Deborah Fletcher Mello - My Stallion Heart

She blew a low sigh. “I hope he’s still able to meet us. I really wanted to see him. Since he moved abroad we barely spend any time together anymore. I love my brother and I want our kids to know him.”

“You know you can always fly to London to see Tinjin, Tierra. I told you that. In fact, I think you should still go and take Mama Dee with you. You both deserve some time away. I can watch the kids or you can take them with you. You know I’d support whatever you wanted.”

Tierra nodded. “Maybe after I’m not breast-feeding anymore. I think my grandmother would like to go visit Tinjin.”

Travis eased a warm palm across her abdomen and up until his fingers lightly grazed the curve of her breast. He gently stroked the lush tissue, his heated touch teasing.

Tierra laughed. “You’re trying to start something!”

He nodded his head. “I am.”

“You starting something is how we got Tianna. We were going to wait until Lorenzo was four before we had another baby, remember?”

He nuzzled his face into her hair. “I can’t help it if you’re abundantly fertile.”

She laughed again as he continued to stroke her gently, his hands gliding up and down her body. They lay together for only a brief moment, relaxing into the soft inhalations of each breath and then minutes later both were sound asleep.

* * *

Natalie and Tinjin had been talking on and off for a couple of hours. Despite the conversation being lighthearted and easy, there was a hint of sadness behind her eyes and Tinjin felt it tugging at his heartstrings. The emotion surprised him just enough to give him reason to pause. He stared at her as her gaze moved to the window and the weather outside. It was still snowing, white flakes of ice and cold blanketing everything in view.

“So why are you going to Salt Lake City?” he asked, breaking through the quiet that had moved between them.

He watched as she bristled, biting down against her bottom lip. Her eyes misted but she fought back the urge to cry. She tossed him a quick look, then returned her stare to the window and the landscape outside.

“You ask a lot of questions, TJ,” she finally answered, shifting in her seat to meet his eyes. “You’re like a woman, you’re so nosey.”

Tinjin laughed. “You’re one to talk. And don’t call me TJ. My parents named me Tinjin and I like my name. It’s the only thing the two left me with.”

She chuckled softly. “I like your name, too, so don’t be so sensitive.”

“I’m not being sensitive. Just don’t call me TJ. We don’t know each other that well.”

“I think we know each other very well. Well enough that you deserve a nickname. If it makes you feel better you can give me one. Something just between the two of us.”

Tinjin paused briefly. “Okay, Gnat. I’ll call you Gnat. Like the bug.”

“You’re calling me a bug? An annoying bug?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It fits. I’m giving you a nickname just like you gave me one. We’ll be TJ and Gnat. Gnat and TJ. Airport buddies forever!”

“You’re not funny. And you’re a pain in the ass, do you know that?”

Tinjin laughed. “Takes one to know one.”

Natalie rolled her eyes.

“Now that you’ve walked all around my question, are you going to answer it?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

She eyed him intently, the look he was giving her moving her heart to skip a quick beat. She took a deep breath and held it for a second. “No, I’m not,” she said finally. “It’s still none of your business.”

“I told you why I was headed in that direction.”

“But I didn’t ask. You just volunteered it. Just like you’ve been volunteering all of your business.”

Tinjin smiled, his full lips bending warmly. “I’m an open book. I have nothing to hide.”

“Bully for you. I don’t know you that well, so my business is none of your business.”

“I thought we were becoming friends.”

“It’s good they don’t pay you to think.”

“And you’re a mean girl, too!” Tinjin exclaimed. “Beautiful and mean!”

“You should be careful,” Natalie said, her expression smug. “That’s a lethal combination.”

They were interrupted as a hostess suddenly moved between them. “Can I get either of you anything to drink?” the woman asked as she looked from one to the other before letting her gaze rest on Tinjin’s face. She gave him a suggestive smile.

He smiled back. “I’d love a scotch. Straight,” he said. He looked toward Natalie.

“A glass of white wine, please,” Natalie said.

“And white wine for my friend,” Tinjin said as he passed the woman his credit card.

“I’ll bring those right over.” She gave Tinjin a quick wink of her eye.

Tinjin winked back.

When the woman was out of earshot Natalie shook her head. “Really?” she snapped, her eyes narrowed into thin slits as she stared at him.

“What?”

“You’re really going to flirt with another woman right in front of me? Really?”

“That wasn’t flirting. Besides, you set the rules. You said that it’s not like we’re friends, remember?”

“It’s still low of you. But then you’re a man, I guess I shouldn’t have expected better.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I don’t have a lot of expectations when it comes to you and your kind, TJ. That’s what it means.”

Tinjin crossed his arms over his chest. “Beautiful, mean and bitter. You’re just a walking contradiction, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

A wry smile pulled at his full lips. “You’re like an angel’s trumpet.”

“A what?” Confusion washed over her expression.

“Angel’s trumpet. It’s this incredibly beautiful flower. It has amazing color and seductive lines. In low doses it can be a highly effective hallucinogen. Too much and it’s lethal. It’s also called devil’s weed.”

Natalie paused as she pondered his comment. Before she could respond the hostess returned with their drinks.

“If you need anything else please let me know,” she said, the comment directed straight at Tinjin.

“Thank you. We’ll do that,” Natalie said.

Tinjin laughed. “I think you like me.”

“Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t,” Natalie said nonchalantly.

He nodded. “Yeah! You like me a lot!”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m getting used to you, TJ. Don’t misread me.”

“Oh, I’m reading you just fine, Gnat!” Tinjin said with a soft chuckle.

Natalie met the look he was giving her. Despite her best efforts she couldn’t fight the smile that pulled at her mouth. An easy laugh slipped past her lips. She rolled her eyes a second time.

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