing his narrow waist and long legs. His shoes were polished to a high sheen and his silky curls had been tamed with a fresh haircut. His stance was majestic and he commanded attention. As she looked around, she saw there wasn’t anyone in the room who wasn’t giving him his due.
Naomi turned swiftly, hiding behind her brother’s large frame. She suddenly regretted not having gone home to change out of the denim coveralls she wore into something more feminine. The dress she’d considered still lay across the foot of her bed, matching sandals kicked beneath a chair. She brushed her hands over her cheeks, praying that there wasn’t a speck of farm dirt or dust looking like bad makeup on her face.
Noah eyed her anxiously. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, looking past his shoulder toward the other side of the room. “Yeah. I’m fine,” she snapped, everything about her expression saying otherwise.
Noah turned to see where she was staring, and burst out laughing. He shook his head, chuckling warmly. “Get it together, little sister. You can’t afford to fall apart now,” he said.
“I’m fine!” she snapped again. “Just anxious for this to be over so I can get back to work.”
Her brother nodded. “What can I do to help?”
She lifted her eyes to his. “Pray,” she said. “Just pray.”
* * *
When the auction started, Naomi pushed her way to the front of the crowd. She clutched the numbered bid paddle so tightly that her hand had begun to cramp and her fingers turn white from the restricted blood flow. She shot a look in Patrick’s direction and found him eyeing her with a warm smile. She gave him a slight smile back, then shifted her eyes away. He’d tried a few times to get her attention and draw her into conversation, but she’d gone out of her way to avoid him. She didn’t need the distraction. She needed to be focused now more than ever.
A sudden commotion at the door drew everyone’s attention. Turning to look, Naomi was shocked to see the renowned Nolan Perry and his son enter the room. Both glanced quickly about, then moved to where Patrick was standing. The trio spoke in hushed tones and then the two newcomers moved to the back of the room to hold up the wall, their arms crossed over their chests. Patrick shot another look in her direction and smiled, his expression almost consoling. Naomi felt herself bristle and then her body began to shake, her knees threatening to give out beneath her. Her brother’s strong hand pressing tightly against her shoulder was the only thing that kept her standing.
Noah spoke, his voice controlled and even. “It’s okay, Naomi. You knew this was a possibility.” He gave her shoulder another light squeeze.
Naomi nodded, tapping his hand with her own.
The auctioneer called for everyone’s attention, announcing the start of the auction. There was a brief description of the lot up for sale and then it started. “We will open the bidding at one hundred thousand dollars,” he said.
Naomi lifted her paddle and gave the man a slight nod.
“I have one hundred. Do I hear one twenty-five?”
Someone else answered the call. “One twenty-five.”
Patrick countered. “One fifty.”
“Two hundred thousand,” Naomi called, cutting a quick glance in his direction.
“Two fifty,” he responded.
Naomi took a quick breath and held it. That land had been appraised at just over one million dollars. She had no desire to see the bidding go that high, but something told her with the Perry Group in the mix she wasn’t going to have much choice. She blew the air she’d been holding past her lips and countered, “Three hundred thousand.”
The back-and-forth intensified. By the time the bidding hit eight hundred thousand dollars, Naomi and Patrick were the only two still in the game. Garrison had moved to the other man’s side, urging him on. With each bid she countered, he glared in her direction and Naomi glared back.
She felt her heartbeat quicken, and her chest tightened with a vengeance when Patrick bid one million dollars for the land they both wanted. He turned, contrition painting his expression as he waved his bid paddle in the air. Naomi bit down on her bottom lip as everyone waited to see what she was going to do. Her budget had been blown at seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. To go any higher would mean a total reevaluation of her business plan and the productivity her current farms would have to be able to make up the difference. She calculated and recalculated the numbers in her head, with nothing adding up the way she needed it to. She suddenly wanted to cry and had to bat her lashes fervently to hold the tears at bay.
Noah suddenly leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Bid,” he said, as he held out his cell phone for her to read the text messages on the screen.
A series of responses had come in back-to-back, answering Noah’s message for help. Each of her siblings, and her Texas cousins, billionaires John and Mark Stallion, had pledged their support, promising to help with any shortfall if she needed it. Money wasn’t going to be a problem if she didn’t want it to be.
“One million going once. Going twice...” The auctioneer’s voice echoed through the room.
“One point five million!” Naomi chimed. She crossed her arms over her chest as she turned to give Patrick a look.
