Lost in a Stallion's Arms

The old guy threw him a toothless grin. “No problem! Like I told you, this here is the heart of Oak Cliff. If you want to know what this neighborhood needs, sonny boy, you’ll find it here,” the man exclaimed excitedly as he turned an about-face, his newly gotten gains waving between his fingers.

Luke smiled warmly, watching as the man disappeared out of sight. With one last glance over his shoulder he climbed the short span of stairs, pulled the glass doors open and stepped inside.

A rush of noise and the pungent scent of lemon disinfectant greeted him at the entrance. A large reception area with a massive counter that spanned the lengths of two walls sat at the room’s center. The floor was a checkerboard of black-and-white linoleum, the covering worn thin from age. The walls were painted a vibrant sunshine-yellow, the bright color gleaming with energy. Select posters of beaming parents and children above messages of encouragement smiled down on them, the décor sparse but warming.

There were four children—three little girls and a small boy—playing in the center of the floor. The space around them was strewn with plastic blocks and Matchbox cars. A teenage girl sat watching from one of two wooden benches, her gaze moving back and forth between the noise of their childish banter and the paperback book that rested open in her lap.

The young woman glanced in the direction of the door that had closed loudly behind Luke. She met his curious stare with one of her own, her mouth slowly lifting into a friendly smile. Luke smiled back, lifting his hand in a slight wave. Before he could ask for assistance, the little boy let out a loud scream, calling out to everyone that could hear that there was a strange man in the lobby.

Chapter 2

“Mizz Joanne! Mizz Joanne! Some man out here! Come quick, Mizz Joanne!”

Joanne Lake shook her head from side to side as she heard her name being called again and again, Mrs. Stanton’s baby boy screaming at the top of his lungs. No matter how often they told that child to use his inside voice when he was inside, little Bryson preferred saying everything loudly, and he always had much to say.

Before she could lift herself from her seat, the boy came storming through the office doors. He barely missed slamming his face into the corner of the desk as he came to an abrupt halt. Joanne winced as he narrowly avoided what could have been a very nasty accident.

“Some man out here, Mizz Joanne. We don’t know him. He’s strange,” Bryson Stanton sputtered, words spilling out faster than he could catch them.

Joanne smiled, shaking her head as she admonished him. “Bryson, stop yelling. And what did I tell you about running when you’re inside the building here? You could have hit your head and taken an eye out!”

“But there’s a man—”

“I heard you, and I’m coming,” she said as the little boy clasped her fingers in the palm of his small hand and tugged anxiously, trying to pull her to her feet.

“You got to come now, Mizz Joanne! Quick! He’s a stranger! Stranger danger!” Bryson exclaimed loudly, his outstretched arms waving excitedly to emphasize the urgency.

Moving from the space of the small office to the outside reception area, Joanne chuckled softly at the child’s exuberance, sensing that things weren’t nearly as pressing as he’d proclaimed.

And then she saw him, 286 pounds of pure delectable dark chocolate standing six feet tall in navy slacks, a white polo shirt and leather slip-ons. Joanne’s eyes widened with curiosity and obvious interest as her gaze raced from the top of his neatly cropped haircut down to the tips of his very expensive shoes.

The handsome man was standing in conversation with Bryson’s older sister, Brenda, the sixteen-year-old leering at the stranger as if he were a bowl of ice cream and she were a spoon. As Joanne eyed them, she was only slightly taken aback by the girl’s brazen behavior. Brenda looked as if she were just a hair away from throwing herself into the man’s lap. Joanne and Brenda had had more than their fair share of conversations about the appropriate way for a young woman to behave, and Brenda was clearly intent on doing the opposite of what she had been shown.

Shaking her head, Joanne cleared her throat, interrupting whatever conversation Miss Brenda imagined herself having with a man as fine as that one. And the dark stranger was surely one fine man.

“Brenda, would you take the kids back to the recreation room, please. I’ll handle this,” Joanne said firmly.

