Chapter Seven
You must be the famous Ms. Harper who’s causing my brother sleepless nights,”
Alex said as he walked up and lifted her in a huge bear hug. Amy was too stunned to say anything.
After Alex finally released her and gently placed her back on her feet, she looked at him, shocked, and a bit dismayed, to find she felt not the slightest stirrings of desire for him. He was as good looking as his brother, with a body to match, and yet there were no fireworks going off from his touch.
The fact didn’t please Amy. If she was attracted to him, then she could explain her attraction to Lucas, too. He was hot, so any woman would be attracted. As she stared longer than she should at Alex, she realized it was hopeless. It seemed the only Anderson her traitorous body was responding to was the one who was scowling at her.
“Alex, if you could stop manhandling her, I’ll introduce you. Amy, this is my obnoxious younger brother, Alex. He was the only one available with a large truck, so I couldn’t pass up his help,”
Lucas grumbled.
“Thank you,”
Amy murmured, not really knowing what else to say.
“My pleasure, Amy. I’m always willing to help out a damsel in distress,”
he said with a wink, causing her cheeks to heat.
“Yes, Alex, we get it, you like to flirt. If you can put your hormones away for five minutes, we can get this room cleared out and get the hell out of here. I don’t know how long until the crazy guy comes back, and I really don’t feel like getting shot today,”
Lucas said.
“Yes, sir,”
Alex said with a mock salute before chuckling. Lucas sent a glare his way before the two men started moving.
Before Amy knew what was happening, they had her room completely cleared out and loaded into Alex’s truck. She was standing at the curb looking back at the house she’d been forced to live in for a couple of years. Looking at it through Lucas’s eyes, she was a little horrified she’d managed to last so long in the dump.
Amy was pulled out of her musings when Alex’s words shocked her.
“I can’t wait to steal you away from my big brother, Amy. You’re stunning and way too good for him. Don’t break my heart.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, then trotted over to his truck.
She stood rooted to the cement for several seconds, her hand lifting to her lips. She’d never been around such confident men before and was finding it hard to figure out how she was supposed to act. Guys she associated with didn’t normally kiss her on the cheek, let alone the lips.
Finally, she gave in to her natural good humor and started laughing. How could you not enjoy the company of such a fun guy? She found that she kind of liked his harmless flirting. It made her feel much better about her day.
Lucas, on the other hand, didn’t look so amused.
“You need to ignore my brother. He lets hormones run his entire life, and he likes pretty women, but he’s harmless.”
He took her hand and led her toward his car.
She saw Lucas was irritated, but not furious. It looked to her as if the brothers cared about each other. It also appeared they liked to get a reaction from each other if they could. She didn’t want to get in the middle of that. She wasn’t strong enough for it.
Lucas wouldn’t admit to her how he’d wanted to smash his brother in the face for daring to kiss his woman. He also wouldn’t admit how jealous he was at that moment that she hadn’t slapped Alex in the face after he’d kissed her.
He made himself calm down because he knew Alex was just trying to get a rise out of him.
It had worked.
When they reached the passenger side of his car, Amy suddenly hesitated.
“Wait a minute. Where’s all my stuff going? I don’t even know where I’m going yet. This happened so fast, I haven’t had time to think about what happens next.”
Lucas could see she was starting to panic.
“Amy, you’re alright. I’m going to take you to my parents’ house for now. Alex told my father what was happening, and Dad wanted to talk to you.”
She started to shake her head no when he looked into her eyes.
“Amy, it’s not wise to tell my father no.”
Amy’s eyes were wide as she tried to swallow the rising panic in her. She said nothing further as she climbed into the vehicle and buckled her seat belt.
He’d been an exceptional father, never placing work ahead of his family, and he was always the first one any of the kids came to with a problem, or with good news, for that matter. He was already aware of Amy’s situation because the family always told him everything.
Lucas and Amy didn’t speak on the ride to the family mansion. He knew she needed time to compose herself. She’d been through a lot the last few hours and he was happy to know he wasn’t the bad guy in the current situation.
