Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

"Adam and his dad isn't as bad as the rest of them," he told her. Annalise nodded. No one knew it better than her. Adam's mom and sister had always harassed her and her mom. Annalise hated them from the bottom of her heart.

"Tell me one thing. If your grandfather left his business to your uncle, your dad too has an equal share in it. Then how is it that they're doing a favor to you and your siblings? They aren't. You have an equal right to your grandfather's money as them," Nelson pointed out. Annalise's eyes went wide. He was actually right.

"This house too belonged to my grandfather. My uncle received all his money, properties, business, everything. He came forward and paid for dad's medical expenses only," said Annalise.

"He's acquired billions and just spend a tiny amount on you. Don't bend down to your aunt's wishes. Let her figure out her own debt," said Nelson. Annalise nodded. Nelson leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I love you, you know that, right?" He asked softly.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Then have faith in me, " he told her.

"I do," she whispered.

"Good. I'll pick you'll up tomorrow morning at ten o'clock," he said. Annalise kissed his cheek and climbed down. She went inside and Nelson drove off.

"Where were you, Anna? Your car was dropped home an hour ago, " aunt Emily said with displeasure, the moment she went inside.

"I went out to dinner with my friends," said Annalise. It was too early to tell her about Nelson. She didn't want her siblings to face the consequences of her actions.

"Everyday you have some excuse or the other. This way no good man will ever want to marry you," said her aunt. Annalise felt insulted and near to tears.

"Mom please, let the girl breathe," said Dean, feeling claustrophobic already by his mom's outburst.

"I'm saying for her own good," said aunt Emily, toning down the rudeness in her voice a little.

"Mom, please she's an adult and can look after herself," protested Mike. That shut their mom up and Annalise was thankful for the support. As she went upstairs to her room, Aries burst into her room looking rather unhappy and sulking.

"What happened to you?" Asked Annalise with concern.

"Aunt Emily's planning to invite Colton and his parents to dinner tomorrow. She wouldn't let us go out tomorrow," said Aries unhappily.

"But we're going in the morning. How can she stop us? I'll talk to her tomorrow," said Annalise. Aries grinned at her. Alexis came into the room.

"Anna, can we go and live at our old apartment?" She asked with a pout.

"Why do you want to go there, Alex?" Asked Annalise.

"Aunt Emily doesn't behave like she used to before. She's bearing a grudge on us since she can't convince you to marry Colton. I want to escape from all this," said Alexis with a worried expression.

Annalise sighed. This was going out of her hands. "If I had money, we would have gone, Alex," said Annalise helplessly.

"Anna, will you marry Nelson and go away?" Asked Aries suddenly. Annalise released Alexis and looked at him.

"I wouldn't leave you two here and go away," she promised.

"You'll take us with you? Yay, we'll live at Nelson's house," said an excited Alexis.

"We'll see about that. Now go and sleep. Tomorrow he'll come to pick us up at ten o'clock, " said Annalise with a smile. The twins left and she went to sleep dreaming about Nelson and his kisses.

The next morning, they were ready by 9:45 in the morning. "Where are you three off to? Asked a pissed off aunt Emily.

"I told you we're going out to see the zoo," said Annalise.

"I thought you meant it for tomorrow. Today how can you go? Colton and his parents are coming to dinner," said a horrified aunt Emily.

"Mom dinner is at night. She's taking the kids out in the morning. What's the problem now?" Asked Erik.

"The food needs to be prepared in advance. The house needs to be cleaned. I can't possibly do them all on my own?" Asked aunt Emily with displeasure.

"Hire help, keep a housekeeper, Emily. Please stop this daily bickering, " said uncle Edward, getting up from the table with a grunt.

"You'll can only find fault with me. Do everything yourselves, then," said aunt Emily with a huff and left to go to her room.

"Let her be. I'll call up some restaurant and order dinner," said uncle Edward. "Enjoy your day, children, take care of yourselves, Anna," he said.

"Thank you uncle Edward, " chorused the twins.

