Dr. Harper had already been seated when the hostess escorted her to his table. His stare had been critical, but as he’d risen from his seat to pull out her chair, he’d remained quiet. Admiring the gray silk suit he wore with a white dress shirt and red print necktie, Tarah felt overwhelmingly out of place. Her discomfort was painted across her face like a bad makeup job.
There was a moment of comfort when he dove right into business, quizzing her on the day’s training. But by the time the waiter came bearing their appetizers, her discomfort returned with a vengeance. Their conversation had taken a personal turn. He was suddenly asking questions about her relationships and the men she’d dated in the past. When the entrée was set in front of her, she knew beyond any doubt that dinner had been a monumental mistake.
Dr. Harper suddenly sat back in his seat and stared at her. “You don’t date much, do you?” he asked, his tone dry and staid.
“Excuse me?”
“You look like you’re headed to the grocery store,” he said, his gaze sweeping over her face. “And all we’ve really talked about is medical procedures.”
Tarah took a deep inhalation of air. “I don’t date at all, Dr. Harper. I...”
“Please, call me Thaddeus,” he said, interrupting.
She hesitated. “I don’t date at all, sir. And I wasn’t expecting...” She paused a second time, choosing her words carefully. “I wasn’t expecting to be ambushed with lobster and wine when I understood this to be a business meeting over hot dogs and french fries.”
Dr. Harper laughed. “Touché! I guess I should have been more specific about our dinner plans.”
Tarah rested her fork on her plate and folded her hands together in her lap. “About your plans, sir, and yes, you should have. Asking a girl to grab a bite to eat doesn’t imply the likes of this,” she said, gesturing with her hands.
The two locked gazes briefly before Dr. Harper snatched his eyes from hers. His cheeks were crimson and he fumbled with the cloth napkin in his lap. “Well, I’m still glad you’re here,” he mumbled nervously.
“I’m not sure what you were expecting, Dr. Harper,” Tarah said softly, “but I really believed we were meeting solely to discuss the Barton twins.”
Dr. Harper smiled, shifting slightly in his seat. “You’re a stunning woman, Tarah. I was certain you knew I was attracted to you.”
She shook her head. “No. I really didn’t.”
“Well, now you do. I would really like for us...”
His comment was interrupted by her cell phone’s ringtone. She took a deep breath, glancing down to the number flashing on the screen. “Excuse me,” Tarah said. “I need to answer this.” She pulled the device to her ear. “Hello?”
“Tarah, hey, it’s Nicholas. How are you?” His voice was deep and rich, a seductive baritone that resonated through the phone line.
She wanted to smile but she forced herself to keep her expression and her tone bland. “Yes, hello. How can I help you?”
Nicholas was slightly taken aback by her coolness. “I was just calling to say hello. Is this a good time to talk?”
Tarah shot Dr. Harper a quick look. She paused as if she were still listening to something Nicholas was saying on the other end.
“Oh, my!” she exclaimed, drawing a hand to her chest. “Is it serious?”
She could hear the confusion in Nicholas’s voice. “Is what serious?”
She ignored him, still speaking into the receiver. “No, no, it’s no problem. If I leave now I can be back at the house in thirty minutes. Just hold on. And don’t hang up,” she commanded. “I just need to let my associate know.”
Meeting the look Dr. Harper was giving her, Tarah didn’t bother to cup her palm over the receiver, unconcerned about Nicholas hearing anything that would be said. “I’m so sorry, but a pipe burst at my house, and my neighbor says water is pouring everywhere.” She stood up. “I really hate to rush off, but I have to leave.”
Dr. Harper stood with her. “Do you need me to follow you home? I might be able to help.”
Tarah gave him one of her brightest smiles, her head tilting slightly. “No, I’ll be fine. I appreciate the offer, though,” she said as she grabbed her handbag. “Thank you for dinner. I had a very nice time. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Dr. Harper brushed a large hand across her shoulder. “I hope we can finish our conversation soon.”
Tarah nodded. “Of course,” she answered and then turned, almost running out of the restaurant.
Once outside, she moved quickly to her car and hopped inside. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she engaged the Bluetooth on her cell phone. She could hear Nicholas breathing on the other end. “How did you get this number?” she resumed their conversation as she drove into the early evening traffic.
“Are you talking to me?” Nicholas asked, the barest hint of attitude in his tone.
Tarah met his emotion with attitude of her own. “Who else would I be talking to?”
“Whoever that man was you were trying to get away from. So, who was he?”
Tarah laughed. “He wasn’t anybody.”
Nicholas wasn’t sure what was funny, but he couldn’t help but laugh with her. Her infectious tone eased every ounce of tension between them.
She shifted the conversation. “You still didn’t tell me how you got my cell phone number.”
“My sister Naomi called Maitlyn and asked for it.”
Tarah laughed again. “Cute!”
“Why haven’t you returned my calls?” he questioned.
“Why did it take you so long even to call me?”
“Is answering a question with a question something you do often, or do you reserve these one-sided conversations for select people?”
“Only very special people!”
