He put his car in gear and drove toward the main road. Was the feeling he’d been experiencing with Nicole really love? They’d only known each other for a few days, even though he’d dreamed about her for a few years. Mick Remington wasn’t a love-at-first-sight type of man. Shoot, he hadn’t ever given his heart to a woman. And yet, only after a few days, he was ready to make a commitment with Nicole? That was hard to believe, and he’d have to do some serious thinking before saying anything to her. The sun was setting earlier these days, and darkness had sneaked upon the little town. He slowed his car as he rounded a curve. A black truck with tinted windows driving the opposite direction zoomed past Mick, making him swerve out of the other vehicle’s path. What a jerk! Who would drive that fast on this particular road, anyway? Drunken fool! As he rounded the bend, a dust cloud from the ravine a half mile up the road captured his attention. The closer he came to that spot, he slowed his

“Does Nicole know about her grandfather?” he asked the nurse. “No.” “Perhaps it’s best to wait until she’s recovering.” “Yes, of course.” The nurse turned to Mary. “I’ll let you know more when I hear it.” “Thanks, Caroline.” Mary gave the other woman a hug. On shaky legs, Mick moved back to the chairs in the waiting room. Mary and the cowboy joined him. “Mick? What happened tonight?” “I wish I knew. Our meeting with the shareholders ran late. Nicole and I were the last ones to leave. She got in her car and left first. I was only a few minutes behind.” He rubbed his throbbing head. “What I think happened was that there was a speeding truck on the road and Nicole swerved her car to keep him from hitting her – which is what happened to me when the jerk drove by my car. But then she went down the ravine.” “She’s so lucky that you were there to help.” Mary touched his arm and smiled. “I… I’m glad I was there, too.” Mick glanced at the cowboy who seemed to be concerned over Nicole.

Nicole couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital bed and into her own bed. The only thing making her stiff and sore now was the horrible old hospital mattress. Thankfully, the doctor promised he’d release her before the funeral started. Mary had come to help her get dressed. Of course, Nicole didn’t need any help, but it was nice to have her friend here, anyway. For the past two days, everyone walked around her like they were stepping on eggshells because of Poppie’s death. She wished they’d stop. Her grandfather wasn’t in any more pain, and that made her happy. She’d miss him, but she had so many memories to cherish in her heart. She was anxious to see Mick again. He promised he’d meet her at the gravesite. The family purposely postponed the funeral until she was out of the hospital. As she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, Mary jabbered on about the argument she and Kent were having at the moment, as she applied Nicole’s make-up. She prayed her friend didn’t cake on the eyeline

Mick held Nicole’s hand as they sat across from James Adkins’ lawyer. The middle-aged man wore the same suit as Mick. Armani was the best. But what worried Mick wasn’t the man’s fancy clothes or that the man colored his hair black to hide the gray, it was that the lawyer had a hard time meeting Mick’s gaze. The man’s attention was even skittish around Nicole. “Thanks for coming so soon after the funeral,” the man said. “Mr. Kennedy,” Nicole said sweetly, “I’m just glad you were able to see us so quickly. I’m anxious to take over as president. There’s so much that needs to be done, and there’s no time like the present.” Mr. Kennedy smiled at Nicole, but then his focus dropped to the papers in his hands. “Miss Adkins, your grandfather’s will was amended just the other day. He’d called me in for an emergency meeting. He was very adamant about fixing something in the will.” Nicole’s forehead creased, and unease settled over Mick. Why did he have the feeling that she wasn’t going to li

Mick lifted his arms over his head, stretching out the kinks. He’d been on his laptop for several hours now, looking for a place to live. He had townhouses all over the United States, but he wanted to make his home here in Maple Springs… with Nicole by his side. He knew her attitude lately stemmed from her grandfather’s will, and the stress that she’d been under, but Mick hoped she would forgive him for inadvertently swaying James’ mind about the company. He had no doubt Nicole would be able to take on the challenge he’d issued this morning and run with it. Nicole was a smart woman, and she needed a little shaking up to get her to start thinking on the right track. It was going to be very hard for him to sit and do nothing for the next seven days. Wherever he saw a need, his instinctive reaction was to try and help. Yawning, he stood from the hotel’s small kitchen table and moved to the even smaller refrigerator to grab a cold bottled water. After unscrewing the lid, he gulped down