Nicole’s footsteps echoed through the main hallway of her grandfather’s house. He owned one of the largest homes in Maple Springs, and yet, he and his servants were the only ones occupying the space. He also had a live-in nurse, which was why he didn’t have to stay in the hospital during his last days on earth. When she reached his bedroom, she slowed her steps. It hurt her to see him so sickly, and she cursed the specialists who hadn’t found a cure for lung cancer yet. Nicole stopped in front of his door and raised her hand to knock, but hesitated. She had rehearsed everything she wanted to say to him, but she was still afraid. He didn’t need any more stress in his life, and telling him about the takeover – and that there wasn’t anything she could do – would certainly bring on the stress. And she definitely didn’t want to tell him about Mick Remington. She’d let her grandfather keep his pleasant memories of the Mick from years ago. Nicole rapped lightly on the door and waited. It
“Poppie, I’m trying to stop him, but I don’t know what to do. He’s already paid off two of our shareholders.” “I know what you can do.” He nodded matter-of-factly. “You do?” Hope sprang inside of her and she sat up a little straighter. “You must talk to Mick. He’ll help. He won’t let his father take over my company.” She scowled and folded her arms across her chest. “Mick Remington? I can’t trust that man, Poppie.” “You have to. He’s the only one who can help us.” She jumped to her feet and paced the floor around her grandfather’s bed. “No, there’s got to be another way. He’s as deceitful as his father.” “Do you know him? Because if you truly knew him, you wouldn’t think that. Mick has a kind heart. He cares about people.” She rolled her eyes. “Poppie, how long has it been since you have talked to Mick? Years? Because I can promise you, he’s not the boy you remember. He’s been working alongside his father for too long.” “Please, Nikki. Do this one thing for me, even if it’s t
Mick had never been a nervous person, even in school when he was on the football team, or meeting girls for the first time. He was confident in his abilities, and he never doubted himself. Until now. He’d only known Nicole for a few days, and already she had his emotions twisted into a knot. Around her, he’d felt like a hero, and now the villain. He’d felt like the sexiest man alive, and now he considered himself unappealing not only to her but to everyone. Mick had always had a head for business, but these past two days, brilliant ideas were not entering his mind. All because he’d wanted to be honest with her. His chest tightened. If only Nicole would have let him explain his relationship with Tara Browning – USA’s next top model. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair and stared at himself in the mirror. He really needed to snap out of this depression he’d put himself in. Why was he allowing Nicole to control his feelings, anyway? That was definitely not something he gave
“Tonight, at seven. Okay?” He turned toward his car. “Okay, Mick. Love you.” He climbed in the car, not wanting to give her a reply. He didn’t love Tara. He’d never had those kinds of feelings for the super-model, and it wasn’t until he’d shared that electrifying kiss with Nicole that he realized he needed to break things off with his current girlfriend. There was no use making Tara think there was more to their relationship when there wasn’t. Ten minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of Adkins Dev-Tech. Once again, he was hit with nostalgic memories. This was where he’d met James Adkins – the man who’d treated Mick as though he was very important and meaningful in his life. James knew who Mick’s father was, but Adkins had never held that against him. It was actually his relationship with James that had made Mick want to get to know his father better. That had been a huge mistake. Although it had made Mick a rich man, he’d rather be a hard-working poor man with a father wh
The longer she listened to Mick, the more hope grew inside Nicole. He might be a skunk, but he had some brilliant ideas on how to turn their profits around. As she watched the expressions on the shareholders’ faces, Nicole could tell they were softening toward Mick. Of course, he had a way with words, and his cocky grin and twinkling gray-blue eyes could change anyone’s mind. Nicole just prayed he could deliver what he promised. The day was long, and she had lunch brought in for everyone. Soon, the men had removed their suit jackets and rolled up their shirt-sleeves. Mick had taken off his tie and released a few buttons at his neck. As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn’t stop admiring the way he was built. But it was more than that. He was a people-person, and she had the privilege of watching him win over almost everyone in the room. Including her. Several times she caught herself daydreaming, but then she quickly remembered he had a girlfriend. He was the unfaithful type
She leaned back against the same wall he was pressed next to, keeping her gaze on his. “I told you before, Mick. What you’d felt was a combination of the effect of the sleeping pills and the Colorado Bulldog you’d drank that night.”“No, I don’t think so.”“Tell me, lover-boy, why do you think you felt that way, especially since you already had a girlfriend?”The elevator jerked, landing them on the lower level, but neither of them moved. She wanted to hear his answer, and she didn’t want any interruptions. She quickly reached over and pressed the red stop button, keeping them inside for a few minutes longer. When she turned back toward him, she folded her arms across her chest, waiting for his answer.Mick’s eyes smoldered, making them darker than before. Her heartbeat tripped several times, but she tried not to let it affect her in any way.“Six years ago,” he said softly, “I came to visit your grandfather to pay him back for the kindness he’d shown me by helping me get a car loan.
