Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) by Deborah Fletcher Mello Page A
Authors: Deborah Fletcher Mello
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convincing.
There was a quiet pause as the ladies studied him. John and Mark both burst out laughing. Matthew and the two men high-fived each other.
Marah shook her head. “Well, we hope so,” she said finally. “This event is very important. And you know if you didn’t have a date you could have let me and Eden know earlier. We could have fixed you up with a lovely escort for the night.”
“And don’t forget that you are confirmed for two,” Juanita repeated.
Luke nodded as he dropped his eyes back into his plate. He pretended to be focused on the fried potatoes that topped his dish. Just like that, the conversation shifted again, Juanita putting Edward on the hot seat over something he’d forgotten to do.
As Luke’s gaze moved around the table, he met Matthew’s stare. His brother grinned, winking at him. Luke smiled back, chuckling softly to himself.
As he sat there, enjoying his family, his mind was racing a mile per minute. First thing on his agenda, he thought, was to find him a date before the sun set. He knew with total confidence who he wanted to ask, but went through the motion of mentally checking off his list of female friends. He was suddenly nervous, the short notice for the formal event being an issue.
This was a special event. This was truly a family affair. He couldn’t ask just anyone to accompany him. He would much rather attend solo than have some casual acquaintance show up on his arm. As he ticked off name after name of possible dates, only one name kept surfacing to the top of the list. If anyone was special enough to fit the bill, she was, he thought as he reached for his cell phone. Suddenly Luke could only imagine himself celebrating the occasion with one woman. Joanne Lake.
Chapter 10
J oanne dropped her cell phone to the desktop. Her hand was shaking, nervous excitement rushing through her bloodstream. Luke Stallion’s call had been an unexpected surprise and a very nice beginning to her day. Most especially after the previous evening they’d shared together.
The walk through the park had been a pleasant distraction. Joanne had needed that time to unwind, her nerves frayed from their encounter down at city hall. Neither she nor Luke had wanted that time to end as he had walked her slowly back to her car. Joanne drifted back into the moment.
“Can I interest you in dinner?” Luke had asked. His expression had been hopeful.
Joanne had glanced down to the watch on her wrist. “I don’t want to impose on any more of your time.”
“You wouldn’t be imposing. I know this wonderful place—”
Joanne shook her head as she interrupted him, holding up her hand in pause. “Stop right there. I’m not flying anywhere. Not today.”
The man laughed. “That’s not a problem. We don’t even have to leave downtown Dallas.”
Her smile was wide and full. “I can do dinner, then.”
Nodding his head, Luke gently tapped the side of her thigh, gesturing for her to slide over into the passenger seat. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll drive your car,” he said, taking full control of the moment.
With her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, she tossed him a questioning look. Luke laughed warmly. “I’m just afraid that if I have you follow me you’ll change your mind and turn around when we get there. So why don’t you simply indulge me, relax and just let yourself have a good time? Okay?”
Shaking her head, Joanne giggled softly as she lifted her legs up and over the center console, sliding into the passenger seat. “I don’t believe you,” she said, the laugher radiating warmth over her face.
Their ride had taken less than twenty minutes. As they pulled into the driveway of Luke’s Preston Hollow home, Joanne sensed that the man was better able to read her thoughts than she wanted to admit. He’d been right about her changing her mind. Had she been able, she would have turned her car around and raced back in the opposite direction. She couldn’t begin to
There was a quiet pause as the ladies studied him. John and Mark both burst out laughing. Matthew and the two men high-fived each other.
Marah shook her head. “Well, we hope so,” she said finally. “This event is very important. And you know if you didn’t have a date you could have let me and Eden know earlier. We could have fixed you up with a lovely escort for the night.”
“And don’t forget that you are confirmed for two,” Juanita repeated.
Luke nodded as he dropped his eyes back into his plate. He pretended to be focused on the fried potatoes that topped his dish. Just like that, the conversation shifted again, Juanita putting Edward on the hot seat over something he’d forgotten to do.
As Luke’s gaze moved around the table, he met Matthew’s stare. His brother grinned, winking at him. Luke smiled back, chuckling softly to himself.
As he sat there, enjoying his family, his mind was racing a mile per minute. First thing on his agenda, he thought, was to find him a date before the sun set. He knew with total confidence who he wanted to ask, but went through the motion of mentally checking off his list of female friends. He was suddenly nervous, the short notice for the formal event being an issue.
This was a special event. This was truly a family affair. He couldn’t ask just anyone to accompany him. He would much rather attend solo than have some casual acquaintance show up on his arm. As he ticked off name after name of possible dates, only one name kept surfacing to the top of the list. If anyone was special enough to fit the bill, she was, he thought as he reached for his cell phone. Suddenly Luke could only imagine himself celebrating the occasion with one woman. Joanne Lake.
Chapter 10
J oanne dropped her cell phone to the desktop. Her hand was shaking, nervous excitement rushing through her bloodstream. Luke Stallion’s call had been an unexpected surprise and a very nice beginning to her day. Most especially after the previous evening they’d shared together.
The walk through the park had been a pleasant distraction. Joanne had needed that time to unwind, her nerves frayed from their encounter down at city hall. Neither she nor Luke had wanted that time to end as he had walked her slowly back to her car. Joanne drifted back into the moment.
“Can I interest you in dinner?” Luke had asked. His expression had been hopeful.
Joanne had glanced down to the watch on her wrist. “I don’t want to impose on any more of your time.”
“You wouldn’t be imposing. I know this wonderful place—”
Joanne shook her head as she interrupted him, holding up her hand in pause. “Stop right there. I’m not flying anywhere. Not today.”
The man laughed. “That’s not a problem. We don’t even have to leave downtown Dallas.”
Her smile was wide and full. “I can do dinner, then.”
Nodding his head, Luke gently tapped the side of her thigh, gesturing for her to slide over into the passenger seat. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll drive your car,” he said, taking full control of the moment.
With her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, she tossed him a questioning look. Luke laughed warmly. “I’m just afraid that if I have you follow me you’ll change your mind and turn around when we get there. So why don’t you simply indulge me, relax and just let yourself have a good time? Okay?”
Shaking her head, Joanne giggled softly as she lifted her legs up and over the center console, sliding into the passenger seat. “I don’t believe you,” she said, the laugher radiating warmth over her face.
Their ride had taken less than twenty minutes. As they pulled into the driveway of Luke’s Preston Hollow home, Joanne sensed that the man was better able to read her thoughts than she wanted to admit. He’d been right about her changing her mind. Had she been able, she would have turned her car around and raced back in the opposite direction. She couldn’t begin to
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