Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) (16 page)

Joanne nodded her head into his chest. “Everything is perfect,” she said warmly.

Giving her a quick squeeze, Luke brushed her hair against his cheek. “I love you, Joanne. I never stopped. And even when you thought I didn’t, I did.”

For three straight days, Joanne and Luke wrapped themselves around each other, quenching a thirst for something neither had realized they needed. The atmosphere was soothing, detoxing the frustration and anger that had existed between them.

Luke stared out over the upper deck of the home, watching as Joanne slowly strolled the outskirts of the property. He smiled as she stopped to stare up at him, waving her hand in greeting. Above them both, a large bird cawed in a tall tree, the creature voicing its annoyance at their intrusion.

Young love had gripped them hard, both so enthralled with each other and the thought of where their love might take them that they could think of nothing else. Thoughts of family and friends intruded ever so briefly, the fleeting emotions quickly dismissed with a kiss, a caress or a look. Luke savored the feelings.

Watching her in that environment, Luke felt a sense of home like he’d never known before. It was comfortable and engaging, moving him to want to do and be better for her. They’d spent hours nestled together, talking about their future, their individual dreams entwining together into a singular, common goal. He now understood fully what Mark and John had wanted him to understand about the intricacies of love.

As he’d been lost in thought, Joanne had made her way back inside the home. She joined him on the porch, two bowls of chocolate cereal in hand.

“I thought you might like a snack,” she said as she passed him a dish.

Luke smiled. “You’re hooked now, aren’t you?”

Joanne laughed. “I am not hooked. We just need to finish off the milk before we leave,” she said as she spooned a mouthful past her lips.

“Admit it. You’re hooked. I told you this stuff was addictive.”

“Okay,” Joanne said as she ate another mouthful. “It might be kind of addictive, but once we’re finished with this box we’re quitting cold turkey. My hips can’t take but so much of this junk.”

Luke laughed warmly. “I’m sure your hips will be just fine.”

The plane ride home was as quiet as the plane ride there. This time though, the wall between them had imploded, nothing left of it but the last molecules of dust billowing through the air. As they sat in silence, they touched with their eyes. With a simple gaze, Luke had caressed the length of her arms, her shoulders, the nape of her neck and the small of her back. Sheer pleasure had risen deep within her as she felt him enveloping her in his arms. The two sat intoxicated by the swell of emotions sweeping between them.

Sometime later, as the plane continued to soar through a mist of bright white clouds, Joanne reached for the briefcase she’d left in the aircraft’s overhead compartment. Pulling the large envelope from inside, she laid it on the tabletop and pushed it toward Luke. He looked from her to it and back again. “What’s this?”

“You’re going to need these for the meeting tomorrow.”

“I don’t understand.”

“My father likes to buy me things. Things that will be good for my future. This envelope contains statements detailing the shares of Stallion stock that my father purchased for my future. You’re going to need these for the vote. I was supposed to sign over power of attorney to my dad so that he could vote them on E-Kal’s behalf, but I never did.

“Also inside is my signed proxy giving that power of attorney over to you. You might need it to win this battle. Do whatever you have to do with them to help you and your brothers.”

“Joanne,” Luke exclaimed excitedly, his hand falling atop the folder. “Are you sure about this?”

Joanne smiled, leaning over the table to press a kiss to his lips. “I love you, and I am more sure about that than anything else in this world.”

A
special meeting of the Stallion shareholders had been called to vote on the E-Kal bid to take control of Stallion Enterprises. The hotel conference room was filled to capacity. Edward, Juanita, Marah, Mitch and Vanessa sat in the rear of the room, listening intently. Joanne sat in the front row, one leg crossed over the other, her gaze cast down to the floor. Every so often she’d stare up at Luke and smile.

Luke and his brothers sat side by side as they listened to Charles Lake plead his case before the hundred or so interested investors. John had already gone over the state of their business operations, boasting of their substantial profit margins and increased productivity within all the company’s divisions. He’d also stressed his capability and ardent willingness to continue running the company to the best of his ability. But concern still blanketed the older three brothers, who sat tight-lipped and tense. Luke, however, was the epitome of calm, cool and collected.

Mark leaned to whisper in his sibling’s ear. “Hey, you spent the weekend with the woman. You couldn’t get her to change their minds?”

Luke smiled, shrugging his shoulders.

John hushed them both. “Shhh.”

Mark shrugged, his expression questioning. “Aren’t you even a little worried?” he whispered to Luke.

Luke shook his head. “No. We got this. Didn’t John tell you?”

“Didn’t John tell him what?” John asked, leaning into the middle of their conversation.

“About the stock.”

“What stock?”

Energy flushed Luke’s face. “Didn’t Joanne speak with you last week?”

John nodded, his voice barely audible. “We talked about you, yes. What else was there for us to talk about?”

Luke smiled. The man at the podium tossed a glance in their direction as he continued to rant. Luke’s smile widened as he gave Joanne’s father a slight nod of his head. This time he shushed his brothers.

