This was not going to work. Mary’s blackmail scheme would backfire on them. Nicole knew it, just like she knew the sleeping pills were wearing off and Mick would wake up.
FIVE
Mick’s head ached, but it wasn’t from a hangover. He knew the symptoms by now.
Sounds around him slowly filled his head. At first, the noises were echoing, but soon his hearing adjusted and the words were recognizable. Nicole was talking to another woman. And... why was he lying next to Nicole in this position?
He didn’t dare open his eyes to let them know he was awake. Instead, he wanted to find out exactly what they were doing since they thought he was asleep. He had a feeling he wouldn’t like it. However, he’d make himself go along with it. For now, anyway.
“Mary, he’s waking up!” Nicole whispered.
“Are you sure?” the other woman answered back in a quiet voice.
“No, but... why else is he doing this?”
Even with his eyes closed, he could hear the woman named Mary as she moved around to his side of the bed and leaned closer to him. He detected the faint scent of pepperoni pizza on her breath.
Mick didn’t have to try to be asleep, mainly because the effect of the sleeping pill – or whatever Nicole had given him – was still causing his eyelids to feel heavy. He wasn’t about to open his eyes just yet.
“I don’t know, Nikki...” Mary said softly.
“We need to get out of here,” Nicole said in an equally low voice.
“I think you’re right. I have enough pictures to blackmail him, anyway.”
Mick’s mind absorbed the word – blackmail. If he had a thousand dollars for every time someone tried to blackmail him, he’d be extra rich. Why did these two women want to do that to him, anyway?
His fuzzy mind fought through the cloud filling his head. Maybe tomorrow would be a better time to figure this out because he didn’t want to think right now. Only sleep. However... he didn’t even want to do that. The way he was laying half on top of Nicole was quite comfortable. In fact, he should have a little fun with it before she left his room.
“Come on, let’s go,” Mary said.
Nicole moved, but because of the position of his body, he practically had her pinned to the bed. Of course, he was sure one of them had put him this way.
“Seriously? I can’t move,” Nicole whispered. “You need to help me.”
Shuffling noises were heard mere seconds before someone slowly lifted his arm, trying to move it off Nicole. But he didn’t want that to happen. Not yet.
He groaned again and pulled his arm out of the person’s grasp as he wrapped it around Nicole’s small waist. She sucked in an audible breath. He shifted his head slightly but kept his face against her neck. Her lilac fragrance caressed his senses, making him want to stay right here all night.
On purpose, he brushed his lips against her soft skin. A low moan rattled through her. He couldn’t tell if it was out of excitement or disgust, so he did it again. This time when he heard the noise, he knew it was definitely not from disgust.
Nicole lay so still he wondered if she’d stopped breathing. Of course, she thought he was waking up, and he was sure she didn’t want to be in this position with him when he opened his eyes. He smiled. This would be fun.
“Nikki,” Mary whispered. “I think he’s dreaming.”
“Why?” Nicole’s voice was tight.
“Because he looks very pleased with himself right now... Either that, or he likes where he’s at.”
“Mary!” Nicole’s voice sounded more like a growl now. “Get him off me.”
This time when Mary tried to move his arm, he let her... just enough until Nicole could move. She gently scooted toward the edge of the bed. He’d let her think she was getting away.
Counting to ten – quickly – he waited for the perfect moment before...
He groaned louder, and pulled his arm away from Mary, wrapping it around Nicole’s waist, once again. This time, he rested his head against her bosom. The erratic beat of her heart drummed loudly in his ear. Sweet! This was a perfect position.
“Nicole,” he mumbled as he rolled his head. “This feels so good.”
“Get... out... of... here... now.” Nicole’s voice was very soft as she issued instructions to her friend.
Quick footsteps headed toward the room’s door, and seconds later, came the click of the door closing.
Nicole took a deep breath before she pushed him off her. Because he still held her, she rolled with him. Now she was practically on top of him. Maybe now was the time to open his eyes and let her know he was waking up.
He groaned a few times as he shook his head, appearing like he was coming out of the coma she’d tried to put him in. Blinking, he tried to focus his still fuzzy vision. The first thing he saw was her pretty head, and her glorious chestnut hair hanging around her face as she peered into his eyes.
He squinted as if the light hurt his eyes. In a way it did, but he could handle it, but he wouldn’t let her know that.
“Nicole?”
She huffed and pushed away from him again, rolling to the side and sitting on the edge of the bed. The back of her dress had come unzipped a little, and some of her bare back was in view.
“What... happened?” he asked. “I don’t remember anything.” He sat up. The room started spinning again, so he breathed deeply, trying to regain his balance. “Nicole? Did I do anything—”
“What do you think?” she snapped and jumped off the bed.
She limped to gather her shoes, not wanting to meet his gaze. His chest tightened, but he brushed the feeling of guilt aside. Deep down inside, he knew he hadn’t done anything to her. Not when she and her friend were blackmailing him.
“Nicole, I don’t remember.” He hurried off the bed. Dizziness continued to whirl around in his head, so he moved slower. “Please look at me.”
“No.” She limped toward the door.