He put his car in gear and drove toward the main road. Was the feeling he’d been experiencing with Nicole really love? They’d only known each other for a few days, even though he’d dreamed about her for a few years. Mick Remington wasn’t a love-at-first-sight type of man. Shoot, he hadn’t ever given his heart to a woman. And yet, only after a few days, he was ready to make a commitment with Nicole? That was hard to believe, and he’d have to do some serious thinking before saying anything to her. The sun was setting earlier these days, and darkness had sneaked upon the little town. He slowed his car as he rounded a curve. A black truck with tinted windows driving the opposite direction zoomed past Mick, making him swerve out of the other vehicle’s path. What a jerk! Who would drive that fast on this particular road, anyway? Drunken fool! As he rounded the bend, a dust cloud from the ravine a half mile up the road captured his attention. The closer he came to that spot, he slowed his
Mick sat on the chairs in the hospital lobby, holding his throbbing head as he waited for someone to tell him what was happening with Nicole. Because he wasn’t family, they wouldn’t tell him anything. They’d bandaged his arms from the cuts he’d sustained when crawling across the broken glass, but thankfully, he didn’t need any stitches. It had been an hour and forty-five minutes since they arrived at the hospital. Too long, in his opinion. Why hadn’t anyone come out to let him know about her progress? Panicked voices from down the hall grew closer. He looked toward the corridor just as a man and woman rushed around the corner. Immediately, he recognized the cowboy who had stomped on Nicole’s foot that night in the lounge. Mick was betting the woman was Mary. When the woman with black, spiky hair looked at him, her eyes widened and her face paled. No doubt about it now. This was Mary. He stood and raked his fingers through his hair. “Mary?” She rushed to him and grasped his arm.
Fear kept Brooke’s feet frozen to the floor. Her mind screamed at her to move – to run – to hide. But her body wouldn’t listen.He’s going to catch me. And kill me!Closing her eyes, she held back the tears. She was a failure. As much as she had tried to not let her cousin’s degrading comments get to her these past several months, Brooke heard Robin’s voice ringing in her memory, telling her that she was nothing but trash – that she was a disgrace to the family.All Brooke had to do was sneak into the room, take a few pictures, and leave. Well, she’d done most of the things on her list.She listened to her uncle’s hurried footsteps coming her way. There was no place to hide in this room where he wouldn’t eventually find her. She might as well stay. Perhaps she could pretend to be asleep on his couch and tell him she’d taken too many migraine pills… since that’s what happened with Justin and the Jeep. And, her uncle did know she suffered from migraines.She glanced around the room until
Brooke’s whole body trembled as she walked alongside her sister toward Uncle Tony’s luxurious home. As a child she’d been in awe of him and his wealth. Now, she pitied the man who had to break the law just to provide for his spoiled daughter and stuffy, arrogant wife.During the drive here, Tiffany had chatted nonstop about Robin’s heartbreak, and the horrible man who’d broken Robin’s heart. Brooke tried to act sympathetic while listening to her sister, but she couldn’t stop the elation growing within her. Justin hadn’t been horrible when he dumped Robin. He’d been smart.Brooke and her sister stopped on the porch. Tiffany was a foot taller than Brooke, but just as slender. Flipping a lock of her chestnut colored hair over her shoulder, Tiffany gave Brooke a stern look.“Do not make Robin upset.” Brooke managed to hold back the laugh that threatened to escape from her mouth. She nodded. “I don’t plan on doing that, Tiff. I’m not the monster she has told people that I am.”
