A Stallion's Touch

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Maitlyn rubbed her hand against her husband’s back. “Poor Rose-Lynne. She doesn’t have a clue what she’s up against with all the men in this family.”

  Her brother nodded in agreement. “You got that right,” Kendrick Boudreaux echoed as he high-fived his best friend. “Zak and I will put that nonsense to a stop, quick.”

  Katherine never looked up from the pot she was stirring. “Your children are going to do exactly what they want to do. You just need to ensure you give them a solid foundation to build on. He won’t be the first boyfriend that baby’s going to want to claim. Tarah had dozens by the time she was twelve. Then she turned eighteen, and we haven’t seen a man worth his weight in salt since.”

  Tarah laughed. “That is not true!” she exclaimed, color rising to her cheeks.

  “Which part?” Nicholas questioned, meeting her gaze.

  She noted the smirk across his face. “I may have had dozens by the time I was thirteen, but when I turned eighteen, I didn’t waste my time with men who didn’t meet the Boudreaux family standard!”

  “That’s debatable,” her father interjected. “Y’all remember that boy with the squint eye?”

  Tarah jumped to her feet. “No, they don’t, and why are we suddenly focused on me? He’s the problem. Chasing after youngsters!” she exclaimed, pointing a finger at Nicholas.

  Nicholas laughed. “I did no such thing!”

  Tarah leaned down toward Irene, meeting the little girl at eye level. “You don’t want him to be your boyfriend,” she said. “He’s not very nice!”

  Irene’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. She gave Tarah a look before easing her way over to Nicholas’s side. She dropped an elbow to his thigh as she rested her chin against her palm, leaning against his leg.

  Nicholas laughed as he gave Irene’s ponytail a light tug. The little girl grinned brightly in response. He winked an eye at Tarah.

  Gabi moved to stand beside her friend. “That’s why Santa didn’t bring you gifts!” she proclaimed, cutting an eye at Tarah. “You’re the one that’s not nice! Nicholas is real nice.”

  Tarah shook her head as she stood up straight. “Santa brought me gifts!” she hissed between clenched teeth.

  Gabi mimicked her Aunt’s eye roll.

  “Did I really just get schooled by a first grader?” Tarah shifted her eyes from one kid to the other.

  “I’m in second grade!” Gabi snapped back.

  The entire room roared, another round of laughter sweeping through the space.

  Marah shook her head. “Gabi, Irene, that’s enough out of you two. Head up to the playroom with your toys, please! Only grown-ups can be downstairs right now.”

  Irene grabbed Nicholas’s hand. “Come play!”

  Tarah laughed. “That’s right!” she exclaimed. “Only grown-ups are allowed downstairs, Mr. Boyfriend!”

  Nicholas laughed as Irene and Gabi both pulled him along. “Jealous much, Dr. Boudreaux?”

  She rolled her eyes as Nicholas’s sister Naomi eased to her side. “I think my brother likes you,” the woman said, her voice low.

  Tarah giggled. “I think I might like your brother.”

  Mason shook his head. “He’s not your type. Besides, we all like him, too. No one wants to see you break his heart. And you’re notorious for that!”

  Tarah shot her brother a look. “I am not!”

  Kendrick nodded. “Yes, you are! You chew guys up and spit them out like they’re nothing. It’s never pretty, so we definitely don’t need you throwing Nicholas off his game.”

  “I know that’s right!” Mark echoed. “I’ve bet too much money on him, so I need my cousin’s head straight for game day.”

  Tarah tossed up her hands. “I am not a heartbreaker!” she exclaimed as she dropped down into the seat Nicholas had just vacated.

  Her siblings all gave her a look, and then everyone chuckled, amusement wafting between them.

  “Who all’s going to the game?” John asked, looking around the room as he changed the subject.

  “I think we should make it a family event,” Nicholas’s older brother, Noah Stallion, interjected. “Try to get everyone there to support him.”

