He stopped in front of her – very close in front of her, in fact. As she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, she breathed in his manly scent of spice. Dang, he smelled good.
“Oh, I definitely want something from you.” He nodded slowly. “So, what do you say we compromise?”
Nicole tilted her head. “What do you have in mind?”
“You give me those pictures your friend took of us the other night, and I’ll help you stop the takeover.”
Once again, confusion filled her head. What was he talking about? “Stop the takeover? Are you telling me that you’ll back down from tearing apart Adkins Dev-Tech?”
“Oh, sweetheart,” his voice dipped low as he stroked her cheek, “I was never going to tear apart James’ company.”
Excitement built inside of her – not because his warm fingers were caressing her face (well, maybe it was a little of that), but because he wasn’t going to destroy her grandfather’s company. She also felt a little embarrassed to think she’d jumped to conclusions about why he was in town. If he wasn’t here to take over the company, why was he here?
“You... weren’t?”
He shook his head. “No. I came to Maple Springs to help your grandfather.”
Warning bells blasted through her head. He was lying... or leading her to believe something when he would do the exact opposite. Men like the Remington men would say anything to get what they wanted. Nicole couldn’t trust Mick.
She felt suffocated. She had to either open a window – which wasn’t manually possible – or move away from him. Their closeness was making it hard for her to breathe.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe you,” she said, pushing him aside as she stepped past him. “Why should I believe a Remington? Although I haven’t worked with you before, I’ve heard stories, and they aren’t good.”
She stopped at her desk, bent over the inbox, and pretended to look through the stacked files. He followed her and stopped behind her. If she tried to turn around, she’d bump right into him. Of course, he knew that. Mick Remington knew how to play with women’s feelings just to take control.
“Nicole, look at me.”
His voice was too soft, and the warmth from his breath on her neck caused shivers to trickle over her body. Curse his rugged manliness and good looks.
This position was similar to how they’d been when she tried to leave his room the other night. Once she turned and faced him, he’d taken over. That would not be the outcome today.
She straightened, clenching her jaw. Her back bumped against his chest, and immediately, his hand rested on her hip. I don’t think so... Using the spiked high heel of her ankle boot, she stomped on his foot.
He released a yelp and limped away from her, giving her a chance to walk to her desk and sit on her chair. She always did feel more powerful behind a desk.
The accusing glare he gave her left a hint of sadness in his perfect grayish-blue eyes. For a moment, her heart twisted. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been so cruel.
“I’m assuming,” he said in a tight voice, “that the injury you sustained at the lounge the other night, has healed nicely.”
“Actually, I have the ugly bruised foot wrapped with a bandage, and it still hurts.”
“So, you wanted me to share your pain?” He limped back to the chair he’d been sitting in a few minutes ago.
Guilt filled her, even though she tried pushing it away. She shouldn’t have been violent. She’d never been that way before. She’d been raised differently, but it seemed that since the threat of her grandfather’s company being taken away, she’d pushed all of her pastor father’s teachings aside.
She sighed. “I’m sorry for stepping on your foot.”
“Stepping? No, Nicole, that wasn’t stepping. That was crushing on purpose.”
Closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. What had he reduced her to?
She moved out of her chair, around to him as she bent to get a better look at his foot. “I’m sorry, again. I didn’t mean to hurt you like that.” She reached toward his shoe. “Let me see—”
He grasped her around the waist and brought her to his lap. She gripped the front of his suit, trying not to fall. The wide grin on his face let her know he’d planned this whole thing.
“Now this,” he glanced at her lap before his gaze met hers again, “is how I’d like us to sit from now on. It’s more comfortable and personal. Don’t you think?”
Heat climbed up her face as her temper made its debut. “Listen to me, Mr. Remington, I will not let you treat me like this. If you can’t deal with me as a businesswoman, then we don’t have anything more to say.”
He gave her a sympathetic look and cupped her face. “Actually, I do have one more thing to say.” His thumb stroked her bottom lip. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you, Nicole. I know I have no right to feel this way about you – especially because I know you hate me – but I can’t help myself.” He paused and sighed. His shoulders dropped in defeat. “Please, Nicole. Stop fighting me and just listen to what I have to say. I don’t want to see Adkins’ Dev-Tech torn apart. And no matter what you have heard, I’m the only person who can help you.”
Her heart beat in a different rhythm. Why did this man have to make her feelings jump around like they were in a blender? And why, did part of her heart want to give him a chance to explain himself?
He was going to win this fight between them. She just knew it.
SEVEN
Mick hesitantly released Nicole. He really didn’t mind her sitting on his lap, but it really wasn’t a professional way to carry on a business meeting. However, he was relieved to know that his nearness still rattled her.
For the first time that he could remember, he felt guilty for lying to a woman. His reputation with women tended to be a little rocky, which was one of the reasons he didn’t have a lasting relationship with the women he dated. At least he was good at one thing – getting his way when it came to business decisions. So, when he could see Nicole wasn’t going to back down, he tried to make her believe that he had feelings for her.