“But, Miss Joanne, me and him was just—”

The stern look Joanne gave the girl cut her words off before she could think to finish her sentence. Brenda rolled her eyes skyward, sucking her teeth in annoyance. Snatching her book from where it rested on the bench, she tossed Luke one last smile. As she turned, gesturing to the little ones who stood watching, she gave Joanne one last glare. Joanne raised her eyebrows in response.

When Brenda had herded the kids toward the space behind her, Joanne turned her attention to the dark stranger who was staring at her with a wide smile plastered on his chiseled face. “I’m sorry, sir, but unless you’re a resident, the center is actually closed for the evening. Is there something I can do for you?”

Luke nodded slowly, suddenly at a loss for words. He hadn’t been expecting to see such an exquisite woman come into the room. The stunning female was absolutely beautiful. Her warm smile was engaging, brightening her face with energy. She was a full-figured beauty with a deep copper complexion, a closely cropped hairstyle, and the most luscious, ready-to-be-kissed pout of any woman Luke had ever seen. The look she gave him sparked a wave of emotion that had his cheeks burning with warmth at the perverse thoughts that suddenly coursed through his mind.

Joanne repeated herself. “Excuse me, but I asked if there was something I can help you with?” she queried, a look of rising concern filling her dark brown eyes. “Sir, are you all right?”

Luke shook his head quickly from side to side. “Excuse me. I’m sorry. My name is Luke, Luke Stallion, and I was just wondering if I could ask you a few questions. My company is acquiring some of the property in this area as part of the city’s rejuvenation project, and I’m researching how we can best benefit the neighborhood.” Luke finally extended a hand to shake hers. “One of your neighbors thought you might be able to help me.” He flashed her a dimpled smile.

Joanne’s gaze moved from the man’s face down to his outstretched palm as her own hand was suddenly lost beneath the fingertips that clasped hers tightly. Her gaze moved back to his face, her breath suddenly caught in her chest as the heat of his touch surprised her. She pulled her hand from his, clasping it against her abdomen, as she tried to ignore a distinct rise of discomfort.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stallion. My name is Joanne Lake. I’m just one of the volunteers here. You probably want to talk to the center’s director. His name is Daniel Manchuck, and he’ll be back on Monday. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to answer any questions you may have.”

“I appreciate that, but I’d also like to know what you think, as well, Ms. Lake. I’m hoping to reach out to everyone in the neighborhood for their input.”

Joanne raised a curious eyebrow. “That’s interesting, Mr. Stallion. Most corporations couldn’t care less what a community thinks about their business decisions. Why do you?” Joanne shifted her weight onto one full hip, her arms crossing over an ample chest.

“I beg to differ, Ms. Lake. I’d argue that most corporations care very much. Ultimately, unhappy customers could negatively impact a company’s bottom line, and none of us wants to see that happen.”

“Heaven forbid your company’s bottom line isn’t favorable,” Joanne said, a hint of cynicism rising in her voice.

A slow smile pulled at Luke’s full lips. “Most companies just want to know that their efforts are received favorably. Ultimately, Stallion Enterprises wants to know that what we do benefits everyone in the long run.”

“I’m sure,” Joanne said, her tone everything but convinced.

Luke’s eyes roamed around the room, taking in the view of the space that surrounded him. “This is some facility you have here,” he said, changing the direction of their conversation. “I’m impressed.”

Joanne eyed him warily before responding, her eyes following where his eyes led. “We’re very proud of the center. Everyone involved here is totally dedicated to making things better for the families that utilize our services.”

Luke nodded. “I know you’re closed, but would you consider giving me a quick tour?” he asked sweetly.

Joanne paused for a brief moment. Had it been anyone else, she would have politely refused, but there was something about the man that made her suddenly respond with a resounding yes. “I’d love to, Mr. Stallion.”

Luke grinned widely, his dimples blossoming full in his cheeks. “Please, call me Luke. My father was Mr. Stallion.”

The beautiful woman grinned back, her head bowing slightly in acknowledgment. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luke. Call me Joanne.”

For exactly two hours, thirty-seven minutes and twelve seconds Joanne had guided Luke Stallion from one end of the community center to the other. They’d toured the recreation room where kids were doing their homework and playing board games, had strolled easily through the kitchen as the last free meal was being served and had even walked through the men’s housing unit, where the lucky few were preparing themselves to bed down on a cot for the night.