"Yes I will, uncle Edward, " said Annalise. Alexis saw Nelson's car and she pulled Annalise with her outside. Aries followed them out.

"Hurry Anna. I don't want aunt Emily to see us," said Alexis.

Nelson sat with the two chipmunks at the backseat of his 8-seater GMC Yukon. They had fought amongst themselves to sit at the passenger seat with Nelson but that was reserved for Annalise and they sulked at the back but not for long. Drake and Nate could never sulk for long. They kept whispering in code language and Nelson had no clue what they were talking about.

"Sm," whispered Drake. (Stands for 'She's mine')

"Nsm," said Nate. (Stands for 'no She's mine')

"Toss?" Asked Drake.

"Sure," said Nate.

They took out a coin and tossed. "What are you two doing?" Asked Nelson as he drove towards Annalise's house.

"Nothing," said Drake hiding the coin. When Nelson was busy driving they took out the coin and tossed.

"Hsm," said Nate (stands for 'heads she's mine')

And heads it was. So Drake sat like he'd lost his life to Nate while Nate grinned like a Cheshire cat all the way to Annalise's house. He won a girl for himself after all.

"Hope she looks like a baboon and smells like a tiger's butt," whispered Drake and Nate looked at him with horror.

"How do you know how a tiger's butt smells like?" Asked Nate curiously.

"That's out of the context," muttered Drake as Nelson parked in front of Annalise's house. The two chipmunks peered out of the window to catch a glimpse of Alexis.

"Iwh," reminded Nate. (Stands for 'I won her').

Drake sighed. "Ik," he said. (Stands for 'I know')

The door opened and a gorgeous young version of Annalise came out pulling her older sister. Nate's mouth hung open at the beautiful young girl. He was thunderstruck by her. As for Drake, he would have to back away. He lost the toss after all but he was green with jealousy. They were followed by a boy of around the same age as the girl. They were twins the boys had heard. Nelson got down and opened the car door for Alexis at the back. Nate and Drake were occupying the last seat, so Alexis climbed onto the middle one with Aries.

"My brother's, Nate and Drake, " introduced Nelson. "This is Alexis and that's Aries, " said Nelson. "And that is Annalise. Done? Shall we leave?" Asked Nelson, eager to drive away from the house.

They all greeted one another and Nelson helped Annalise to the passenger seat and they drove off.

"Where are we going?" Asked Annalise.

"Bro, anywhere but the zoo please," said Nate who was too exuberant today. Drake looked at Nate and grimaced.

"I don't mind the zoo. Someone needs to get the smell of a tiger's mmmm...," he started but Nate covered his mouth with a glare.

Alexis giggled at their conversation. It was like music to Nate's ears. He stared at her but received a plonk on the head. "Oww," he rubbed his head. "Wtf, have you lost your head now? Why are you hitting me? Whispered Nate.

"Sak," gritted Drake. (Stands for 'She's a kid')

They were quiet for a while and could hear Nelson having his silly lovey-dovey talks with his girl. They chuckled and received glares from Nelson through the rear view mirror. Alexis and Aries found Nelson's brothers very entertaining.

Nelson drove them to a huge 20,000-acre historical working ranch, The George Ranch Historical Park on the outskirts of Houston where there were lots of activities to do, many things to see. He parked his car and they all climbed out. The fresh green pastures, the horse enclosures, the farm animals being tended to,  the vegetable and fruit gardens, all looked like they had been transported to a different land altogether.

"Wow, this is so interesting!" Said Aries as they all walked towards the reception  to check-in.

"Here you can discover more than 100 years of Texas history. This Park is divided into four time periods (1830s, 1860s, 1890s and 1930s) and features historic tours," said Nelson looking at the kids who all looked at him with avid interest. Annalise was also impressed by the park. They checked out activities they could opt for. There were interpreters, hands-on activities, cattleworking and blacksmithing demonstrations and lots more!

"Shall we go on tour first?" Asked Drake with interest.

"Sure," said Nelson. As they all walked towards the 1830s Jones Stock Farm, Nate walked alongside Alexis. "Hi," he said breathlessly.