Chapter 6
Naomi Stallion was standing in her big brother’s kitchen when he and his wife came through the front door of their Arlington Drive home. The couple was giggling, their voices low. Naomi winced, suspecting that she was about to intrude on an intimate moment. She called out to them, rattling a frying pan against the stove top as she did.
“Hello! It’s me! I’m here in your kitchen. Please don’t take your clothes off!” she shouted, remembering the last time the two had come running through the house not knowing she was there.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then laughter led Noah Stallion and Catherine “Cat” Moore-Stallion from their living room into the dining area.
“Hi, Naomi!” Cat chimed as she toyed with the buttons on her blouse and adjusted her skirt.
Naomi smiled. “Sorry about that.”
“Hey!” Noah said. He tossed up a casual hand as his eyes widened curiously. “What are you doing here?”
Naomi gave her brother a look. Before she could respond, Cat interrupted, exclaiming excitedly, “You cooked!”
“I did. I figured it was the least I could do after showing up unannounced,” Naomi responded. “To stay for a few days,” she added, the words coming rapidly. “Maybe even a week. Or two.”
The couple laughed, the two exchanging a look between them.
“So, to what do we owe the honor?” Noah asked as he moved toward the counter and settled down on a wooden stool. He reached for a stalk of celery that rested on a vegetable tray Naomi had pushed in his direction. “We weren’t expecting to see you until next month.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be here. But what about you? I’m actually surprised that you two aren’t in New York. Isn’t that where one of you was supposed to be?”
Noah nodded. “My plans changed. I needed to be at the corporate office here, and Cat flew in to see me before she heads to Dallas tomorrow.”
Naomi gave them both a smile. “My plans changed, too. The property adjacent to my farm is going up for auction next week. I want that land. If I can get it, I want to expand my business model here and get a second food co-op up and running.”
The farm Naomi referred to was the fifteen acres of land she owned in the Pleasant Grove area just outside downtown Salt Lake City. It had been a foreclosure investment that she’d acquired years ago, initially planning to wait for the real estate market to improve, and then sell it. Her decision to actually grow produce on the property and work it had come as a surprise to them all.
“How much land is it?” Cat asked, joining her husband at the counter. She reached for her own celery stick and dipped it into the cucumber dressing that filled a small bowl.
“It’s a good fifty acres. There’s an open house tomorrow and I plan to go walk it in the morning and talk to the Realtor handling the sale.”
Noah cut a quick glance at his wife, who was licking the dressing from her fingers. Naomi noted his expression, the color heating his cheeks as he bit down on his bottom lip. Cat laughed and Naomi rolled her eyes.
“I guess I should have called first,” Naomi said, a wry smile pulling across her face. “But I’m so used to just letting myself in I didn’t think about it. Now that you’re married, I should probably give your key back, big brother.”
Noah shook his head. “You’re here more than we are.”
“And you are always welcome here,” Cat added. “Don’t you even think about giving him that key back. This is your home, too.”
Naomi rounded the marble counter to give her sister-in-law a hug. “I really appreciate that.” She winked at her brother. “I still like this one. I’m glad you’re keeping her.”
Noah laughed. “So, what did you cook? Since I can’t get any dessert just yet, I might as well enjoy some dinner.”
“Noah! Really?” Cat laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
He shrugged, his bright smile filling his face. “It’s the truth!”
Naomi shook her head. “Set the table and we can eat. I cooked your favorite—vegetable lasagna.”
“That’s not my favorite. I was hoping for something battered and fried with lots of cheese and gravy. Not vegetable lasagna. And I bet you put tofu in it, too.”
“Tofu is good for you.”
“I hate tofu.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do!”
“Really, you don’t,” Naomi said, eyeing him with a raised brow.
Cat laughed. “Well, I didn’t have to cook it so I love whatever it is.”
“She doesn’t cook for me. Do you still think I should keep her?” Noah asked teasingly.
“I