Luke had asked question after question about the center’s policies and procedures, picking Joanne’s brains for all the information he could about them and the neighborhood. The woman had been impressed when he’d stopped to offer one of the young men help with his calculus homework. Afterward, the two guys had joined in a quick pickup game on the basketball court. She’d been awed speechless when Luke had taken off his shirt, flexing his muscles as he’d dropped ball after ball into the hoop.

His nicely toned physique had been startling. His sturdy neck melded down to broad, sculptured shoulders, beefy biceps and bulging forearms. His pecs were so defined that they cast a shadow on his perfectly defined abdomen. The V shape of his torso ended at the waistband of his slacks.

His thighs bulged as if barely contained. His pants creased from the hips to a prominent bulge in the front. Joanne had to fight not to stare, wondering what might be hidden beneath the covering of his slacks.

The man’s rock-hard build had only been outdone by his engaging eyes and the generous smile that had commanded her full attention. The prominent businessman had made quite an impression on the many residents availing themselves of the center’s services. The impact he’d had on Joanne had been just as engaging.

Joanne heaved a deep sigh as she closed her apartment door behind her, then tossed her purse and keys onto the glass tabletop in the foyer of her home. Silence greeted her, the quiet in her house kissing her hello. I really should get myself a pet, she thought, more aware than ever before that there was no companion, male or otherwise, to welcome her home.

Moving from the entrance into the home’s living space, Joanne dropped down into an upholstered wing chair and kicked off her low heels. She lifted her feet onto the matching ottoman, wiggling her toes in front of her. Her day had been long, starting before six that morning with an hour of Pilates to stretch her muscles. After a quick shower and a granola bar breakfast, she’d had meetings with her fabric designer, two potential buyers for her new dress line and the staff of seamstresses who sewed for her design company, Lake Fashions. She’d conducted more business before her salad-and-sandwich lunch than some folks did in a whole day.

Her entire afternoon had been devoted to the community center and the mountain of paperwork that had needed attention there, and now she had a full night of designing ahead of her. Her time with Luke Stallion had put her a few hours behind schedule, but it had been a few hours that had been well wasted.

Luke Stallion. Joanne was suddenly aware that she was grinning broadly at the very thought of the handsome man. The image of him was still very vivid in her mind’s eye. The staggering looks he’d given her had ignited a fiery flood of emotions through her bloodstream, leaving her heated with desire she’d not experienced in a very long time. She suddenly shuddered at the intense feelings sweeping through her.

She hadn’t told him so, but she was acutely aware of who the Stallion brothers were, having met the oldest brother, John, at a cotillion fundraiser many years back. The man had been exceptionally charming, catching the attention of every single female searching for love within a hundred-mile radius of Dallas.

Joanne had only been seventeen at the time, but it had been more than evident that the eldest Stallion had been something special. Now, having met the younger brother, Joanne would firmly attest that good looks and that dynamic charm ran strong through the family’s bloodline. John had just been the tip of the dessert tray. Luke was clearly the icing and the cake.

Joanne remembered reading in the society page that John and another brother had both married, taking themselves off everyone’s potential husband list. Thinking about Luke and the brief time they’d just shared together, she couldn’t help but hope that his personal relationship status might be single and available.

Chapter 3

Luke heard them before he saw them, hushed giggles and laughter coming from the darkened room. He shook his head slowly as he made his way into the kitchen, switching on the room’s bright lights as he did. He didn’t bother to look in the direction from where all the noise was coming. He knew clearly what he would or wouldn’t see, having interrupted his brother and new sister-in-law more times than he cared to count. It amazed him that the two couldn’t be in the same room together for five minutes before they were wrapped around each other like bark on a cedar elm tree.

Luke moved to the refrigerator, opening the stainless-steel door to peer inside the cold cavity. His name was written on a yellow sticky note affixed to a large plate of food wrapped in aluminum foil. Lifting up the foil edge he peered inside, fried chicken and macaroni and cheese awaiting his attention.

“Who fried chicken?” Luke asked, addressing the couple cuddled against the pantry door.

