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When Nicole
Adkins tumbles into billionaire Mick Remington’s lap and looks into his
smoldering eyes, she all but stops breathing. He looks like the sexy model on
the front of a romance novel cover. Unfortunately, she’s heard about his brazen
reputation with women and she’s not about to let herself be taken in.
Nicole’s
grandfather is nearing his last days on earth, and his poor health has taken
its toll on the family business – her inheritance. But when Mick Remington
shows up in town, she fears the worst. He’s here to take control of her
grandfather’s business. The company is ripe for a takeover, and Nicole isn’t
about to let that happen no matter how sweet and charming Mick pretends to be.
Mick
claims to want to help, but with her entire future on the line, Nicole doesn’t
know whom to trust. As she spends more time with Mick, she begins to fear her
heart may be as at risk as her company.
CHAPTER ONE
Finding
the man she’d planned to ruin wasn’t easy. The Country Club’s lounge was packed
with people tonight. Nicole Adkins rolled her eyes. Great! Perhaps she wouldn’t have to worry about this after all.
Nicole
shook the negative thoughts out of her head. She would do this. It was the only way, and she was desperate to put a
stop to Mick Remington.
She
blinked several times, trying to get her vision adjusted to the room’s dim
lighting. It was imperative that she find her man. Well, Mick Remington wasn’t
exactly her man, but he was the only
man she was after tonight.
She glanced
down at her black, short-sleeve mini-dress with a keyhole neckline collar that
hugged her petite figure. With a groan, she tugged at the hem of her dress that
ended three-inches above her knee. Her grandfather had purchased this dress for
her five years ago, but she’d never had the occasion to wear it.
Tonight
was certainly not the right occasion,
either, but wearing something so daring
would get Mick Remington’s attention. She released a tiny groan. If her father
could see her now, he’d wonder where he’d gone wrong. Her father had raised her with high standards, it
just so happened that this evening she’d have to put some of her religious
beliefs on hold so she could save her inheritance.
If only there was another way.
Thanks
to the tabloids, Nicole knew Mick Remington dated fancy-dressed, beautiful women.
Although Nicole didn’t consider herself beautiful, she thought this expensive
dress might get his attention. Tonight it was important to convince him to
spend some time with her, if only for a few hours or however long it took to
get information that she could use against him.
She
just prayed her angel father wouldn’t judge her right now.
If
only her friend hadn’t forced Nicole to go along with this outrageous plan. If
it was up to her, she’d find a much prettier woman, dress her up like a model,
and make her charm the billionaire. Growing
up as the pastor’s daughter, Nicole was the exact opposite of enticing.
A few
patrons glanced her way – both male and female. The men’s ogling stares made
her uncomfortable, especially when their female dates elbowed them in the ribs
and shot Nicole a warning glare.
Losing
her nerve, Nicole scampered down a shadowed hallway toward the bathrooms and
pressed her back against the wall. With her heartbeat in overdrive, she
tightened the cell phone in her hand and dialed her friend’s number. Her friend
answered immediately.
“Mary,”
Nicole kept her voice low, “I can’t do this. I feel so… cheap.” Her friend’s
fit of laughter was so loud, Nicole pulled the phone away from her ear for a
moment. When the sound died down, Nicole gritted her teeth. “I mean it, Mary.
You picked the wrong woman.”
“First
off,” her friend said with a light voice, “you’re definitely not cheap,
especially since you’re wearing a Trina Kurk’s designer dress. And no, I didn’t
pick the wrong woman. You are perfect
for this role.”
“But
wearing this dress makes me feel like I could charm the socks off any man who
walks by.”
“Great,
Nikki. Go with that and use it to your advantage.”
Nicole
grumbled underneath her breath. “But this isn’t me. I don’t wear fancy clothes
like I’m going to one of Paris Hilton’s parties. I’m more comfortable in a pair
of shorts and a tee-shirt and flip-flops.”
“Nikki,
don’t worry about what you’re wearing. Keep in mind that you’re a woman on a
mission. You must stay focused.”
Closing
her eyes, she inhaled deeply and slowly. “Yes, I’m on a mission, but I don’t
want that man to think I’m like most
women with loose morals who regularly hits on him.”
“You’re
not,” Mary reasoned. “All you’re trying to do is catch his eye and make him
want to date you. Just keep in mind that you should be nice to him until after
you’ve found the information we’re looking for.”
“Yes,
I hope we can, too.” Frowning, Nicole opened her eyes and sighed. Mick
Remington was in town to buy out her grandfather’s company… a company that was
going to be hers one day. She couldn’t let Remington take this away from her.
“Nikki?
Are his associates still with him?”
“I
don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet.” Nicole moved out of the hall and back into
the main lounge. She scanned the bar before studying the booths. “Remind me
what he looks like again.”
