To Tempt A Stallion. Deborah Fletcher Mello

to catch his breath.

      Nathaniel chuckled. “He did not. I know you, Bec.”

      She moved to where he sat and pulled up the stool beside him. “So, really, what’s up with you and Susie Homemaker.”

      “Nothing. Yet. She helped me find this place and we’ve talked about maybe hanging out together after I get the restaurant open. It’s nothing serious though.”

      “You and your women never are,” Rebecca teased.

      Nathaniel shrugged. “This could be different. You never now. It’s about time I thought about settling down. Right?”

      Carl shook his head. “You really don’t want to do that. Trust me,” he said. “Marriage isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.”

      “Says the man who is on his fourth wife!” Rebecca said with a laugh.

      “Angel is my third wife, thank you very much. Lisa or Terry might be my fourth wife. Not quite sure yet.”

      Rebecca rolled her eyes skyward. “You are such a man!”

      “And you are seriously making us all look bad,” Nathaniel interjected.

      The trio laughed, falling back into their easy way of being with each other. Despite how long it had been since they were last together it was like old times all over again. After a few minutes catching up, Nathaniel and Carl moved to take a tour of the building so that Nathaniel could point out the changes and renovations he wanted done fast and quick.

      Rebecca stared after him. Everything about Nathaniel Stallion made her heart skip beats. Nathaniel had always been a man who dazzled without even knowing that he had that kind of swag. In school, he’d been the studious type, focused on his grades and his future. His twin brother Nicholas had garnered the attention on and off the football field. Nathaniel had been the serious brother, not nearly as outgoing and a little slow for the lengthy list of females enamored with his dark eyes.

      He had an athletic build, his body a strong, solid mass of rock-hard muscle. Regular workouts kept him in fit shape. He was tall, with legs like solid tree trunks and a café au lait complexion that was as much coffee as it was cream. She watched as he scaled a ladder. He wore denim jeans and the view from where she sat was quite delectable. She bit down against her bottom lip to stall the quiver of heat that suddenly pierced her feminine spirit.

      Wanting Nathaniel from a distance was one thing. Wanting him when he was close enough to reach out and touch was something else. For a split second Rebecca found herself questioning whether or not coming to help had been a smart decision. And then she thought about the other woman who clearly had her sights set on something happening between her and Nathaniel. He had said yet. Which meant he was actually considering the prospect of something happening with him and his new buddy Elise. The thought made Rebecca cringe with irritation and envy.

      She blew a soft sigh. Nathaniel was much more than just her best friend. She couldn’t imagine her life without him and she always feared that a serious relationship with another woman might be the end of the bond they shared. She loved him and she knew he cared about her just as deeply. But Nathaniel had never looked at her as anything more than a friend. And as she thought about it, Rebecca realized, she had never before given him any reason to see her any differently.

      * * *

      “So have you finally decided on the name yet?” Rebecca sat on Nathaniel’s family room sofa, watching as he moved about casually in his kitchen.

      “The name?”

      “For the restaurant. What do you plan to call it? I know there were two at the top of your list that you really liked. Which one did you decide on?”

      Nathaniel lifted his gaze to stare at her. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail and her feet were bare. She had changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants and looked quite comfortable where she rested, her legs extended atop the ottoman. A playlist of soft jazz and blues billowed through the air, painting the walls with a bold hint of chill.

      The afternoon had gone longer than either had anticipated. The list of things needed to meet his deadline with the restaurant had gotten more and more extensive as they and Carl had brainstormed together. Most of the work Carl needed to do was cosmetic: minor woodwork repairs and paint. Only one major wall needed to be blown out to open the dining room and both the men’s and women’s bathrooms would be gutted and completely replaced with new fixtures and tile. There was also the installation of the stage and dance floor that he’d insisted on. With the exception of a few appliances already scheduled to be replaced the kitchen was top-notch.

      Staffing was being handled by an outside agency, and the list of potential employees ready to be interviewed had exploded hours after their advertisement had hit the local newspaper. Rebecca had already begun the marketing and promotional plan, starting with the setup of the website and social media pages.

      “I need the business name, Nate.”

      “Dinner.”

      “Excuse me?”

      “Dinner. I’m calling the restaurant Dinner.”

      There was a moment of pause as Rebecca reflected on his comment. She muttered softly under her breath. “Thank you for calling Dinner. Welcome to Dinner. Let’s go to Dinner for dinner!” She jotted notes into the lined pad on her lap. Her voice rose an octave. “Why did you choose Dinner? Why not The Melting Pot or one of the others?”

      “Dinner just felt right. When you think about the menu and the ambience the restaurant will have, it just works.” He stepped into the room, swiping his hands against a dishcloth. “Why? Don’t you like it?”

      “Actually, I think it’s perfect. And I had a feeling, after our last conversation, that it was the one you were leaning toward which is why I had my team do some mockups of the logos and signage. I think you’re going to be pretty pleased.” She gestured with a file folder of documents that she’d pulled from the leather attaché at the foot of the chair.

      Nathaniel moved to her side, dropping down onto the sofa beside her. He took the folder from her hands and began to flip through its contents. As he studied the documents inside, a wave of emotion suddenly consumed him. It was rife with exhilaration and a hint of anxiety. A single, solitary tear rolled past his lashes.

      “Is everything okay?” Rebecca asked, her tone consoling. “Are they that bad?”

      He chuckled, shaking his head. “Actually, they’re that good. I’m very impressed.”

      “Is that’s why you’re all teary?”

      “I’m not teary, Bec!”

      “Could have fooled me,” she said, her warm smile encouraging his. She knew him and knew something was on his mind. Something needing to be said.

      Nathaniel spun his body lengthwise and rested his head in her lap. He settled himself comfortably against her as he flipped through the folder a second time. “I really like this second set. It’s perfect.”

      Rebecca nodded. “That’s my favorite, too. It’s bold yet the edges are just soft enough. It’s inviting. And it looks amazing on the menu!”

      Nathaniel shifted his eyes upward to stare at her. He let the folder fall down against his abdomen. He heaved a deep breath and then a second as he seemed to be gathering his thoughts and searching for the right words. Rebecca let him ponder the moment and waited patiently for him to say what was bothering him.

      “This is really happening, Bec,” he said finally, an air of awe in his tone. “It’s been five years since I first thought about doing this and now it’s really about to happen.”

      “It is, and it’s going to be a major success. You’ve already had five years to work out the kinks.”

      Nathaniel chuckled. “I can only hope it’ll be that easy.”

      “Look, you have plotted every possible scenario of what could go wrong.