A Stallion Dream Read online

  “This can’t be good,” Felicia said. She shot London a look.

  “It’s not even nine o’clock yet,” Paula muttered, her head waving.

  London gave the man a nod and slight smile, then watched as he turned and disappeared into the meeting room. She focused back on her friends, her eyes rolling skyward. “I’m sure it’s fine. You two need to stop being so dramatic.”

  “After the weekend I’ve had, I deserve to be dramatic,” Felicia said. “Gary came home and all he did was argue with the old people,” she said, referring to her brother. Her wayward sibling had been a boil on the family’s good name since his first arrest when he was sixteen. Their father was a state representative who’d focused his election on the social evils of addiction and crime. Representative Tyson had lifted his only son up as an example of his understanding of the plight facing the families in his district. London could only begin to imagine their turmoil with Gary’s current release for yet another petty crime. She nodded, reaching to give the young woman a hug.

  The three women exhaled simultaneously, low gusts of air blowing past glossy lips. Their gazes shifted back and forth, and then they laughed.

  London moved to the door and pulled it open. “Let’s go meet the new guy,” she said.

  * * *

  “Ladies, good morning,” Perry said as he greeted the trio with a stern stare. He met each of their gazes as he beckoned them into the room.

  “Good morning, Perry,” London said, narrowing her gaze as she met his. “To what do we owe the honor this morning?”

  Most of the staff was sitting around, sipping cups of coffee and eating doughnuts from Jarams Artisan Donuts. The shop was a north Dallas fixture that specialized in pretty confections. Three white baker’s boxes held fried rings of dough filled with an assortment of creams, drizzled with glazes and sprinkled with powdered sugar, nuts and candies. They scented the whole room with an abundance of sweet fragrance.

  Perry gestured toward the other end of the space and the man standing there, shaking hands. “I figured since we were having a staff meeting and welcoming our new attorney, it wouldn’t hurt to kick off the week with a treat.”

  London gave him a slight nod. Perry had only recently assumed responsibility for the law firm and was still finding his balance with the staff. He had a reputation for being uptight and a tad anal. He was a stickler for punctuality and usually frowned on them not using every minute of their time working. She couldn’t help wondering what was so special about the new guy that warranted the party-like welcome.

  Perry seemed to read her mind. His voice dropped an octave as he leaned in to whisper, “His name is Collin Stallion. Heir to Stallion Enterprises and the infamous Stallion family fortune. His mother is also...”

  “Judge Katrina Stallion. She serves the 232nd District Criminal Court. I’m familiar with her. She has a large presence at the Dallas Girls Club. She’s been mentoring there for years.” There was a hint of awe in London’s tone.

  Perry nodded his head excitedly. “Yes! And the Stallion family have been great supporters of all our efforts. His father has volunteered his services here many times and John Stallion sits on the board.”

  London barely gave the man a hint of a smile in response. There weren’t many in Dallas who didn’t know the Stallion name or reputation. Stallion Enterprises had been started by John Stallion, one of four brothers. It was a successful corporate empire built on commercial real estate and development, as well as a shipping company, numerous entertainment interests and a lengthy chain of hotels. The brothers—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—had grown the endeavor into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

  “Let me introduce you,” Perry started, just as his secretary called his name, gesturing frantically for his attention.

  “Please, go,” London said. “I’ll introduce myself.”

  As Perry hurried out of the room, London turned to eye the man who had most of the women, and a few of the men, fawning for his attention. Paula and Felicia had already shaken hands with him and both now sat at the table, doughnuts in hand as they whispered like two hens. She shook her head at them as Paula gestured in his direction, winking teasingly.

  Collin Stallion was definitely as good-looking as both her friends had claimed. He was tall, easily standing over six feet. He was dressed in a silk suit that fitted him to perfection, the dark navy flattering his warm beige complexion. A white dress shirt, red paisley necktie and black patent-leather dress shoes completed the ensemble. The shoes were expensive and highly polished, and told London everything she needed to know about the man. His hair was dreadlocked, the light, sandy-brown strands falling just past his shoulders. He’d captured the length in a neat ponytail that hung down the center of his back.

  Collin was suddenly staring directly at her. His eyes were a deep shade of amber with gold flecks that shimmered behind lengthy lashes. London heard herself gasp, a swift inhale of air that sounded as if she’d been punched square in the stomach. He was dazzling, emanating a glow of kindness that felt infectious. It had captivated everyone in the room and even London was finding it difficult to resist.

  She snatched her gaze from his and took two deep breaths before shifting her eyes back to his. He was still staring, a bright smile filling his chiseled face. He was exquisite, and despite her every effort, he took her breath away. Needing a distraction, she turned her attention back to his shoes, which, she recognized, were designed by the contemporary shoemaker Maison Corthay. The crisply polished leather easily cost what she paid in rent for three months. She hated that she knew that. Her obsession with designer fashion was a guilty pleasure few were aware of. Nor did they know that most of her own designer-label possessions were previous years’ releases found at local thrift and consignment shops.

