Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) (9 page)

Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hugging her close. “He won’t hear it from me, but you know how the rest of these Stallions are. Not one of them can keep a secret. And if I figured it out, I know they have. In case you didn’t catch it, Aunt Juanita was just about to out your secret back there.”

“I know. I’ve been dodging questions from her and Marah all morning.” Michelle smiled, shaking her head. “I swear, I think Mark is still the only one who doesn’t have a clue, and the man wakes up with me every morning.” She pressed her palms to her abdomen.

Luke smiled down on her. “He’s going to be thrilled. Don’t you worry. I am so excited for both of you. Wow, I’m going to be an uncle!”

“Double wow! I’m going to be a mother.”

“You and Mark will make wonderful parents. I’m sure you two will have little Junior riding a Harley home from the hospital.”

Michelle giggled as their names were called to draw their attention to the other side of the property. Mark was gesturing for them to come back.

Michelle bumped her shoulder against Luke’s arm. “You promised, so don’t fail me. After tomorrow night, it won’t be a secret anymore.”

Pretending to zipper his lips, Luke smiled. “No problem, but I really need you to do me one big favor in return.”

“What’s that?”

“What do you know about buying a ball gown?”

History painted the walls of the home’s library. The décor was a collage of family images, framed civic awards, trophies and books. Books filled shelves that ran from the floor to the ceiling along two walls. The ambiance was warming, the dark wood of the bookcases against taupe walls creating a place that felt secure and inviting.

Edward sat in one of four leather chairs, listening intently to John as he gave him an update on their business activities. The mood was somber, their expressions too serious for comfort.

“How bad is it?” Edward asked, his hands clasped tightly together in his lap.

John met his gaze. He took a deep lungful of air, blowing it slowly past his lips before he responded. “It’s not good, Edward. It’s not good at all.

“Fill me in, son.”

“Six months ago, a representative from E-Kal Industries approached me with an offer to purchase the company. I took the initial meetings to see what they were proposing but I had no serious intentions of selling my business, and I told them so. I have to admit, though, it was an impressive offer. Very impressive. But I turned it down.

“Since then, someone’s been buying up some significant Stallion stock. All of our major stockholders have been approached about selling, and some of them actually have. Now, word on the grapevine is that neither I nor our current management team is acting in the best interest of the shareholders…”

“Opening the door for a proxy fight if they can convince enough of the shareholders to go along with it,” Edward finished for him.

John nodded. “Yes. For the time being, Mark and I are meeting with as many of the shareholders as we can to reassure them that there is nothing they need to be concerned about. And Matthew’s got a team researching E-Kal. We need to know who’s behind this.”

Edward heaved a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair. He nodded his gray head. “What can I do to help?”

The younger man shook his head, leaning forward as he rested his elbows on top of his legs and dropping his head into his hands. “You’re doing it, Edward. I appreciate your support. I have to tell you, I’ve only been scared a few times in my life, and this has got me scared.” John raised his eyes to meet Edward’s intense stare. “Really scared. I can’t fail this family. I can’t.”

Matthew held the home’s front door open as Vanessa stepped past him to the front porch. Stepping out behind her, Matthew pushed his hands deep into the pockets of his khaki slacks. The duo traversed the steps down to the driveway, coming to stand beside Vanessa’s motorcycle. She unlatched her helmet from its resting place, pulled it onto her head and affixed the strap beneath her chin. Matthew finally broke the silence between them.

“Vanessa, are you certain about this? I mean, really certain that this is what you want?”

She gave him a bright smile, her head nodding in assent. “More than you will ever know.”

Matthew blew a deep sigh. “Well, neither of us is going to be able to keep it a secret much longer. They’re already asking questions,” he said, gesturing toward the house. “You know how my brothers can get.”

Vanessa chuckled as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. Reaching for his hand, she squeezed it tightly, holding it beneath her own. “I know, but I couldn’t do this without you, Matthew. I trust your judgment. You don’t know how much it means to me to have you supporting me.”

