Free Lost in a Stallion's Arms (Kimani Romance) by Deborah Fletcher Mello

here.”
    Joanne crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him with some reservation. She hated to admit that he was probably right. She’d been more than ready for some group activity. The very thought of him and her spending time one-on-one would have made her too nervous. Nevertheless, there they were.
    Joanne met his gaze, the deep stare shooting heat straight to her southern quadrant. A sly smile pulled at his mouth, and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling back. “This amuses you, doesn’t it?” she said, chuckling softly.
    Luke nodded. “You amuse me. You’re a hard woman to read, Joanne Lake, and you’ve really been giving me a run for my money.”
    Joanne laughed. “You don’t say.”
    The man nodded. “So, are we friends now?”
    She shrugged. “We’ll see,” she answered, her eyebrows raised ever so slightly. “I’ll let you know when the night is over.”
    Conversation flowed like water. Joanne found herself enjoying the laughter that billowed warmly in the air between them. Luke had taken the liberty of ordering dinner before her arrival, and within minutes of their sitting down, a waiter was serving them a spectacular meal of lobster ravioli with a chocolate soufflé for dessert. Between them they polished off a bottle of very expensive wine, and Joanne found herself falling head over heels into a state of blissful relaxation.
    Luke couldn’t stop himself from staring at her. Dropping into the dark depths of her gaze, he felt as if he’d found something that had been lost to him since forever. The emotion was startling and comforting at the same time. As they sat in deep discussion, enjoying the meal and the company, he marveled at how easily he was able to open up to her.
    Joy spilled out of her eyes as they talked about the center and her business. He marveled at the glow that shone in her face. She spoke passionately about her love for her work and the families she’d come to care for. Time flew as they became acquainted with one another. Luke found himself talking a lot about his life and asking question after question about hers.
    “One of the ladies at the center was telling me that you live near the center with your mother. Were you raised in that area?”
    Joanne paused, a lie threatening to spill past her lips. She evaded the question instead. “I was raised here and there, nowhere special.”
    “You don’t like talking about yourself, do you?”
    “There’s not much to talk about.” She smiled. “Besides, I’m enjoying talking about you more.”
    He leaned back in his seat, folding his hands in his lap as he studied her expression. “So, what else can I tell you? What do you want to know about me? I’m an open book, so ask away.”
    A glint of mischief danced in Joanne’s eyes. She leaned forward, her elbows propped on the table as she dropped her chin against the back of her cupped hands.
    “How many stamps do you have in your passport?”
    “Not enough.”
    “Have you ever had sex on a first date?”
    “No.”
    “Never?”
    Luke smirked. “Never, but I’ve had sex on a few last dates.”
    Joanne chuckled, shaking her head. “That’s so wrong in so many ways.”
    “Never said I was a Boy Scout. What’s the next question?”
    Joanne paused for a brief moment. “What’s your definition of foreplay? ”
    The man’s eyes widened in surprise. He suddenly laughed, mirth rising out of his midsection and flooding his entire body. He laughed hard, the intensity of it moving him to tears. He pressed the cloth napkin in his lap to the corner of his eyes, dabbing at the moisture that had clouded his vision. “That was a good one!”
    Joanne laughed with him. “I know. So answer the question.”
    Luke nodded. “Wow! My definition of foreplay ,” he repeated, enthralled by the energy that spun from her eyes. Pausing, Joanne could see his mind racing for an answer. “Why don’t I just show you,” he said finally, lifting himself from his seat and extending his hand