  Everyone was familiar with the Stallion family’s reputation. Collin’s parents were at the top of their game in the legal profession. His uncles had built one of the largest black-owned corporations in the world, each of them making one of Forbes magazine’s rich lists annually. The family’s wealth was impressive and mind-boggling. Collin Stallion’s silver spoon came with gold medallions and diamond-encrusted embellishments. So, what was he really doing there? Her name being spoken pulled at her attention. She looked up with a start, then forced a smile to her face as she lifted her eyes to find Perry and Collin standing right in front of her. Her gaze met Collin’s and locked.

  “London is one of our staff attorneys. She litigates postconviction cases here in the Dallas area. She’s been a top litigator for us for almost two years now,” Perry said.

  He went on to complete the introduction. “London, this is Collin Stallion. Attorney Stallion was in Boston prior to passing the bar here in Texas. He’s bypassing an opportunity to practice corporate law to help us here with our innocence initiative. You two will be working closely together.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stallion. Welcome aboard.”

  “Please, call me Collin,” he said as his palm slid gently against hers.

  London was surprised to discover his hands weren’t as soft and pasty as she had expected. His skin was slightly calloused, his fingers were strong, and his palm was surprisingly hot. A wave of heat surged in her like a firestorm. London was taken aback by the magnitude of it and practically snatched her hand from his.

  The furl of his lips deepened, showcasing the prettiest set of snow-white teeth. “Thank you,” he said, his deep voice thick and rich like blackstrap molasses. “I look forward to our working together.”

  London tossed him a nod of her head. “I think I’ll grab a doughnut,” she said as she stepped back, Perry already pulling another attorney forward to make an introduction.

  A doughnut? Did I really just say that? London shook her head as she eased over to the other side of the room. I should have kept looking at his damn shoes, she thought.

  * * *
/>   Both Paula and Felicia were grinning foolishly at her as she sat down.

  “That looked like it went well,” Felicia said, her laughter teasing. “You didn’t trip on anything.”

  “That glazed deer-in-headlights look you have isn’t pretty, though,” Paula said. “There’s a hint of desperation, just a tiny hint,” she added teasingly, gesturing with her thumb and forefinger.

  “Neither of you is funny,” London said, a frown pulling the lines of her face downward. Her eyes rolled as she poked at a chocolate-iced doughnut Felicia pushed toward her.

  “Actually, I think it went very well. He’s still staring at you,” Paula quipped.

  “Staring at who?” London asked, her eyes widening.

  Paula laughed, “At you.” She gestured with her head, throwing the slightest of nods in the man’s direction.

  London tossed a quick glance over her shoulder. Collin was still staring and when he saw her looking, he smiled.

  * * *

  Collin gazed from his office toward Attorney Jacobs’s, hoping against all odds to catch a glimpse of the beautiful woman. London Jacobs had taken his breath away and it had truly been a struggle to contain his interest. She’d captured his attention the moment she’d entered the conference room. Despite her obvious efforts to mask her supermodel looks, she was stunning. She wore the barest hint of makeup, her face adorned with just a little eyeliner and rose-tinted lip gloss. She wore a charcoal-gray silk suit, the blazer closed with four buttons and belted around her waist. Her hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail. She was a wisp of a woman, petite in stature, with hints of curves in all the right places. She was the sweetest confection, with a mouth that begged to be kissed. Despite his best efforts at self-control, he couldn’t stop thinking about kissing London Jacobs’s delicate mouth or the dreamy look in her eyes when she’d looked at him.

  There was a purity in her expression, and something very refreshing in her appraisal of him. She hadn’t seemed at all impressed, neither the reputation of his family name nor his looks swaying her attention. Usually women fell all over him, influenced by one, the other or both. Women his father and uncles had often told him to be wary of.

  While there had been a few who had been excessively attentive to him, London had appeared genuinely disinterested until those moments they’d locked gazes and held on. And when they’d connected, it wasn’t what he saw but more about a feeling that singed the edges of his spirit as heat coursed up his spine. There’d been fire in the dark orbs of her eyes and it had ignited something deep in his core that was still simmering on a slow burn.

  Perry suddenly stood in the doorway, gesturing for his attention, an index finger waving as if it was unhinged. “Collin, if I can grab you for minute, please.” He shook a manila file folder in the other hand.

  “Certainly,” Collin said, rising from his seat.

  He followed as Perry led the way to London’s office. Perry knocked before he pushed his way inside.

  Collin paused at the entrance, and when she gestured with a polite smile he felt a quiver of something he couldn’t quite name billow through his midsection.

  London greeted them both warmly. “Gentlemen, please, have a seat. How can I help you?”

  Perry looked from her to him with a raised brow. “They’ve set a trial date for the Jerome James case. It’s been decided that Collin will sit second chair with you.”

