The Awakening by Lorhainne Eckhart Page A

together, but I know right now that my father and yours have investments in some offshore company. My daddy is ensuring that subsidies are provided and that the company’s debt is forgiven. But aren’t you already involved in the business part of this?”
    Andy stared at this striking woman, wondering if she really understood what she’d said. “My father and I work closely together in business, but what you’re talking about is fleecing the taxpayer while contributing nothing.”
    She leaned her head back and laughed. “Oh, Andy, you surprise me. Half the people at this party have built their wealth this way, from subsidies and forgiveness of debts so that they can buy more, invest more. It’s the American way.”
    Andy glanced at the crowd of family friends, guest just outside the sunroom, all with wealth in some form. He realized he really didn’t know how they’d made their money and, in that moment, felt something inside himself awaken. He realized the unbalance of it, the injustice. It was Laura’s thin face that flashed before him and the screams of others from his past: the unseen, the impoverished, and those trying to make a difference. Andy never saw her get up, but she was in front of him, and she took his glass from his hand, set it on the wooden ledge beside him. Her hands clasped his waist, and she stepped closer, tracing a finger up his chest, over his chin and lips with her soft hands, her long red nails. “I’d love to explore what could be, maybe get to know you a little better.”
    She smelled so sweet. He’d been a long time without a woman. She pressed her breasts into his chest and lifted her lips in offering. Andy didn’t know why he did it—maybe curiosity had him lowering his head and tasting her and what she offered. He took advantage of her open mouth and probed with his tongue; he could feel her quiver and settle in closer, running her hand down his back, up over his shoulders. He moulded his mouth over hers with fierce pleasure. He began to breathe harder, faster, demanding more, which she willingly offered. Then he lifted her, pulling her closer, adjusting her hips against his. She locked her arms around his neck and squirmed.
    A gasp sounded from behind him, and a woman squeaked. “Oh, excuse me!”
    Andy pulled back, prying Alexis’ arms from his neck. The women quickly left. Alexis stared at him with a heavy-lidded gaze, her lips red and pouty. He needed to step back, get some air. He couldn’t believe what he’d almost done.
    “I’m sorry, Alexis, but I just realized I have someplace else I have to be. I apologize for deserting you.” He left shaking, gritting his teeth as he woefully fought to gain control, taking the stairs two at a time up to his room, where he changed into something warm, something casual, and slipped out the side door.

Chapter Seventeen
    Andy had ignored the dozen or so calls to his cell phone from the minute he’d driven away from the estate. He knew who was calling: his mother, or rather, Jules, ordered by his mother. But Andy was having none of it. He realized then that he needed to do his homework and to keep his distance from Alexis or she’d cloud his good sense and have him taking her to his bed, testing how wild he thought she’d be. He needed to stay focused because his father and Senator Johnston were up to something, and whatever it was meant billions and a union that would create a powerful dynasty. It always came down to money, power, and politics, but what Andy couldn’t shake as of late was that the closeness he had once shared with his father had changed.
    Clint, their family lawyer, met Andy at the Arlington office. Andy knew quite well he was walking a fine line, as Clint’s representation included the whole family, his mother and father. Would he betray a confidence? He didn’t think so, but he still needed to be cautious. Clint was brilliant, as were many of the lawyers on his staff. He had short, dark hair a lean body,