The man’s eyes widened. Garrison Perry inched forward, the resulting terse exchange seeming heated. Nolan had joined the two men, eyeing her and her brother with sudden interest. His unwelcome, intense stare sent a shiver up Naomi’s spine.
The auctioneer paused before continuing. “Going once... Going twice...”
Garrison nudged Patrick’s arm, but the man didn’t budge, his gaze still locked on Naomi’s face. When the auctioneer cried, “Sold to the highest bidder,” and slammed his gavel on the wood podium, Patrick smiled, his grin widening into a chasm of gleaming white teeth. Beside him, Garrison threw up his hands in frustration.
Naomi jumped up and down excitedly, then threw herself into her big brother’s arms. Noah hugged her tightly, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “Congratulations!” he said. “Now you need to figure out how to pay everybody back!”
Naomi laughed. “Don’t worry. I have a plan,” she said. “At least I think I do.”
Patrick moved to her side, his hand extended. “Congratulations,” he said softly. “You were a formidable opponent.”
“You hesitated,” she said. “Why didn’t you bid? Clearly your employer is not happy right now.” She gestured toward the Perry family with her eyes. Garrison looked like he was ready to kill somebody, his father standing like a stone as his son ranted.
Patrick tossed a look over his shoulder, then turned back to her. A moment of silence stretched between them before he answered. “You needed that land more than they did,” he said, his beautiful smile returning. “Congratulations again.”
He turned to go, then hesitated once more. His ego had been slightly bruised before; no woman had ever dismissed him the way she had. He’d been taken aback by her aloofness, but he refused to let that deter him now. “Naomi, would you have dinner with me?” he suddenly asked.
Behind him, Garrison called his name, his condescending tone grating on Naomi’s nerves. Patrick tossed another look over his shoulder. “I said I’d be there in a minute,” he answered, his own tone just as abrupt.
He turned back to her. “Sorry about that. My friend can be a little rude at times. I apologize for his behavior.”
“Your friend?”
“Garrison Perry. We graduated from Brigham Young together.”
Naomi nodded, and a gray cloud seemed to cross her expression as she looked from one man to the other, before her gaze settled back on Patrick.
He continued, “So about dinner. Maybe we can get together tomorrow night, or later this week, if you’re available? I’d really like it if we could get to know each other better.”
Her gaze skated over his face. His eyes pulled at her, with something in their depths almost beseeching. She felt her stomach do a flip and a wave of anxiety wash through her. But then she found herself nodding again, her head moving of its own volition. “I think I’d like that,” she said.
Patrick passed her his cell phone. “If I can get your number,” he said, “I’ll call you and we can firm up our plans later.”
Her head still moving, Naomi accessed his phone directory and pushed the add button. When her name and number had been saved to the device she passed it back to him.
He handed her his business card. “My private number is on the back. Just so you recognize it when I call,” he said.
“Thank you,” Naomi finally responded.
Patrick grinned wider and then, with a wink, moved back across the room, turning his attention to the two men who stood eyeing them curiously.
“The land you wanted and a date!” Noah exclaimed, stepping up behind her. “Sounds like today was your lucky day!”
* * *
“Why didn’t you counter her last bid?” Garrison snapped, the look he gave Patrick cutting.
Patrick shook his head. “You didn’t want to go that high, remember? You specifically instructed me to go no higher than one million dollars.”
“No, I told you I didn’t want to pay more than a million dollars, but that I didn’t want to lose that land, either.”
“Well, it’s done now. We’ll just proceed with your plan B. This isn’t the only land in town. I think that property off the highway would be better suited for what you want to do, anyway.”
“And do you have a plan B?” Nolan Perry suddenly interjected, moving between the two men.
Patrick found himself feeling some kind of way as the older man looked from him and then to his son for an answer. His face flushed with color as neither answered, waiting for the other to reply.
Nolan shook his head. “Patrick, who is that young woman you were talking to?” he suddenly asked.
Their collective gazes followed Naomi as she exited the room, her brother following closely on her heels. Patrick replied, “Her name’s Naomi. Naomi Stallion. And that’s her brother, Noah Stallion.”
Nolan nodded. He shot his son one last look and then turned and walked out of the room.
* * *
Naomi stood off to the side, a stack of paperwork and a paid receipt for the land she now owned in her hand. She was waiting patiently for Noah to come out of the men’s room when Nolan Perry suddenly appeared at her side. She bristled, immediately feeling out of sorts at having her father close enough to reach out and touch.