  Tarah clapped her hands together. “Ohh! The championship game! I can’t wait! I really hope I can get the time off.”

  Marah laughed. “I thought you hated football?”

  “I do, but it’s the championship game! Besides, football players are too cute in those uniforms. Who can hate a tight end with a tight end?”

  Confusion washed over her mother’s face. “I thought you all said that boy was a quarterback?”

  * * *

  Tarah found Christmas Day to be one of the best she’d ever had. She had missed the energy of having her siblings and their extended family together in the same space. The fellowship reinforced how much she loved, and had missed, her people while she was living in Phoenix.

  Everyone’s good mood swept from room to room. The laughter was intoxicating, and the whole family was drunk with joy. By midafternoon, all of the children had finally settled down, either napping away the morning excitement or cuddling quietly in a corner with a new toy or book.

  Decadent kitchen smells wafted through the home as the final touches were being put on the holiday meal. Turkeys and hams had been pulled from the ovens, cakes and pies decorated the counters, and everyone’s favorite foods were being transferred to serving dishes.

  Heading down to the stables, Tarah had followed her nephew Collin, who’d been excited to ride the new horse that Santa had brought him. The college sophomore stood as tall as the other men in the family, his growing maturity reminding her of how quickly time was flying. She couldn’t help but think that if she blinked, she might actually miss something. All the children were growing way too fast for comfort. She released a soft sigh as she sat perched on the top rail of the wooden fence that enclosed the pasture where the young man was putting the Appaloosa through his paces.

  Collin’s grin filled his face as he pulled the horse up to a stop beside her. “You really should come ride, Aunt Tarah! I can saddle one of the other horses if you want.”

  She reached out a hand to stroke the animal’s neck and it neighed, its large head bobbing slightly as if it were echoing the young man’s comment. “Not this time, Collin. But you go have fun. He really is beautiful!”

  Collin nodded. “And here I was hoping they would get me a new phone for Christmas!”

  “Sounds like you earned it. I hear things are going well for you at Morehouse.”

  Collin’s chest pushed forward slightly. “It’s getting harder, but I promised Mom I would make the dean’s list every semester I’m there. I have to stay true to my word!”

  Tarah smiled. “That’s my guy! We’re all so proud of you! Have you thought about what you want to do after college?”

  He nodded. “I plan to get a law degree like Mom and Dad. And then I’m going into the family business. Stallion Enterprises keeps growing, so they are always going to need good lawyers!”

  She nodded. “You go, boy! And if you change your mind, you can always practice medicine like your auntie!”

  Collin shook his head. “Uh, no thanks! I don’t like going to doctors, so I know I don’t want to be one. I’m proud of you, though!”

  Tarah laughed. “Go ride, kiddo! Enjoy that horse. What did you name him, by the way?”

  Collin laughed. “Baby!”

  As Collin pulled gently on the reins to turn Baby in the other direction, Tarah laughed with him.

  “What’s so funny?” Nicholas questioned, seeming to come out of nowhere.

  His sudden appearance behind her was startling and she jumped, pulling one hand to her chest as she steadied herself with the other. “You just scared the crap out of me!” she snapped, cl
early not amused.

  He held up hand. “Sorry about that. I just saw you sitting here and thought I’d come say hello.”

  Tarah took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She cut an eye in his direction as he climbed atop the fence to sit with her. He shifted side to side, trying to make himself comfortable atop the narrow ledge.

  He met the look she was giving him and smiled. The lift of his full lips dimpled his cheeks. “So, is there a trick to this that I’m not getting?” he asked, leaning his body forward for better balance.

  She chuckled. “You need a little more cushion back there. It helps.”

  He nodded. “No wonder you look so comfortable.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He grinned. “It was a compliment. I was just pointing out that you have a very nice rear view. Full...and round.”

  There was a moment’s pause as her gaze locked with his. Her eyes narrowed substantially. “Why are you looking at my ass?”

