ONE
Finding the man she’dplanned 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. Shewoulddo 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 exactlyherman, 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 certainlynotthe right occasion, either, but wearing something sodaringwould 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 fatherhadraised 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 makehercharm 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 areperfectfor 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 wantthat manto 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.”