“Vanessa, you know I’d never abandon you.”

“I know. That’s why I love you so much.” She squeezed his hand a second time before swinging her leg over the bike, adjusting her body against the narrow seat.

Matthew shook his head. “We need to talk about you riding this bike, Vanessa. I’m fairly certain it’s not good for the baby.”

Vanessa laughed. “The kid’s got to learn to ride sooner or later. Besides, I’ll give it up when I get too big to ride. Don’t you worry.”

“Well, I do worry, and when the family finds out, they’re going to worry, too.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “I hear you talking, Daddy,” she said as she started her engine.

Matthew shook his head. “Just be safe,” he said as she wheeled herself back just enough to disengage the kickstand. “And keep Junior safe, too.”

Winking, Vanessa grinned widely and then was riding down the driveway and back through the gates.

T
he three women stood staring at the large white box that had been delivered just minutes before. Marley’s mother, Estelle Brooks, stood with her hands on her hips, shaking her head vehemently as she chastised Joanne.

“So when you gon’ tell this boy the truth? This don’t make no kind of sense, Joanne. No kind of sense at all. Got this boy thinking you live here when you got that nice condominium your daddy paid good money for. And why you give him this address anyway? No kind of sense!”

Joanne cut her eyes toward Marley, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. She was hoping for a little assistance but knew none was coming. Both women had learned years ago that when Estelle Brooks went off on a tangent about something, then that something was going to be the topic of discussion for many discussions to come. Staying out of the line of fire was the best recourse, if you knew what was good for you.

The older woman finally took a breath, stalling long enough to inhale and allow Joanne to try to defend herself.

“I really didn’t lie to him, Mama Estelle. He just assumed you were my mother and that I lived here with you, and I just didn’t correct him.”

“No kind of sense!”

Joanne didn’t have a response to that, knowing that the older woman was right. Estelle Brooks usually was. Joanne had been six years old the day Marley and her mom had come into her life. The woman had been the last of a long list of housekeepers hired to maintain the Lake homestead and keep an eye on the precocious Joanne. The familial bond between them had been solidified when the two girls had gotten into a knock-down, drag-out fight over a pair of plastic pumps for a Barbie doll.

After separating the two, Estelle had taken a carving knife to Barbie, separating her right down the middle. Each girl had gotten half a doll and one plastic shoe each. The absurdity of the action had left both girls in a fit of giggles. It took no time at all for them to discover that if they didn’t share and play fair, Mama Estelle would make them share the hard way. A month of toys, some Joanne’s and some Marley’s, had been sacrificed for the lesson.

Eventually the two girls were inseparable, both gaining something the other yearned for. Estelle filled Joanne’s bill for a full-time, surrogate mother, and Joanne’s father became an adequate part-time dad for Marley.

Estelle Brooks had helped Joanne navigate her first bra, first period, first bad haircut and first heartbreak and had mothered her for the forty-six weeks of each year that Joanne resided stateside with her father.

“Mama Estelle, what else could I do? He doesn’t know about my father.”

“So tell him. Are you ashamed of your father, Joanne?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…well…” Joanne paused.

“She’s ashamed of her father’s money,” Marley said matter-of-factly.

“No, I’m not. I’m ashamed of how my father flaunts his money.”

“That’s sheer nonsense,” Estelle said, flipping her hand in Joanne’s direction. “Isn’t this boy wealthy?”

“Filthy rich!” Marley chimed.

Joanne shook her head, rolling her eyes skyward. “This isn’t about his money or mine. When people find out Charles Lake is my father, they don’t take me seriously. Everyone automatically assumes that I’m this spoiled and pampered princess. They treat me differently. I want Luke to get to know me without judging me solely on my father’s wealth and status!”

“Did you judge him on his wealth and status?” Estelle asked, eyebrows raised.

