Hate to Love You (Strong Brothers 4)

"I suppose that would explain why he never wants to come to work for the company," Natalie said.

I didn't like the feeling that they were defending him. "No, he spends his days on his motorcycle and his nights in clubs, living off his family money," I snapped. They were quiet on the other end of the phone for a moment.

Then Nat said, "Yes, of course you're right. Men are scum."

"By describing Noah that way, Andi, then you know that having some sort of long-term relatio

nship just isn't in the cards. He is who he is, and you’re probably not going to change him, so perhaps it's better that you don't even try."

Kellie was right, and I had to wonder how it was that I allowed myself to be in this situation. They had indicated that they thought Noah and I had been having a fling for a while, so did that mean all this chemistry wasn't just dislike, but sexual as well? I suppose it had to be, considering what just happened on the table in the living area. But they were right. Noah wasn't someone that I could count on personally. I wasn't a prude, and not beyond having a short-term fling, but Noah was my boss's grandson, so the best thing would be to move on.

"You're right, of course. I guess just being in close proximity, things just got out of control. But it won't happen again."

"You know, you two do have some interesting chemistry going on. Now that you’re there working in close proximity, how are you going to keep it from happening again?" Natalie asked.

"That’s really not our business." Kellie said.

"I'm just saying that kind of chemistry is combustible. Sometimes you can't help it. I'm telling you from experience."

She was right. The answer would be that I needed to stay away from Noah. "It won't be a problem. He and I are able to work in different locations and I'll make sure that we don't spend any time alone together."

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Andi. I'll be honest, I've been sort of rooting for you and Noah,” Natalie said.

If I was completely honest with myself, I think I was too. How messed up was that?

13

Noah

I was a fucking asshole. Actually, I was worse than that. I had given in and touched Andi having the orgasm to end all orgasms, and then I stomped off like a petulant child. I wasn’t angry at her, although I suspected she thought I was. What sort of jerk fucked a woman and then just stalked off? Me, as it turned out.

I hid in my room for a while adding cowardice to my list of negative character traits. But finally, I knew I couldn't hide anymore, and I walked back to the living area, hoping that Andi would be there. She was the type of woman that could get knocked down or mistreated, but stand back up, defiantly holding her chin up.

She wasn't there. Looking over toward her room, her door was closed. I didn't have the guts to go knock to talk to her and apologize. Instead, I got a drink and headed back to my room.

I didn’t know how I got any sleep that night, but the next morning I was resolved that I had to talk to her. I needed to let her know that what happened was on me. How I'd reacted was on me as well. It didn't matter how amazing I thought she was, or how great the sex had been, she and I could never be. I'd always known it, and for one moment I'd forgotten. And now I'd fucked things up more than they had been before.

I exited to the main area of the suite and looked over at the table where normally I'd find her working. She wasn't there. Not only that, all her papers were gone as well. I looked over towards her room and the door was slightly ajar.

"Andi?" I called as I made my way over to her room. "Andi, are you in there?"

The suite was silent. I gently pushed the door open and tentatively peeked in not wanting to find her in some sort of state of undress. The bed was unmade, but the rest of the room didn't seem to have any of her belongings in it. Maybe she wasn't like me and was living out of her suitcase. She seemed efficient and the type of woman that would put her clothes in the dresser and hang them in the closet. I walked near the bathroom, knocking on the door. "Andi?"

No answer. I walked back out to the living area and for a moment just stood in the middle of the room as I tried to figure out where she could be. Maybe she’d gone out for breakfast. God, I hope it wasn't with Marcus. Or maybe she went to the office.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted her to see where she was. While I waited for her response, I called down to room service to order coffee. But a few minutes later when she didn't text back, I began to worry. I walked over to the window to look down onto the street. The crowds were still there, along with the shouting, and I couldn't believe that Andi would've left the building. After all, it was on lockdown.

When my coffee arrived and there was still no word from Andi, my worry started to tick up a bit. I called over to the office to see if maybe Phil had heard from her.

"Everything's going all right down here," Phil said when he picked up the phone. "I brought in additional security. However, as you know, the office is far enough away from the protest that we should be all right."

"It's good to hear," I said. "Listen, has Andi been in touch at all?" I asked.

There was a pause on the end of the line, and I could picture Phil wondering why I was asking about Andi when she was supposed to be here with me.

"She did call a little bit earlier to check on everything, but I told her what I've told you, that we've added some extra security but don't expect any trouble in this area."

I wanted to ask him if she had given any indication to where she was, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. She had to be in the hotel so that's where I would have to look.