Amy needed time to gear herself up because she was about to be thrust into the chaos of his family. Everyone was at the manor this weekend for his mother’s birthday. Any holiday was cause for the family to celebrate together, but his mother’s birthday was a huge bash.
His father always said his wife’s birth was a great cause for celebration. She was the light of his life, and his world would’ve been empty without her. He felt her birthday should be a national holiday. Amy interrupted Lucas’s thoughts when she finally spoke as they approached the house.
“Mr. Anderson, it looks like you have company right now. This probably isn’t the best time for me to be here. Will you please just let me use your phone so I can call a cab and get out of your hands?”
She spoke barely above a whisper.
“Not a chance,”
was his only reply.
Amy looked down at herself and then back up at him.
“I’m wearing old jeans,”
she pleaded.
“Please don’t make me go in there looking like this.”
He just laughed at the panicked look on her face and her horrified voice. His family had been blessed with more than most, but they weren’t who she thought they were. They’d never treat someone badly because of the way they were dressed, or because they didn’t have as much money.
“Amy, you act like we’re a bunch of snobs. We’re normal people, like anyone else. So what if we like nice things? You’re the one being a snob right now, judging my family on what we have,” he said.
His words worked like a charm. Her eyes widened as she thought about what he said, then the fire he liked seeing entered her eyes. Good. He liked her defenses up, her confidence in place. He didn’t want a mouse of a woman sitting next to him. He wanted a strong, stubborn woman who challenged him and fired up his blood. One thing Amy needed to learn about him was that he always got what he wanted, and at that moment he wanted her with him. Lucas came around the car and helped her out. He placed her arm in his and half-dragged her up the walk.
She’d come to the mansion for her job interview, so at least she didn’t have to be quite as intimidated now. Even though she’d been there before, he noticed how her breath was taken away by the beauty of it all. He was used to his childhood home, but he knew what it looked like to a stranger. It was stunning.
Lucas led her through the foyer and into the back where laughter could be heard down the halls, carried on the background music. As he continued down the hallway with Amy by his side, Lucas felt the last of his tension ease. He liked being with her, even though he knew he shouldn’t. It didn’t matter, though, he was home, and Amy was safe. He was feeling pretty good.
“You finally made it. What did you do, take the scenic route? I’ve been here for a half hour already, and I wasn’t the one driving the race car.”
Alex came up and nudged his brother in the ribs.
“All is forgiven, though, since you brought my beautiful future bride. How are you doing, gorgeous? We’ve been apart for too long already. Do you want to run away with me to Vegas and get married?”
he joked. He threw his arm around her and dragged her across the room for a drink.
Lucas shook his head while rolling his eyes. He knew his brother was even more afraid of marriage than he was himself. He was still going to keep an eye on her, though, because if anyone could change his brother from committed playboy to a happily married man, it would be Amy.
He was going to make sure and stake his claim, so both his brothers knew that Amy wasn’t on the market. He was amazed at the jealousy coursing through him. He’d never felt that way about any other woman he’d dated. If someone he was dating wanted to run off with one of his brothers, he would’ve gladly said goodbye.
It never would’ve been an issue, though, as neither of his brothers would ever trespass on the others’ women. They had a code between them and would never break it. You just didn’t try and steal your brother’s girl. On the other hand, making one of said brothers jealous was a whole other issue, and each of the guys loved to push buttons.
He started to walk over to take his woman . . . um, employee . . . back, when Esther saved him from doing just that.
“Alex, you leave this girl alone. You’re flirting shamelessly and embarrassing her. How are you doing, Amy?”
“I’m great. I’m really getting that computer program down, and I don’t think I’ll have to call you at all on Monday. Today is just another speed bump. Nothing to worry about,”
Amy told Esther with a brave face.
Lucas could see that Amy wasn’t used to having people worry about her, or love her, for that matter. She’d have to get used to both. Employees of the Andersons were considered family. They took care of their people. Her days of bearing the weight of the world on her own shoulders had ended.