“She sure did,” Marley interjected.

Joanne glared at her best friend.

“I don’t understand you, Joanne. Since you was a little girl you’d rather be here in the projects with me and Marley than at your own home. Your daddy has tried to raise you with the best of everything, and not one bit of it has made you comfortable or happy.” Estelle shook her head. “I swear, it don’t make no kind of good sense!”

The woman moved toward the bed and the oversized box that rested there. She pulled at a white envelope that was secured to the top. “What’s it say?” she queried as she passed it to Joanne.

Joanne fingered the envelope momentarily before pulling the handwritten note card from inside. Luke’s bold signature stared up at her, his handwriting neat and precise. She read the sweet message aloud.

Marley crossed her arms over her chest, humming softly. “Hmm…”

Joanne’s mouth fell open as Estelle and her daughter pulled the gorgeous gown from the box. The silk design was a strapless bodice with a shirred waist that fell into a billowy, floor-length skirt. The top was lined with built-in support so the wearer didn’t have need for any intimate apparel. The shirring was situated to define any waistline. But it was the color that grabbed full attention, the silk fabric a vibrant shade of brilliant, jaw-dropping red.

“Oh, my God. It’s gorgeous!” Marley exclaimed excitedly.

“What size is it?” Joanne asked, hopeful that it being too small might be the excuse she needed to pass on the event.

Marley eyed the tag stitched into the back of the dress. “Your size!” she said excitedly.

Joanne reached a hand out to caress the richness of the fabric. She groaned loudly.

“What is wrong with you?” Estelle asked, annoyance rising in her voice.

“I can’t go. What if my father is there?”

“So what if he is?”

“I don’t want Luke to find out about my father that way. I want to tell him first so that I can explain why I didn’t tell him in the beginning.”

Estelle shook her head. She reached for the telephone on the nightstand, pulling the receiver into her hand as she dialed.

Both Joanne and Marley exchanged a look between them as they stared at the woman curiously.

“Hello, Mrs. Deavers? Estelle Brooks here. How are you, dear?” The woman paused. “And that handsome son of yours?” She paused again. “So glad to hear it.”

Joanne focused on the one side of the conversation Estelle was having with her father’s personal secretary.

“My girl is doing good. Still home, still going to school. Hope to marry her off one day, so if you ever want to arrange something with your son…” The woman chortled, making a face at Marley as she did. “Honey, can you tell me if Dr. Lake is going to that Stallion party tonight?… Really?…You don’t say…My, my, my…” There was a long moment of silence as Estelle listened intently to the woman on the other end. Every so often she would cluck her teeth or mutter. “Honey, hush your mouth!” she exclaimed loudly, laughing again. “Well, you take care, dear, and I certainly appreciate that information.”

After hanging up the receiver, Estelle grinned. “Your daddy is in New York. He declined the Stallion invitation.”

Joanne could feel her own wide smile pulling at her mouth. Estelle lifted the dress from the bed, moving to hang it against the closet door. Heading out of the small room, she called out Joanne’s name. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Since you pretending this is your home, you need to pretend them dirty dishes right out of that kitchen sink. Then you need to pretend that dust out of the living room and vacuum them floors before that boy gets here.”

Marley burst out laughing.

Joanne could only shake her head. “Yes, ma’am.”

Hours later, Joanne stood staring at herself in the full-length mirror in Marley’s small bedroom. The woman staring back at her was gorgeous. The dress Luke had chosen fit her figure to a T. The design flattered her hills and accentuated her valleys. The color shimmered against her warm complexion, creating a stunning view.

Marley had done her hair, using the smallest of curling irons imaginable to sweep her short do into a wealth of curls. Her makeup was old Hollywood glamorous, with her black eyeliner and ruby red lipstick. Mama Estelle had loaned her a pair of pearl earrings, the simple teardrop setting adorning her ears.