  * * *

  Although his internships had given him a wealth of experience, Collin couldn’t help feeling like he might be out of his element. The boxes of case files that littered his office seemed to be growing exponentially as he shifted through the multitude of folders that detailed everything about Mr. Jerome James, a former community activist incarcerated for the murder of his wife. James had always maintained his innocence and had become somewhat of a legend in the community. Affording him a new trial had taken the innocence coalition eight years of one court motion after another to secure. Countless hours and the efforts of a large task force had laid the foundation for what would soon come. Collin blew a soft sigh, moving yet another folder of documents to his completed pile as he pulled one from the to-be-read pile. Leaning back in his seat, he made himself comfortable.

  He’d been reading for a good hour when he looked up to find Attorney Jacobs staring at him. She stood in his doorway with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, a curious furrow on her brow. Amusement pierced his spirit as he stared back. She hadn’t had much to say to him since he’d been assigned to work with her. For the last few weeks, the little conversation between them had been limited to polite chatter and her admonishments for him to update himself on the details of the case as she dropped yet another box of files onto his desk. That she was standing there, looking like she was interested in a real conversation, was clearly progress.

  “Good morning,” he said, his eyes lifting with his bright smile.

  “Good morning. Weren’t you in that same position when we all left you here last night?”

  He chuckled, “I probably was. I need to make sure I’m up to speed, so I left late and came in early.”

  “Interesting,” she said, the word coming on a low gust of air past red-tinted lips.

  “Why is that interesting?”

  She ignored his question as she glanced down to her wristwatch. “Mr. James was transferred to county jail yesterday. He’ll be held there until his trial is over. I’m headed over to talk to him about his court date. Would you like to join me?”

  Collin’s smile widened. “I’d like that. I’d like that very much!”

  * * *

  An hour later, the two were on their way to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center of Dallas. Despite his offer to drive, London has insisted on taking her own car, so he settled back against the leather seats of her SUV and tried to enjoy the ride. He’d tried to pull the woman into conversation, but London wasn’t interested in talking. He’d listened as she’d taken phone calls, the Bluetooth connection echoing through the car interior. Then she’d hummed along with the radio, completely lost in her own thoughts. By the time they pulled into the parking lot of the correctional facility she’d done everything imaginable to keep from conversing with him.

  “Are you always so rude?” he asked.

  London shut down the car engine as she turned toward him, the question surprising her. Because she had been rude. She just hadn’t expected to be called out on it and there was no way she could explain to the man that he had her feeling like a high schooler with her first crush. She took a deep breath. “Excuse me?”

  “Rude. Are you always so rude?”

  “I didn’t realize...”

  “You have gone out of your way not to speak with me despite my efforts to talk to you and maybe discuss the case. You’ve talked to your secretary, some friend named Joan and your mother. But you’ve barely said three words to me since we left the office.”

  London’s eyes danced across his face. Something she didn’t recognize surged through the pit of her stomach, like an electric current stuck on high. “I apologize. It was never my intent to be rude to you.”

  “Except you were.”

  She took another deep breath, filling her lungs with air and then blowing it out slowly. Her gaze was still flitting back and forth over the intense stare he was giving her. “Why are you here?” she suddenly asked, an air of attitude in her tone. “What are you trying to prove?”

  His brow shifted upward. “I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m just trying to do the best job I can.”

  “But why here? There are hundreds of attorneys who apply and are denied, and you slide in on your family name and no doubt a big donation from Mommy and Daddy. You barely have any litigation experience under your belt!” She threw her hands up in frustration.

  Collin bristled, the comment hitting a nerve he hadn’t known he possessed. There was no denyin
g that the Stallion name opened doors that might have otherwise been closed. Although he had never purposely used his family connections to garner favor, admittedly it did happen sometimes. But when challenged, he was more than capable of holding his own against the naysayers. He shifted his gaze from hers, finally breaking the connection that he’d been holding with no effort.

  A moment passed between them before he answered. “So maybe I do have something to prove. Maybe it’s about what I’m able to accomplish, in spite of my name. I like to think I’m a good attorney, even with my limited experience, and I’m here because I believe in what the firm stands for. I want to help, and I had hoped to be able to do that without people judging me before they took the time to know me.”

  London suddenly felt foolish. Her eyes flitted back and forth, and she struggled to find the words to apologize and not dig herself into an even bigger hole. “I’m sorry,” she said finally, her tone dropping low. “You’re right. I should not have judged you. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to start over.” She extended her hand to shake his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Attorney Stallion. I look forward to our working together.”

  Collin smiled sweetly as he gripped her fingers against his palm. He gave her a slight nod of his head. “Thank you, Counselor. I appreciate that. I know I can learn a lot from you and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

  * * *

  With his court case pending, their client had been transferred from the state’s maximum-security prison in Ferguson, Texas, to the county jailhouse in Dallas. Back in his day, Jerome James had been a popular community activist, known for frequently going toe-to-toe with local law enforcement. His frequent protests and rallies against the legal vanguard he alleged was corrupt and immoral had made him more enemies than friends.