“Seriously,
Nikki? Can’t you remember seeing him on that tabloid magazine two months ago?”
“Well,
I think I remember,” Nicole muttered.
“Mick
Remington is probably the hottest guy in the lounge tonight. Six-foot-four,
broad shoulders, dark brown hair, and a trimmed goatee. The article I read
about him mentioned his gray eyes will make any woman drool.”
Nicole
snorted a laugh. “Well, I can guarantee he won’t make me drool.”
She
continued searching for the man her friend had described, but she couldn’t find
anyone who fit that description. Mary’s boyfriend had insisted Remington was
here, so she didn’t dare leave just yet. The longer she studied each person in
the room, ease began to settle her nerves. Could she hope he had already left?
“He’s
not here,” she told Mary, trying not to feel relieved that she wouldn’t have to
go through with this after all.
“No,
he’s there. I just talked to Kent.”
Nicole
stepped into the lounge a little further, continuing to hold the phone to her
ear. Out of the corner of her eye, a handsome man with broad shoulders and dark
brown hair captured her attention as he walked away from the bar and to a
booth, holding a drink. He scooted on the seat and set his drink next to a
folder of papers on the table.
Crap! Nicole frowned. He was here. “I
think I see him.”
“Is he
still with his associates?”
“No.
Remington is by himself.”
“Great!”
Mary’s voice lifted with excitement. “Now make your move, babe. Strut your
stuff in front of him.”
Nicole
rubbed her forehead, but it didn’t relieve the pain knocking against her skull.
“Mary, I don’t—”
“Stop
it, Nikki. Tell yourself you can do
this. You must. Kent is there and
will help you, I promise. As soon as we hang up, I’ll call him to make sure
he’s ready.”
Nicole
glanced at the four cowboys standing at the bar, flirting with the cute server
girl wearing tight leggings. “I see Kent and his friends. They’re near
Remington’s table.”
“Perfect.
Give me a minute to call, and then you can make your move.”
Nicole
clicked off her phone before sliding the cell into her purse. Sucking in a deep
breath, she squared her shoulders. Mary was right. This must be done. It didn’t
matter how underhanded the plan; someone needed to stop this man.
Wealthy
businessmen like Mick Remington were parasites. The only reason men like him
were billionaires was because they destroyed people’s lives. She had no other
choice. She must stop him from ruining more people in his pursuit of money and
glory.
Mick
Remington had learned from the best. His father had been the destroyer feared
by all large business owners. Whenever they heard Remington was in town, every
business doubled up on their shareholders. Now his son held the destroyer title
since she’d heard the elder Remington was retiring.
She
wrung her hands against her waist, mentally going over her checklist. She’d
charm Mick and convince him to tell her about his next business takeover. If
that didn’t work, she’d go against her morals and let him take her to his hotel
room and she’d slip a sleeping pill in his drink. Once he was passed out, she’d
look for information that would help them fight the takeover of Adkins
Dev-Tech, her grandfather’s company. And, if that didn’t work, Mary was ready
with her camera to take pictures of Remington to sell to the tabloids. It was
rumored that Mick hated to have his picture taken without consent.
Nicole
shivered with anxiety. She prayed it wouldn’t come to that. Would she even know
what to do at that point? Besides, blackmailing a successful businessman like
Mick Remington could be dangerous.
From
over at the bar, Kent’s phone chirped, and Nicole swung her gaze in his
direction. He pulled it from his pocket and answered it. As Nicole focused on
the four cowboys, Kent’s gaze met hers as he talked to Mary. He gave Nicole a
nod.
Everything
was set just as they’d planned.
Nicole’s
heart pounded so hard, it threatened to bruise a rib or two. Maybe, break one. This
was it. It was now or never.
Taking
a deep breath for courage, she ran moist palms over her dress to help dry her skin
faster. She also tried to pull the hem of the dress down to cover more of her
bare legs, but the material wouldn’t budge. On shaky three-inch high-heels, she
headed toward Mick Remington’s table, keeping her focus on the back of his brown
head of hair and wide shoulders.
With
each step, she clenched her jaw a little tighter. How could she act sweet and
docile toward him when she loathed the very ground he slithered upon? What if
he found her attractive? He’d want to touch her. The very thought of being so
intimate made her stomach roll.
Nicole’s
plan had to succeed. Grandpa James’s disease had grown worse. He had one foot
in the grave, and she would inherit the company after he was gone. But not if
Mick Remington sank his uncaring claws into it first. If that man took over, the town’s very existence would be depleted.
Yeah, no pressure. It wasn’t like
everyone in Maple Springs source of income rested heavily upon her shoulders.
