Mark leaned to whisper in his sibling’s ear. “Hey, you spent the weekend with the woman. You couldn’t get her to change their minds?”
Luke smiled, shrugging his shoulders.
John hushed them both. “Shhh.”
Mark shrugged, his expression questioning. “Aren’t you even a little worried?” he whispered to Luke.
Luke shook his head. “No. We got this. Didn’t John tell you?”
“Didn’t John tell him what?” John asked, leaning into the middle of their conversation.
“About the stock.”
“What stock?”
Energy flushed Luke’s face. “Didn’t Joanne speak with you last week?”
John nodded, his voice barely audible. “We talked about you, yes. What else was there for us to talk about?”
Luke smiled. The man at the podium tossed a glance in their direction as he continued to rant. Luke’s smile widened as he gave Joanne’s father a slight nod of his head. This time he shushed his brothers.
“Be quiet. That’s my future father-in-law speaking,” he said, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Mark rolled his eyes as John heaved a deep sigh. Matthew cut his eyes from one to the other, his head shaking slightly from side to side.
From where she sat, Joanne watched them all. Her gaze lingered on her father, whose intensity was engraved in the lines that creased his forehead. The two had encountered each other in the hallway, the man barely bothering to say hello before questioning why she was there.
“Why am I here?”
“You really don’t need to be here, Joanne. All you needed to do was sign the papers I told you to sign.”
Joanne had nodded her head. “I thought I should be here, Daddy. I mean, like you said, this is our company. And since I own fifty percent of our company, I think it’s past time I became more involved. Don’t you agree?”
Dr. Lake had shrugged. “More involved, huh? Whatever, Joanne. I really don’t have time to argue this with you right now. Did you bring all your bonds and your voting documents?”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“Well, when it’s time, I’ll tell you what to do. Okay?” Without waiting for her to respond, he’d kissed her forehead, rushing to extend his hand in greeting to another of the Stallion shareholders.
Joanne shook her head. Still standing at the podium, her father was concluding his argument, seemingly confident that he’d won all the stockholders and their votes over. His gaze met hers ever so briefly, and Joanne smiled. Charles Lake didn’t bother to smile back.
Calling for a brief recess before the official vote, the meeting’s moderator asked for a motion and a second, both of which were received. The noise level in the room suddenly increased tenfold, chatter rising quickly. Moving off the stage, Luke made his way to Joanne’s side, wrapping his arm around her waist. She met his stare.
“Joanne, I love you. I love you very much, and it’s very important to me that you don’t do anything you really don’t want to do just to please me. I love you for wanting to give me your shares and your vote. But I don’t want you to go against your father just because you’re angry at him.”
“But I’m not—”
Luke held up his hand, stalling her comment. “Yes, you are. You’re angry because you love him and you’ve spent most of your life questioning his love for you. That’s the wrong reason for you to be doing this.
“You own valuable shares of Stallion Enterprises. If you vote for the regime to stay as it is, then you need to do it because you honestly believe that’s the right thing for the company and for your interests in the company and not because you and I are in a relationship.
“Baby, I love you and no matter what happens, you and I will survive this. So—” Luke paused, passing that large envelope back to her “—these belong to you. Vote them as you see fit.”
Kissing her cheek, Luke winked at her as he made his way back to the stage. Taking a deep breath and then another, Luke moved to Dr. Lake’s side. He extended his hand in the man’s direction.
“Dr. Lake, if I may have a moment, please.”
“Mr. Stallion,” the older man said, moving to shake Luke’s hand.
“Please, call me Luke.”
“What’s this about, son?”
“Dr. Lake, I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but I’ve been dating your daughter. I just wanted you to know that I love her very much. And I support her in everything she wants to do. Joanne’s happiness is the most important thing to me, and right now, she’s not very happy at all.
“Sir, Joanne loves you very much, but you really need to work on your relationship with her. I know you love her, but Joanne doesn’t seem to trust that, and she should.
“My father died when I was eight years old. I really don’t remember him. Every day I think about what I missed not having him around. My older brothers are all I had. You are all Joanne has, and I don’t want you to lose her.”
The patriarch bristled slightly. “Who do you think you are talking to me like this?”
Luke smiled brightly. “Dr. Lake, I’m your daughter’s future. And that’s going to make us family. If I didn’t learn anything else from my brothers, I learned that family always comes first.”
