Stallion Magic

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  He smiled back. “Yes, you are!”

  “I can’t believe...” she started when she turned and caught sight of her parents beaming happily at her.

  She eyed them briefly before fixing her eyes on Noah and back. “Daddy? Mom? What are you...?” Catherine turned again, suddenly aware of everyone staring at her. It was only then that she noticed that Noah had dropped to one knee in front of her, his hands extended, a small black velvet box resting in his palms.

  She clasped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Out of nowhere a trio of stringed instruments began to play Vivaldi, the music billowing with the breeze that gusted around them. Tears burned hot behind her lids beginning to rain down over her cheeks.

  Noah took a glance around to his family and friends, a smile pulling at his full lips. Both his sisters were fighting back tears, and joy shone over everyone’s faces. He turned back to Catherine and his heart was suddenly full.

  “Catherine, I am amazed at how quickly our friendship caught fire. You have become everything to me and having you by my side is what completes me. As I think about my future I can’t imagine a life without you in it. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife?” He pulled an impressive diamond ring from the box and slipped it onto her ring finger. He lifted his gaze to hers, anxiously awaiting her answer.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Catherine squealed as she threw her arms around Noah’s neck, hugging him tightly. “Oh, yes!” She laughed as she kissed him.

  Lifting her into his arms, Noah spun her around, their excitement spilling over as their families applauded and cheered. They were suddenly surrounded, everyone wanting to offer their congratulations.

  Mr. Moore shook Noah’s hand and his brothers both gave him a one armed embrace, bringing him in close. He watched as Catherine and her mother hugged each other, both jumping up and down excitedly. His sisters and cousins kissed and hugged the both of them and the photographers captured it all for posterity.

  * * *

  The rest of the day was a blur. The family had moved from the Eiffel Tower to the Parisian runway where Tinjin and Natalie formally introduced his newest collection of men’s wear for women. It was a cornucopia of meticulously tailored slacks, luxurious blouses in satins and silks and fitted jackets and blazers that easily transitioned from daywear to nightwear. The impressive pieces were paired with shoe designs, and most of the women in the family went crazy, wanting to order everything they could see.

  Dinner was a family feast complete with reunion-style T-shirts designed by Tinjin and Natalie. Everyone was there to celebrate and the children ran back and forth through the banquet space at the hotel. The noise was abundant with laughter.

  Noah and Catherine sat side-by-side, his arms wrapped warmly around her. She pointed across the room. “Okay, who’s the little girl in the plaid dress and red boots?”

  Noah turned to look where she stared. “That’s Mark and Michelle’s daughter. Her name’s Irene. And the little girl standing beside her is John and Marah’s baby.”

  “Gabi, right?”

  He nodded. “That’s right.”

  “And the boy standing with my brother?”

  “That’s Matthew and Katrina’s son, Collin. Collin and CJ are probably about the same age.”

  “And all the little babies!” she exclaimed. “How can you keep up with them all?”

  Noah laughed. “That’s what my sisters are for.” He waved a hand at Naomi, gesturing for her attention.

  “What’s up?” she asked, dropping into a seat on the other side of the table.

  “Catherine wants to know who all the babies are and I can’t tell her.”

  Naomi laughed. She turned to look around the room then pointed her finger. “The little girl your mother is cuddling is Darryl and Camryn Boudreaux’s baby girl, Alexa. You know who Darryl and Camryn are, right?”

  Catherine nodded. “Darryl is Kendrick, Mason and Katrina’s brother.”

  “And the two babies toddling about over there are their brother Guy’s twins, Sydney and Cicely. Their mother is Dahlia.”

  “Dahlia’s the filmmaker and Camryn is an architect?”

  “You got it! Did I miss anyone?”

  The two women looked about the room. Catherine pointed toward a little boy trying his hardest to sit atop a rubber ball. “Who’s that little guy?”

  “That’s Jacoby. He’s Matthew and Katrina’s youngest son.”