“Be quiet. That’s my future father-in-law speaking,” he said, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Mark rolled his eyes as John heaved a deep sigh. Matthew cut his eyes from one to the other, his head shaking slightly from side to side.

From where she sat, Joanne watched them all. Her gaze lingered on her father, whose intensity was engraved in the lines that creased his forehead. The two had encountered each other in the hallway, the man barely bothering to say hello before questioning why she was there.

“Why am I here?”

“You really don’t need to be here, Joanne. All you needed to do was sign the papers I told you to sign.”

Joanne had nodded her head. “I thought I should be here, Daddy. I mean, like you said, this is
our
company. And since I own fifty percent of
our
company, I think it’s past time I became more involved. Don’t you agree?”

Dr. Lake had shrugged. “More involved, huh? Whatever, Joanne. I really don’t have time to argue this with you right now. Did you bring all your bonds and your voting documents?”

“Yes, sir, I did.”

“Well, when it’s time, I’ll tell you what to do. Okay?” Without waiting for her to respond, he’d kissed her forehead, rushing to extend his hand in greeting to another of the Stallion shareholders.

Joanne shook her head. Still standing at the podium, her father was concluding his argument, seemingly confident that he’d won all the stockholders and their votes over. His gaze met hers ever so briefly, and Joanne smiled. Charles Lake didn’t bother to smile back.

Calling for a brief recess before the official vote, the meeting’s moderator asked for a motion and a second, both of which were received. The noise level in the room suddenly increased tenfold, chatter rising quickly. Moving off the stage, Luke made his way to Joanne’s side, wrapping his arm around her waist. She met his stare.

“Joanne, I love you. I love you very much, and it’s very important to me that you don’t do anything you really don’t want to do just to please me. I love you for wanting to give me your shares and your vote. But I don’t want you to go against your father just because you’re angry at him.”

“But I’m not—”

Luke held up his hand, stalling her comment. “Yes, you are. You’re angry because you love him and you’ve spent most of your life questioning his love for you. That’s the wrong reason for you to be doing this.

“You own valuable shares of Stallion Enterprises. If you vote for the regime to stay as it is, then you need to do it because you honestly believe that’s the right thing for the company and for your interests in the company and not because you and I are in a relationship.

“Baby, I love you and no matter what happens, you and I will survive this. So—” Luke paused, passing that large envelope back to her “—these belong to you. Vote them as you see fit.”

Kissing her cheek, Luke winked at her as he made his way back to the stage. Taking a deep breath and then another, Luke moved to Dr. Lake’s side. He extended his hand in the man’s direction.

“Dr. Lake, if I may have a moment, please.”

“Mr. Stallion,” the older man said, moving to shake Luke’s hand.

“Please, call me Luke.”

“What’s this about, son?”

“Dr. Lake, I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but I’ve been dating your daughter. I just wanted you to know that I love her very much. And I support her in everything she wants to do. Joanne’s happiness is the most important thing to me, and right now, she’s not very happy at all.

“Sir, Joanne loves you very much, but you really need to work on your relationship with her. I know you love her, but Joanne doesn’t seem to trust that, and she should.

“My father died when I was eight years old. I really don’t remember him. Every day I think about what I missed not having him around. My older brothers are all I had. You are all Joanne has, and I don’t want you to lose her.”

The patriarch bristled slightly. “Who do you think you are talking to me like this?”

Luke smiled brightly. “Dr. Lake, I’m your daughter’s future. And that’s going to make us family. If I didn’t learn anything else from my brothers, I learned that family always comes first.”

With a quick nod of his head, Luke excused himself, making his way back to his brothers.

John eyed him curiously. “What was that all about?”

Luke smiled. “Just chatting with my future father-in-law.”

Nodding his head with understanding, John smiled back.

Her father was sitting in her living room waiting for her when she returned home. As Joanne stepped over the threshold, the two locked gazes. The man’s expression was blank, not an ounce of emotion shining from his eyes.

Joanne hung her purse and suit jacket over a closet doorknob. Moving into the room, she took the seat opposite him. The two continued staring at each other, neither saying a word.

Tears suddenly brimmed at the corners of Dr. Lake’s eyes. He took a deep breath, swallowing the emotion before blowing a gust of hot air over his lips. “Have I really been a horrible father to you, Joanne?” he asked, his voice cracking ever so slightly.

Joanne shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve always been too busy to be horrible, Daddy. You’ve always been too busy to be a father at all.”

Her father nodded his head slowly. “Estelle Brooks called me. She blasted me good,” he said with a soft chuckle. “She doesn’t think I was much of a father, either.” He ran his hand across his head. “So, tell me about this young man of yours. Mr. Stallion seems very sure of himself.”

“Luke is an amazing man, Daddy.”

Her father nodded again. “It would seem that he loves you very much.”

