Imminent Conquest (21 page)

"Now isn't that a plan?” Her words came out more as a long moan.

"I wonder if this is what it's like to have withdrawal symptoms."

"Maybe I'll just lie down on the table here, open my legs and dream about you,” she whispered.

"Yow, mama."

She chuckled.

"Just put some clothes on, baby, or else I'll have to lock a chastity belt on you while I'm away at work."

"Aw. You'd really do that?"

"If it makes you hornier when I get home, yeah, I could arrange it."

"You're just this girl's fantasy. Don't you need to go back to work?"

"With this hard-on? I don't think so."

Her pleasant laugh delighted him.

"Don't you have some cooking to do?"

"You bet and it's getting hotter by the minute."

Bryan disliked leaving both of them on the edge but he had to finish his job. Then there would be plenty of time for hot sex. “Stay hot for me, baby. I'll be home in a while."

He heard her blow a kiss through the phone before he hung up.

Wow, but she was one hot chick. He could understand her discouragement when the truth was that she wasn't a Carmichael by birth but being one hadn't helped him cope with the vagaries life dished out.

For some reason, he remembered Michael's stern father. Rumour was that he enjoyed helping people when he could but rumour also had it that Wayland's brother, Neall, was a sucker for keeping the family in line with the proverbial iron-fisted hand. Bryan had never learned why his own father had had a falling out with Wayland in the late nineteen-fifties. He had only learned in bits and pieces that the Carmichael family had grown exponentially and he had more relatives than he could comfortably count. Bryan thought there were at least seventy-five extended members of the family.

He sat behind the desk and signed the authorisation papers, and wrote a note to let Michael know. His boss insisted his staff be fully accountable and responsible for their actions, which was very much in line with treating his employees more as equals than as a group of mindless robots.

Libby pushed the door open. “Bryan?"

Glad he was sitting behind the desk where the secretary couldn't see the prominent bulge at his crotch, he looked up. “What's cooking?"

She opened the door and stepped into the office as she popped her wire-rimmed glasses off her nose.

"Michael just called. He's in the hospital."

"What? Why? He never gets sick. What happened?” His ears rang. It took a bulldozer to keep Michael down when he was ill, which wasn't often.

"All he said was that he was fine, but he would have to stay there for a couple of hours because of a small accident he had. He's going to get his brother to pick him up."

"What kind of accident? Did he say?"

"That's all he said. I offered to come down and be with him, but he said to go home early."

Bryan nodded. Libby's maternal instincts were kicking in and how typical for Michael to encourage her to leave early. He always thought of others before himself. “He probably doesn't want to let you know he's not immune to bad health."

"He sounded out of breath, as if it hurt for him to talk, but I couldn't get anything out of him. What are you up to?"

If Libby couldn't get Michael to talk, no one could. “More authorisations. Why don't you go home? I'll take care of the phone if it rings.” It was so close to the holidays, though, he doubted anyone would want to do business.

"Oh sure. I'm outta here. Looking forward to having seven days in a row off."

"What colour is your hair today?"

"Sunset red. Like it?” She patted her head.

"Is that the colour your hair will be for the holidays?"

"It's subject to change. I was thinking Christmas green wouldn't be bad.” She giggled as she closed the door behind her.

"I guess. If you want a chickadee to land on your head."

Bryan shrugged and finished signing the note he had written. If Colin was with Michael, there was no need to worry.

As five o'clock approached, the phone rang. Brushing her hair away from her eyes and her skin wrinkled like a prune after her hot bath, Nicole answered.

"Are you all right?"

She heard the concern in Sarah's tone. “Why wouldn't I be?"

"I heard you went to lunch with Michael but that he was hurt. Then you didn't come back to the office, so I assumed you were hurt too. There are so many crazies in the world today with nothing better to do than hurt innocent people."

Nicole listened to the other woman ramble on. “I'm fine but I wasn't with him."

"That's not what I heard but you're the one who knows best."

"How was he hurt?"

"Someone sprayed Mace in his face. The lobby attendant called nine-one-one and an ambulance came to take him to the hospital. Someone must hate him an awful lot to do that. I'm glad you weren't with him, that nothing happened to you."