He hadn’t lied when he’d told her she was beautiful the other night. And although he couldn’t get that elevator kiss out of his head, that didn’t mean he had feelings for her. So, okay... he thought about her every time he smelled the lilac scent or saw someone with silky chestnut hair, but that didn’t mean anything. In fact, the reason she’d been on his mind so much was that he needed her help, just like she needed his.
“Would you like some coffee?” she asked walking to the back of her office toward the coffee pot.
“No, I’m fine. But thanks for the offer.”
She turned before reaching it and moved back to her desk. When she sat, she linked her fingers together and rested her hands on the desk, looking directly at him.
“Okay, tell me what you came here to talk about.”
He steepled his fingers and held them against his chin as he watched her carefully. No matter what, he needed to gain her confidence. He wouldn’t be able to do this alone.
Lowering his hands to his lap, he breathed deeply. “Nicole, I’m aware that you’ve heard terrible things about the Remington empire, but I want to set the rumors straight. My father’s callous business dealings started those rumors. The man is greedy, deceitful, and he doesn’t care who he steps on during his climb to the top.”
“I understand, but you’re his son, Mick. You’ve had many years of his tutelage for his ruthlessness to rub off on you.”
He held up his hand, stopping her. “Actually, I didn’t start working with my father until I was out of high school. You see, my parents had divorced when I was a young boy, and he’d been so busy with his second wife, he’d forgotten he even had a son. After high school, I wanted my father to get to know his son, which is why I started working with him.”
“Aren’t you working with your father now?”
“No. It didn’t take me long to realize that hi
s kind of life wasn’t what I’d wanted. I was ashamed the way my father treated people. I want to earn people’s respect. I want people to like me. My father will never have those qualities.”
Her hands flattened on the desk as her gaze narrowed. “Does your father know you want to fight him on this takeover?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll soon find out.” He cleared his throat. “Three months ago, while visiting with him, he slipped up by mentioning the takeover for Adkins Dev-Tech.”
He leaned forward against the desk and rested his hands on top. He couldn’t stop gazing into her enchanting green eyes that held him prisoner. “When I realized he had targeted James’ company, I panicked.” He shook his head. “Nicole, I can’t let him take over your grandfather’s company. I can’t allow my father to do that to James.”
She continued to sit up properly in her chair as she looked at him with a guarded expression. He would give anything to know what she was thinking.
“Mick, I get the impression that you are somehow friends with my grandfather.”
“I was seventeen years old when I met James. I worked for him after school during the summer. James was a father figure to me, and I admired him greatly. There were many times that I’d wished he was my father. In fact, James gave me my first loan.”
Her forehead creased. “A loan?”
Mick chuckled. “I needed a car to get back and forth to work. I couldn’t rely on my mother because she held down a full-time job and a part-time job just to support us since my father forgot – on several occasions – to give us child support.”
“My grandfather bought you a car?”
“Actually, he went with me to a used car lot and helped me pick my first set of wheels. I paid your grandfather fifty dollars a paycheck until it was paid off.”
Her shoulder relaxed as did her pretty expression. Slowly, her mouth stretched in a smile.
“My grandfather was like that. He had a very caring heart.”
Startled by her words, his chest tightened. “What? James had a caring heart? I’d heard he was sick, but he’s not...”
Shaking her head, she waved her hands. “Oh, no. He’s not dead. But he’s not doing very well, either.”
Mick relaxed in his chair once more. “I’m glad he’s still alive. I’d really like to see him again. I hope you’ll take me to see him soon.”
She nodded. “I can do that.”
He smiled. “Thank you, Nicole.”
She pushed her chair back and moved away from her desk. “So, Mick, you want to help me save Adkins Dev-Tech and keep it out of your father’s clutches?”
“Yes, I do.” He stood.
“How? Do you have any plans?”
“To start off, we’ll need to contact all of the shareholders. What worries me is that my father has already contacted some of them – if not all – since they’ve been thinking about the takeover for three months.”
“What if he has? How can we sway them not to sell their shares?”
He shrugged. “That’s why I came here to find you. I was hoping between the two of us, we could devise a plan to stop my father.”
She laughed and sat on the edge of her desk, facing him. “Have you forgotten? The only scheme my friend and I could concoct was to blackmail you. And well... you saw how that turned out.”
His resolve softened toward her. Gradually, she was starting to trust him, which was necessary if they were to work together. When she smiled at him, her green eyes sparkled like gems, which made her face so beautiful that he nearly lost his breath. Not only that, but her laugh made his heart flutter. During these moments, he could see himself becoming the man he’d always wanted to be – which was totally opposite from his father.
Nicole Adkins was his angel who’d been sent from Heaven to help him change. Did she even know how sweet she was? He prayed her heart was as caring as her grandfather’s.
“Believe me,” he said, “if I could come up with a plan to blackmail my father – that would work without fail – I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
She folded her arms and stared at him through a narrowed gaze. “Mick? Can I ask you something?”
“Anything, sweetheart.”
Her cheeks bloomed pink. “Why are you so adamant about getting those pictures from me?”