Joanne was still awed by the fact that she was actually going to do a formal evening with the likes of Luke Stallion. The chores had taken most of the afternoon, dishes and dusting expanding to window washing and a host of other small to-dos that Estelle had thought of. When Joanne had begun to think that she would never get finished, Marley had extended a helping hand, teasing her the entire time.

Immediately after laying down her cleaning supplies, Joanne had managed to lounge for a brief moment in a hot tub of bubbles to ease her tension away. Marley had sat atop the closed commode, the two women giggling at Estelle’s life lesson as if they were six years old again.

Standing there in the mirror, Joanne was still trying to decide if she’d made the right choice. Before she could change her mind, Marley was screaming about a limousine, and Luke Stallion was pulling up outside in front of the building.

Luke lifted himself from the stretch Escalade. Looking around, he took in his surroundings. The brick units were well aged, most having seen better days and more maintenance. The outsides were blacktop and gravel, no grass or trees, and only a spattering of planters situated with living plant life in front of a few doors in desperate need of a coat of paint.

Neighbors sitting on well-worn chairs eyed him suspiciously as children darted back and forth around the car. Across the parking lot, a group of young men were playing basketball beneath a hoop that had no net. Another group leaned against the back of an old Buick Riviera, looking like they were clearly up to no good. Everyone was staring to see the man who’d come knocking on Miss Estelle’s front door.

Luke suddenly thought about his conversation with Michelle as she’d helped him shop for a dress. Michelle had shared that she’d been a little anxious when she’d first met the Stallion family. Her first date with Mark had been over the top, the man jetting her clear across the country for a lavish weekend away. For a woman who’d grown up more modestly, Michelle admitted it had been overwhelming, taking her some time to get used to. Luke had told her about his conversations with Joanne, and his sister-in-law had mused that perhaps Joanne was intimidated by a lifestyle she’d never experienced before.

Luke was suddenly determined to ease her discomfort. He wanted her to share his experiences and hoped that she might be more willing to share her own with him. He pushed the doorbell and then waited patiently for someone to answer.

Joanne could hear them in the living room, Mama Estelle welcoming the man inside. She was only slightly fearful that the woman would give her away, but since Mama Estelle always referred to both girls as her babies and she and Marley always introduced themselves as sisters, Joanne felt fairly confident it would go well without any of them having to tell a blatant lie. She could hear Luke’s warm laugh as she made her way out of the room.

His eyes widened noticeably when she stepped into the room, his gaze drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. Joanne bowed her head in greeting, her own stare focused on how dashing he looked in his formal wear. The designer tuxedo fit him meticulously, with its single-button, single-breasted satin notch and self-topped collar. His vest and matching tie were the same shade as her gown, matching it perfectly. Joanne knew beyond any doubt that pulling that off with one day’s notice hadn’t been easy, or cheap.

“You take my breath away,” Luke said, his voice a deep whisper as he took two steps toward her, meeting her in the center of the room.

Joanne smiled, a current of electricity flooding her senses as he clasped her hands beneath his, leaning in to press a light kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you. The dress is beautiful, but you really shouldn’t have.”

Luke shook his head. “Yes, I should have. You are absolutely beautiful in that dress.”

From the corner of her eye, Joanne could see Marley and Estelle watching them with amusement. “Have you met Mama Estelle and Marley?” she asked, tossing them both a quick look.

Luke nodded. “Yes, we were just getting to know one another.”

“Yes, we was.” Estelle chuckled. “You two stand there so I can get me a picture. Marley, baby, take Joanne’s picture with her young man, please.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Marley answered, focusing the digital camera.

Joanne felt a shiver glide the length of her spine as Luke wrapped an arm around her waist, his large palm coming to rest against the small of her back as he struck a pose beside her. The man’s confidence was engaging, the energy of it radiating from his body. Beside him, Joanne suddenly felt out of her element, certain that she had to look like a deer caught in headlights when Marley snapped the picture.