The Tycoon's Proposal by Melody Anne Read Free Book Online

gown.
     
    Ryan and Nicole sat in her room for hours visiting and keeping her spirits up; until she could no longer stay awake. She fought going to sleep but finally drifted off. Ryan quietly led Nicole from the room.
     
    No words were spoken as they walked from the hospital. He led her to his car and they made their way back towards his home. She’d been able to dampen down the nerves, while she was visiting with her sister but now she was nervous. She knew he expected her to sleep with him and she didn’t know how to respond to his request.
     
    They pulled up to the house and there were a couple of cars in the driveway. Ryan blew out a breath of frustration when he spotted the vehicles, giving Nicole a look she didn’t understand.
     
    “Well now we are going to test your acting skills. Remember what you agreed to,” he snapped at her, before leading her from the vehicle. She looked at him quizzically and followed him into the house.
     
    “About time you got back Ryan, did you forget about the barbeque?” Derek said, as he stepped around the corner.
     
    Nicole got a shock as she saw Derek and Drew, a couple of women and some kids. She stood there like a doe in headlights, not knowing what to say. She hadn’t seen Ryan’s cousins since they were all kids. She’d once loved them so much and although they’d tried speaking to her after her and Ryan broke up she’d found it too painful and cut all ties.
     
    “Is that you, Nicole? I haven’t seen you in forever. You look great,” Drew said when he realized who was standing next to his cousin. Before she knew what was happening, Drew walked over and engulfed her in a huge bear hug. She felt the tears stinging her eyes at the easy acceptance he offered.
     
    “Now who’s this gorgeous woman you’re mauling?” Trinity asked good naturedly.
     
    “Trinity, this is Nicole. She and Ryan used to be all hot and heavy when we were teenagers. Nicole, this beautiful woman is my wife, Trinity,” Drew introduced them.
     
    “It’s so nice to meet you, Nicole,” Trinity said and shocked Nicole by stepping forward and giving her a big hug.
     
    “It’s nice to meet you, too,” Nicole said shyly.
     
    “Now it’s my turn, stranger,” Derek said and stepped forward lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. “It’s so great to see you.” Jasmine stepped around the corner and spotted Nicole.
     
    “I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said, throwing her arms around her. Nicole hugged her back, grateful to see a familiar female face. “How have you been?”
     
    “I’m great,” Nicole told her. “I didn’t know you and Derek got back together,” she added. She remembered when Derek left and the devastation Jasmine felt. She’d been feeling her own pain from one of the Titan cousins and felt sympathy.
     
    “Yes and it’s been amazing. It looks like these Titan boys are finally waking up,” Jasmine told her with a wink. Nicole didn’t know what to say.
     
    “Yes, Nicole and I ran into each other again and we realized we simply couldn’t live one more second apart,” Ryan said. Nicole thought only she could hear the sarcasm in his tone. She had to fight not to flinch when he gave her a look that seemed to threaten her not to contradict him. She turned away from him, finding it difficult to look into his eyes.
     
    “Well, we have to catch up and figure out ways to torture these men,” Jasmine said and led the other two women away, leaving the men to watch them go.
     
     
     
    “So what’s going on with you? I adore Nicole, you know that, but I still remember the utter devastation you felt when she walked out of your life,” Drew asked his cousin. Ryan wasn’t ready to tell his cousins the truth. It made him too much of a cad and he didn’t want to see the disapproving look in their eyes.
     
    “We ran into each other and realized the spark was still there, so decided to pursue it,” he finally said. He thought they may take