The Awakening by Lorhainne Eckhart

could show her the sunroom.”
    At one time, Andy protected his family, their reputation. He did things to clean up the messes his father was constantly in. He knew his father loved him, but his mother… He wondered what the woman was really about.
    Maybe it was her insinuated threat to Jed’s future that had him walking toward the senator and his daughter. Whatever it was, the seed she’d planted of the chaos she could unleash had him pulling back in this fight. If there was one thing he had learned in business and in fighting, it was to know his opponent, to know his weakness, and to never take on a fight he couldn’t win.
    “Senator Johnston, so glad you could come.” He gripped the distinguished man’s hand. He was tall and solidly built, his graying hair and hazel eyes adding to his distinguished appearance. His hand rested on his daughter’s back, and he eyed Andy in a way that told him that if he hurt his daughter, he’d destroy him.
    “Alexis, you look lovely tonight.” Andy had to dig deep to play the role his mother wanted, even though Alexis did look stunning in a deep blue gown that showed off her exquisite figure.
    “Thank you, Andy. I must say, you clean up quite well yourself, but then, I wondered if you were going to show at all.” She glared at him coolly, letting him know she wasn’t fooled for one minute. She turned away. “Excuse me, I’m finding it a little stuffy. I think I’ll get some air.” She patted her father’s arm. “I’ll be back, Father.”
    “Andy, why don’t you show Alexis the sunroom,” Caroline stated, and she smiled at the senator. “We should really allow these two some time to get to know each other.”
    Andy gritted his teeth but stepped forward and offered his arm to Alexis. She had been raised with impeccable manners and understood society’s rules, so she accepted his arm and walked with him.
    “You know, Andy, I’m no fool. I know you’re a smart man. You do realize your mother and my father would like nothing more than for us to be involved, for you to court me, shall we say. And the only reason I was invited here was for us to have a chance to get to know each other. But I won’t be played for a fool. You and I both know you have about as much interest in getting to know me as a cat does a dog.”
    Andy didn’t much like being called out, but she had nailed what he was thinking on the head—and what he was feeling. He paused and lifted a glass of champagne off a tray from a waiter. “Alexis?”
    She inclined her head and accepted the glass.
    “Bourbon for me,” Andy ordered to the young waiter.
    “Yes, sir,” responded the waiter before weaving through the crowd.
    “You’ll love the view from this room.” Andy escorted Alexis down five steps and into a wide, open sunroom filled with plants, a corner pond, and plush furnishings. Thankfully, it was empty of any guests.
    Alexis strode to a bench seat beside the stone pond and dipped her hand in. “This is a lovely room; even the air is fresh in here.” She didn’t smile, but when she gazed at Andy, he noted a hint of sadness before the waiter returned with his bourbon. She dropped her eyes and smiled, and all the control and strength of a woman in charge returned to those hard blue eyes.
    “Thank you.” Andy lifted his glass to Alexis. “Merry Christmas, Alexis. You’re right about one thing: I’m not interested in a relationship. I don’t know you, and I have a lot I’m dealing with right now. So I apologize if you feel slighted.”
    Alexis slid around and sipped her champagne before sitting the full glass beside her on a side table. “You do appear distracted. I’m not a monster, Andy Friessen. Maybe what you need is a friendly ear from someone who is impartial.”
    “Thank you. That’s not what I expected. But maybe you can tell me what business your father has with mine right now?”
    She never flinched when she said, “Well, your mother and my father have been in business