Free My Stallion Heart (The Stallions Book 7) by Deborah Fletcher Mello

glance around the room. “There she is. Let me go check on her again,” she noted as she tossed both men a quick smile. “I’ll be back.”
    Tinjin shifted his gaze to follow where his sister headed. His eyes suddenly widened with recognition. “Natalie is your sister?” he asked, his gaze snapping in Noah’s direction.
    The man nodded. “Yes, my youngest. Do you know Natalie?”
    Tinjin’s head bobbed against his neck. “I do,” he said. “I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection.”
    Noah tapped him against his shoulder. “I’m sure she could use a good friend right now. Why don’t you go say hello. I have a few more people I need to speak to,” he said.
    Before Tinjin could respond Noah moved off in the opposite direction, expressing his appreciation to other friends who had come to call on the family. Turning his attention back to the beautiful woman who stood alone against a back wall, Tinjin took a deep breath. He’d taken his first step in her direction when she suddenly looked toward him, her gaze catching his. Surprise painted her expression.
    Tierra had just made it to Natalie’s side when Natalie brushed past her, moving quickly toward Tinjin instead. He crossed the distance between them and met her halfway, opening his arms to welcome her against him.
    “Tinjin!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
    “Why didn’t you tell me your mother had died?” he questioned as he tightened the hold he had around her torso. “You should have told me.”
    Tears suddenly seeped from her eyes. She intensified the grip she had around his waist and sobbed quietly, her tears dampening the front of his shirt. He continued to hold her, his gaze sweeping around the room. His noticed concerned stares, people eyeing them both compassionately. He didn’t miss her brother’s anxiety as Noah took a step toward them. A woman who resembled him and Natalie stalled his approach, her hand against his upper arm holding him back. Even his sister, Tierra, eyed them both with trepidation, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other clutching nervously at the pearls she wore around her neck.
    When Natalie was all cried out she took a step back, moving herself out of his arms. She swiped at her eyes, then met the concerned look he was giving her. “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
    Tinjin smiled. “My sister is Tierra Stallion. She’s married to your cousin Travis.”
    Natalie nodded. “I guess if I’d have told you my full name we would have made the connection sooner.”
    “We would have,” he agreed.
    She took a deep breath and then a second. “So now that I’ve embarrassed myself miserably, crying like a baby, I should probably introduce you to my family.” She grabbed his hand and led the way.
    Tinjin was only slightly disconcerted when they came to a quick halt in front of Noah and two other men who’d joined him.
    Natalie’s introduction was abrupt at best. “Tinjin, these are my brothers. Noah, Nathaniel, Nicholas, this is Tinjin,” she said, “and this is my sister, Naomi.”
    Tinjin extended his hands in greeting. The Stallion brothers were eyeing him suspiciously. “It’s very nice to meet you all,” Tinjin said, his own anxiety beginning to stir like the barest wisp of a breeze through his spirit.
    Noah nodded as he gestured toward his family. “Tinjin is related to the Stallions by marriage. Travis’s wife, Tierra, is his sister.”
    “How do you two know each other?” Naomi asked, one eyebrow raised curiously.
    “We met on the flight in,” Tinjin said.
    “So you just met?” Nicholas questioned. His stance tightened as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other, his hands clenched into tight fists at his side.
    Tinjin nodded. “Yes. We were stranded at Kennedy airport together. Spent two days talking.”
    “So where do you live?” the other brother asked.
    Natalie shook her head vehemently. “This is not going to be an episode of twenty