NOAH: AN ANDERSON BILLIONAIRES NOVEL

by Anne, Melody

  But Sarah was different from anyone he’d ever been with before. She was all of those things he’d ever wanted and so much more. She was exactly what he’d been searching for without realizing he’d been seeking anyone. He’d been with many women and had walked away without looking back. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to do that with Sarah. She was a one-of-a-kind woman, and he wasn’t going to easily let her get away. He’d tried to leave her, and he’d failed horribly, quickly running right back to her.

  His ride ended much sooner than he wanted it to as he pulled up to his brother Crew’s place. Crew was the family psychologist, and they all liked to flick him a bunch of shit about it, but they also were incredibly proud of him. Of course, Noah had a master’s degree as well as Crew, but Noah knew how much time and energy his brother had put into his profession. Crew had gone a step further and had gotten his doctorate, and he was damn good at what he did.

  Noah took his career and himself seriously, but Crew made him look like an utter playboy. Crew was far too serious about life. It was all of the brothers’ mission to loosen him up, to get him to laugh a little more. Sure, life had to be taken seriously, and they all had to grow up at some point. But they didn’t have to do it at the expense of their happiness. It wasn’t too crazy to believe they could have it all and laugh while doing it.

  Noah got off his bike and looked at the large house, which seemed so odd for his brother to own. It was a farmhouse with about fifty acres to it. Crew had only owned it for about six months, and when he’d brought the family up to see it, they’d all been shocked. Maybe Crew felt he was missing something in life and wanted more adventure, but he didn’t know how to express it. Maybe he didn’t even know he wanted it. Noah wondered if his little brother was going to make a farm there. He just couldn’t imagine Crew on a tractor or shoveling horse manure. But it would be a picture-perfect moment for sure if that were to happen.

  He tried the doorknob and smiled when it opened. Open doors were important when it came to family. Maybe it was time for Noah to buy his own house so his brothers could come and stay with him anytime they needed. It seemed that was the thing to do at his age. It scared him a little, though. If he settled down completely, would he lose himself? He wasn’t ready for that—or at least he didn’t think he was.

  Walking through the hallways of his brother’s large home, he smiled. The place was still so empty. It needed paint and furniture and pictures on the walls. He did notice how very clean the floors were, though. And since Noah was a dusty mess from his ride, he knew he’d drive his brother slightly crazy with the dirt he was tracking in the otherwise pristine home.

  He made it all the way to the kitchen before he found Crew, who looked at his attire with a bit of disgust, shaking his head. Noah didn’t say anything as he moved to the fridge and smiled when he found ice-cold beer inside. He was trying to embrace Finn’s attitude of worn jeans and a T-shirt. It wasn’t completely comfortable for him, but the reaction from Crew made it totally worth it. Crew was far more uptight than Noah had ever been.

  “Go ahead and make yourself at home,” Crew said with only slight sarcasm.

  “Of course I will,” Noah told him. He popped the top off his beer and took a long swallow, letting out a sigh at the smooth taste. “Delicious.”

  “My cleaner isn’t going to like you visiting,” Crew said before he moved to the fridge to grab his own beverage.

  “Nah, she’ll love it, since it’s job security,” Noah told him. “I love this place. If you get sick of it, let me know. Maybe it’s time I put my own place on the map.” He was a bit shocked when the words came out. But the thought became more appealing by the second. He really did love the house, and the property had many possibilities of what he could do on it.

  Crew looked thoughtful before he spoke. That wasn’t unusual. Crew never spouted anything. He liked to compose his words carefully. He never allowed himself to get drunk, and he never lost control. It would be great to see what would happen if he did.

  “I like this place. I don’t really have an explanation as to why, but I feel at home here. I won’t be selling,” he finally said, as if he’d considered doing just that for about five seconds.

  For the first time Noah noticed some changes in his brother. Maybe all of them were growing up. Noah had never looked at Crew like he was a lost soul, but maybe his brother had gone into the degree he’d chosen because he was seeking answers about his own life. Who really knew another person if that person wasn’t willing to share? Even if a person did share, they didn’t give you everything. If they did, there’d be nothing left of themselves.

  “I think it’s a good idea for you to settle down,” Crew told him when Noah didn’t say anything for quite a while.

  “I don’t know why I even said that. I’ve just been sort of thinking about it lately. Maybe all adventure or all work is where I fail. Maybe I can have a balance and have more than one thing.”

  “There can be adventures to be had in one place,” Crew said. “And just because you own a home doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to leave it.”

  “I know. I know,” Noah said. “But buying a house is a big step for a confirmed bachelor who likes to wander the world looking for the next adventure to be had.”

  “Let’s move to the den. I got new furniture,” Crew said.

  Noah followed his brother through the house and was impressed when they stepped into the huge room. It was certainly a man’s dream space, with a bar, a couple of couches, and a nice fireplace. Noah headed toward the liquor cabinet and glanced at the expensive labels.

  “Hmm, good stuff,” he said as he pulled out a bottle of scotch and took off the lid, giving it a smell. “Yep, gotta try this.”

  “It’s a little early,” Crew pointed out.

