Read Online My Stallion Heart (The Stallions Book 7) by Deborah Fletcher Mello - Free Book Online
Authors: Deborah Fletcher Mello
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Sagas, Espionage, Adult, Family Life, London, Siblings, African American, Careers, Future, haunted, Designer, reunion, playboy, Utah, supermodel, Estate, suspicion, Threats, Estranged, Collide
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enforcement,” Naomi interjected. “Noah is the lead detective in the Salt Lake City police department’s criminal investigations unit.”
“That’s impressive,” John said, everyone nodding in agreement.
“And I play ball,” Nicholas said. “Professional football.”
“Hot damn!” Mark said, jumping to his feet. He pointed his index finger at the man. “I know who you are. You played college ball at Auburn. You were an All American and you won the Heisman your sophomore year. If I remember correctly your first Iron Bowl game against Alabama you went twenty-five for twenty-seven for 356 yards and four touchdowns! You were ranked one of the nation’s top-rated passers and went number three in the NFL draft. The Raiders picked you to be their go-to guy to fix their losing streak, then never gave you the ball!”
Nick laughed. “Well, Douglas just retired so that’s about to change.”
“About damn time!” Mark said excitedly as he sat back down. “I am getting my season tickets before I go to bed tonight!”
“Do you get to the West Coast often?” Nathaniel asked.
John chuckled. “Mark goes wherever there’s a game or a race. If it’s moving fast or hard he wants to ride it or watch it.”
There was a round of laughter.
“So what do you do, Nathaniel?” Luke asked.
“I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I specialize in sports medicine.”
“Your own personal team doctor! I like that,” Matthew said with a nod at the two brothers.
“I like it, too!” Nicholas said.
“You would,” Nathaniel responded, rolling his eyes at his brother.
Natalie smiled as she turned to stare at the two of them. A tear dripped past her lashes as she suddenly realized just how much she’d missed her family. She took a deep breath and held it, fighting to stall any other water that threatened to rain down her cheeks.
John gave her a warm smile. “I’m sure your mother was very proud of each of you and of your accomplishments. Noah told me that you had some struggles growing up but it sounds like you’ve all done very well for yourselves.”
Noah nodded. “Just like you, we had each other. We made it work for us.” He gave each of his siblings a look, pride gleaming in his dark eyes.
“Why don’t we head down to dinner so you can meet the rest of the family,” Matthew said. “I imagine we’re going to have a lifetime to catch up and get to know each other.”
Noah wrapped his arms around his sisters’ shoulders. “We like the sound of that, cousin. We really do.”
* * *
The laughter ringing through the room was thick and full as the Stallion family dined in the hotel’s banquet room. The menu was a smorgasbord of everyone’s favorites and it was served family-style, large platters of entrees and sides for them to enjoy. The abundance of food was rivaled only by the abundance of love that filled the space.
Natalie laughed until her sides hurt as she and her siblings recalled the antics of their mother, sharing stories from their past. They were enthralled as John and Travis spoke lovingly about their fathers, the uncles Natalie and her siblings had never met. There was an air of sadness that passed between them as they thought about the men who would probably have been excellent role models for them to emulate, if only their mother had not closed herself and her children off from them. As Natalie sat there in reflection, studying the smiles and laughter around the table, an air of melancholy washed over her spirit. She blew a deep sigh.
Her thoughts were interrupted by two cherubs suddenly standing at her knee, eyeing her curiously. Both little girls were wide-eyed and red cheeked, bouncing with energy as they rested for the first time since entering the room. Natalie smiled brightly. “Hello!” she chimed softly. “What are your names?”
The older child tilted her head slightly. Her gaze was wary as she pondered whether or not she was going to speak. Her father’s booming voice caught her
“That’s impressive,” John said, everyone nodding in agreement.
“And I play ball,” Nicholas said. “Professional football.”
“Hot damn!” Mark said, jumping to his feet. He pointed his index finger at the man. “I know who you are. You played college ball at Auburn. You were an All American and you won the Heisman your sophomore year. If I remember correctly your first Iron Bowl game against Alabama you went twenty-five for twenty-seven for 356 yards and four touchdowns! You were ranked one of the nation’s top-rated passers and went number three in the NFL draft. The Raiders picked you to be their go-to guy to fix their losing streak, then never gave you the ball!”
Nick laughed. “Well, Douglas just retired so that’s about to change.”
“About damn time!” Mark said excitedly as he sat back down. “I am getting my season tickets before I go to bed tonight!”
“Do you get to the West Coast often?” Nathaniel asked.
John chuckled. “Mark goes wherever there’s a game or a race. If it’s moving fast or hard he wants to ride it or watch it.”
There was a round of laughter.
“So what do you do, Nathaniel?” Luke asked.
“I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I specialize in sports medicine.”
“Your own personal team doctor! I like that,” Matthew said with a nod at the two brothers.
“I like it, too!” Nicholas said.
“You would,” Nathaniel responded, rolling his eyes at his brother.
Natalie smiled as she turned to stare at the two of them. A tear dripped past her lashes as she suddenly realized just how much she’d missed her family. She took a deep breath and held it, fighting to stall any other water that threatened to rain down her cheeks.
John gave her a warm smile. “I’m sure your mother was very proud of each of you and of your accomplishments. Noah told me that you had some struggles growing up but it sounds like you’ve all done very well for yourselves.”
Noah nodded. “Just like you, we had each other. We made it work for us.” He gave each of his siblings a look, pride gleaming in his dark eyes.
“Why don’t we head down to dinner so you can meet the rest of the family,” Matthew said. “I imagine we’re going to have a lifetime to catch up and get to know each other.”
Noah wrapped his arms around his sisters’ shoulders. “We like the sound of that, cousin. We really do.”
* * *
The laughter ringing through the room was thick and full as the Stallion family dined in the hotel’s banquet room. The menu was a smorgasbord of everyone’s favorites and it was served family-style, large platters of entrees and sides for them to enjoy. The abundance of food was rivaled only by the abundance of love that filled the space.
Natalie laughed until her sides hurt as she and her siblings recalled the antics of their mother, sharing stories from their past. They were enthralled as John and Travis spoke lovingly about their fathers, the uncles Natalie and her siblings had never met. There was an air of sadness that passed between them as they thought about the men who would probably have been excellent role models for them to emulate, if only their mother had not closed herself and her children off from them. As Natalie sat there in reflection, studying the smiles and laughter around the table, an air of melancholy washed over her spirit. She blew a deep sigh.
Her thoughts were interrupted by two cherubs suddenly standing at her knee, eyeing her curiously. Both little girls were wide-eyed and red cheeked, bouncing with energy as they rested for the first time since entering the room. Natalie smiled brightly. “Hello!” she chimed softly. “What are your names?”
The older child tilted her head slightly. Her gaze was wary as she pondered whether or not she was going to speak. Her father’s booming voice caught her
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