Nicole grunted noncommittally.

"Michael's screams raised the hairs on the back of the necks of everyone who worked in the first floor offices. No one can talk about anything else. I think the verdict is in that he simply didn't deserve that kind of treatment."

Nicole felt as if she had been tried and found guilty, although how could anyone know she had sprayed the Mace in Michael's face?

"Are you still there?"

"Yes,” Nicole said weakly. None of her co-workers would be able to understand what she had been through with Michael in the last few days, how he had tormented her senses. They had no right to judge her.

"He's not like other men I've met. Not in looks, and definitely not in attitude. He cares about everyone he meets. He's not out of touch with what makes people tick, with what they need. That's rare for a man like him."

Nicole didn't feel much like talking and somehow managed to get out, “A man like him?"

"He's so wealthy, he could buy the country, you know. Yet, he's like you and me. Down to earth. You know what I mean?"

She knew all right. Michael was every woman's dream...except hers.

"Why don't you give him another chance? Now that you're carrying his baby?"

"What?” Nicole had forgotten about the lies he had sown.

"Well, you're pregnant and I'm sure that makes you a little edgy, but maybe you need to give him one more shot. I'm sure you won't be sorry."

"Has he been talking to you?"

There was a slight pause before Sarah said, “No. Other people are talking. Don't be angry with him."

"I don't need a mediator to interfere with my life,” Nicole snapped.

"I wouldn't have to be a mediator if you weren't so pigheaded. But I don't want you throwing away an opportunity of a lifetime because you're moody."

"An opportunity of a lifetime?” Nicole repeated incredulously. Michael had squandered his one opportunity.

"Grab him before his attention wanders to another woman. Hold on to him. That's the one piece of advice I can give you."

"I don't need your advice,” Nicole said uncharitably. What difference did it make if Michael picked up another woman? The thought made her uneasy. And a little jealous. “I need everyone to leave me alone. I'm not involved with him."

"You're only kidding yourself that you aren't."

Inanely, Nicole wondered what Colin would think if another woman caught Michael's fancy. Would the burly man care or would he find ways to prevent the romance from flowering as he had when she had been in love with his brother?

"Listen. I've got to run. I still have to get a few presents, and then I'll be able to put my feet up for a day or so before the real fun begins. Who thought up Christmas anyways? Say, if you need anything, just call. Okay?” Sarah disconnected.

Nicole stared at the receiver. “Why is every damned person on his side?” she queried the empty air.

"Because I'm telling the truth."

Biting back a scream, she whirled around and faced the door. Michael leaned against the frame, dressed casually in faded blue jeans, a dark blue flannel shirt and a heavy matching jacket. His expression was thunderous. Nicole drew back in fear. He hadn't left her alone after all.

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Bryan was just about to leave the Anessa offices when Colin screeched to a halt in his SUV. The vehicle slid on the ice before the burly man brought the truck under control. He got out in a hurry, wearing a black leather jacket over a white dress shirt, and charcoal grey trousers. The glass in the door shuddered when he strode in with a dark look.

"I'm going to ask some questions. You answer. Got that?"

Bryan stood his ground and fully met the other man's gaze.

"Got that?” Colin repeated.

"Why is it that when you're having a bad day you have to make everyone else's day worse?"

"It doesn't get any worse than this."

"I'm going home, and the hell I have to stay here and listen to your bullying.” Bryan started past Iceman, but the hulk had different ideas, grabbing the back of his collar and hauling him into a chair.

Bryan's back hit the chair full force, and knocked the breath from him. “You're a real bully, and restraining me against my will is an offence, if you have to know."

Colin folded his arms across his big chest and stood with his feet shoulder width apart. “You've got some explaining to do."

"Not to you, I don't.” Iceman was starting to get on Bryan's nerves with his habitual badass attitude. He raised his butt off the chair with the intention of leaving Iceman to mull over whatever shit was eating him, but Colin pushed him back down with one hand.

"Stay."