  “Oh, and don’t forget Lorenzo and Tianna,” Noah added. “They’re my cousin Travis’s kids.”

  “His wife, Tierra, and Tinjin are sister and brother.”

  “See, you know everyone,” he said.

  “So, now that you two are engaged, are you thinking about babies?” Naomi asked, humor dancing in her gaze.

  “Don’t answer that,” Noah said, shooting Catherine a look.

  Catherine laughed. “You two are so funny.”

  Moving onto her feet, Naomi shook her head. “We’ll talk later, sister-in-law! When my brother is not around!”

  Noah shook his head as Catherine giggled. “Do not talk to my sister,” he said. “I’m warning you now.”

  She nuzzled her face into his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  “Thank you,” she said as she extended her hand forward, admiring the diamond on her ring finger.

  Noah smiled. “For what?”

  “For loving me. This day could not have been more perfect.”

  Noah kissed her back, allowing his lips to linger until his heart skipped a few beats. As he pulled away, the arrival of another guest caught his eye. Catherine turned to look where he was staring. Noah stood up, grabbing her hand.

  “There’s someone I want you to meet,” he said, pulling her along beside him.

  Natalie and Tinjin stood in conversation with the woman. She wore long gray dreadlocks pulled into a bun atop her head. Her warm chocolate complexion clearly belied her age, and she had smiling eyes, Catherine thought. The woman’s bohemian spirit was evident in her attire, the floor length, African-print caftan flattering. There was something warm and welcoming about her presence, and Catherine instinctively knew the woman had a nurturing spirit.

  “Who is that?” she asked.

  Noah tossed her a look and smiled. “That’s my other girlfriend,” he said sarcastically.

  A wave of confusion danced in Catherine’s stare. “What?”

  Noah laughed as they stepped into the conversation his sister and her husband were having.

  The woman greeted him warmly, excitement in her tone. “Mr. Noah! How are you?”

  “I’m really good. I just had to come over and thank you for everything you did to help make this day happen for me.”

  The woman threw her arms around him in a gregarious hug. “I was so glad to be of help. I hear everything went very well.”

  “It did.”

  “I wish I could have been there but there was much preparation that had to be done for the fashion show.”

  “I understand.” He slid an arm around Catherine’s waist, easing her forward. “I want to introduce you to my fiancée. This is Catherine. Catherine, meet Sugar.”

  Catherine’s eyes widened. “You’re Sugar?”

  The woman nodded. “I am. It’s an old family name. Back in the day I use to tell people it was my stripper name!” she said with a rich, deep cackle.

  Natalie laughed. “Sugar works for Tinmen International. She’s one of our assistants, and we couldn’t have done all of this without her.”

  Catherine’s face flushed a deep shade of red. She was speechless as the older woman pulled her into a warm hug. “Congratulations on your engagement.You’ve got yourself quite a catch there.”

  Catherine nodded. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  Natalie looped her arm through Sugar’s. “Come, let me introduce you to the rest of the family,” she said as she pulled the woman along beside her.

  Catherine slid into Noah’s outstretched arms. “Okay, I am of
ficially embarrassed. I’m so sorry.”

  Noah laughed, kissing her cheek. “I would never, ever be unfaithful to you. I hope that you always know you can trust that. That you can trust me.”

  “I know, and I promise that I will never go through your phone again and jump to conclusions.”

  “You are welcome to go through my phone anytime. I have nothing I need to hide from you. But if something concerns you all you need to do is ask me.”

  Minutes later, Noah was laughing heartily with the men on one side of the room and Catherine was holding one of the babies. The women surrounding her offering wedding and marriage advice. Catherine snuggled the child close to her heart and smiled, catching Noah’s eye. And he couldn’t help but smile back.

