Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

Annalise could feel the smell of his manly cologne go to her head, as he showered all his attention upon her. She could see the amusement in Susan's eyes as she sat opposite them with a smug expression on her face. Trent was too excited to notice them and she was glad. Every now and then Nelson turned towards her as if wanting to ask her something but refrained from doing so. Annalise was curious. What was stopping him?

"Do you like the food?" He asked her, leaning towards her. She knew he was too close and if she turned towards him, her nose would touch his. She didn't dare to move and simply nodded her head. "Are you scared to look into my eyes, Alise?" He asked and Annalise shook her head. She wouldn't look at him however much he tried with those two sitting opposite to them. Nelson wished this was a date with them all alone with one another. He wanted to show her how much he loved her.

Nelson glared at Susan who grinned knowing too well what was going on in his head. They were partners in crime and understood one another. Trent had asked her to have dinner at his parents' house over the weekend and she was excited. Trent's family lived in a huge sprawling ranch in Jones Creek, Texas. It was at an hour's drive from Houston and they would leave tomorrow morning. With her love life on the right track, Susan utilized her energy to fix Annalise's. She didn't like the Colton guy at all at first sight. He looked kind of boring. Although Nelson was weird, quiet and headstrong yet there was a vulnerable quality in him which endeared him to her as a friend and made her want to help him. She saw the sincerity of his apology and the depth of his passion for her friend. Wanting to give them an opportunity to spend time together, she looked at Trent and gestured to him to invite Nelson and Annalise too to Jones Creek.

"Hey Nelson, Anna, why don't you come along with us to my family's ranch in Jones Creek for the weekend? It's an hour's drive away and both of you'll love the countryside. It's my parents fiftieth anniversary and we both are heading there tomorrow morning," said Trent, looking at them hopefully. Nelson was excited at the prospect of being able to spend more time with Annalise. He agreed eagerly and looked at her hopefully, crossing his fingers and praying in his head that she would agree.

"C'mon, Anna. If you don't come, you'll miss something worthwhile," she told her. Annalise wanted to go. There was a small force inside her which didn't listen to any rational thought and she agreed to going along with them.

"Okay, I'll come along, " she said with a smile. She didn't dare look at the look of relief in Nelson's face. 'I'm not going because of you, Nelson,' she kept chanting in her head. The food was excellent and she had to admit in her mind agreeing to come out to dinner wasn't that bad. In fact she had quite enjoyed it except for the disturbing green-eyed man beside her, whose smell tingled her senses and who sat so close to her that she lost her mind, feeling those biceps brush with her arm every now and then. He seemed oblivious to the effect he was having upon her and it made her frustrated with herself that she was feeling those things despite everything that he did to her.

The dinner was over and they parted ways. Nelson led her to his car and after helping her inside, climbed onto the driver's side and started the car. "Do you love him Alise?" Asked Nelson and Annalise stared at him with a confused expression on her face.

"Who?" Asked Annalise.

"The man you're wanting to marry?" He asked her in a small voice. Annalise sensed the vulnerability in his tone and the darkening of his eyes as if he was in pain.

"I'm not marrying anyone right now," she told him and looked away out of the window. Nelson released the breath that he was unconsciously holding. At least she admitted that she wasn't marrying her brother's best friend. He had a weekend to show her how much he loved her.

"Be ready by 6 o'clock in the morning. I'll come to pick you up," he said, his eyes holding a promise. She looked away, she didn't want to drown in them again.

"Okay, thanks for the dinner," she told him, her heart was hammering in her chest in the close confines of the car. There was darkness all around and their erratic breathing was the only thing that was conspicuous. "I'll see you tomorrow," said unable to look at him. She was acutely aware of his gaze trailing all over her, he didn't look away even for a minute.

"Stay for five minutes, " he said, not looking away. Annalise's heart started beating fast and loud and she was sure that he could hear it too.

They sat in silence for a minute, when Nelson's hand caught hers that was resting on her lap and massaged it absent-mindedly. "I'm not a bad guy, Alise. I'm actually a fun-loving guy with lots of crazy brothers and we enjoy life. It's only when I see you with another man that I go mad with jealousy. I know it's no excuse but I can't control my feelings around you Alise. Please can you forgive me?" He said, looking into her eyes as she stared at him wordlessly. She remembered her first impression of him. He was her green-eyed savior. He had helped her that day at Adam's house and saved her many times that day. Was that his true nature?

"I have forgiven you Nelson, " she said slowly, looking him straight in the eyes. Nelson's eyes widened as he realized what she had just told him.

"You have?" He asked with disbelief. Annalise nodded.

"But not what you did to make me rejoin your restaurant. For that you still have a lot to apologize for," she glared at him. Nelson groaned. They were back at square one.

"I'm not sorry about that at all. You forced me to do it. Why did you have to consider marrying someone else?" He said looking hurt.

"Nelson please let's not get into that. You're already destroying my mood for tomorrow, " she told him. Nelson sighed and kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to destroy the mood for the trip which he was looking forward to.

"As you wish Alise, bye. Dream about me," he said softly. Annalise shook her head.

"I have better things to do than that, " she answered with a laugh and walked out of the car all the way to get house without a backward glance. She knew fully well that Nelson's hot gaze was pinned onto her back, her butt. She had no idea why she agreed to spending the weekend with him and now she found that she couldn't wait for the next morning.

She had just changed into her pajamas when Alexis came into her room and lay down on her bed.

"Anna, you hardly spend time with me," said a hurt Alexis, looking at her fingernails.

"I'm sorry, Alex. Next weekend, we'll go out. Promise. You decide where you wish to go to," she promised her. Alexis pouted.

"Why not this weekend?" She argued.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to Jones Creek to meet Susan's boyfriend's family. I'll be back by Sunday evening. This is important for her and she wants me to accompany her," explained Annalise.

"Fine then. Next weekend. Do you mind if Colton came along?" Asked Alexis.

"Why would you want Colton to come along?" Asked Annalise, puzzled by her question.

"He will if he knows you're coming too. He wants to marry you, don't you know? Aunt Emily and aunt Sandra have started planning for the wedding already, " informed Alexis. This was news to Annalise. They were planning her wedding and they hadn't even asked her anything about it? That was weird. How could they expect her to marry at nineteen? She was more hurt than shocked.

"I don't see him that way, Alex. I can't marry him because I don't love him," said Annalise, unhappily.

"I know. You love Nelson. You know what? You can call Nelson and we can go out next Sunday. You, Aries, me and Nelson, let's see how he is," said Alexis.

Annalise smiled at her enthusiasm. " Okay, we'll see about that. Do you want to sleep with me?" Asked Annalise. All three of them used to sleep together before but now they have individual bedrooms at their uncle's house.

"No thanks, I prefer my own bed these days, " said Alexis with a grin. She left after a while but Annalise was in deep thought about what she had told her. She didn't want to marry Colton but she would wait for her family to speak to her first before telling them her decision.