“Congratulations,” he said. “That was nice work in there.”
Naomi didn’t answer, her mouth suddenly dry, her throat feeling as if she’d taken a punch to her gut.
The man continued. “Do you know who I am?” he asked, as he rocked back and forth on his heels, his hands clutched together in front of him.
Naomi took a deep breath. “Do you know who I am?” she answered.
He turned to face her and was now standing directly in front of her. He wasn’t at all how she remembered him. He was shorter, no longer as physically fit as the man she recalled. His hair was more salt than pepper, age having clearly caught up with him. His suit was expensive and his hands well manicured. His skin was tanned, as if he spent much time on a tropical island or in a tanning booth. With his chiseled features, he reminded her of the actor George Hamilton. Money, and a great plastic surgeon, had served him well.
“You look exactly like your mother. Just as beautiful,” Nolan stated.
He stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to trail his fingers along her cheek. Naomi bristled and stepped back, shaking her head. Before she could respond, Noah suddenly moved between them, giving the old man his broad back. The chill in the air around them could have easily frozen hell.
“Naomi, is everything okay?”
She nodded. “I’m ready to leave when you are,” she said, grabbing her brother’s hand and holding on tightly.
The two moved toward the door and made their exit, leaving Nolan behind. From where he stood on the other side of the room, Patrick noted the tense exchange. Something wasn’t quite right, and he suddenly had even more questions for Naomi that he hoped to get answers to.
Chapter 4 (#u318d9da0-205e-50af-b6b0-d5ec89a95af1)
Patrick sat with his hands folded in his lap, his feet up on the desktop as Garrison rambled on and on about losing the bid at auction. Patrick knew his friend well enough to know there would be at least a dozen more auctions before he would be willing to let this one go.
“You should have countered. You should have bid two million dollars. There’s no way she could have beaten that.”
“You don’t know that. And what if she had? How high were you willing to go?”
“As high as I needed to,” Garrison snapped.
“So, you would have been willing to watch your profit margin on this project dwindle away just to say you won? Your father would have had a field day with that.”
Garrison shrugged as he dropped onto the chair in front of the glass-topped desk. “What was his problem, anyway? He never said a word the whole way home. That’s definitely unlike him.”
This time Patrick shrugged. “You would know better than I would. He’s your father, not mine.”
Garrison shifted the conversation. “So, what’s up with you and that Stallion woman? Why were you talking to her?”
Patrick’s shifted in his seat. For a brief second, he thought about telling a little white lie, then didn’t. “I asked her out to dinner. I’d like to get to know her.”
“So now you’re fraternizing with the enemy?”
Patrick chuckled. “Why does she have to be the enemy?”
“Because she beat me, that’s why!”
He shook his head. “She’s a beautiful woman and I’m interested.”
“What about my sister? I thought you two were going to try to make things work.”
Patrick glanced toward the ceiling with an exaggerated eye roll. Garrison had two sisters, Giselle and Georgina. For two years, he and Giselle had been an item, but Patrick had known early on that they had very different life goals. Like her brother, Giselle was selfish, and she could be very mean-spirited when it suited her needs. He couldn’t imagine spending a lifetime with her. They’d ended things amicably, but he knew she held out hope that one day, maybe, he would change his mind and choose her.
“Isn’t Giselle dating some tennis pro?”
“She’s dating, but you know Giselle. She gets bored easily.”
“Sounds like someone else I know. How are things with you and Barbie, Bridget, Brenda... What’s her name?”
Garrison smirked. “Bridgette! She’s a supermodel, you know. She’s done Sports Illustrated twice.”
“So how are things with you and Bridgette?”
“Things are good. She doesn’t annoy me, so it works.”
“Well, I’m glad for you. Which is why I’m taking Ms. Stallion to dinner. Giselle annoys the hell out me!”
His friend laughed. “Yeah, I can see that.” He stood up, heading in the direction of the door. “Let me know how that works out for you. Maybe you can convince her to sell me that land for a profit. For a very small profit, of course.”
Patrick shook his head as Garrison made his exit. He didn’t bother to respond.
* * *
“It’s not a date,” Naomi said into the phone receiver, pulling her legs beneath her as she settled on the bed. “Okay, maybe it is a date. But it’s not serious.”
Natalie laughed on the other end. “You are so funny! When’s the last time a man took you to dinner?”
