To Tempt A Stallion. Deborah Mello Fletcher

you both if you do.”

      The sisters laughed, their voices echoing over the line at the same time. “We love you, too, Nathaniel!”

      * * *

      Nathaniel started with flowers. Beautiful bouquets of yellow roses. When the first few dozen arrived, Rebecca had been moved to tears. As they kept coming, her hotel suite beginning to look like it had been attacked by a flower fairy, she knew she couldn’t avoid him a minute longer. She was just about to dial his phone when there was another knock on the hotel room door. There had been a steady stream of hotel employees delivering the arrangements and anticipating another was just about to send her back into a foul mood. She pushed the number to connect her line to his and pulled the phone to her ear. She threw the door to her room open at the same time.

      The cell phone in Nathaniel’s pocket vibrated just as Rebecca opened the door. He juggled the large vase in his arms as he reached for the device. “Hey,” he said, “Sorry, but I need to answer...”

      She shook her head. “It’s only me,” she said, waving her own phone in her hand.

      She pushed the call-end button and his cell phone stopped vibrating. “Hey.”

      Nathaniel smiled. “May I come in?”

      Rebecca took a step back and gestured with her hand for him to pass. As he did, the aroma of his cologne mingled sweetly with the scent of roses, teasing her senses. She inhaled him, biting down against her bottom lip to stall the rise of desire that threatened to interrupt the moment. Nathaniel gave her a brilliantly white smile as he handed her the bouquet of roses he’d been holding. Once inside he turned to face her and watched as she set the flowers onto a table.