Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

It was afternoon when Annalise opened her eyes. Nelson was lying beside her, watching her. "Are you okay?" He asked her with concern. 

"Yes, " she said with a blissful smile. 

"Can you walk?" He asked her. Annalise nodded, getting up to go to the en-suite to freshen up. When she returned  Nelson wasn't there in the room. She wore a pair of jeans and a top that Sienna had kept in the closet for her. She went outside to see Nelson getting ready to go fishing. 

"Let's catch a big trout for dinner. C'mon. My treat, " he offered. He led her outside and they sat at the edge of the pier to fish. Annalise folded her jeans and dipped her legs into the water, feeling their cool depth. 

"I hope aunt Emily doesn't lodge a missing report at the police station, " said Annalise with dread. 

"Of course she will. But only after twenty-four hours. So the cops should start looking for you tomorrow," said Nelson. Annalise's eyes widened. 

"I don't want them to find the twins first," said Annalise with dread. 

"They're not much interested in the twins. They need to find you first before the wedding day," said Nelson. That was the reason he married her so hurriedly. He didn't want to give her aunt any reason to separate them again. 

"Good that we're married. This time I'm not listening to her at all," said Annalise determinedly. 

"You are an adult and have every right to decide what you want to do in life. You don't need to listen to them. When Colton's fine with your decision, then you don't need to bother about the others," said Nelson. 

"How long are we staying here?" Asked Annalise. Tomorrow was her wedding day and she was worried about the twins. 

"We'll return tomorrow afternoon. Colton would ever married by then and we can start our life in peace," said Nelson. "Don't worry about the twins. Carter and Levi won't let any harm come upon them at all."

"I'm glad that Alexis and Aries are with them," said Annalise with a smile, holding his arm and resting her head on his shoulder. 

"Do you think the cops will come here to get us, Nelson?" She asked in a scared voice.

Nelson held her hand. "Expect the worst, Alise. We're not doing something illegal. So you have nothing to fear. I'm with you for life," he promised. 

Annalise felt very much comforted by his words. They caught a medium sized trout and went inside to clean and cook it. "Watch the master chef at work, sweetheart, " he said, as he prepared a mouth-watering pan-seared trout. There was the leftover lasagna from lunch and the wedding cake. 

"Umm, delicious, " said Annalise. "Good that my hubby can cook so well. I hate men who can't even boil an egg." She said with a wink.

"Oh is that so? Then you should thank your lucky stars that you got me," grinned Nelson. Annalise blew him a kiss.

"Yes, that is true. I'm the luckiest girl on earth, " she smiled, attacking her food. 

"Wrong, I'm lucky to have you babe," he grinned. "And that kiss won't do at all. I want you to thank me well for this dinner, " he told her. Annalise smiled. Of course, she knew how to please him. They finished dinner, sipped champagne while sitting in the front porch, cuddled with a blanket, watching the starlit sky and the tranquil lake water shimmering in the moonlight. Just the two of them alone on a magical night together. 

"I can't wait to take you home Alise. My whole family knows about you by now. I had left a note at home before coming here," said Nelson. "I wonder if ma's worrying about me," he said. 

"Mom's always worry. I miss mine so much," said Annalise, leaning on his shoulder. Nelson wrapped her in his arms. 

"You see those two brightest stars up there? They must be your parents looking down upon you. They'll be happy to see you happy," saod Nelson. After talking for a while, Nelson carried his wife inside. They made gentle love and went to sleep, happy to be with one another. 

The next morning both felt tremendously lazy. They lazed around in bed till both of their stomachs grumbled for food. "I'll make us something," said Annalise. She took a quick shower and made some scrambled eggs and toast and coffee. They helped themselves to their leftover wedding cake too. 

"I can't wait to get back and show you to my family," said Nelson. 

"What if they don't like me?" Asked Annalise with dread. "What if they don't want Alexis and Aries? I don't want to impose," She was worried and didn't want to impose upon anyone. 

"We have a huge house, you've seen it. Mom and dad love children so they'll love having Alexis and Aries around. We might not be able to continue with their elite school but I'm sure they would enjoy more at Drake and Nate's school. It's not only good but affordable as well and walking distance from home, "  said Nelson.  Annalise nodded. Talking to him always solved all her problems and apprehensions. 

They went for a walk around the lake, hand in hand, looking at every bird, every flower with enthusiasm.  "We have a villa right beside Houston lake. I want to take you there. You'll love it," said Nelson. Annalise smiled and picked up jasmine flowers, fresh and sweet smelling. 

"I'll get back and call Alexis and Aries. I'm worried about them," she said. Nelson  nodded. They went back by lunchtime. Annalise switched on her mobile and called Alexis and Aries. Their mobile phone was switched off. 

"Their mobile's switched off," said Annalise with despair. 

"I'll call Carter. Wait," he said, dialing Carter's number. 

"Hey married man! How are you? Are you a dad yet?" Asked a sleepy Carter. 

"Shut up and tell me how the kids are," said Nelson. 

"They're asleep. We had a movie night and we all overslept," said Carter, casually. 

"You're spoiling them dude!" Said Nelson with a huff.

"No way. They demanded it. I'm just their reluctant slave, " said Carter and Nelson and Annalise chuckled. 

"Laugh as much as you can, Nel. Do you know that Anna's uncle and aunt had brought police to your house? They had searched warrants to raid your house, looking for Alexis and Aries, " said Carter. Nelson and Annalise stared at one another, shocked to the roots of their hair. 

"Hope they didn't find anything about the twins," said Nelson, with worry. 

"Nope, we haven't gone out at all since yesterday, " said Carter. 

"Good. We'll come back tomorrow afternoon," said Nelson. 

"Sure dude, enjoy your honeymoon, " said Carter with a sigh. They disconnected the call and made lunch half-heartedly. 

"Why did they have to bother my family? It might have been so insulting to have our house raided," said an upset Nelson. Annalise couldn't stop the tears. 

"I'm sorry Nelson. It's all because of me. I don't deserve to be your wife," she sobbed. Nelson hugged her to himself. 

"It's not at all your fault, Alise. Don't cry. Be brave. We love one another so we found one another, married one another. If anyone is at fault it is your aunt and your uncle for supporting her. So stop blaming yourself and be prepared for a battle," said Nelson, stroking her back, soothing and comforting her. 

"Yes Nelson. I'm ready to fight," she said, wiping her tears. 

"Very good. I'm proud of you and so will my family be. Let's eat and gain strength, " said Nelson, serving the chicken hot pot that they made together. They ate discussing how desperate her aunt might be feeling right now with the wedding scheduled for tomorrow. 

"She isn't spending a penny. All expenses are being borne by Colton's parents. I'm not feeling so guilty after having talked to Colton. He himself asked me to run away so that he could marry the one he wanted, " said Annalise. 

"If your uncle and aunt aren't spending then there's no need to feel guilty at all," said Nelson. They finished lunch and cleaned up the kitchen. Then they sat down, chatting with one another. Nelson told her about his family, his cousins, his sibling and his wife and much more. They dozed off for sometime. 

A lot of commotion suddenly woke them up. There were sounds of vehicles, loud footsteps outside. Annalise's eyes widened with horror. The police might have tracked them down. "They've found us Alise. Be brave," he said. They got up and fixed themselves and had just gone to the living room when there was a loud banging on their door as if they wanted to break it down. 

"Open the door or we'll break it down. We know you're hiding in there," yelled a male voice as they could hear police cars with sirens. Nelson and Annalise held hands and bravely went up to the door and opened it wide.