“You know the only cooking I do is takeout,” Michelle said with a soft chuckle. “Engines are my specialty. I don’t do cakes.”

“Aunt Juanita was here,” Mark responded, his answer muffled in his wife’s neck.

Michelle giggled softly as she nuzzled her husband back.

“They have hotel rooms for that kind of nonsense,” Luke said nonchalantly, moving himself and his plate from the refrigerator to the microwave oven. “You two should give it a try sometime.”

Mark laughed loudly as Michelle leaned her back against his chest, her husband’s arms wrapping warmly around her. The two of them turned to stare at the younger man. “Luke’s got jokes. My little brother thinks he’s funny!”

Luke shrugged, a wry smile pulling at his mouth. “Your little brother doesn’t want to keep walking in on the two of you making out all over the house like you don’t know what a bed is for. It’s creepy!” Luke cringed, skewing his face like a five-year-old might. “And it’s starting to seriously warp my psyche.”

Michelle laughed. “No date tonight, Luke?”

Luke crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the center island. “Rub it in, why don’t you. Just add salt to my wound. I don’t have a date, and you two keep going at it like rabbits.”

Michelle moved to Luke’s side, rubbing the palm of her hand against his forearm. “You should talk to Eden and Marah. I’m sure those two would be thrilled to fix you up with someone.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Heaven help me. I don’t know which is scarier—those two playing matchmaker or me constantly walking in on you and him naked.” Luke cringed.

Michelle gave him a light punch to his shoulder, her cheeks heating with color. “You were supposed to be gone that night. You should have warned us.”

“No, you should have warned me,” Luke said with a hearty laugh. “I’m so scarred that I’m ready to go spill my guts to Oprah.” He pulled his freshly heated meal from the microwave oven, inhaling the decadent aroma rising from the plate.

“So, do you have any plans for tonight?” Mark asked.

Luke chuckled, pulling a spoonful of macaroni to his mouth. “Don’t act like you’re interested in my plans, Mark. I’ll be out of your way in a few minutes. Then you two can go back to doing what you were doing.”

“What?” Mark feigned innocence, pretending to be hurt by his brother’s insinuation. “You act like I don’t have your best interests at heart.”

Luke laughed. “I am not stupid, big brother. The only thing you’re interested in right now is Mitch.” His sister-in-law’s childhood nickname rolled off his tongue as he met her amused gaze. “Ain’t that right, Mrs. Stallion?”

Michelle laughed with him, moving back to her husband’s side. “You two need to stop.” She leaned up to kiss Mark’s mouth. “But since you brought the subject up, we’ll just head upstairs and get out of your way,” she said, eyeing her husband suggestively.

Mark broke out into a full grin, following behind Michelle as she pulled him from where he stood and headed in the direction of the door. Behind them Luke rolled his eyes skyward, the trio still sharing a warm laugh with each other as the couple made their exit.

Watching them, Luke couldn’t help but smile. He’d been responsible for introducing his brother to one of his dearest friends. The wild child of the family, Mark had been headed out on one of his cross-country jaunts to the annual black bike festival in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Luke had recommended Michelle, the best mechanic he knew, to get his brother’s bike travel-ready. Before anyone knew what had happened, Michelle had tamed the once wild Stallion and Mark had fallen in love with a woman who was headstrong and beautiful.

Minutes later the house was quiet, only the sound of the large grandfather clock in the center hall ticking in the background. As Luke sat finishing his evening meal, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the woman he’d met earlier.

With her enigmatic personality, Joanne Lake had lit up the room, commanding his full and undivided attention. Luke couldn’t remember the last time he’d met a woman with the wealth of confidence Joanne had exuded. Joanne could easily have been the poster child for women who were not a size 6 but loved every curve and dip of their bodies. With her understated style and poise, she’d tempted every one of his senses, and he found himself completely intrigued by her.

Luke’s hand tightened around the glass of tart lemonade he’d been drinking. He was thinking about the easy lift to Joanne’s mouth, her gentle smile sending waves of heat through every nerve ending in his body. When she’d laughed, the sensuous sound had been like lighter fluid tossed on an already raging flame. The wealth of it had left him breathless. Luke shifted in his seat, the pressure building deep inside of him threatening to take full control of his senses.

