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One More Night
by Mysty McPartland
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Romance
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Solstice Publishing
www.solsticepublishing.com
Copyright ©
First published in 2012
NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
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CONTENTS
ONE
Two
THREE
Four
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
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ONE MORE NIGHT
BY
MYSTY MCPARTLAND
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
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Publishers Note: This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real person, places, or events is coincidental.
Copyright 2012 Mysty McPartland
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DEDICATED TO MY BEAUTIFUL SIS MARIA AND HER WONDERFUL HUSBAND HERCULESE
WITH MUCH LOVE
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ONE
Fuelled by her outrage, Cooper stepped out of the elevator not giving the luxurious reception area a second glance. With purposeful strides, she strode over to the model, blonde bombshell behind the glass desk. “Nate McGregor, where is he?” She snapped out at the surprised woman.
“I am sorry but Mister McGregor is in a meeting and cannot be disturbed.”
With a wave of her hand, Cooper dismissed the woman's reply, her gaze swam around the elegant room, and landed on the closed double doors. No doubt the black hearted creep was hiding away behind those very doors, well not for long. Her steps quickly ate up the distance, as the woman called for her to stop, she grasped the handle and shoved the wooden panel open.
Her stormy eyes flicked from one man to the next, until they found the dark haired man seated at the head of the long mahogany table. Moving into the room, she walked towards him with furious determination. “McGregor, you despicable fiend, you destroyer of innocence. I'm going to make sure you pay for what you did to my sister.”
Annoyed at the interruption, Nate watched the small raging tempest rush forward in a blur. He rose to his feet, and wondered what the hell the irate woman was gushing on about, however, her insults set his teeth on edge. When she finally reached him, he felt as though his body was being struck by bolts of lightning that shot from her wide silver gray eyes.
For a moment and it was only a moment, Cooper felt a shiver of fear tingle up her spine over the size of the man who stood only inches away from her. However, it swiftly disappeared when she remembered what this man had done to her sister, and all the furious rage once again consumed her.
“Lady I have no idea who the hell you are or what you're damn well talking about.” Nate finally found the chance to speak, and glared down at the outraged woman.
His snarling words were the last straw, without a thought to the consequences, Cooper brought back her fist and let it fly. The pain shot up her arm when she struck his chin, however, it was soon forgotten when she watched him, with immense satisfaction, fall into his chair and topple over. “You come anywhere near Sandie again, you sick pervert, and I'll do more than make mince-meat out of you.”
When sudden chaos broke out, she spun around and, with her held high, marched quickly out of the room. Hopefully, that despicable beast would think twice about coming near her sister again.
Unprepared for the attack, Nate rubbed his jaw. He was half sprawled on his over turned chair and the floor. Damn, the woman could pack a powerful wallop for someone who stood barely over five foot. He ignored the ruckus going on around him and climbed to his feet. “Damn it, what's the matter with all of you. One of you go and fetch that little hell cat and bring her back here. Now.” In seconds, the room cleared, and he turned a speculating glance to his younger brother when he heard him chuckling.
“Do you have any idea who she might be referring to, or what?” Trent could barely keep himself from laughing.
Annoyed at his brother's amusement, Nate shot him a glare of disgust, his thoughts lingered on the woman and her vile accusations. He didn't have any idea what she was accusing him of, but from the insults she tossed at him it didn't sound good.
“Who's Sandie?” Trent asked and saw his brother frown darken even more.
“How the hell do I know? You of all people know I haven't been near a woman in over three months.” Not only by choice, but because he'd been busy, but Trent's question made him thoughtful. There was only one other McGregor that worked for his company beside his brother, and that was Jeff their cousin. “Damn that little weasel. Trent, find out the last place Jeff was sent to and do it fast.”
He let out a growl of frustration when one of his executives came back into the conference room and said the woman had managed to escape them. After waving him away, he headed back to his own office and closing the door, he moved over the bank of windows and stared out at the high rise buildings of Dallas.
What in the hell had Jeff done now? Well, this was the very last straw and no matter what it might be, he was on his own. He warned him last time he had to drag him out of a fiasco concerning a woman, but not this time. He rubbed at his chin and couldn't help grinning. It was the first time in his life a woman had struck him.
As soon as Trent bought him the information he needed, he would take great satisfaction in putting one little spitfire in her place. He was going to enjoy watching her squirm and apologize. Damned if he wouldn't. When that was done, he would deal with his cousin and if what little information the woman threw at him was true, Jeff was finished.