His breath caught in his throat. He couldn’t tell her that. And yet, if he wasn’t completely honest, he might lose what little trust he’d gained so far. His mind scrambled to think of a believable reason to give her, but so far, he wasn’t getting any brilliant ideas. And of course, the longer he hesitated, the more she would doubt his sincerity.
It was time to turn on a little more charm. He stepped closer to her. “Will it make a difference why I wanted them?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Would you believe me if I told you I wanted them because you were in them?” He drew his knuckles along her arm.
She laughed. “No, I wouldn’t believe you. Try again.”
“Oh, I’m wounded.” He grinned. “Because I’m sure those pictures would have looked believable. Why don’t you show me so I can see?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “I’m not falling into your trap, Mr. Seducer-of-women. Try again. This time, I want the real reason.”
He really hated that he couldn’t charm her like he thought he’d done the other night. By the softness of her hooded gaze when she watched him, he knew she still found him attractive.
“Well, you see...” he started with a chuckle. “I’m quite embarrassed to admit, but—”
The fast knock at the door halted their conversation, for which he was relieved. He still hadn’t found a plausible excuse.
“Excuse me for a moment.” She hurried to the door and opened it.
“Nikki...” The woman at the door breathed heavily as she held her pregnant belly. Sweat coated her forehead, and her skin looked pasty. “I’m... in labor.”
Nicole gasped and clutched the other woman’s arm. “Oh, Kate. We’ve got to get you to a hospital.”
Kate shook her head of curly red hair. “There’s been an accident on the road...” She grimaced as her breaths came out sharp and ragged. She moaned and bent over.
Mick panicked. That poor woman was going to have her baby soon. He’d already been in a situation like this before. By the way the woman breathed, and the way she half-squatted while holding her swollen middle that had dropped considerably, Mick knew she wouldn’t have time to get to the hospital.
He jumped from his chair and hurried to her. “Nicole, she needs to lie down.”
He slid an arm around the woman’s stiff shoulders as he led her into Nicole’s office and toward the brown leather sofa.
“Yes, of course.” Nicole helped her friend to the couch. “I’ll call an ambulance.”
As she hurried to her desk to grab her cell phone, Kate raised her hand, getting Nicole’s attention.
“A diesel has overturned on the road. An ambulance can’t get in and we can’t get out.”
“Oh, no!” Nicole slapped a hand over her mouth. Her wide eyes met Mick’s.
“Kate,” he asked in a calming voice as he turned back to the pregnant woman, “is this your first child?”
“No. My fourth.”
He grumbled under his breath. This baby would come quickly. He peeked at Nicole over his shoulders. “Sweetheart, I need you to find blankets. See if there is some kind of twenty-four-hour kit here or in someone’s car. I also need a first aid kit, and hopefully, sterile gloves along with it.”
Nicole’s hand dropped from her mouth. Shock registered on her expression.
“You are going to deliver Kate’s baby?”
He nodded once. “There’s no time to ask questions. The baby will be here soon, so hurry and find me what I need.”
Nicole spun toward the door and took off running.
Mick met the pregnant woman’s worried face, and he gave her a tender smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve done this before.”
EIGHT
Nicole watched in awe as Mick calmly dealt with the frantic situation. Her brain had numbed once Mick took over. She’d gathered a few employees to help her search for those items Mick needed, but then there were only a few people in the office during the delivery.
Two of Nicole’s employees were currently going to school to become CNA’s which helped considerably, and yet they waited on Mick to give instructions on what to do next. Nicole knelt by Kate’s head as she encouraged the woman to breathe and to push. Thankfully, Nicole could handle that task, but nothing else.
One hour later, Kate delivered a baby boy, and minutes later, the ambulance got through the accident on the road just outside the building. Kate gave Mick an exhausted smile and thanked him for his help. His kindness and concern had softened Nicole’s heart. And at the same time, it made her more curious to know who Mick Remington really was.
After the paramedics took Kate and the baby away, and everything had been cleaned up in her office, Mick then left to go to the men’s bathroom to get washed up. He’d removed his suit coat and tie and rolled up his sleeves earlier in the delivery. Nicole had the janitors mop up her floor and sanitize as much as they could while she sat listlessly in her chair, staring at the wall.
What would have happened if Mick hadn’t been there to help? Relief rushed over her, and for the first time since meeting the egotistical, self-assured womanizer, Nicole was grateful that he was with her during this crisis.
She couldn’t remember when she’d removed the matching jacket to her sleeveless dress, but now she wondered what had happened to it. Regardless, she was more comfortable without it.
She unzipped her heeled ankle-boots and removed them and the ankle nylons from her feet, letting her toes wiggle free along the plush carpet. Sighing with pleasure, she loved the unrestricted feeling. She then withdrew the hairpins from the coiled bun she’d styled it in this morning before work, since most of it had fallen loose. Threading her fingers through her hair, she let her locks tumble down her back and over her shoulders, which relaxed her a little more.
The Billionaire's Pursuit: Billionaire's Clean Romance (The Tycoons Book 1) Page 5