“Wait.” He paused, hoping she’d stop. Thankfully, she did when she reached the door and rested her hand on the handle. “Your dress has come unzipped. Let me fix it for you. I’m sure the reporters downstairs will realize how undressed you are, and well... they’ll take pictures and ask you questions.”
Nicole’s shoulders slumped, and she rested her forehead against the door. “Fine.”
Mick moved behind her. With a tender touch, he zipped up her dress. Her breaths were heavy and ragged. She was supposed to be upset with him, and yet, her body language told him differently.
When he was finished, he slowly dropped his hands to her waist. Her body stiffened, and he drew in a shaky breath. He pressed his forehead against the back of her head, inhaling her flowery scent.
“Whatever I did while I was passed out,” he said, “just know, that’s not the real me. I’ve always been gentle with my women. I would never do anything to hurt you, Nicole.”
“I... I have to go.”
“Before you go,” he said, moving aside her long hair from her neck and placing a kiss right below her ear, “let me look at your beautiful face one last time since I might not ever see you again.”
Her body trembled as she slowly turned. He didn’t back away, only enough to give her room to face him. When her gaze met his, his chest tightened. Guilt was written all over her expression. It eased his mind slightly to know that she felt this way about what she and her friend were trying to do to him.
He caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “I’m sorry our date had to end this way. This was definitely not my intention.” He shrugged. “I rarely ever get drunk anymore, especially enough to knock me out.”
She licked her lips and nodded. “I’m... sure it was the Colorado Bulldog you drank. The bartender probably mixed it wrong.”
“Yes, that’s probably what happened.” His fingers dropped to her mouth. He stroked just below her bottom lip. The urge to kiss her was strong. He wanted to see if that enchanting moment was as good as what he’d experienced in the elevat
or. But he resisted his desires. She would have to make the first move now.
“Mick, I...” Her throat jumped. “I’m sorry the evening turned out this way. You seemed like a very nice man while we were having drinks in the lounge.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I only seemed like a nice man while we were inside the lounge? What about in the elevator when I stopped that reporter from taking a picture of your face?”
Her face flamed red, and he grinned. She had liked the kiss, too, obviously.
“Uh, yes. You were nice in the elevator.”
“What about now?” He pressed himself against her so that she was sandwiched between him and the door. “Don’t you think I’m nice now?”
She swallowed noisily. “Mick, please—”
“Please what, Nicole?” He stroked her bottom lip again.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. He wanted her to be the first one to kiss him this time. But more than anything, he wanted to shake some sense into her. Why had she thought she could blackmail him? The more his mind came alert, the more upset he became over her deceitfulness.
“Mick, please let me leave,” she whispered.
He’d never forced a woman to stay with him before, and he wasn’t about to do it this time. But he didn’t want her to think she’d won, either.
“I’ll let you leave. But I want you to know how sorry I am for ruining tonight.”
She nodded.
“And I’m sorry if I did anything to you... while we were on the bed.”
She nodded again, but her gaze dropped to his throat.
“But mostly,” he said, cupping her chin and lifting her face until she looked into his eyes, “I’m sorry because...” He paused briefly. “Because I’m not going to fall for yours and Mary’s blackmail scheme.”
He moved away from her so fast, she stumbled from the loss of support his body had given her. Nicole’s mouth hung open in shock. Even her eyes widened.
“Wh-what did you say?” she asked.
Mick quickly turned off the nice-guy act and switched to his angry side. “You heard me.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “I wasn’t fully awake, but I still heard what you and Mary had wanted to do. I know that’s why you look the way you did, and why I’m half naked.” He cocked his head. “And you can’t deny what you and your friend have done. I’m sure I could have the hotel show me their security video of the hallway, and I’d bet a million dollars, you opened the door and let your friend inside.”
Nicole’s face hardened and she bunched her hands into fists. Her breathing grew rapid again but for different reasons this time. Her nostrils flared as she glared at him.
“We might not be able to blackmail you with those pictures, but I assure you, Mr. Remington, you have crossed the wrong people when you came to Maple Springs in hopes of taking over Adkins Dev-Tech.” She shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes. “I will not let you take away my inheritance. You’ve met your match in me, Mick Remington!”
SIX
“Oh, Nicole! Tell me you didn’t say that.” Mary gaped at Nicole as if she’d grown another head. “Why would you tell an all-powerful man like Mick Remington that he’d met his match?”
Nicole paced the floor in her office, threading her fingers through her hair as her mind replayed everything that had happened with Mick on Friday night. Guilt was a heavy burden to carry. She shouldn’t have done what Mary had wanted her to do, but... she didn’t think there was any other choice.
“I couldn’t stop myself from telling him that, Mary. I was so mad. I was shocked that he’d known what we had been doing. And well...” She stopped in front of her friend and frowned. “I was desperate. You would have said the same thing.”
Mary sighed and moved to the black leather office chair and plopped her butt down. She swiveled toward the large window on the third floor that overlooked the mountains.
“You’re right, of course.” Mary nodded. “I would have said something like that, too.” She peeked at Nicole over her shoulder. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess. Blackmailing him was the only thing I could think of doing. I guess we are all helpless when it comes to that man. When has a Remington ever lost?”