Naomi laughed with her sister. “How old are you?”
Natalie’s amusement billowed over the phone line. “Noah told us you start blushing and get all tongue-tied when he’s around. I think that’s pretty serious.”
“Noah likes to exaggerate. To be honest with you, I don’t even know why I told that man I’d go out with him. I’m thinking about canceling.”
“You like him, that’s why. And, no, you will not cancel. You need to go have some fun.”
“Still, wasn’t it our mother who said all men are dogs and not worth the effort?”
“Our mother also said life is about living your dreams,” Natalie said softly, quoting the words they’d heard Norris Jean say repeatedly while they were growing up.
“Live the ride!” both women chorused, remembering the quote their mother had cut from a magazine once. 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, “WOO-HOO! What a ride!” It was what Norris Jean had wanted for all her children. For them to live their lives with complete abandon.
Naomi nodded into the receiver. “Well, it’s really not all that serious. We’ll probably never see each other again after.”
Natalie laughed. “Keep saying it and you might actually believe it.”
“Why did you call me?”
“How are you doing after running into our father? Noah said that wasn’t good.”
“It wasn’t anything. He spoke, we didn’t. We left.”
“I wish I’d been there. I want to know why he abandoned us the way he did. I would have asked him.”
“I got the distinct impression that he doesn’t see it that way. He asked me if I knew who he was, like he was the Pied Piper and I should have been in awe of him.”
“And you didn’t say anything to him?”
“I asked him if he knew who I was, then Noah got between us and he and I left.”
Naomi could picture her sister shaking her head. “Do you think you’ll see him again?” Natalie asked.
Naomi paused, pondering the question. “I hope not,” she said softly, but there was something in her voice not quite convincing.
Natalie allowed the moment to sweep between them, sensing a longing and a disappointment that she’d never heard from her sister before. She wasn’t sure how to deal with it so she changed the subject. “So, what are you wearing on your date?”
* * *
Patrick had called her twice, and twice Naomi hadn’t answered, though he’d left messages in her voice mail both times. He was starting to feel as if he was being snubbed and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one bit. The third time wasn’t going to be a charm for her or anyone. As he pulled his car onto the gravel drive of Norris Farms, he was determined to alter that, to change her mind and ease any doubt she might be having about going out with him.
The property wasn’t at all what he’d anticipated. The driveway led to a picturesque farmhouse with a wide front porch and colorful awnings. Baskets of fruits and vegetables were available for sale, and there was a quiet bustling energy that seemed to vibrate through the early-evening air. As he stepped out of his car, a robust woman with jet-black, waist-long hair captured in two ponytails waved at him, her smile warm and inviting.
“¡Hola, senor! If you are here to buy the vegetables, we’ll be closing in a few minutes!”
Patrick smiled back. “Thank you. But I was looking for Naomi Stallion? Do you by chance know where I might find her?”
The woman nodded eagerly and pointed toward the fields behind the house. “Senorita Naomi is there!” she said.
Following where she indicated, Patrick soon found himself knee-deep in a field of strawberries. The succulent fruit was in varying degrees of ripeness, some bulging red and others varying shades of green. Their sweet aroma scented the air and he found himself smiling. Toward the back of the patch Naomi was bent at the waist, picking the reddest berries and depositing them in a small wooden basket. She wore denim jeans that were fitted through the hips and buttocks, with bell-bottom legs, and a peasant top edged in tan lace. Her dreadlocks were pulled back and captured beneath a slouchy, crocheted beanie. The view suddenly had him salivating, the round of her backside beckoning his attention. His eyes widened as he watched her, in awe at how quickly she was snapping the berries from their stems.
She suddenly stood upright, turned and gasped, clearly startled by the sight of him. “Patrick!”
“Naomi, hey! I was looking for you.” He smiled sheepishly.
She clutched the basket of berries tightly between her hands. “I don’t... What are you...?” she stammered, obviously trying to make sense of the moment.
“I would have phoned,” he said. “But since you aren’t taking my calls I figured I would just make the ride out here and try to catch up with you.”
“Oh,” she said, her cheeks warming with color. “Sorry about that. I planned to call you back, but I’ve had a lot going on and...well...” Her eyes darted back and forth as he stared at her intently, amusement seeping from his stare. Naomi felt a wave of heat sweep rapidly through her core, and perspiration suddenly beaded in places moisture had no business being.
