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

questions for the new boyfriend hour,” she said, cutting her gaze from one sibling to the next. “Not going to happen,” she concluded as she grabbed Tinjin’s hand and pulled him in the opposite direction.
    Amusement danced in Tinjin’s eyes as he quickly glanced over his shoulder, both their families eyeing them curiously.
    They moved through the rear of the house, into the kitchen and outside to the backyard. Natalie didn’t stop until they reached a concrete bench that rested at the edge of the floral garden that decorated the landscape. They both sat.
    “You have a sister, so I’m sure you get it, but my brothers can be really annoying when they want to be. And my sister, Naomi, can be worse!”
    Tinjin laughed. “I do get it. They’re concerned about your well-being. It’s what family does. But you have just given them more reason to be concerned. I had no issues with answering their questions.”
    Natalie rolled her eyes. “Well, we don’t know each other well enough for you to be getting the third degree. I haven’t decided if I like you yet.”
    “So then I’m
not
your new boyfriend?”
    She gave him a look, her eyes wide, her face skewed awkwardly. “No one said anything about you being my boyfriend, TJ!”
    Tinjin laughed. “Yes, you did, Gnat. You said there was going to be no new-boyfriend questioning going on.”
    “I did not!” she exclaimed.
    He continued to laugh, his face reddening with glee. “You did! You really did!”
    “I didn’t!” Her voice rose to a high pitch.
    “You did,” Noah said, having moved outside to join them.
    Natalie opened and closed her mouth like a guppy out of water. She finally took a deep breath, tossing both men an annoyed glare. “Maybe I did, but it was an accident. I’m not myself right now.”
    “Which is why I think you need to take things slow,” Noah said, his comment directed at Tinjin. “Very slow.” He turned to stare at his sister. “You’re in mourning right now. You don’t need to be making any life-changing decisions for at least the next six months. Any decisions, Natalie. People will take advantage of you when they know you’re in turmoil.”
    Tinjin bristled. He paused, locking gazes with the other man. For a brief moment he wanted to be offended but realized he would have said the same thing if the situation had been reversed. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Your brother’s right, Natalie. Not everyone is going to have your best interests at heart. I care about you and I don’t want to see you hurt.”
    “So do I need to worry about you hurting me?” she asked, eyeing him intently.
    Tinjin shook his head. “Never, but I wasn’t talking about me.” He looked to Noah who was still staring at him with reservation. “I like to think I’m one of the good guys. My grandmother raised me well and I would never do anything to embarrass her. I also value everything she taught me, first and foremost to be respectful of all women, particularly one I’m interested in.” He shifted his gaze toward Natalie. “To that end, it’s important to me that I have your family’s blessing, Natalie. They need to like me. Just like my sister Tierra and my grandmother will need to like you, too. Otherwise, you and I can’t even be friends.”
    Natalie scowled, her head waving from side to side. She crossed her arms over her chest as she turned to stare at the flowers. She didn’t bother to respond.
    Noah chuckled. He extended his hand to Tinjin. “I look forward to getting to know you, Tinjin. And good luck. She can be quite a handful!” Her brother was still laughing as he made his way across the lawn and back inside the home.
    Tierra was staring out the sliding glass doors as Noah made his way through the entrance. The two locked gazes.
    “Is everything okay?” she asked, concern tensing her brow.
    “Yeah, I think it is,” Noah said, his grin wide and full. “And I really like your brother. I’m glad my sister has