With a quick nod of his head, Luke excused himself, making his way back to his brothers.
John eyed him curiously. “What was that all about?”
Luke smiled. “Just chatting with my future father-in-law.”
Nodding his head with understanding, John smiled back.
Her father was sitting in her living room waiting for her when she returned home. As Joanne stepped over the threshold, the two locked gazes. The man’s expression was blank, not an ounce of emotion shining from his eyes.
Joanne hung her purse and suit jacket over a closet doorknob. Moving into the room, she took the seat opposite him. The two continued staring at each other, neither saying a word.
Tears suddenly brimmed at the corners of Dr. Lake’s eyes. He took a deep breath, swallowing the emotion before blowing a gust of hot air over his lips. “Have I really been a horrible father to you, Joanne?” he asked, his voice cracking ever so slightly.
Joanne shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve always been too busy to be horrible, Daddy. You’ve always been too busy to be a father at all.”
Her father nodded his head slowly. “Estelle Brooks called me. She blasted me good,” he said with a soft chuckle. “She doesn’t think I was much of a father, either.” He ran his hand across his head. “So, tell me about this young man of yours. Mr. Stallion seems very sure of himself.”
“Luke is an amazing man, Daddy.”
Her father nodded again. “It would seem that he loves you very much.”
Joanne smiled, falling into a moment of reflection. Her father watched her, his expression thoughtful.
Shifting forward in his seat, his elbows resting on his thighs as he clasped his hands together in front of him, he said, “I was very proud of you today, Joanne. That little speech you gave was quite impressive.”
Joanne met her father’s gaze.
He continued, “Everything I have ever done, Joanne, I have done for you. But clearly I’ve made some serious mistakes.” He sighed deeply. “I hope,” he said, reaching for his daughter’s hands and clasping them between his own. “I hope you’ll give me a chance to make up for that. I hope you’ll let me show you how much I truly love you.”
Joanne eyed him with some skepticism.
Her father voiced her concern. “I know you might not believe me,” he said softly. “I’m sure you’re asking yourself why.”
Joanne nodded. “Yes, I am actually. Why now, Daddy? What’s changed?”
Her father wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. “A wise man told me that family has to come first.”
The Stallion family was gathered together at Briscoe Ranch celebrating their victory. Smiles were wide and bright, accolades and congratulations rin
ging through the evening air.
Sneaking over to her husband’s side, Marah looped her arm through his. John pressed his mouth to hers, greeting her with a warm embrace. She shook her head, shaking an index finger in his direction.
John laughed. “What? What did I do?”
“I thought you said we weren’t supposed to intervene,” she said, cutting her eyes up at him.
John smiled. “No, I said you weren’t supposed to intervene.”
Marah laughed. “So why did you get to have all the fun?”
John feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marah Jean.”
“Oh, yes you do. From what I hear, Luke didn’t manage to get on board that Stallion jet with Joanne without someone’s intervention.”
The man shrugged. “Really? I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
“Sure you don’t.”
“Really,” John said, his expression less than convincing.
Marah smiled. “Well I’m glad you didn’t intervene, and I think your brother is, as well.”
They both stared across the room in Luke’s direction.
“He looks happy,” John said softly, squeezing his wife against him.
Marah nodded her agreement. “He does. As a matter of fact, all you Stallion boys look happy,” she said thoughtfully.
Across the way, Luke tapped Matthew on the shoulder. “Hey, bro, can I borrow your car? I need to pick up Joanne.”
Matthew shook his head. “Where’s yours?”
“Stuck between Marah’s Mercedes and that tank Mark is now driving,” Luke said, referring to his brother’s new SUV.
Matthew reached into his pocket for his car keys. He passed them into Luke’s hand. “Don’t crash it. It’s only a loaner,” the man said, smiling.
Luke nodded. “So, what’s the deal with yours? Can they fix it?”
Matthew grinned. “That baby is beyond repair. The insurance company totaled it. I need to buy me a new one. I just haven’t had time.”
“What happened to the kid who was driving?”
“The courts will hear his case in the next few weeks. He was only fifteen years old.”
Both men shook their heads.
Matthew changed the subject. “That was a ballsy thing your girl did today. We were impressed.”