Luke sensed that given some time he and Joanne could become fast friends. He imagined that having a woman like her for a friend wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. After all, he had many female friends. Most were just casual companions that he would spend some recreational time with. Rarely did it have anything to do with any serious boyfriend-girlfriend expectations. Luke imagined that he would enjoy just hanging out with Joanne, the two of them enjoying the camaraderie of each other’s company, neither having any expectations whatsoever.

And then again, he thought, mulling over the details of their afternoon one more time, Joanne’s self-confidence had been sexy as hell, seriously inciting some testosterone-fueled male curiosity. As images of her shot through his mind, an unexpected quiver of heat suddenly radiated through his groin. Maybe having Joanne for a friend might actually become more of a problem than not, he mused.

For a brief second, before they’d parted company, he had thought of asking her to dinner. And then he’d hesitated, unable to form a complete thought about where, what or when. The moment had been interrupted as Joanne had been called away to the telephone, leaving him tongue-tied while another volunteer showed him to the exit door. Standing on the sidewalk outside the center, the first waves of nightfall beginning to sweep dark and full across the sky had found him flustered, his own confidence suddenly challenged.

Luke pushed his empty plate away from him, shaking his head as he replayed the experience over and over again in his head. The two could hardly become friends if he did that again.

The next time, he thought suddenly, he would take full advantage of any opportunity he had to spend time with Ms. Lake and get to know her better. And he was determined that there would definitely be another opportunity. He’d be better prepared when that moment took place. Better prepared to discover all he could about Ms. Lake and hopefully intrigue her enough to want to know more about him. Fast friends and a solid friendship needed to start somewhere.

Chapter 4

On Monday morning, one whole hour before the community center’s doors were officially unlocked for the day, Luke sat outside on the steps in wait. He was anxious to speak with the center’s director and even more excited with the prospect of seeing Joanne again. Joanne Lake had been on his mind all weekend, thoughts of the woman sneaking in when he least expected them. He’d shrugged it off at first, and then she’d snuck into his dreams, disrupting his sleep, and his curiosity had kicked into overdrive.

Stopping by his office first to handle some necessary paperwork, his morning had started bright and early. As he sat watching children being hurried off to school and parents rushing to work, he was grateful for the brief respite of quiet to collect his thoughts and formulate a game plan for the rest of his day.

Both John and Matthew had beat him to the office that morning, the two men huddled together in deep discussion when Luke had entered the luxury office space. The duo had reiterated the importance of the rejuvenation project, and Luke had to admit that he was already feeling some pressure. Add to that his sudden preoccupation with a woman he’d only met briefly and he knew he had to have a solid course of action to follow before he lost control of both situations. John and Matthew both had reminded him that a man with distractions was a man who made mistakes. Luke didn’t have room for any mistakes, and he had no intentions of losing control.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, a soft voice murmuring behind him.

“Hey, money! What ’chu doin’ here?”

Luke turned to see the young woman from his previous visit eyeing him eagerly. His full lips bent into an easy smile. “Good morning. It’s Brenda, right?”

She nodded enthusiastically, her gaze sweeping over the denim jeans, denim shirt and bright white sneakers that he was dressed in. “So, you come back to see me?” she asked coyly, fingering the ribbon that held her shirt closed at her neck.

Luke chuckled. “I came to see Ms. Lake.”

Brenda rolled her eyes and scowled. “What ’chu want her fo’?”

“It’s business,” Luke responded, rising to his feet and taking a step back as Brenda eased herself closer to him. “So, are you headed off to school?”

The girl scowled, shrugging her narrow shoulders skyward. “I guess. You gon’ be here when I get back?” she asked, her tone hopeful.

“Probably not,” Luke answered, crossing his arms over his chest. “But you have a good day, okay?”

The girl angled her head. “Come back soon, you hear!” she exclaimed as she walked away, moving to join a gathering of teens who were watching them closely. She turned, tossing him a brash wink. “I know Miss Lake can’t handle a man like you. But I’ll be here if you want some real fun!”