  “Nah, it’s never too early to quench your thirst,” Noah told him. He put some ice in a glass and poured the smooth liquor on top, then took a sip. “Heaven,” he said with a sigh. “Want some?”

  Crew cracked a smile. “No, I’m good,” he said. “But help yourself.”

  “I’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission,” Noah said.

  “Are you ever going to grow up and act your age?” Crew asked as he sat down and sipped slowly on his beer. “Of all our brothers I’ve taken you as the most serious other than me . . . until lately.”

  “Why should I? Just because someone tells me I need to do something doesn’t mean that’s what I’ll do,” Noah said. “I’m liking this new carefree attitude. It’s making my suits a lot less tight. I might give them up altogether.”

  “I don’t know why I bother with any of my siblings. You guys don’t listen to me worth a damn,” Crew said.

  “Maybe we’d listen more if you loosened up a bit,” Noah said. “You take life too seriously.”

  “And you don’t take it seriously enough,” Crew countered. “You’ve changed. Every one of you have changed in the past year.”

  “So have you,” Noah pointed out. “Maybe what we all needed was change.” He thought for a few more moments, then spoke again before Crew could say something. “Maybe we could meet somewhere in the middle.” He moved to the couch across from his brother and sat. He wasn’t in a hurry for anything today, which was a wonderful novelty.

  “I don’t think I need to change,” Crew told him. “I have responsibilities that I take very seriously.”

  “Maybe I have a fear of becoming someone I don’t know or like. Maybe I want to have less responsibility. Maybe that’s why I have the need to wander. I’m afraid if I settle, life will become boring and one dimensional. If I see the world that way, I’ll never be able to do my job.”

  “By living that way, you might one day wake up and realize you’ve wasted a lot of time. It’s okay to find a bit of peace in a crazy world,” Crew said. “I can honestly say I have nothing to feel regret over.”

  “Well, for me to offer a compromise is a big step. I don’t like giving even an inch. So if I can do it, th
en I know for sure you can,” Noah told him.

  “Yeah, one thing all of us have in common is we don’t easily back down.”

  “Are you saying that’s a good thing?” Noah asked.

  “I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s an asset. It depends on the situation. Strength of character can play a big role in life. But too much stubbornness can hold us all back. It’s good to shake up the normal day-to-day routine.”

  “That’s true, I guess,” Noah admitted.

  “How are things going with Sarah?” Crew asked. “I’ve never seen a woman get under your skin like she does.”

  “I don’t know why she gets to me so much. She’s completely wrong for me. But even knowing that, I can’t get her out of my head. I want to be with her all the time. I love how I feel when I’m with her.”

  “Maybe you’re falling in love for the first time in your life,” Crew suggested.

  “Nah. We haven’t spent enough time together to fall in love,” Noah said. “But I tend to send mixed messages.” There was no way he’d convince his brothers he was a happy single guy if he wasn’t able to convince himself.

  “Hmm,” Crew said, and Noah suddenly felt sorry for his brother’s patients.

  “Sometimes your little sounds drive me absolutely crazy,” Noah told him.

  “You’ve known her for about a year now, so this isn’t new anymore. You should really know what you want by now. If you’re just toying with her, I’d suggest you let her go. She’s not the kind of woman to be played with.”

  “I’m not playing with her. It’s just a physical thing,” Noah said. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince himself or his brother of this.

  “For someone who doesn’t want commitment, you seem awfully attached to this woman,” Crew pointed out.

  “And you’re getting this from just a few words I’m saying?” Noah questioned.

  “No. I’m getting this from hearing you speak about her for months.”

  “Maybe I should keep my mouth shut from now on,” Noah said.

  “You know none of us are judging you. I know this is a process you have to work through,” Crew said.

  “I know that, but I’m not sure what I’m thinking or feeling, so it’s impossible to put it into words,” Noah admitted.

  “Just tell me what’s on your mind right now,” Crew suggested.

  Noah thought about it for a moment. “She fascinates me. I love being with her, and I love how she sparks my imagination and my hormones. She’s got so many dimensions to her I don’t think I’ll ever truly know who she is. And I’m not scared of how I feel. That’s enough right there to scare the hell out of me, but it doesn’t. I’ve just screwed up a lot. I don’t know if I can make it right.”

  “I’d say you’re on the right path if you want something and aren’t afraid to accept it. You can either run in life or embrace what’s in front of you,” Crew told him.

  “Is this how you talk to your patients?” Noah asked.

  Crew gave a rare chuckle. “Some of them, especially the more stubborn ones.”

  “Well, don’t use your shrinky magic on me. I’m doing just fine.”

  “I have no doubt you are,” Crew said. “The guesthouse is finally fixed, so you can move your stuff out there anytime you want. Stay as long as you need.”

  The gesture made Noah smile. “I appreciate it. Until I figure out what I’m doing, I don’t want to rent a place.”

  “Well, the guesthouse is much better than a hotel. I can’t believe you’ve stayed there so long.”

  “Hey, it’s convenient, and I don’t have to clean up after myself,” Noah said. “But I do miss having a back porch to kick back on.”

  “Yeah, I’ve never been a fan of apartments, and a hotel is worse than one of those.”