The married women Jeff involved himself with were far different from a young innocent girl. He brushed his thoughts away when he heard the door swish open, and turned his head to see his brother step inside the room.
“The last place he was sent was Brownfield. He returned home two days ago.” Trent relayed the information and waited to hear what Nate planned to do.
His thoughts rushed ahead, it didn't take Nate long to make his plans. “You're in charge until I return. Cancel any meetings I have for the next week. I'll go down and sort this damn mess out, and in the meantime, keep Jeff working in the office and don't say a damn word about what's happened.”
Once his brother left, he moved behind his desk, sifted through files and gathered up the important ones to place them in his briefcase. He would go home, pack a few clothes and drive to Brownfield. With luck, it would only take a day or two and this catastrophe would be sorted out.
It was an irritation, but hell, he couldn't help that he was looking forward to another confrontation with the w
ild storm that broke into his conference room. However, this time he would be the one walking away the winner. Chuckling, he left his office and waved to his P.A. as he strode past.
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Two
All the way home Cooper wondered if she might have made matters worse; especially after the violent confrontation. She winced just thinking about what she did. Nevertheless, she couldn't accept his denial, or his superior attitude. She sighed with regret over her actions. Don't feel guilty she told herself, men like him. Rich men, powerful men thought they could have and do anything they liked.
Their immense ego's wouldn't take no for an answer, well this one man wasn't going to get away with what he did to Sandie. This was only the first battle between herself and that despicable creep. She shivered knowing that the next meeting between them wouldn't be to her advantage as this one was. No, the fiend would be on his guard now, expecting her to turn up at any moment.
Well, for now she wouldn't think about the next meeting. Checking the clock on the dashboard of her car, she grimaced. She would be home in another ten minutes and would have to change and go straight to work, she wouldn't even have time to grab something to eat. Oh well, she shrugged. It wouldn't be the first time and probably not the last time she went hungry, still it annoyed her.
Finally reaching home, she swung into the driveway and cut the engine, undid her seatbelt and got out of the car, shutting the door behind her. With hurried steps, she strode down the path leading to the porch, noticing the door was locked. She guessed that Sandie was either out or at work. Pulling the house key from her pocket, she unlocked the door and stepped inside.
In too much of a hurry to appreciate the renovations she finally had done to the house, she shut and relocked the door and hurried upstairs. With a quick check of her watch, she noticed she would have a few minutes for a quick shower before she would have to leave.
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Thanks to his brother's initiative, Nate now knew the names of the sisters and their address. The younger woman, Sandie, could wait till later, but the elder, the one with the ridiculous name Cooper would be the one he would deal with first. That little whirlwind was first going to apologize for striking him, and then she would crawl on her hands and beg forgiveness for all the foul names and vile accusations she had thrown at him.
When he drove past the house and saw no lights, he mumbled a few curses, only one other choice, he thought. He pulled into the parking lot of the diner and cut the engine for a few moments, he considered the best way to approach someone about the information he wanted. When he came up with the perfect alibi, he smiled grimly and removing his keys from the ignition stepped out of the car, and closing the door of his mustang convertible, pressed the automatic lock on the key ring.
With his hands shoved in pockets of his jeans, he casually strode forward and entered the diner. He noticed a few couples at tables and the young waitress behind the long counter. He moved forward and gave her one of his best smiles. “Hi there. I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for an old girlfriend of mine. I drove past her house but no lights were on.”
Kate could only stare at the most gorgeous man that ever hit town. She fluffed at her hair and batted her lashes as she listened to his smooth, deep voice. Disappointment hit her when she heard he was looking for an old girlfriend. “Maybe she don't live here any longer Mister.”
Nate sighed inwardly when the young woman grew aggressive, he knew why and it annoyed him, but if he wanted the information, he would have to play along. He shrugged his wide shoulders and winked at her. “I said an old girlfriend. Just thought since I was passing through I'd catch up with Cooper and say hello. Nothing more."
“Oh, did you say Cooper?” She giggled and leaned forward hoping he would notice her cleavage. “She's probably at the clinic. It's just down the street, can't miss it. When you finish paying her a visit why don't you come back here and have a coffee? I finish around eleven.”
Playing the game, Nate dropped his gaze and with disinterest gave a brief assessment of her wears before he lifted his eyes again. “Eleven.” When he watched her nod her head and gave her one more winning smile, he left the diner. As soon as he stepped out of the building, he pressed the button to unlock his car. Once behind the wheel, he strapped on his seatbelt and started the engine. He was filled with restless energy and excitement at the thought of the confrontation to come.
