his attention to the students sitting in the choir stand.
Matthew had been right. The morning service went quickly. Holy Scripture was followed by prayer, the choir sang beautifully, and the pastor’s message was short, sweet and to the point.
Standing beside her, Matthew was completely engaged. Katrina was moved by his devotion. As he bowed his head in thanksgiving, lifting his hands in praise, she sensed that he took that devotion seriously. Watching him, Katrina instinctively knew that Matthew Stallion was truly a man of faith.
As the pastor gave the benediction, Collin leaned into his mother’s side, his head hovering just above hers. He dropped his chin down to her shoulder. Katrina smiled at him, her soft gaze meeting his.
“What did you think?” she asked him.
Collin shrugged. “I liked the music,” he answered.
Matthew nodded his head in agreement. “That’s my favorite part, too.”
Behind them John laughed warmly. “I always thought the sermon was your favorite part,” he said.
“Just like them passing the collection basket is yours,” their baby brother, Luke, interjected.
The adults all laughed. Collin turned to stare at the men standing around him. His gaze came to a rest on Mark.
“Hey, I know you,” he said suddenly, his large eyes widening with excitement. “You won the national bike race last year. You’ve won all the races.”
Mark extended his hand, shaking the boy’s heartily. “I’m Matthew’s brother Mark. You must be Collin. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
The boy grinned. “Hi!”
“And I’m Luke, and the old guy right there is our big brother, John,” Luke said, introducing himself.
John nodded his head in greeting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” he said as Matthew finished the formal introductions.
Marah smiled sweetly. “Judge Broomes, we’d love to have you join us back at the ranch for lunch.”
Katrina smiled back. “Thank you, but…” She paused, tossing Matthew a questioning look.
Matthew interjected, “Thanks, Marah, but we have plans.”
Marah nodded, clasping her arm around her husband’s. “Well, if you’ll excuse us, we need to say hello to the pastor before he disappears.”
“It was nice to meet you both,” Katrina said as the couple waved their goodbyes.
“We have to run, too,” Mark said. He pressed a large hand to Michelle’s blossoming belly. “Mitch and I are going shopping for baby furniture,” he said, calling his wife by her childhood nickname.
Michelle rolled her eyes. “No, Mark’s going shopping for baby furniture. He’s just dragging me along.”
“Congratulations. Is this your first baby?” Katrina questioned.
Mark nodded, his thick dreadlocks waving against his shoulders. “Yes, ma’am,” he answered, leaning to kiss his wife’s cheek. “My baby is having our first baby!”
Luke grinned. “This is quite an accomplishment for our brother.”
Mark laughed. “You know it!”
Matthew chuckled. “What’s on your agenda, Luke?” he asked.
“I’m spending the afternoon with Joanne and her parents.”
“Where is your fiancée this morning?” Michelle asked, shifting her weight to one hip. “It’s not like her to miss Sunday service.”
“Her mother is here from Paris, and her father wanted them both to go to Sunday Mass at the Catholic church this morning. I thought I’d give them some family time together, so I passed. I told her I’d meet them afterward.” The younger man took a quick glance at the diamond-encrusted Harry Winston watch on his wrist. “I need to get going, or I’m going to be late.”
Luke winked an eye at Collin, who was staring at him. He punched his fist in Collin’s direction and the young man met the gesture with a fist of his own, the two slapping palms and clutching fingers in the newest handshake. “Good luck, kid. He’s really not so bad when you get to know him,” Luke said, his eyes gesturing toward his brother.
Collin smiled. “Thanks, dude,” he chimed, cutting a cautious eye at Matthew.
The family eased their way toward the front doors. The church’s congregation had thinned out quickly. Matthew’s fingertips lightly grazed Katrina’s arm and back as he guided them forward. She felt a tremor of energy sweep through her. Tossing a quick glance over her shoulder, she met his dark stare, saw the tender smile filling his face. The look he gave her was intoxicating, and she suddenly found herself consumed by the sweetest temptation.
“Is everything okay?” Matthew asked, his deep tone soothing.
Katrina nodded, a wave of nervous energy flooding the pit of her stomach. “Everything is fine,” she answered softly, her gaze still locked with his. “Just fine.”
But as she stepped out into the balmy afternoon air, butterflies dancing in her midsection, Katrina Broomes really wasn’t quite sure of anything at all.
Chapter 5
Matthew had convinced Katrina to leave her vehicle in the church parking lot, assuring her it would be safe until they returned. Opening the passenger-side door of his Maybach Landaulet, he extended his hand to help her get in. When she was seated comfortably and was adjusting the seat belt around her petite frame, he nodded toward Collin.
“Once you’re off probation and you get your driving permit, I might let you drive. Until then, though, you need to make yourself comfortable in the backseat.”
“You’d let me drive this?” Collin asked tentatively. “Really?”
Matthew nodded, his hand braced against the rear door as Collin stood ready to step in.
“Yes, I would, but you’ll have to prove that you can handle that kind of responsibility first.” Matthew nodded again, gesturing with his head. “Now, hop on in. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”
Minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of Nicola’s Ristorante Italiano.
“This is very nice,” Katrina said, taking in the surroundings.
As Matthew led them inside, she was impressed with the dramatic soaring ceilings, the elegant chandeliers and the rich, dark woods offset by splashes of crimson and gold. The atmosphere was sophisticated, intimate and a touch seductive. She was equally impressed with all the staff who greeted him by name, going out of their way to ensure that he and his guests were comfortable.
Matthew nodded as a hostess guided them to a corner table on the patio. “This is one of my favorite places to eat,” he said. “The cuisine is northern Italian. All
