Chapter Thirty-Four

What do you think you’re doing, Laura?” Lucas snarled at the redhead, whom he’d dated months before he and Amy had become involved.

She’d walked into his office moments earlier with her famous pouting expression, saying they needed to have a talk. He’d told her there was nothing to talk about, but she’d come around his desk and sat in front of him, spreading her legs open, so he had no choice but to notice she was wearing nothing underneath her short skirt.

He couldn’t believe at one time he’d desired her. She was as fake as Amy was real, and he wanted her out of his office immediately.

“You need to get out. There’s nothing left between us,” he said between clenched teeth as he backed his chair away from her. “You also know I’m a married man and am no longer on the market.”

She just smiled at him with what she thought was a seductive stare and ripped open her shirt to show her ample breasts spilling from her bra.

He stood up to physically escort her from the room when she wrapped herself around him and locked her lips to his. He was so stunned, he stood motionless for a few seconds before his hands came up to her waist and pushed her from him.

“Baby, you know you want me,” she said, sounding falsely hurt.

He was done with her games. He marched over to his desk and pushed a single button. “Security, I need you in my office immediately.”

Within a minute, two large men came into the room to see the still half-naked woman trying to wrap herself around their boss. “Please escort this woman to the outside of the building and never let her in again,” Lucas said tightly, barely able to control his rage.

“Yes, Mr. Anderson. Right away,” they replied professionally, while each of them took one of her arms and led her away.

Lucas sat back in his chair and rested his hands on his head. All he could think about was Amy. She was real, where the women before her had been as fake as Laura.

When Amy smiled, it was with warmth and light. When she laughed, it was like music, the sound so infectious, you couldn’t help but join her.

He loved how she was with his family, how warm and giving. She’d had such a miserable childhood, filled with despair and fear, hunger and insecurity. He didn’t understand how she’d managed to turn out so well.

He loved her pride, the way her eyes lit with fire when she felt he was being an ass, which lately was all the time. He’d seen some of the light fading from her eyes as she sent him longing looks, but she never complained, just continued being there for him whenever he needed her.

“Hey, Lucas, you busy?”

Lucas looked up, irritated at being interrupted. He quickly pushed it down as he stood to greet his brother.

“What are you doing home, Alex? Aren’t you supposed to be in Spain this month?”

“Yeah, but we got done early.”

“Usually when you get done early, you spend the rest of your time locked up in some beach hut with one of the local girls,” Lucas teased him. Of all the brothers, Alex was certainly the playboy of the family. There were more pictures of him with different women, across all the gossip magazines, than Lucas, Mark, and their cousins combined.

“I was thinking about it, but then Dad called and asked me to come home. He said something’s going on that he didn’t want to talk about on the phone and that I should get back as early as possible.”

“I haven’t heard anything. When did you talk to him?”

“He called three days ago. I was hoping you could fill me in. You live right around the corner. I figured he’d tell you about it,” Alex said, starting to look a bit worried.

“You know Dad. I’m sure it’s nothing,” Lucas said, though he wasn’t convinced. Joseph didn’t normally disturb the boys unless it was important.

“Let’s get Mark down here, and see if he knows anything,” Alex said as he pulled out his phone and dialed. Luck was on their side when Mark was already in town and agreed to meet them in a half hour.

Lucas and Alex continued chatting until he arrived.

“Whoa, Lucas, you look like crap!” Mark said as he stepped in the room.

“Thanks, right back at you,” Lucas snapped.

“Hell, brother, I always look good. Don’t you know that the ladies really dig the whole jeans and boots look?”

“I’ll stick with my suits,” Lucas replied.

“Suit yourself. Ha, get it?” Mark said, laughing at his own joke.

“Mark may be acting like a pain in the ass, but he’s right; you don’t look your best. What’s going on with the stressed-out face? I thought married life was supposed to be all lovey-kissy and crap,” Alex said.

“It’s none of your business, and that goes for you, too, Mark.”

“Hey, if you can’t perform for your wife, I can always lend a hand,” Alex said with a wicked grin. “She’s hotter than the Fourth of July,” he added with a whistle.

Before Lucas knew what he was doing, he flew out of his chair and pinned Alex to the wall.

The brothers were all about the same size and had wrestled all their lives. He never would’ve been able to pin Alex so easily if he hadn’t stunned him with his unusual attack.

“That’s my wife you’re talking about,” Lucas growled. Then as he realized what he’d done, he released Alex and began pacing the room.

“Holy crap, you’re going crazy. I thought this whole marriage was a thing of convenience. You know, one-night-stand, pregnancy, and all that,” Mark said, as he moved closer to Alex just in case Lucas decided to go nuts again and the two of them needed to pin him down.

“It was … or is … or … I don’t know,” Lucas thundered.

“You’re in love,” Alex said, wonder filling his voice. “I didn’t think that was possible. I mean, if that happened to any of us, I just assumed it would be Mark.”

“Hey,” Mark snapped. “Focus on Lucas.”

“I’m not in love …” Lucas paused as he thought about Amy. He couldn’t imagine not having her with him every night. Even with pulling away from her, he still knew she was in the house. He still climbed in bed with her every night. He still … he loved her.

He loved his wife.

So why was he chatting with his brothers instead of running to her? Because he was an idiot.

Suddenly, all he wanted to do was go home and wrap her in his arms and tell her repeatedly how much she meant to him. He was done pushing her away from him. Without realizing it, his mouth turned up in a huge smile as he thought about his future.

He’d stop for roses on the way home. He realized he hadn’t purchased any for her yet. He’d make up for that and so much more.

“I’ve got to go. We’ll discuss Dad later. Thank you both.” He tossed the words behind him as he took off running out the door. He missed the looks of confusion his brothers shot each other.