It took only a few minutes to find the red brick structure. As he parked, he noticed no other cars in the parking lot, and that told him there would be very few people in the clinic. He wondered what a bad tempered, violent woman would be doing working in a hospital. He shrugged, unbuckled himself and opened the door. Once more locking the car, he strode forward and pushed open the glass doors.
For a second or two the fluorescent lights were blinding but when his eyes adjusted, he noticed a longhaired young man sitting behind a desk with his scuffed boots on it, and engrossed in the book he held. He started to wonder just what sort of clinic it might be. From what he already could make out, he could only presume it could be some type of nuthouse.
Well, it didn't surprise him at all especially after meeting the woman, he cleared his throat and waited to gain the young man's attention. When the kid looked up, Nate moved towards the desk. “I'm looking for Cooper Simpson.”
“Doc someone to see you. Mister just head down there and you'll find her.”
The word Doc caught him completely by surprise, but Nate didn't hesitate in walking towards the direction the boy was pointing. Surely, that wild little tempest couldn't be a doctor? No, he shook his head in denial. He didn't believe it for a second.
*~*
When Darrell yelled out, Cooper let out an annoyed growl, she was going to have to speak to him again about his lack of reception skills. She'd been hoping for a quiet night, but it didn't look like she would have one.
It didn't matter what night of the week it was, there was always something going on even in this small community. She never wanted to return, but once her grandmother died there wasn't anyone to look after Sandie. And guiltily she thought just how well she's managed to do that. Her half-sister was tall, model thin and beautiful, but she was as clueless as a babe.
Their mothers drinking heavily while pregnant with Sandie saw to that, still her sister knew right from wrong. However, against a practiced seducer the poor kid probably didn't stand a chance, well the damn man was going to pay for it one way or another, and she would make sure he would.
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THREE
Cooper shut the file on her desk and rose to her feet just as the door to her surgery was pushed open. One look at the giant filling the doorway made her heart actually stop, the harsh features of his face left her with no doubt the reason why he was here. Retaliation. For a few trembling breaths, she let her fear escalate until she remembered what this fiend did to her little sister, and indignation and fury filled her. “You have some nerve coming here Mister.”
Nate could only stare at the woman in confused disbelief, surely this little angelic looking woman wasn't the same insane, mad woman that stormed into his conference room, accused him of foul deeds, insulted him and attacked him. But seeing those familiar eyes hitting him with thunderbolts, he didn't doubt it. Without speaking, he stepped inside the office and closed the door. “I suggest lady, that before you say another word or think to attack me, you listen to what I have to say.”
He saw her hesitate for a few moments and then give a quick jerk of her head. “After your attack and spouting accusations against me, when I finished speaking to you woman, you just better hope I accept your apology.”
Something about the man and the look in his eyes made her agree to listen to him, but at his threat, because that's what it sounded like, Cooper forced herself to bite back a scathing remark.
Nate placed his hands firmly down on the desk and leaned over
it, his eyes bored into hers. “I am not the man that seduced or took advantage of your sister. I wasn't even in the damn country. I suggest before you go around accusing people of such crimes you get your damn facts right.”
Cooper leaned back in her chair, he was so big and tall that he practically covered the width of the desk. His anger was an entity all on its own, and she could taste it. Could she truly have been wrong, was this man really telling her the truth? His dark gaze shone with righteousness and with mortification, she remembered all the things she said and did to this man. No wonder he was in a rage.
Well, all she could do was admit to being wrong and hoped it would pacify him, and he would go away. “Okay saying you're telling me the truth. I'll apologize, but my sister wouldn't lie to me and she swore that a McGregor seduced her. A Nate McGregor in fact."
He was going to beat his cousin senseless when he returned home for using his name. Damn little weasel. “She's probably not lying and if a McGregor did seduce her, it was most likely my cousin. And lady if you think I'm going to accept such a pathetic apology think again.” Nate straightened up and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his faded jeans.
Cooper listened to his words, however unable to help herself, she watched the long massive body uncurl, and those big hands jam into the pockets of his tight pants, stretching them even further. It made her a little breathless and it was an effort to tear her gaze away and meet his. “What exactly are you expecting? For me to get down on my hands and knees to beg your forgiveness?”
“Damn right I do.” Nate growled out, but he wasn't feeling any of the outrage his words held. He could only keep staring in appreciation at the pocket Venus in front of him. It was ridiculous to feel such a fierce attraction towards this woman. For Christ sakes she wasn't even his type. Too small, too delicate and way too wild for his taste.
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