“Justin?”The sweet voice behind Justin pulled him from his conversation. He turned on the bed and faced Brooke, standing in the doorway, looking so beautiful. She clutched her hands to her stomach.“Hold on a moment, Brad,” Justin told his friend on the phone before smiling at Brooke. “What is it, angel?”Slowly she walked to him and stopped in front of him, touching his arm. “I think I can help you with Uncle Tony.”He arched an eyebrow. “You can?”“I know something that can put my uncle in prison.”“Really?”Nodding, she took a deep breath and slowly released it. “He smuggles illegal immigrants over the border, which is how Snakes came to work for him. He hires them, so he can get away with not paying them a full wage.”“Are you kidding me?” Justin’s heart hammered. He grasped her hands as excitement shot through him. There might be hope in getting Tony arrested after all.“And, there’s more.” Her smile widened. “He gives them fake ID’s and social security numbers.”“How do you kno
Brooke didn’t know what to believe anymore. Obviously, she couldn’t trust her own heart. Justin had made her trust him. He’d made her fall in love with him, too. True, he didn’t force her, but because of his actions and words, how could she not have become transfixed by his charm? How could she have gone unaffected?Now she didn’t know whether to trust him or not. But hearing Justin say he wouldn’t marry Robin made Brooke’s heart sway toward forgiving him. She wanted to believe Justin. He’d shown her a wonderful, kind and loving man these past twenty-four hours. He might have apologized to her, but it was difficult to know what to believe anymore.Sitting by the fire didn’t accomplish anything, especially when she could hear him on the phone. He’d made several calls. One of them was to his mother as he explained in a sharp voice why he would never marry Robin. He’d even told his mother not to interfere in his life ever again.Quietly, she snuck back down the hall and stopped in front
Justin sighed one long exasperated breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Yes.”“You’re, Justin… Monroe? The same man engaged to my cousin?”“Correct again. I was engaged to Robin.”Tears swam in Brooke’s eyes, her lips quivering. “You – you – lied to me?”He squeezed his eyes closed and swore softly. Looking at her, he shook his head. “I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t tell you my last name.”“Why?” her voice rose.“Because at first it didn’t matter, then once we got to talking, I didn’t want to tell you because then I knew you wouldn’t open up to me.”“That’s a stupid excuse, Justin.”Inwardly he growled and grasped her wrist, but she pulled it free again. “Brooke, will you just listen?”“Listen to a liar? No, I’m done listening to you. I’m done being fooled by all men!”“Brooke, please understand, I didn’t tell you the truth because I wanted you to get to know me. The real me – not the fiancé of a Robin Pierpont. Believe me, they are two different people.”“Believe you?” Sh
Justin hoped he’d proven his theory about good guys. Not once did Brooke seem uncomfortable around him, and he was willing to bet her feelings for him were also getting stronger. Although he hadn’t known her for a full day, he’d never forget Brooke or this weekend.She tempted him on many occasions, and he could tell she wanted to kiss him, but he held himself strong and tried to make their time together productive. They played every board game Brad had in the cabin, and when they ran out of games, they made up some of their own.They laughed so much, his sides hurt. But he enjoyed sharing this time with her. She made him feel alive, once again, and he’d missed that over the years.She didn’t ask him about his life, for which he was relieved. Brooke wouldn’t take the news about his engagement to Robin very well, so he avoided the subject. Thankfully, she didn’t ask what his last name was, either. He was certain Tiffany had mentioned it.For dinner, he scrounged through the cupboards a
Justin’s chest ached, and he actually felt her pain. As he continued to stroke her silky hair, he prayed that he’d be able to stay strong for her. She needed comfort and support since nobody had given that to her, and he wanted to be the man who understood. The one man she could trust.His heart broke into pieces as he imagined all she’d gone through. What could be worse than being physically abused and then having friends and family turn their backs and distrust you?“After a few weeks had passed,” she continued in a strained voice. “I discovered I was pregnant.”The statement took him totally unaware, and when she lifted her head to look into his face, he knew she saw shock.“Yes, you heard me correctly.” She blinked away the liquid filling her eyes again. “I had the hardest time deciding whether or not I should keep the child or put it up for adoption.” She pulled herself straight, but he still kept his arms tight around her. “Anyway, my pregnancy started showing and I was beginnin
Justin arose from his sleepless night, turned and slung his legs over the side of the bed. He rubbed his eyes then peered through half-closed lids at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Eight a.m. It’d been quite a while since he’d awakened this late. The change was nice.He stretched before sliding his feet into Brad’s slippers sitting on the floor. The morning chill caused goose bumps to ripple over his skin, so he hurried to the closet to find Brad’s robe. Justin pulled on the heavy terrycloth, tying the sash around his waist.Turning toward the window, he opened the shade and squinted against the sun’s brilliant glare as it touched the snow-covered ground. The impact of last night’s blizzard had left the mountains covered in white powder, but this morning only a few flakes drifted from the sky.He yawned, shaking the sleep out of his mind before heading into the living room to start a fire. As he set the wood in place, his mind drifted back to last night. Brooke had left him in a f
A moment of silence stretched through the air as Justin listened to Vince Gill’s song. The singer’s soothing voice echoed through the room, creating a cozy feeling. Justin closed the glass doors to the fireplace, and Brooke’s angelic hum rose above the crackle of the burning logs.Relaxing against the wall, he let himself enjoy the music as her voice blended with the singer’s. It had been so long since he enjoyed anything. Justin’s hectic life kept him going in one direction or another, not allowing a moment for himself. It was a miracle he’d even had time to date Robin, let alone get engaged. Thanks to his meddling mother, he’d somehow found the time to pop the question. Or maybe she’d popped the question. He couldn’t remember.In fact, his mother was the one who purchased the ring because his schedule was so time-consuming and he kept forgetting. His interfering parent reserved the perfect restaurant and she made sure the limousine picked him up from the office to deliver him there