She finally let out a loud sigh. “This isn’t going to work,” she said finally, turning back to the row of strawberries she’d been picking. “I’m sorry. I should have just told you that dinner wasn’t a good idea.”
“Why not?” He moved in beside her, reaching to pick a few berries, which he dropped into the container she was holding.
She quickly glanced at him, then away. He was staring at her again, and the look he was giving her felt like a torch intent on doing bodily harm...in a very good way. She drew a swift lungful of air and held it, trying to cool the swell of heat threatening to combust her from the inside out.
He chuckled, still eyeing her as she pondered a response.
“So, this is pretty impressive.”
“This?”
“Norris Farms. You’ve got quite an operation here.”
“Thank you. It’s been a blessing, and with the new land, I can expand our operations and open a community food co-op. I’m very excited about that.”
Patrick’s eyes widened as he dropped another handful of strawberries into her basket, moving along the row of vines with her. “A co-op? Really? Will it be open enrollment or private?”
Naomi nodded. “Open. And there’s a definite need for one. I already have a lengthy list of prospective members. My farm in Arizona has been very successful and I hope to duplicate that here.”
“You have a farm in Arizona, too?”
Naomi snickered softly. “I do. I’m actually based in Arizona, running my first food co-op there.”
“So, you don’t run this farm?”
“I have a wonderful manager who handles the day-to-day operation. I fly in at least once a month, or as needed, to handle financial matters, some operational issues, and to ensure that things are running smoothly. I’ll probably be here more as we start readying the new acreage for planting.”
“So where does all the produce you harvest go?”
“The food produced here is locally sourced by several restaurants, some of the schools and a few grocery stores. We also donate a percentage to the shelters and food banks. The co-op will allow us to do even more to help the community.”
Patrick grinned, noting the rising enthusiasm in her voice. Light shimmered in her eyes, and the more she talked about her business, the more excited she became. Her face was animated, gleaming with energy. Her hands fluttered between berry picking and storytelling, and she relaxed for the first time since they’d met. And so did he, feeling a level of comfort that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
The woman at the front drew Naomi’s attention, waving her arms above her head from across the way. Naomi stole a quick glance at the watch on her wrist. “Oh, shucks! It’s past closing and I didn’t give Marcella her check!” she exclaimed. She pushed the basket into Patrick’s hands and headed in that direction. She tossed a look over her shoulder, calling out to him, “Grab my bag, please, and meet me at the house!”
She didn’t bother to wait for a response, but sprinted across the field. Patrick found himself grinning broadly as he watched her, more intrigued than he’d ever imagined being. He grabbed the cloth sack that rested a few yards from where they’d been standing, and after slinging it over his shoulder, picked one last handful of ripe berries for the basket and followed her.
When he stepped inside the farmhouse, the two were just finishing their business. The woman named Marcella gave him a bright smile as she relieved him of his basket of fruit and disappeared toward the back. Minutes later she returned, passing him a large sampling of the fruit and some vegetables in a grocery bag.
“Thank you,” he said, then shifted his gaze in Naomi’s direction, his eyes questioning.
She gave him a smile. “You earned it,” she said. “The beauty of a co-op is that you’ll be able to buy produce at a substantially reduced rate, or even work for it if you want to get your hands dirty. I hope you’ll consider becoming a member.”
He reached into the bag, grabbed a berry and took a bite. “I don’t mind getting my hands dirty,” he said. “I’m going to look forward to it. Especially if you’re here.”
Naomi felt herself blushing, and found herself shifting nervously as Marcella sauntered to her car, waving goodbye as the two of them stood watching. It was suddenly too quiet, with just soft strains of music coming from the sound system.
“I owe you an apology,” Naomi said at last, turning to look him in the eye. “I should have called you back. That was rude of me, and my mother raised me better than that.”
Patrick met the look she was giving him with one of his own. Something had shifted between them, with Naomi feeling more like a good friend than a casual acquaintance he’d just met. “I hope you’ll make it up to me by letting me take you to that dinner.”
She smiled. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
He peered down at his own watch. “I need to go shower and change,” he said, waving his berry-stained fingers. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Naomi appeared stunned, a wave of surprise washing over her expression. “You mean tonight?”
His mouth lifted. “I can’t risk you changing your mind.” He moved toward the door, then paused. “Shall I pick you up here or...?”
“My brother’s,” she said with a warm laugh, impressed with his commanding spirit. “I’ll text you the address.”