  “It hasn’t been so bad, but I’m over it. I’ll move in tonight.” He was feeling better already. “But for now I’m going to shower. I have a date with Sarah, and I can’t be around her all dusty and stinky.”

  He stood up and began heading from the room. He had clothes in Crew’s and Finn’s places. He really was a hobo of sorts.

  “Glad you have priorities. At least you clean up for a girl, even if it’s after tracking crap through my entire house.”

  “Of course I have priorities. You aren’t nearly as pretty as Sarah,” he said with a chuckle.

  “That hurts my feelings,” Crew said.

  Noah laughed again as he walked from the room and went down a few more hallways until he got to the guest room with its own bathroom. This house truly was great. Maybe he’d find something like it, or maybe he’d design his own place.

  He stripped and jumped in the shower, his thoughts on Sarah the entire time, which made him rush through it. The sooner he was done, the quicker he’d see the girl.

  Yeah, he was pretty much a goner when it came to her . . . and he didn’t even care.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Sarah’s nerves were in a jumble as she drove up the long driveway to Noah’s brother’s place. She never should’ve agreed to meet him at the house. It was supposed to be in a public place where she could count on many people around them. She didn’t trust herself to be alone with the guy. It seemed every time they were one on one, they ended up naked. She was trying to tell herself that wasn’t a good thing.

  But he’d sounded professional on the phone when he’d called her and asked if she could come to the ranch instead of a restaurant. He said he didn’t want anyone overhearing them as they talked about the project. The more they kept away from the media, the more the place got publicity because it was such a mystery. That was logic she couldn’t argue with.

  She’d decided after Noah left her office that all she really needed with this man was closure. She’d been fascinated with him from the moment she’d met him and had stupidly believed that if she slept with him, then she’d get over her infatuation. That had totally backfired. So what she really needed to do was spend more time with him, and then maybe she’d get over her fascination with the man. That was it. She was sure of it. He wasn’t as perfect as he’d seemed in the wee hours of the morning.

  She’d spent far too much time thinking of this man. He was smart in how he kept her interested. He knew how her brain worked and knew that if he kept her intrigued about things, he’d have her hook, line, and sinker. It worked well for him but wasn’t so good for her. But she was determined to get over the man. This fascination with one guy was something totally new for her.

  As she pulled up to the house, her heart thumped a bit too quickly. She’d been to this property before. A friend who’d moved away many years ago had owned it. She’d had her first kiss on the ranch, come to think of it. That had been a long time before. She smiled at the memory. Neither of them had known what they were doing at the tender age of fifteen, but thankfully kissing had gotten better the older she’d become. Kissing Noah Anderson was extraordinary. He was fantastic no matter what he chose to do.

  No. No. No. She wasn’t supposed to have those types of thoughts anymore. If she wanted to get herself under control and finish this damn project, she had to pull it together.

  But being at this property was messing with her head. She’d had good memories at this place, and she couldn’t help but think of how many more memories she could make with Noah. She’d always dreamed of making love beneath a star-studded sky, and this was the perfect location for that.

  The last summer she’d spent at this ranch, she’d been eighteen and in a crisis of what she’d wanted to do with her life. She’d broken up with her high school boyfriend, and she’d been so lost. If it hadn’t been for Chloe and Brooke, she might’ve spiraled out of control. But they’d pulled her back in, and she’d gone to college, and now she was living the dream. If only she didn’t feel like there was something missing.

  But Sarah had grown up a lot since she was a teen. Sometimes that depressed her. She liked to be free and let her hair down. She liked to run on the beach in a bikini with la
ughter trailing behind her because she was feeling so much joy.

  Maybe being a professional was what was making her so damn vulnerable. She needed to loosen up again and take the time to run and laugh at the same time—to be free. The accident had almost taken her life. She couldn’t keep being afraid.

  Shaking off those thoughts, she stopped her car and took a deep breath. Then she stepped outside and took in the fresh country air. It was so different out here, not that far from the city. But it was far enough to relax and feel as if you were in another world. She clung to the straps of her computer bag and tried to decide where she was supposed to go.

  Noah had told her he was staying in his brother’s guest cottage. But she didn’t know if he’d be up at the house or in the cottage. The house seemed a much safer location for the two of them to meet. She hoped at least his brother was around so they wouldn’t be alone. She wasn’t sure she could control herself if they were.

  She heard a noise coming from the direction of the guest cottage, and she let out a sigh. She knew that was where he was. It seemed luck wasn’t her friend on this pleasantly warm evening.

  She moved down the path, knowing exactly where she was going. There was a huge yard in front of the cottage that couldn’t be seen from the main house. It was intimate and private and not what she needed right now.

  “You’re a little early. I like it.”

  The voice came from behind her, and Sarah turned to see Noah walking up, confidence in each step he took.

  “I can’t stand being late. It shows disrespect,” she told him. The man was getting far too close to keep her hormones under control.

  “Nah, it just means you’re a busy person. No disrespect intended when a person is running a little late,” he said.

  “You can keep telling yourself that all day long,” she assured him. She really didn’t do well at small talk, but any conversation she had with him was always so easy. That was another thing that drove her slightly insane.