Joanne smiled, falling into a moment of reflection. Her father watched her, his expression thoughtful.

Shifting forward in his seat, his elbows resting on his thighs as he clasped his hands together in front of him, he said, “I was very proud of you today, Joanne. That little speech you gave was quite impressive.”

Joanne met her father’s gaze.

He continued, “Everything I have ever done, Joanne, I have done for you. But clearly I’ve made some serious mistakes.” He sighed deeply. “I hope,” he said, reaching for his daughter’s hands and clasping them between his own. “I hope you’ll give me a chance to make up for that. I hope you’ll let me show you how much I truly love you.”

Joanne eyed him with some skepticism.

Her father voiced her concern. “I know you might not believe me,” he said softly. “I’m sure you’re asking yourself why.”

Joanne nodded. “Yes, I am actually. Why now, Daddy? What’s changed?”

Her father wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. “A wise man told me that family has to come first.”

The Stallion family was gathered together at Briscoe Ranch celebrating their victory. Smiles were wide and bright, accolades and congratulations ringing through the evening air.

Sneaking over to her husband’s side, Marah looped her arm through his. John pressed his mouth to hers, greeting her with a warm embrace. She shook her head, shaking an index finger in his direction.

John laughed. “What? What did I do?”

“I thought you said we weren’t supposed to intervene,” she said, cutting her eyes up at him.

John smiled. “No, I said
you
weren’t supposed to intervene.”

Marah laughed. “So why did you get to have all the fun?”

John feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marah Jean.”

“Oh, yes you do. From what I hear, Luke didn’t manage to get on board that Stallion jet with Joanne without someone’s intervention.”

The man shrugged. “Really? I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“Sure you don’t.”

“Really,” John said, his expression less than convincing.

Marah smiled. “Well I’m glad you didn’t intervene, and I think your brother is, as well.”

They both stared across the room in Luke’s direction.

“He looks happy,” John said softly, squeezing his wife against him.

Marah nodded her agreement. “He does. As a matter of fact, all you Stallion boys look happy,” she said thoughtfully.

Across the way, Luke tapped Matthew on the shoulder. “Hey, bro, can I borrow your car? I need to pick up Joanne.”

Matthew shook his head. “Where’s yours?”

“Stuck between Marah’s Mercedes and that tank Mark is now driving,” Luke said, referring to his brother’s new SUV.

Matthew reached into his pocket for his car keys. He passed them into Luke’s hand. “Don’t crash it. It’s only a loaner,” the man said, smiling.

Luke nodded. “So, what’s the deal with yours? Can they fix it?”

Matthew grinned. “That baby is beyond repair. The insurance company totaled it. I need to buy me a new one. I just haven’t had time.”

“What happened to the kid who was driving?”

“The courts will hear his case in the next few weeks. He was only fifteen years old.”

Both men shook their heads.

Matthew changed the subject. “That was a ballsy thing your girl did today. We were impressed.”

Luke paused, reflecting on the meeting and the vote. No one expected Joanne to ask for the floor, demanding an opportunity to speak to the room. The moderator had insisted a motion be made to allow them to stray from protocol. Luke had made that motion, all his brothers seconding the request. Joanne’s father had escorted her to the stage, a wide grin filling his face. Then Joanne had spoken and that grin had faded quickly. The memory of Joanne’s comments spun through Luke’s head.

“The CEO of E-Kal Development Corporation and the CEO of Stallion Enterprises have both made viable cases for control of Stallion Enterprises corporate helm. Clearly, the Stallion family brings a formidable track record to the negotiating table. Their strength and determination are what have made their company the lucrative enterprise that it is.

“I have a vested interest in both businesses, and I want to see my stock investments do well. My decision and vote are based on what I believe is best for E-Kal and Stallion. Both have been led by amazing management teams, but one brings something to the table that the other doesn’t begin to possess.

“Stallion Enterprises needs to be run by a management team with heart. A management team that continues to believe in its employees and who will fight tooth and nail for the good of the company first and foremost. In all my research I wasn’t able to find one business decision made by the Stallion family that wasn’t based on ensuring the sovereignty and well-being of their core values. Every decision has been made on mutual respect for their staff and their investors. Every acquisition was based on their overwhelming love for and belief in this company.

“Regrettably, many of E-Kal’s corporate decisions have been based on values less honorable and with little consideration for what was best for their shareholders.

“In consideration of this, I vote my interest in Stallion Enterprises to John Stallion and his family. I hope that you will all follow suit. I hope that your decisions will be swayed by what is best for our investments and not tactics of coercion and dissuasion. Thank you.”

Joanne had moved to her father’s side after that, gently kissing his cheek before returning to her seat. After that, the vote had been unanimous, every stockholder pledging allegiance to and belief in the Stallions.

Luke grinned. “My baby is something special.”

Matthew clapped him on the back. “And she has herself a very special guy. Don’t ever forget that. Now go get your girl and bring my car back here without a nick or scratch on it.”