He reached for the phone in his back pocket, eyeing it and then her. When he didn’t make any motion to leave, Naomi laughed. She grabbed her own cell phone from the counter. Seconds later, Patrick’s phone chimed. With a wink, he turned, doing an inner happy dance as he headed to his car.
* * *
Naomi took in her reflection, standing at the full-length mirror as she assessed the dress she’d finally chosen to wear. It was a printed tunic with a hemline that fell to midthigh. It featured button detailing down the front, with a V-neck and slight ruffled collar. The sleeves were long, with billowy flared cuffs. The dress was a gift from her sister, a design from one of the many fashion shows Natalie had been featured in. Its bohemian flavor was everything Naomi. She’d paired it with thigh-high, burgundy suede boots designed by Natalie’s husband, the renowned Tinjin Braddy. It had just the right balance of casual and dressy. She’d coiled her dreadlocks around hair rods before stepping into the shower, and the steam had left the thick tresses with a beautiful curl pattern that cascaded past her shoulders. She’d used a lightly tinted moisturizer on her face, and completed the look with a hint of eyeliner and clear lip gloss. With a slight turn, left and then right, she nodded in approval.
Her brother’s voice echoed from the doorway. “You look beautiful! Mr. O’Brien should be quite impressed.”
Naomi turned to meet his warm smile. “Thank you. I still think this might be a mistake.”
Noah shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. I had a ton of doubts the weekend of my high school reunion when Catherine and I reconnected. Look how that turned out! This just might be a blessing in disguise. Besides, you deserve a happily-ever-after.”
“You’ve really gotten mushy in your old age,” she quipped, as she reached for the purse she’d tossed on the bed.
Noah laughed. “They say love will do that to you. We’ll see what you’re like in a few weeks.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “When are you leaving?”
“I’m taking the red-eye back to New York tonight, so I won’t be here when you get home from your date. In case you want to invite your young man in for a nightcap...or something...” Noah laughed.
“I am so done with you,” Naomi said, laughing with him. She pushed past her brother, punching him lightly in the chest as she did so.
The two moved down the hallway to the family room, where they each took a seat. Nervous energy caused Naomi to twist in her chair as she looked from her watch to the oversize clock on the wall and back. The big-screen television was on in the background, an old episode of Law and Order flashing across the screen.
When the doorbell rang, both Naomi and her brother jumped, the loud intonation surprising them. Noah grinned as he cut his eyes toward her. “So, are you ready?” he asked.
She took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He got to his feet and headed for the front door. Naomi stood with him. “I can get it,” she said.
“You can also make an entrance,” he quipped. “Guys actually like that. It’s dramatic and special.”
“Says the man who dated only his wife and one other woman in his whole life.”
Noah laughed. “You say that like I don’t have any experience,” he countered, as the doorbell rang a second time.
Naomi giggled. “I think you forget who dressed you for both those dates.”
He shook his index finger at her, then turned toward the foyer. Naomi twisted her hands together nervously when she heard Patrick’s voice ring out in greeting. And then she heard a second voice that surprised her. Her brother was laughing, which didn’t help to quell her anxiety. Seconds later, three men came through the entrance, Noah leading Patrick and a stranger.
“Naomi, both of these men claim they’re your date for tonight,” Noah said, his tone tinged with laughter.
Patrick and the other guy tossed each other a look. The man checked his watch. “I was told to be here at eight.”
“So was I,” Patrick said, curiosity seeping from his eyes.
Naomi felt her knees begin to shake as she eyed the short, bald man with reservation. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know you,” she said, taking a step toward Patrick.
The man smiled. “I’m with the car service. Someone is headed to the airport?”
Noah slapped his hand against his forehead. “My bad. He’s my date!”
The three men laughed heartily as Naomi tossed her brother a chilly look.
“It was good to see you again, Patrick,” Noah said. “You two have a great time!” The two men shook hands.
“Safe travels,” Patrick responded. “And enjoy your trip.”
“Thank you. I will,” he answered. “Going home to see my wife!” He moved to his sister’s side and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call to check on you tomorrow,” he said. “And please have yourself some fun!”
Naomi nodded. “Love you, too! And kiss Cat for me.”
The bald man gave Naomi a slight wave as he turned to follow Noah out the door, grabbing the luggage that rested in wait. When the door slammed behind them Patrick and Naomi stood face-to-face, suddenly self-conscious about being alone together.
“Hi,” he said softly, his dark eyes brightening with his smile. “You look stunning!”

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