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as if to say he understood arguments could easily arise at parties. A few seconds later, the slap was history and the tables’ occupants returned to their feasting. That left Nicole still seated beside Michael, her hand over her mouth and her cheeks drained of blood.
    He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, “I promise I'll deal with that, sweetheart.” He slipped a thumb under her chin and forced her to look at the anger in the depths of his eyes. He had never liked being cuckolded in front of others.
    She jerked her head away to see Brad, his face expressionless, set Michael's drink next to his plate. She noted the despondent set to his shoulders. Had he witnessed the hushed altercation? Her chest heaved with a mixture of frightened indignation and a yearning for forbidden fruit.
    Brad turned his back and walked away. To her surprise, he gave Colin a curt nod as he passed. What was going on? She wanted to shout, to tell him he had nothing to worry about when it came to Michael, but she didn't want to create a scene.
    Michael bowed his head in her direction. “Colin's on his way over. He'll keep you in line.” He sipped his amber-coloured drink thoughtfully. He could have crushed the fragile glass so easily with his large hand.
    It was as if he had poured ice cubes down the length of her spine. She glanced up to find Michael's brother moving towards them with sure footsteps. When their eyes met, his expression was decidedly determined and hostile. Fear caused her to tremble. She knew without a doubt that if keeping her in line were up to Colin, he wouldn't hesitate.
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Chapter Three
    * * * *
    Nicole slipped an embroidered napkin from the table into her lap.
    Michael spoke, his voice husky and innocent. “Why don't you tell him about us? How much we love each other?"
    She turned on him, catching a glimpse of Colin sidetracked and speaking to one of the employees. She desperately wanted to leave but that meant getting past Colin. “What are you trying to do? How can I feel anything for you?"
    "There's no sense in hiding the truth,” Michael said carelessly. He surveyed her as casually as the daily newspaper.
    "You're not only a murderer but a first-rate liar,” she insisted, resting her gaze on her sweating drink. She urged herself to throw it in Michael's face, but she knew she would get the same reaction she had when she had slapped him—outrage that she could possibly think to injure a man who was held in great esteem in the community's all-seeing opinion.
    Colin arrived and shifted in beside her. She felt insignificant and helpless, seated between the two broad-shouldered brothers. Self-conscious in the dress that didn't cover much of her body, she yanked on the lace in an attempt to lower the hem over her thighs.
    Barely inclining his head, as if it would take too much effort and wasn't worth the result, Colin returned his brother's greeting. Sinking lower into the chair, he said, “Did you see me in the lobby, Nicki? You have to be the most beautiful woman here tonight. Of course, I couldn't resist telling my brother you had arrived.” Every word was overly precise. When he cast her a sideways glance, his eyes held a warning, which said ‘fight us, if you dare'.
    "This has nothing to do with you,” she ventured more bravely than she felt. “This is between your brother and me. If it exists at all."
    Colin smirked. “My, my. I'm sure it exists. Very sure."
    Unable to take any more of the bantering, Nicole got to her feet. She grabbed her evening bag from beside her plate, intending to dodge under the table to get away from her two tormentors.
    Michael grabbed her arm and dragged her back into her chair. “Where are you going, sweetheart? If it's under there, I'll get a view of your fine ass. And maybe your pussy."
    She aimed her evening bag at his face but it was in the wrong hand to do much damage. He yanked the little gold purse from her and set it next to his plate at