Nicole moved to the high-back, leather chair behind her large oak desk, and sat. Two years ago, her grandfather had made her manager of Human Resources. She loved her job most of the time. But her grandfather thought she could run the high-tech company he’d started fifteen years ago that had quickly grown, making James Adkins a rich man. Even now she had doubts that she’d be able to fill his shoes.
“I don’t know how to stop him, Mary.” Nicole’s voice broke. “But I know that if he takes over, he’s going to break up the company and sell it to different companies – just as he’s done with everything he handles. I can’t let him do that. Do you realize how many people will be unemployed?”
Mary nodded. “Most of Maple Springs.”
Nicole groaned and rubbed her pounding forehead. “I feel like the weight of this company rests on my shoulders. I don’t want my grandfather to think I’m a failure. There must be a way.”
“You’ll think of something. I just know it.” Mary smiled and stood. “Well, my break time is over. I don’t want the boss to fire me for taking long breaks.”
Nicole chuckled sadly. If only life were that easy. “We’ll talk more at lunch.”
Not watching her friend leave the office, Nicole turned her chair toward the big window and stared at the beautiful early fall landscape. Spots of rusts, orange, and yellow spotted the mountains. Within a few months, winter would be here. But she couldn’t think that far in advance. Although she loved to ski, if she didn’t have a job, she didn’t have money, which meant, she wouldn’t be able to go skiing.
A knock sounded on the opened door, followed by a man’s voice. “Excuse me, Miss Adkins, could I have a moment of your time?”
Groaning, she mentally prepared her mind to figure out some kind of excuse to get rid of her unexpected visitor. All she had time for today was to think of some way to save the company.
Straightening, she turned in the swivel chair and looked upon the man wearing a gray business suit, white shirt, and red tie. He gave her a charming smile, and she almost slid off her chair and onto the floor. Mick Remington looked more handsome in a suit than he had wearing casual clothes.
“M.. Mr. Remington,” she stuttered. “What a surprise.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He stepped in and closed the door behind him.
Her heart jumped to her throat. They were alone. Again. “What... can I help you with?” She wished her voice wasn’t so shaky.
He moved to the chair in front of her desk and sat. His bold stare moved over her black lace detailed jacket that covered a sleeveless black and brown dress that hugged her frame and ended at her knees. Thankfully, he couldn’t see all of that since she was still behind her desk. She didn’t plan on standing any time soon for fear her trembling legs would collapse underneath her.
His gaze moved over the loosely styled bun that she’d fixed in her hair, leaving a section of her bangs to fall fashionably over her brow, and down her face to rest on her lips. Immediately, cotton took up residency in her mouth and she swallowed hard.
“You look... different,” he said.
She shrugged. “This is how I always dress for work.” Which was a lie, since she’d only started wearing fashionable dresses when her grandfather made her manager of HR.
“If you had worn this that night we met, I would have thought you were all about business.”
“I...” She swallowed again wishing moisture would coat her throat. “I didn’t want to talk business that night.”
His smile slowly faded. “No, you wanted to blackmail me.”
Her stomach twisted in knots. “Yes, that was the plan.”
“Your plan failed miserably.”
She nodded. “I’m aware of that.”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. �
�I want those pictures.”
Confusion filled her, and she shook her head, not believing what she was hearing. “You want the pictures Mary took that night?”
“Yes.”
His mood seemed very irritable now. Nothing like when he’d first entered her office. Perhaps she did have the upper hand in their game of roulette since she had something he wanted. “They aren’t my pictures to give you. They are Mary’s.”
His gaze narrowed on her and grew darker. “Don’t play coy with me, Miss Adkins. You can get them for me.”
“Probably, but why do you want them so badly? Didn’t you tell me right before I left your hotel room that you weren’t going to let us blackmail you?”
“I’m not, which is why I’m here to get them from you.”
His expression looked anxious, and for a brief moment, she thought she might actually have control. “So, you’re saying that if I do something for you, you’ll do something for me?” She gained the strength to stand and move away from her desk. When she passed him, his gaze dropped to her legs.
He chuckled but it sounded forced.
“Did I say that?” He shook his head. “I didn’t hear those words come out of my mouth, Miss Adkins.”
His attention moved over her legs very slowly as a hint of a grin appeared on his face. He was playing a mind game with her, she just knew it. Over the years, she’d learned how to play mind games, too.
She leaned against the counter near the window, resting a portion of her bottom on the edge as she folded her arms. “Really? Because that’s what I heard.” She arched an eyebrow. “You want something from me, and I want something from you. Is that so hard to understand?”
Finally, a full smile broke out on his face. He stood and moved toward her like a cougar sneaking up on its prey, ready for the kill. Her heartbeat hammered frantically, but she breathed through it, silently telling herself that he wasn’t anyone important... just another man who was trying to make her bend to his will. She couldn’t do that. Not with him.
She wanted to move away, but she challenged him with her stare. There was no way she’d back down.
The Billionaire's Pursuit: Billionaire's Clean Romance (The Tycoons Book 1) Page 4