LITMIR.BIZ

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we give it some thought, Mr. Stallion, we can come to a happy medium. Something like best friends with privileges, maybe?” Her coquettish expression was teasing as she batted her eyelashes at him.

      Nathaniel shook his head ever so slightly. “I need to run. I will call you and maybe then we can make plans.”

      “Promise?”

      “We’ll see,” he said as he winked his eye at her and headed for the door. “Have a good afternoon, Elise!”

      Minutes later Nathaniel and his brother were laughing heartily together. They sat at a corner table in Dametra Café, dining on fried calamari, dolmas, spanakopita and moussaka. The cozy restaurant with its assortment of Mediterranean cuisine was one of their favorites and the two brothers ate there every time Nicholas came to visit.

      “Why don’t you just tell that woman you’re not interested?” Nicholas asked.

      Nathaniel shrugged his broad shoulders. “Because I might be interested once I get my head clear. Right now though I have too much on my mind. The restaurant, my medical practice, you.”

      “What are you worried about me for?”

      “Someone needs to worry about you. You don’t worry enough and you should.”

      “I have a wife for that, and trust me, she does a great job.”

      “I know. It’s why I call her regularly to check up on you.”

      “So then you already know what the doctors have said about my next surgery.”

      “I know it’s a clinical trial with no certainty for success.”

      “Well, life doesn’t promise you certainty. Besides, they’re just going to implant an electrode stimulator along my spinal cord, flip the switch and then see what happens. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and say a lot of prayer.”

      “As long as you understand this research is still in its early stages. I don’t want you to be disappointed if you don’t get the results you want.”

      “I’d be disappointed if I didn’t give it a try. So I’m good with it.”

      The two stared at each other. Nathaniel carried much guilt about his brother’s condition. Nicholas, a former professional football player, had been severely injured in the biggest championship game of his career. Years before his accident, Nathaniel had warned him of the risks, pointing out that previous trauma had already left Nicholas more susceptible to injury. Back then he had recommended that Nicholas retire, but always stubborn, his brother had refused. Nathaniel should have insisted but he’d supported his twin’s choice instead. Now, Nicholas was a paraplegic, permanently confined to a wheel chair, and Nathaniel felt partially responsible.

      “Don’t do that,” Nicholas said.

      “Do what?”

      “Make me feel bad. We’re supposed to be celebrating and you’re making me feel bad. Now I’m depressed.” Nicholas grinned. “Not really!”

      “Sorry,” Nathaniel said with a chuckle. He held up both hands as if he were surrendering. “Changing the subject. So, catch me up with the family. I’ve been ignoring your sisters so I know they’re pissed at me.”

      “Pissed doesn’t begin to express what those two are feeling right now. I’m supposed to dial them both while I’m here with you since you won’t call either of them back.”

      Nathaniel laughed. “Naomi left a vicious message. Marriage clearly hasn’t sweetened her pleasant disposition.”

      “Patrick definitely has his hands full with her. But she and Natalie just want to know you’re okay. Natalie and Tinjin are planning to fly in next month, I think.”

      “I’ll call them both this evening. I swear I will.”

      “Have you talked to Noah?”

      “Not since last month when I told him about buying the property. He’s planning to come help with my security systems.”

      “Well, let him tell you before you say anything, but he and Catherine are pregnant! He told me yesterday and I’m sure he wants to tell you himself.”

      “Hot damn!” Nathaniel exclaimed. “We’re going to be uncles!”

      Nicholas laughed with his brother. “It’s pretty cool right? I never imagined any of us having kids. A week ago it seemed like such a foreign concept and now I’m excited. For them and us.”

      “You and Tarah haven’t thought about kids?”

      “We talk about it all the time. But she says she’s not ready and right now, with my situation, well...” He shrugged slightly.

      Nathaniel nodded his understanding. He moved the conversation forward. “The last time I talked to Natalie she said the same thing. She and Tinjin weren’t ready yet.”

      “When I talked to her she said they want to open their New York office and settle down in a home here in the United States before taking that step.”

      “I really don’t see Natalie leaving Paris.”

      “Me, either, but you never know. She may be missing this crazy, dysfunctional family of ours!”

      “Speaking of dysfunctional, have you spoken to Nolan?” Nathaniel asked, referring to the wayward father they had all just recently begun to have a relationship with.

      Nolan Perry was the biological parent who had not been in their lives when they were children. For too many years to count Nolan had been their mother’s lover, impregnating the teenaged Norris Jean Stallion while he claimed a wife and family on the other side of the Utah town where they’d been raised. Five children later, he’d blown out of their lives like a gale-force wind, leaving the twins and their siblings broken like downed trees.

      Just a few short months before their sister Naomi’s wedding, they all discovered Nolan had been as deceived and betrayed as they had been. Blatant lies, half-truths and seriously bad choices had kept him from his children, and now he was making a genuine effort to make up for lost time.

      Nicholas nodded. “He’s coming to help out when I have my surgery.” He shifted his eyes up to look directly at his brother. “He volunteered to come stay with me so Tarah doesn’t have to miss any time from the hospital. He’s also excited about coming for your grand opening.”

      “It’s still weird to me that we have a father who actually wants to be a part of our lives. I’m still not sure how I feel about it.”

      “I know, right? But it’s all good. No matter what, we still have each other. Stallions for life!”

      Nathaniel grinned. “Stallions for life!”

      The duo talked for another hour, falling into a rhythm they’d known since the womb. Nathaniel was excited to share his plans with his twin. Nicholas was proud of his brother and his added exuberance had them both riding sky-high.

      Nathaniel suddenly cussed. “What time is it?” he asked as he tapped at his wristwatch, the device still reading nine-thirty. He looked around the room, the lunch crowd having disappeared almost entirely.

      “It’s just four-thirty. Bad battery?”

      “More like time for a new watch. But I need to run. I’m meeting Bec and the contractor at the new property.”

      “Bec? Rebecca’s here in town?” Nicholas eyed him with a raised brow. “When did that happen?”

      “She flew in this morning. Why are you looking at me like that?”

      Nicholas laughed. “Oh my, my, my! No wonder your real estate agent couldn’t get any play from you. I can’t wait to tell your sisters this!”

      Nathaniel shook his head. “Please, don’t start. I’ve just hired Bec and her firm to do the marketing and promotion for the restaurant.

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