  * * *

  The rest of their week was event filled as they played tourist, Noah wanting her to see everything he loved about Paris. They took walks in the Jardins des Tuileries, drank hot chocolate at Angelina on the rue de Rivoli, traveled to the Musée Grévin to see the waxworks, and the Louvre to see the works of art. They admired the gilt dome of the opera house, its majestic cupola painted by Chagall, and took every spare moment to appreciate the opulent architecture throughout the city. Paris was vibrant and intoxicating and the perfect place for their love to bloom.

  Catherine actually hated the prospect of leaving but at the end of the week they were back on a plane, headed home. They shared the flight with Noah’s brothers—the two men needing to be in New York for Nicholas’s game against New York. And for the first time since they’d left the United States, Noah allowed her access to her emails. She sat reading message after message while the three men chatted easily together, reflecting back on their vacation.

  “We should do this more often,” Nathaniel said. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”

  Noah concurred. “It was a great time,” he said. “It just feels good to connect to our family like that.”

  Nicholas sighed. “So are you going to tell us about that honey you met up with?” he questioned, his eyes focused on his twin. “Baby girl was tight! I bet you could bounce a quarter off her backside!”

  Noah held his hands out. “Really? Is that how you talk about women?”

  Nathaniel grinned, cutting a quick eye at Catherine. He leaned in to whisper.

  Catherine suddenly cleared her throat, lifting her gaze to meet his. She shook her head, Nathaniel’s foolish expression making her laugh.

  The young man lowered his gaze in apology, a contrite smile on his face. “Sorry, Cat, I was just...”

  She waved a dismissive hand at him. “Carry on. Don’t mind me.”

  “Let’s not.” Nathaniel chuckled. He took a sip of the bottled spring water he’d been drinking. “She was one of Natalie’s friends and she’s a very sweet girl. There’s nothing else to tell.”

  Catherine laughed heartily. “I’m sure. You can tell it when we land,” she said. “I promise I’ll get right out of your way so you three can talk boy talk without being interrupted.”

  Noah laughed. “Which means the minute we land you plan to head right over to the office, right?”

  She grinned, her face appearing as if she’d been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. “I’ve been gone for a whole week. No contact whatsoever. I have to go to the office.”

  Noah shook his head, chuckling softly. “That’s my CEO,” he said, moving to the seat beside her. He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly.

  When the plane touched down at Teterboro Airport, the general aviation terminal for many private aviation charter companies in the New York/New Jersey area, Noah and Catherine both knew they were going to miss his family. The goodbyes were quick and sweet, the twins heading off in their rental car, and Catherine and Noah being picked up by limo. The short ride to midtown took no time at all. Minutes later the car service pulled up to the doors of Fly High’s offices.

  There was no missing the excitement across Catherine’s face. She’d missed the day-to-day routine that had been about building her empire. The fire and drive had been invigorated with the time she’d had off. The vacation had done her good, and Noah could see her mind racing to figure out her next steps.

  “I need to hire a replacement for Frederick,” she said. “I was talking to your cousin John about it and he mentioned a few people that he would highly recommend.”

  Noah smiled. “Don’t let it worry you tonight, Cat. You’re not going to fill that seat before sunrise.”

  She laughed. “I am getting ahead of myself, I know. I’m just so excited. We’ve had record stock sales, the company is getting good press and that horror show that was my former COO hasn’t negatively impacted my business. I’m just so ready to move forward and I can’t do that until I can hire someone to help me manage the company. Once that’s done then I have to focus on planning my wedding.” She tossed Noah a look, his head snapping toward her.

  “That’s right. We have to plan our wedding. I’m not doing that long engagement thing. And we have a ton of decisions to make. We have to decide where we’re going to live. What we plan to name our children. It’s a long list, Noah.”

  Noah grinned. “Then I think we should start reviewing employment applications before we go to bed tonight.”

  Catherine laughed. “That’s what I’m saying!”

  They entered the building hand in hand. Bishop waved excitedly as he rushed to the glass doors to let them inside.

  “Y’all have been missed!” the old man exclaimed. “It wasn’t the same without the two of you here!”