As she
passed Kent, he laughed out loud and jumped back. He stomped his cowboy-booted
heel directly on her foot. Crying out, she stumbled away from him… and fell
right into Mr. Remington’s lap. The man’s muscular arms wrapped around her
waist as a gush of air escaped his mouth, brushing her cheek. He smelled like
mints – not alcohol. How refreshing.
The
throbbing pain in her foot brought her back to what she was doing on his lap in
the first place. Tears gathered in her eyes from the pain Kent had inflicted
upon her. He knew how small her feet were since he’d teased her about them. Now
she worried he’d broken some bones.
“Uh—sorry
Miss,” Kent slurred and returned to the bar, chuckling.
Tomorrow
she would make him pay dearly for this. But at least she had Remington’s
attention.
Nervously,
she turned and met Remington’s dark stare. Worry etched his handsome expression
at first, but within seconds, kindness replaced it as his gaze practically
caressed every inch of her face.
A
sharp breath caught in her throat. This couldn’t possibly be Mick Remington.
From what she’d heard, the man didn’t have an ounce of kindness.
Nicole
blinked a couple times and focused back on the dream-man still gazing at her
with a look that didn’t fit his reputation. Had she fallen on the wrong person?
Sweeping
her gaze over his features, she double-checked to see if he was really Mick
Remington. He resembled the man Mary had described, but somehow his skin seemed
darker as if he’d just returned from enjoying the sandy beaches of Jamaica. Definitely,
a possibility since Mick constantly traveled all over the world – according to
the tabloids, anyway.
She
swallowed hard. “I’m… I’m sorry for falling for you… I mean on you.” Embarrassment heated her face.
Had she really said that? What an idiot she’d been… a very confused idiot.
Nicole
struggled to move off his lap, but when she put her weight on her injured foot,
the pain intensified. Stumbling, her shoe fell off in the process, and she sank
back to his lap. “I can’t seem to stand.”
“How
badly are you hurt?” His voice held a hint of concern.
“I
can’t put pressure on my foot. I don’t know… it might be broken.”
Mr.
Remington’s large hand slid down her leg until it hooked over the heel of her
sore foot. His touch was so tender. So warm. Tremors of unexpected delight
danced across her skin. She quickly silenced a traitorous sigh before it exited
her mouth.
“Let
me take a look.” He bent, inspecting it closer.
His
hot breath caressed her skin. Goosebumps rose over her body from her neck,
clear down to her toes.
She
froze. It wasn’t just the pain from her bruise torturing her now, but the way
his gentle fingers brushed over it.
He
straightened. “It’s going to be a nasty bruise, but I don’t think it’s broken.”
Nicole
forced a smile. “Thanks, but I should be leaving—” She moved to stand again,
but his arms tightened around her waist.
“Sweetheart,
you shouldn’t step on your foot now. It’s starting to swell.”
Her
heart flipped from the nickname he’d given her. And why was his voice so stimulating
when he said it? The pain must be affecting her hearing, too.
“But,
I can’t stay on your lap all night.” From the mere idea, her face grew hotter.
“I don’t even know you.”
“How
about we change that right now?” His eyebrows lifted. “I’m Mick Remington. And
you are…”
The woman that’s going to destroy you!
As
much as she wanted to say those words, the sound of his deep, yet soothing
voice brought odd sensations trickling over her. Her throat turned dry, as did
her mouth.
She
refocused on her mission and licked her parched lips. “I’m Nicole.” She
couldn’t tell him her last name. He’d know exactly who she was related to.
Quickly, she used her mother’s maiden name. “I’m Nicole Stanley.”
His
gaze did a quick sweep around the room before landing back on her. “Are you
here alone?”
“I’m
not supposed to be.” She swallowed hard and began her lie. “But my date stood
me up. I was on my way out the door when I was pushed onto your lap.”
He ran
his hand softly over her knee, stirring the heat inside her up another level.
They were way too close for her comfort.
“I
really feel awkward sitting on you like this.” She motioned her head toward the
empty space next to him on the booth’s seat. “Would you mind if I scooted over
there?”
He
gave her another devastating grin that lifted the right side of his mouth
higher than the left. Dimples creased in both cheeks. Why did he have to have
such an adorable feature about him? Regardless, she must stay focused on her
goal.
“I
would mind because I think this is very cozy, but I wouldn’t want to make you
uneasy in any way,” he said.
Shifting
her on his lap, he slid his hands underneath her legs and eased her onto the
empty space beside him as if she was as light as a feather. He kept her injured
foot propped on his thigh.
Nicole
sucked in a breath and heat rushed over every inch of her body. Silently, she
cursed her reaction to this gorgeous man. She prayed she wouldn’t be fighting
him and her traitorous body all night long. There was no way she could endure
that much torture.
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