Luke paused, reflecting on the meeting and the vote. No one expected Joanne to ask for the floor, demanding an opportunity to speak to the room. The moderator had insisted a motion be made to allow them to stray from protocol. Luke had made that motion, all his brothers seconding the request. Joanne’s father had escorted her to the stage, a wide grin filling his face. Then Joanne had spoken and that grin had faded quickly. The memory of Joanne’s comments spun through Luke’s head.
“The CEO of E-Kal Development Corporation and the CEO of Stallion Enterprises have both made viable cases for control of Stallion Enterprises corporate helm. Clearly, the Stallion family brings a formidable track record to the negotiating table. Their strength and determination are what have made their company the lucrative enterprise that it is.
“I have a vested interest in both businesses, and I want to see my stock investments do well. My decision and vote are based on what I believe is best for E-Kal and Stallion. Both have been led by amazing management teams, but one brings something to the table that the other doesn’t begin to possess.
“Stallion Enterprises needs to be run by a management team with heart. A management team that continues to believe in its employees and who will fight tooth and nail for the good of the company first and foremost. In all my research I wasn’t able to find one business decision made by the Stallion family that wasn’t based on ensuring the sovereignty and well-being of their core values. Every decision has been made on mutual respect for their staff and their investors. Every acquisition was based on their overwhelming love for and belief in this company.
“Regrettably, many of E-Kal’s corporate decisions have been based on values less honorable and with little consideration for what was best for their shareholders.
“In consideration of this, I vote my interest in Stallion Enterprises to John Stallion and his family. I hope that you will all follow suit. I hope that your decisions will be swayed by what is best for our investments and not tactics of coercion and dissuasion. Thank you.”
Joanne had moved to her father’s side after that, gently kissing his cheek before returning to her seat. After that, the vote had been unanimous, every stockholder pledging allegiance to and belief in the Stallions.
Luke grinned. “My baby is something special.”
Matthew clapped him on the back. “And she has herself a very special guy. Don’t ever forget that. Now go get your girl and bring my car back here without a nick or scratch on it.”
Chapter 23
Luke entered the luxury jetliner shaking his head. “You have a jet, too?” he said, tossing Joanne an amused glance.
“This one’s my personal plane,” Joanne answered, laughing softly. “I also have a boat. A very big boat.”
Luke grinned. “Sweet. My prenup is looking better and better,” he joked.
Joanne laughed. She settled down in the seat beside him. Luke wrapped both his arms around her and hugged her tightly. He held her close as the plane moved from the tarmac to the runway.
“So, where are we disappearing to this time?” Luke asked, looking out the window as the plane lifted high in the air.
Joanne smiled. “Paris. I want you to meet my mother.”
Luke’s head bobbed up and down against his thick neck. He leaned to kiss her mouth, his lips gliding gently across her own. “Hey, Joanne,” he whispered against her mouth, the warmth of his breath teasing her senses. “I need to ask you something.”
“You can ask me anything,” Joanne whispered back as she brushed the warmth of her cheek to his.
“What are you doing for the rest of your life?”
Joanne smiled. “Did you have something special in mind?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Luke murmured. “I’m hoping you’ll want to spend the rest of your life with me.”
She smiled, a full grin spreading across her face. “I think that might be arranged.”
Luke nodded, kissing her a second time. “Good, because I like how you do things, Ms. Lake.”
Joanne chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it, but I think I’m getting the better end of that prenuptial, Mr. Stallion.”
“Really? How do you figure?”
“Lost in a Stallion’s arms forever! What else could a girl ask for?”
Luke hugged her close. “I love you,” he said softly.
Joanne nodded, snuggling closer to him. “I love you, too!”
The moment between them grew quiet as they drifted into a state of contentment with each other. The plane soared higher and higher against a backdrop of deep blue sky and a spattering of whitewashed clouds. Luke nuzzled his face into her hair, kissing the top of her head.
He thought back to the beginning, the day he’d met Joanne for the first time, sensing that something was going to change his life forever. He’d been right, and he’d been wrong. He was a true Stallion, through and through, but love had clearly bested them all.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5530-6
LOST IN A STALLION’S ARMS
Copyright © 2010 by Deborah Fletcher Mello
All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entir
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Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) Page 18