Nicholas grinned into his receiver. “So I am special to you! That’s good to know. You had me in my feelings for a minute there.”
Her eyes rolled, a wry smirk pulling at her lips. “That sounds like a personal problem to me.”
He laughed. “Really, who were you trying to get away from?”
“One of the doctors from the hospital. We were supposed to be having a business meeting, but he...well...it...” she trailed off. She then reflected on what had happened earlier that evening and the huge fiasco she hoped to prevent.
Her tone changed, and Nicholas felt himself bristle with concern. “He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
“No,” she finally responded. “We just got our wires crossed.” Not finding it necessary to rehash how she and the good doctor had gotten off track with each other, she was ready to bring the subject to a close. “It was just time for me to leave, and your call gave me a way out. I guess I need to thank you.”
“Any time. In the future, just text me and I’ll be glad to assist. We can have a secret code that we use with each other. Like 911 or something.”
She giggled. “911? Really? That would be some secret!”
“I said or something! If you text me 911, I’ll know you need me ASAP, and you can trust that I’ll be there. But it can be whatever you want.”
Tarah felt a smile appear across her face. “So, how have you been?”
“As well as can be expected, I guess. Focused on the big game coming up more than anything else.”
“The Big Game! That’s quite an exciting accomplishment.”
“It is, but I’ll be glad when it’s over. Between practice, the press junkets and people pulling at me, I’ve about had enough.”
“What? Nicholas Stallion isn’t enjoying all the attention he’s getting? Who are you and where did my friend go?”
Nicholas chuckled warmly. “I’m glad you consider me a friend.”
“We are practically family.”
“Please don’t say you look at me like a big brother. I’ll be crushed.”
“More like a cousin.”
“A kissing cousin, I hope?”
She giggled again. “You don’t quit, do you, Mr. Kiss-Me-It’s-Mistletoe!”
“You can’t blame me for trying. I bet that guy you were with wanted to try, too.”
Tarah cringed at the thought. She didn’t bother to comment. A pregnant pause suddenly blossomed between them, and Tarah fell off into her own thoughts. She noticed that neither of them seemed concerned or even aware of the time that had lapsed.
“I’m glad you finally caught up with me,” she suddenly said. “And I’m sorry I didn’t call you back sooner.”
“I’m glad, too,” Nicholas responded. “I really wanted to hear your voice again.”
Tarah felt a wave of warmth bubble in her midsection. For the first time since she’d left the hospital earlier that evening, she was completely at ease. Comfort settled over her shoulders like a favorite wool blanket. “Next time you need to call sooner,” she said smugly.
“Next time you should call a brother back when he does call.”
Tarah laughed and Nicholas laughed with her. Their conversation continued as she pulled into the driveway of her home. They talked about the family, their friends, places they hoped to travel, foods they enjoyed. Tarah shared stories about her patients, and Nicholas talked about the other players on his team. It wasn’t until hours later, when she realized it was well after midnight, that she thought about saying good-night. But before they disconnected their call, she had one last question to ask.
“Nicholas?”
“Yes?”
“Whatever happened with you and that toddler you were dating? Are you two still a thing?”
Laughing heartily, Nicholas disconnected the call.
* * *
Tarah’s sisters were all laughing. The conference call with Katrina, Kamaya and Maitlyn had taken place when Tarah had called to give Maitlyn a hard time about letting Nicholas have her cell phone number.
“If you had called him back, he wouldn’t have had to call me.”
Tarah giggled. “Weren’t you the one who taught me that you needed to keep a man hanging every now and again so he’ll want you more?”
Maitlyn laughed. “I didn’t teach you that.”
“Mama taught us that if you need to play games with a man, he’s not the one for you,” Katrina interjected.
“I guess that all depends on the kind of games you want to play,” Tarah said jokingly.
“That’s why Mama said she’s never going to find a good man,” Kamaya teased.
Tarah snapped. “I’m going to find a good man! In fact, I think Nicholas is a very good man.”
The other three women went silent.
“What?” Tarah questioned, wishing they were all in the same room so she could see her sisters’ faces. “What’s wrong with Nicholas?”
“There’s nothing wrong with Nicholas,” Katrina said. “All of the Stallion men are good men. I married one, remember?”
“It’s something in their DNA,” Kamaya interjected. “They’re all just too special for words! Hell, I’d marry one if I could.”
The trio laughed.
“Nathaniel Stallion is still available,” Tarah noted. “I don’t think he’s dating anyone.”
“Nathaniel is not my type,” Kamaya concluded.
Maitlyn laughed. “You have a type?”
“You know your sister likes them blond and blue-eyed!” Katrina exclaimed.
“We’re not talking about how I like them,” Kamaya said with a giggle. “We’re talking about how your baby sister is about to toss her goodies at that football player.”
“I have never tossed my goodies at any man!” Tarah said emphatically. “In fact, my goodies are fully intact and perfectly packaged, waiting for the right guy with a discerning sweet tooth.”
Kamaya laughed. “And she has a bridge she’d like to sell us, too!”
