Chapter 7

      Mark Stallion watched as Matthew paced from one end of the room to the other, glancing down at the watch on his wrist every few minutes. He grinned broadly and gestured with his head, meeting John’s eye.

       “Your brother’s got it bad,” he said.

       John nodded, his own brilliant smile filling his dark face. “First time in a very long time.”

       Mark laughed. “Not since junior high school and that crush he had on Millie Stanfield.”

       John laughed with him. “I forgot all about him and Millie.”

       “I can hear you two,” Matthew interjected. “And I did not have a crush on Millie Stanfield.”

       John swiped at the moisture that had risen on his eyelids. “I know that’s right. You were head over heels in love until Millie slapped you in the back of the head for looking up her skirt.”

       Matthew rolled his eyes, stopping in his tracks to stare down at the two men. “I would never have looked up Millie’s skirt. I have always been a gentleman.”

       “You looked up her skirt, trying to figure out if her thighs were as thick as her calves,” Mark teased.

       Matthew shook his head. “That’s not what I was looking for,” he said with a sly grin. “But you boys wouldn’t know anything about that.”

       “I know Millie slapped the fire out of you for sneaking a peek. She had your ears ringing for a month afterwards,” John added, barely able to get his remark out in between laughter.

       The three men chuckled warmly.

       “So,” John said, regaining his composure, “what’s got you twisted tonight?”

       “Don’t you mean who has him twisted?” Mark questioned, his eyebrows raised.

       John nodded. “And the answer to that would be…”

       Matthew smiled, shrugging his broad shoulders skyward. “Spend half as much time minding your own business and you won’t have any time to be minding mine.”

       John laughed. “Told you!” he said, gesturing with his head toward Mark.

       Mark laughed with him. “I think he told you, too!”

       “So, who’s the lucky lady tonight?” John asked, his arms crossing over his broad chest.

       Grinning, Matthew finally came to a halt, moving to take a seat in the leather wing chair that sat opposite his brother. “I’m having dinner with Katrina Broomes.”

       “Didn’t you just have dinner with the judge?” John asked.

       “We did brunch after church Sunday with her son. Tonight is an adult excursion. No one under the age of twenty-one permitted.”

       Mark nodded. “Sounds like you have plans!”

       “I’m just going to make sure the woman has a nice time,” Matthew responded.

       John gestured toward the door and the driver who’d stepped into the entrance to announce that he was ready whenever Mr. Stallion was. “I see you’re taking the limo. I’m sure she’s going to have a nice time, indeed.”

       Rising from where he’d briefly rested, Matthew moved toward the entrance. “Good night, John-boy. Good night, Mark. Don’t you boys wait up for me. I’m sure I’m going to miss my curfew!”

       The brothers chuckled heartily as they stared after their kin.

       When Matthew was no longer in sight, Mark shook his head from side to side. “I’ve got twenty dollars that says he’s dating a Playboy model by next week.”

       John shook his head. “You don’t want to make that bet, little brother. I’m thinking Matthew might have finally met his match. I’d hate to have to take your twenty dollars from you like that!”

      * * *

       Katrina stood in the full-length mirror, assessing yet another outfit that might be fitting for her dinner date with Matthew Stallion. But it wasn’t as if this was a date date, she thought, wanting to convince herself that the evening wouldn’t be much of anything at all. It was, after all, just dinner.

       She heaved a deep sigh at the navy blue suit that draped the wooden clothes hanger. It being just dinner didn’t mean she had to go dressed like she was going to a business meeting, either, she mused. There had to be something in her closet that made her look more like a woman who might be in want of a man than a woman who was trying to compete with one.

       Stepping into the oversize walk-in closet, Katrina scanned the multitude of dark blue and black garments that ran from one end of the space to the other. It took no time at all for her to determine that she really needed to upgrade her wardrobe. Nothing remotely feminine was hanging there for her to wear.

       She heaved a deep sigh and reached for her cell phone, punching in the speed-dial number to her best friend. After three rings, a woman’s shrill voice called out her name.

       “Katrina, why are you calling me? I thought you had a date?”

       “What I have are dinner plans. It’s not a date. And I’m calling you because I have nothing appropriate to wear.”

       Lacey Hamilton laughed into the receiver. “I’m sorry. You mean this isn’t a suit-and-tie event?”

       “Lacey, do you have a dress I can borrow, please?” Katrina asked, the exasperation ringing in her tone. “And I need it right now. My dinner companion will be here in thirty minutes.”

       Katrina could almost visualize the smug expression on her friend’s face as the woman responded.

       “Every time we go shopping, I keep telling you to expand your selections, but no, you’re the one who keeps telling me that white blouses, granny skirts and black slacks will suffice. Now you want to borrow something a little sexier?”

       “I never said sexy. I just don’t want to look like I’m going to a business meeting.”

       Lacey laughed. “So who’s the lucky guy?”

       Katrina hesitated. “Matthew Stallion.”

       Lacey’s tone perked up considerably. “The Matthew Stallion? Matthew Stallion of the prestigious Stallion family? Legal eagle Matthew Stallion? That Matthew Stallion?”

       Katrina rolled her eyes skyward. “Yes. What does that matter?”

       Her friend laughed warmly into the receiver. “I have just the