  “In all fairness, I wouldn’t have looked at all if the girls hadn’t pointed out that you had a big butt.” He laughed. “Irene thought I needed to be aware. She also said you have a big head, big feet and teeth that look goofy.” He shot her a look. “Her words, not mine!”

  Tarah looked out to the horizon, then shifted her gaze back out to the pasture. “I swear those two are so lucky they’re short!”

  “If it makes a difference,” he said smugly, “they love your hair.” He then reached out and brushed a curly strand from her eye. The gesture surprised her, causing the air to catch in her chest as she suddenly held her breath. “And you always smell really good!”

  “They said I smell good?”

  “No, I threw that in,” he said, grinning broadly. “Like vanilla and lavender with a hint of honey. You smell like a woman is supposed to smell. Special! I was trying to help you out.”

  Tarah laughed, amusement dancing over her face, but she didn’t bother to reply to his comment.

  “You still didn’t tell me what was so funny,” he said. “What were you laughing about when I came up?”

  “Collin named his horse Baby.”

  Confusion pulled at Nicholas’s expression. “And that’s funny because...?”

  “When his mother was pregnant with Jacoby, he really wasn’t happy about getting a baby brother or sister. He only wanted a horse. Then when little Jake was born and he held him for the first time, he said the baby was okay but he still would rather have had a horse named Baby instead. It was all he would talk about for months!”

  “Cute,” Nicholas said, nodding his head slightly as his stare shifted to where his cousin’s son and the horse were moving in perfect sync with each other.

  A blanket of quiet dropped over the two, the moment suddenly awkward. Nervous energy fired hot between them, feeling like a circuit board gone awry.

  Tarah allowed a good few minutes to pass before she cast a quick glance in his direction. She was surprised to find him staring at her. He chuckled softly, color tinting his cheeks at being caught.

  “Sorry! I didn’t mean to stare, but you’re just so beautiful!”

  Tarah felt herself blush, the red in her own cheeks mirroring the crimson tint across his chiseled cheekbones. “Thank you,” she murmured, suddenly feeling out of sorts. She couldn’t help but wonder where her caustic attitude and the one-line zingers she was infamous for had disappeared to. For whatever reason, she couldn’t think of anything witty to say.

  She was no stranger to men commenting on her looks. Rarely did a man take a moment to know her long enough to comment on her intelligence before he was jumping at the opportunity to tell her how attractive she was. It usually struck a nerve, but there was nothing condescending, or lecherous, in Nicholas’s delivery. Surprisingly flattered, she had no words.

  He shifted awkwardly, still unable to make himself comfortable against the narrow rail. Amusement danced in her eyes as she watched him, and he suddenly felt as if an explanation was necessary. “Years of getting hit on the football field keep me in pain. My back and legs just aren’t working with me today. I think I need a little more than some backside cushion. I’m thinking a recliner would be ideal right about now.”

  “Football is a rough sport, but I understand how you feel. I’m on my feet all day, every day, so even when I get a chance to rest them, they still ache.”

  He smiled warmly. “All the doctors I know have massive hands that look like they should be pulling tobacco in some field somewhere. You have the most delicate hands,” he said.

  She laughed, wiggling her fingers out in front of her. “I have a surgeon’s hands. They may be small but they’re steady.”

  “So, you really like cutting into people’s flesh?”

  “I love saving people’s lives, curing their illnesses and helping them achieve a better quality of life.”

  He nodded his head. The look he gave her was endearing. “You’re something special, Tarah Boudreaux!”

  “And don’t you ever forget it, Nicholas Stallion!”

  He laughed, continuing to ask her questions about school and the hospital and other things that meant the world to her. The rest of their conversation was warm and comfortable, an easy exchange as they became better acquainted. He explained the nuances of football, described his predilection for extremely spicy foods and shared that he secretly enjoyed watching reality television.

  Nicholas suddenly jumped down from his perch, his hands brushing away the dust against the back of his khaki pants. “It really has been a pleasure talking to you, Tarah. But I think it’s time I sneak back down to the house.” He pointed across the yard.