“Are you still a virgin?” Katrina suddenly asked. “Because that sounds like you’re still a virgin!”
“There is no way she is still a virgin,” Kamaya interjected. “I know for a fact she gave it up to that boy with the squint eye. The one who had eaten the last slice of chocolate cake that Mama had saved for Senior. I know you all remember that!”
The laughter was loud and abundant as they all reflected back on that boy and their father’s favorite chocolate cake. Tarah had been head over heels in lust with the star basketball player. She’d been a freshman, young and dumb and excited by the attention the lanky senior forward was paying her. For weeks he took up space in their family room, everyone tripping over him every time they turned around. His last day there, he’d cleaned out the refrigerator, consuming whatever wasn’t nailed down, including the last slice of dark chocolate pumpkin cake that their mother had saved for Senior. Everyone in the house had known not to touch the sliver of sweet dessert that had been slathered in a decadent ganache. When Senior discovered it missing, he’d been livid, and the tongue lashing he had given the boy had been the punch line at many family dinners afterward.
“Tarah’s maintaining a self-imposed celibacy. She has been ever since she moved to Phoenix. I thought you all knew that,” Maitlyn said matter-of-factly, pulling them all back to the conversation.
“She hasn’t let a man near her stuff for over six years,” Kamaya added.
“Only battery-powered Bob!” Maitlyn said with a soft chuckle.
“No one told me that,” Katrina said, an air of surprise in her tone. “Six years? Really, Tarah?”
They all went silent again, waiting for Tarah to say something. Instead, she stared off into the distance, her mind muddled with thought. Her decision to abstain from sex had actually been at her mother’s behest. A late night conversation between them before she’d left New Orleans had caused Tarah to reevaluate some of her choices. Katherine pointed out that Tarah too often acted before she took time to think. Her mother’s observation made her more mindful of how she continued to do things. Katherine adding that most of her relationships were less than stellar, with Tarah dating boys and not men, had been enough to let Tarah know that her energy would be better served not trying to have it all without the work and effort a healthy relationship required. As her mother had admonished, she could have both a career and family, but she needed to have a plan. She needed to focus. Celibacy has been the first step.
“I cannot believe the way you three sit around talking about me like I’m not even here,” she finally said, pretending to be insulted. “My feelings are actually hurt.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kamaya chuckled. “Cue the violins!”
They all laughed again.
“So, really,” Katrina persisted, wanting all the details. “Because I swear, this is the first time I’m hearing this!”
Tarah shook her head. “Technically I’m not a virgin, but when I started my residency I made the conscious decision to refrain from sex until my wedding night. I didn’t want the distractions during my surgical training, and you all know how a man can be a distraction. Just ask the judge!”
Katrina laughed. “What do you mean, just ask me?”
“She’s right,” Kamaya said. “If I recall correctly, you had been naked under your judicial robes one day after you and your Stallion had done it in your office during recess.”
“I was not...!” Katrina started, fighting to keep her voice calm.
“Yep, you were naked,” Maitlyn said.
Katrina laughed. “You were not supposed to tell that!”
“There are no secrets here,” Kamaya stated. “We share everything.”
“Then how come I didn’t know Tarah was doing the born-again virgin thing?” Katrina asked.
“I don’t know,” Maitlyn said, “because even the boys know. Ask your brothers about it. Or your husband. I’d bet Matthew knows!”
“Hey, the way news spreads through this family, I’d be willing to bet that even Nicholas knows by now!” Kamaya chuckled.
“I wouldn’t take that bet,” Katrina said. “Because clearly I never hear anything.”
“On that note,” Tarah said, “I have to get back to work.” She’d been sitting in her car in the hospital parking lot for the bulk of their conversation. Her thirty-minute lunch break would be over in less than five minutes.
“I need to run, too,” Katrina said. “Jake has a T-ball game this afternoon, and I promised Matthew I’d meet him downtown.”
“Before you go, Tarah,” Maitlyn said, turning the conversation in another direction, “when do you want to fly in for the game?” Maitlyn was responsible for arranging transportation for the family to the big play-off game and Tarah was sure her to-do list was lengthy. “You are still coming, right?”
Tarah shook her head as if her sister could see her. “I’m not sure. It’s all going to depend on the Barton twins!”
* * *
The masseuse hit a particularly sensitive spot behind Nicholas’s right calf. He moaned loudly, the sound resonating from a place deep in the pit of his stomach.
“Damn, bro!” Nathaniel Stallion said, looking up from the documents he was reviewing.
Nicholas laughed as he lifted his head to stare in his brother’s direction. “Sorry about that.”
His brother laughed with him. “Has it been that long since a woman’s touched you?” Nathaniel teased.
“You know that women are off-limits right now. During the season I reserve all my energy for the football field. I can’t risk being off my game, and every woman I’ve ever met has tried to do just that.”
“That’s because you go through them like water, and they’re trying to hold on to you like glue.”
“I don’t know what it is. I just know I don’t have time for it.”
A Stallion's Touch Page 5
