Imminent Conquest by Aurora Rose Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

lightning speed, she lifted her empty plate and smashed the backside against his nose. Grabbing her handbag, she didn't stick around to find out how much pain he was in, or if his nose was broken.
    * * * *
    Frantic to get away, bumping and pushing against people who were in her way, Nicole fled the ballroom. She would find her own way home.
    Out in the lobby, tugging her thin bolero jacket around her bare arms, she forced herself to stand still and think. Where had Michael gone? She cringed to think he would haul her back into the ballroom and imprison her in front of his employees. If she went deeper into the hotel to the courtyard, would she find Brad? She wouldn't risk it. Her path might intersect with Michael's. A sob welled up in her throat, making breathing difficult. Her fingers clamped in a white-knuckled hold around her evening bag.
    There were only a few coins inside, not enough to hire a taxi to take her home. She refused to return to the party. Walking home in high heels and swirling snow was out of the question. More than likely, Michael would drag her back to his table, to his groping hands and to his display of sarcastic affection.
    The wind blew through her thin dress. She rubbed her forearms and waited for a taxi to appear. There had to be quite a few making the trip to the hotel tonight for attendees of the Christmas parties.
    A taxi with a neon yellow light on its roof pulled up. A man got out, paid the driver and, before he walked into the hotel, she motioned to the driver she needed a ride. He nodded in acknowledgement. Glad to be out of the bitterly cold wind and driving snow, she got into the back seat. She had no idea how she would pay for the fare, but wouldn't worry about that until the car was well away from the hotel.
    The driver checked with the dispatcher, stating his current location and his next destination in a monotone in the typical attitude of a man just putting in time at a job he hated. The delay grated on Nicole's nerves. She leaned an elbow against the door and, collapsing with relief, closed her eyes. Hell would freeze over before she ever saw James again.
    The taxi was about to pull away from the kerb when she heard a shouted, “Wait!"
    She flashed her eyes open. “No!” she called out to the driver. “Don't stop! Don't stop!"
    The door flew open and she looked straight into the angry eyes of her former lover as he pushed his muscled thigh against her, sliding into the seat beside her.
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Chapter Four
    * * * *
    Bryan Carmichael ignored Colin's grunt of pain. Instead he turned his head to watch Nicole as long as he could before she disappeared into the partying crowd. If he wasn't mistaken, the beeper had been a signal between Michael and Nicole. First he would leave on urgent business. Minutes later, she would follow. Bryan threw back his beer, enjoying the cold searing down his throat. He couldn't see what Michael saw in the woman but wasn't beauty in the eye of the beholder? She was much too curvy for his tastes. But, he had to hand it to her, feisty, since she had just slammed a plate in Colin's face. Hell, she might be a woman worth knowing after all, if she could best good ‘ole Colin.
    He let out a deep breath and raked a hand through his hair. There was something familiar about her—something he couldn't quite place. The way that little red number clung to her hips, and the way she moved with quiet self-assurance on those high heels made him wish he had a hot date.
    Michael was a lucky bugger though. But why hadn't she come with him instead of with Brad? Maybe it was an affair—ooh, Michael, fooling around with a practically married woman. But that wasn't his cousin's style. Maybe Colin's, but not Michael's.
    Colin, the Iceman, nudged his elbow. Bryan squinted up at him, unaware he had moved out of his chair.
    "What the fuck, man? You want me to deck you?"
    Colin rubbed his nose but it appeared no permanent damage had been done. His nose was