  Turning to where he stared, Tarah saw Irene and Gabi searching him out, the two little girls making a mad dash across the fields.

  Nicholas gave her a wink, and then he tore off in the opposite direction. By the time the two youngsters reached where Tarah was sitting, he had disappeared into the rose gardens. All Tarah could do was laugh.

  * * *

  Saying goodbye was bittersweet. Tarah wished she had another two weeks to spend with her family, but she had to report back to work the next morning. Having time off for Christmas meant she was definitely on call for New Year’s. Despite the good time she’d had, she was just as excited about getting back to the hospital.

  She sighed as she dragged her suitcase to the front foyer. She turned toward the family room just as Nicholas bounded down the double staircase. His eyes widened at the sight of her.

  “Oh, Tarah, hey! Are you leaving?”

  Tarah nodded, a slight smile pulling at her mouth. “I am. Vacation is officially over.”

  He came to a stop in front of her. “I really had a good time getting to know you. I hope you’ll stay in touch.”

  Tarah laughed. “I guess that means you want me to call you.”

  A smirk crossed Nicholas’s face. “Or I could call you?”

  “You could.” She reached into the backpack thrown over her shoulder, searching until she found a black ink pen. She reached for his hand, pulling it toward her. She met his bemused stare as she wrote her name and number into his palm. She then closed the cap on her pen, dropped it back into her bag and continued toward the family room, Nicholas following closely on her heels. Just as she reached the doorway, he called her name and grabbed her arm. Although there was nothing aggressive about the gesture, it clearly showed his determination.

  Tarah bristled slightly. “Excuse you?” Her eyes darted from his fingers clasped around her forearm to his face and back to his fingers.

  He snatched his hand away as if he’d burned it. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to say...well...” His eyes skated about erratically as he tried to find the words to voice the thoughts suddenly racing through his head.

  Tarah shifted her weight from one hip to the other, resting one hand against
the curve of her waist. She eyed him with a raised brow, her look questioning.

  Nicholas suddenly pointed his index finger toward the door header above their heads. “We’re standing under the mistletoe,” he said softly, a hint of laughter in his tone.

  Tarah’s gaze moved from his face upward to where he pointed. A ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens and a red velvet ribbon, dangled above them. She turned her gaze back to his, staring into his dark eyes. “Christmas is officially over.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It still counts. At least until New Year’s.”

  “Says who?”

  “It’s an old family tradition. If you stand under the mistletoe, you can’t refuse to be kissed.”

  “We don’t have that tradition in my family.”

  “You’re in Stallion territory. In this house those are the rules.”

  “Says who?”

  “Says every man named Stallion in this family. Just ask them if you don’t believe me.”

  Tarah crossed her arms over her chest, her stance widening as she faced him full-on. It was a standoff of gigantic proportions as they stared intensely at each other. Nicholas was actually taken aback when Tarah suddenly moved against him, pressing both her hands against his chest. The heat between them rose like a firestorm intent on vengeance. Nicholas licked his lips, the gesture ever so slight. She tilted her face upward, her eyes dancing a perfect two-step with his. There was an air of excitement that wafted between them, and just as he lowered his face to hers, his lips quivering with anticipation, she turned her head abruptly. His lips grazed the round of her cheek instead. She pushed him abruptly from her and tapped a heavy hand against his chest.

  “I can just imagine the women you’re accustomed to dealing with, Mr. Stallion, but I’m not that kind of girl! So please, don’t get it twisted. You don’t know me well enough for you to be putting your lips on mine. And that’s a Boudreaux family rule! If you don’t believe me, you can just ask my daddy!”

  Nicholas laughed, amusement washing over his expression.

  There was suddenly a wealth of applause from across the room. The two turned abruptly, surprised by the unexpected attention. They met a host of gazes, both their families clapping enthusiastically after witnessing the exchange between them.