I dreamed about them. Lusted over them since I was a teenage girl. Made up excuse after excuse to go next door to Lauren’s just to catch an eyeful of them.
I learned the male anatomy from accidentally walking in on them in their rooms. I learned about how a man’s body held muscle from watching them do yardwork from my porch as a young girl.
I learned about how my body came to life with my hand between my legs by dreaming abo
ut their lips against my neck.
They helped me become the woman I was today in every way imaginable, and they didn’t even know it.
Each of them was so hot in their own ways.
Liam had this fatherly air about him. His wisdom and his patience were his two best qualities. Always the peacemaker, but always the one to have the last say. His dominance had a silent air, and it made me shiver whenever he locked his gaze onto my body.
And Luke, with his dazzling green eyes. He was the only brother with green eyes, while the others had blue. And though they always teased him about being adopted, it was my favorite attribute on his body. Luke was silent. Strong. Bold in his motions but quiet with his tongue. He never spoke unless it was necessary because he always felt it best to speak with actions rather than words. I could only imagine some nights how that transferred into the bedroom.
Then, there was Logan. Foul-mouthed and cocky with a smile to match the persona. He knocked me off my feet with his light touches and his constant flirtations. He commented on everything. How my clothes fit my body and how my hair looked in the sunlight. His romance was fitted with a sexual fervor that made my toes curl in my heels.
And Levi. Compassionate, power-house Levi. He was the youngest, but he wasn’t the one to be messed with. He understood me the most. The best. Our personalities matched, and his headstrong nature was something that left me in awe. Whatever he wanted, he got. And I adored that about him. He never let anything stand in his way and he was always willing to step up and do what was necessary, even if it meant someone would be upset with him.
Levi: I miss you too, Sam. I can’t wait for you to get back.
Liam: I’m ready to see you in that bridesmaid dress of yours.
Logan: Will it have a slit up the side? Because let me tell you, your thighs are incredible.
Luke: Down boy. You’ll scare her away.
I relished in the attention they always gave me. I held my phone to my chest before I put it down. I had to get to work. I had deadlines approaching, then I would be on a plane and headed back to the States. And while I was incredibly happy about my best friend’s wedding, I was also ready to see the guys again.
See my boys again.
The elevator door opened, and the sound of a crying child filled the corridor of the office space. I watched my temporary boss get up and walk over to his wife, taking the crying child from her arms. She looked tired. Ragged. Worn down. I watched her lean into her husband as he cradled his child, his lips kissing the top of her head. So gentle. So loving. So understanding of her plight even though he was at work.
It made me sit back and wonder where the hell my life was headed.
I had my dream career, but I also pictured more. Marriage. Kids. I had an entire plan for my life, and I currently wasn’t abiding by the guidelines. At this point in my life, I was supposed to be dating the love of my life. Preparing myself for an engagement and already talking about children. All of that was supposed to happen before thirty, when I would stop writing and start designing my own fashion line and launching it the summer before my thirty-first birthday.
But how could I get married when none of them compared to the men I grew up with?
The Anderson brothers set the standard. The four of them showed me the kinds of men I needed to find in my life. And every single man I’d come into contact with fell drastically short of that mark. In some respects, it probably wasn’t fair to hold one man to the standard of four, but I hadn’t settled with my career. I pushed and I looked and I worked myself to the bone until I found exactly what I was looking for.
Why should finding a husband be any different?
I shook my head and got back to work. The sooner I could get everything turned in, the sooner I could get on with my break. The sooner I could celebrate my best friend’s wedding. The sooner I could venture to Vegas and give her the best Bachelorette party she could experience.
And the sooner I could see the guys.
Sam: One more article, then I’m clocking out for good. You guys ready to see me?
I didn’t even get my phone set back down before messages came pouring through.
Luke: I’ve been ready since the moment you left, Sam.
Logan: Hell yeah, I’m ready. Who’s picking you up from the airport?
Levi: Wait, you’re already done? Does that mean you’re getting an earlier flight out?
Liam: Wow anxious much?