  “You just made my day,” Catherine said as she gave the man a warm hug. “Because we missed you, too.”

  Noah shook Bishop’s hand and bumped his shoulder.

  “Anything we need to know about?” Catherine asked.

  Bishop shook his head. “No, ma’am. We had that little situation with Mr. Ross but Mr. Stallion handled that. Everything’s been good since.”

  Catherine looked confused, turning to give Noah a look. “What little situation?”

  “It was nothing,” Noah said, his eyebrows raised as he focused his gaze on Bishop.

  Catherine waved an index finger at the two of them. “Uh-uh, not this time! Mr. Bishop, what happened with Mr. Ross?” she asked again, turning to stare directly at the man.

  Bishop looked from one to the other. Catherine stared at him intensely. She held a hand up in front of Noah’s face. “And do not look at Mr. Stallion.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Bishop said, fighting to keep from shifting his eyes. “Well, it... He...umm...” the man stammered, suddenly thrown off guard. He twisted his hands nervously.

  Catherine shifted her gaze to Noah. “No more shielding me, Noah. I want to know what happened. And I want to know it now.” There was a brief moment of silence. “Please.”

  Noah nodded his head slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Bishop,” he said. “I’ll take it from here.”

  Bishop nodded. “Thank you, sir. I need to go make my rounds,” he said as he rushed off in the opposite direction.

  Catherine turned to face him, her hands holding up her full hips. She tilted her head, waiting patiently for Noah to begin talking.

  “Frederick was able to make bail.”

  “I thought you said they gave him a million-dollar cash bond?”

  “They did.”

  “And he was able to raise that kind of money that quickly?”

  “He did, but Kendrick believes he had some help from the cartel that he was apparently helping.”

  “So he’s out?”

  Noah shook his head. “He was out but he violated the terms of his bail and is now being held in a maximum security federal prison until his trial.”

  Catherine squinted her eyes, trying to put the pieces of the story together. “What did he do?” she asked. “To violate his bail.”

  “He was found trespassing on Fly High property. He snuck into the building, hid in one of the offices until closing and then went to your office.
The police believe he was going to try to ambush you. He says he only wanted to talk to you, to explain what happened but he was armed. He just didn’t anticipate you not being here since you are always here.”

  Catherine gasped, drawing a hand to her chest. Her eyes were wide, shock registering across her face. “How...?”

  Noah continued, not waiting for her to ask her next question. “Mr. Bishop ran into him while making his rounds. There was a brief altercation but Mr. Bishop was faster with his weapon than Frederick was. The security team moved in and got him into handcuffs without anyone getting hurt. They contacted me while we were in Paris. I was satisfied with how it was handled and that was it.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? This is my company and you should have told me!” There was a hint of attitude in her tone and the minute the words passed her lips, she felt him stiffen.

  Noah stood staring at her, his head bobbing, his eyes skating from side to side as he chose his words carefully. He pulled his shoulders back, straightening his posture. When he finally spoke there was no missing the edge of control in his voice.

  “If I had told you, you would have wanted to fly right back here. You would have been worried and you would have agonized over what to do or not do. You would have tried to micromanage the situation and the reality is there was nothing else you could have done. I wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower and I wanted you to climb it with me. So I made an executive decision.”

  Catherine stood staring at him. In that brief moment she suddenly saw her entire future evolve before her eyes. Everything she had ever wanted, had ever dreamed of, was staring down at her. She only had to embrace it, and it was hers to have. She could relinquish control, step back, follow and not lead, and she could depend on him and trust that if she fell, Noah Stallion would catch her.

  She took a deep breath and held it, and then turned and headed in the direction of the front door.

  Noah called after her. “I thought you wanted to go to your office?”

  She tossed him a look over her shoulder. “I changed my mind,” she said. She bit down on her bottom lip, a come-hither look piercing her gaze. “I have something else for us to do.”