"Should I start barking now?” He knew better than to rouse Iceman's ire, but he couldn't help himself.

"What's Cathy doing at your house?” Colin frowned the way an irate bear might.

"What's it to you?"

"She and I have a bit of unfinished business to deal with. If I were you, I'd tell her to find another meal ticket."

"Now wait here one damned minute. Where do you get off talking about her like that?"

Nothing more than a muscle moved under Colin's eye. “You're coming along with me, and you're going to hand that little bitch over."

Bryan wasn't giving up anyone, especially Cathy. He glared at the bully, feeling his insides go cold, although he wouldn't have been able to explain why. “What's going on?"

"I don't answer to you. Get a move on."

"What's your beef with her?” Bryan tried again, doubting he would get any answers. Colin didn't divulge his secrets to just anyone.

"You don't understand civil, do you?"

"Neither do you, by the looks of it. You could use some lessons."

"The bitch. She barricaded herself in your house, and I'm not too keen on busting up your rental pad."

"That's not your usual style. What gives?"

Bryan couldn't say what gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. How was Cathy involved with Iceman? She hadn't mentioned him, not that she'd had cause.

Colin ignored him and sneered, “She's kind of pretty when she's playing with herself, you know."

Bryan's anger notched up, as did his protectiveness towards Cathy. He leapt forward but Colin stepped behind him and took hold of his neck in a painful chokehold.

"She's pretty when she opens up her pussy lips and gyrates them curvy hips. Must have been she was waiting for you, but I got to tell you, if you know what's good for you, you'll hand her over. No questions asked. No attempts at playing the hero, ‘cause she ain't no damsel in distress."

As suddenly as Bryan had found himself with Colin's arm around his neck, he was free and rubbing at his sore throat. “Man, but you could compete with an alligator in the ferocity department if you had a mind to."

"What say you, good buddy? Give the bitch up and no trouble? Or maybe I'll go and huff and puff and blow your house down? Got insurance to cover that?"

Bryan did have insurance for his personal possessions, and sure as hell hoped the property owner had some on the house. Colin was always bad news. “What did she do to you?"

"This is personal. She got me with her claws. Now I owe her one."

Cathy didn't have a bad bone in her body. Bryan was certain of that. She was a fantastic cook, and didn't say a whole lot about herself, unlike other women, who talked a mile a minute and gave their life history in less than two minutes. “Impossible. You must have her confused with someone else, Ice."

Colin's eyes met his. “I don't think so. The bitch has it coming to her."

"Take it to the cops, why don't you?"

Colin's expression became more guarded, reminding Bryan of a Rottweiler ready to jump and rip someone's throat out. “Cops don't fix problems. ‘Sides, I had enough of them to last a lifetime."

"That have anything to do with Michael murdering your dad?"

Iceman's face paled and his lips thinned into a hostile line. “Sounds like you have a death wish today, buddy."

Bryan played devil's advocate. “But say Michael didn't murder his dad. Who did?"

"The jury and that little bitch of his proved he did."

The ugly grin Colin bestowed unsettled Bryan's stomach even further. “Why wait this long to settle a debt?"

"Some things need to rest for a while before justice is served. The Karlisis have a long memory. Now are you going to hand over that bitch or do you want to find out how good your insurance coverage is?"

"So this shit about him being in the hospital was a hoax, right?"

"No.” Colin's eyes turned into flint-hard ice.

Bryan couldn't fit the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together. He needed time to assess the situation, time Colin wasn't apparently willing to give.

"Get a move on, boy. Remember what you said the other night? That family is inflicted on you? That's my line."

This was a nightmare of the worse kind. What else could he do but play along with Iceman's game, whatever it was, until he found a way out? “Yeah."

"I'm glad you see things my way. I'd hate to put the ‘no pain, no gain’ shit to work on you."

Bryan locked up, as the wind blistered through his coveralls. He had forgotten his jacket in his office. It was too late to go back for it. Iceman watched his every action. Colin didn't fool him. He looked like a tub of lard, but he was deceptively quick on his feet. If Bryan wanted to see the next day without broken bones, there was no sense in messing with Ice.