In the world of love, be careful what you wish for…
Attorney Emma Hollingsworth is all tied up in knots over her law firm’s senior partner, Leland Ryan, when all she really wants is for him to see her for more than his fact-finding guru. With the help of a magic elixir, in a frenzy of lovemaking, Leland ties her up and the ecstasy she’d always dreamed of becomes a reality.
However, in the cold light of day, Leland must judge if she is innocent or has committed a crime of passion.
Publisher's Note: This book was previously released elsewhere. It has been revised, expanded and re-edited for re-release with Totally Bound Publishing.
General Release Date: 1st May 2018
“Did you or did you not forgive the loan?” Attorney Leland Ryan, senior partner of Ryan, Howe and Carter, paced in front of the witness stand at the county court house.
Emma Hollingsworth, junior partner of Ryan, Howe and Carter, sat up and watched the show. Nothing was quite as spectacular as Leland taking down his opponent. Tall, broad, powerful, the man took over every space he occupied. The moment anyone set eyes on him they knew he was in charge. She could only wish he would finally take charge of her.
“I’m sorry I don’t understand the question.” The male witness licked his lips and from her vantage point Emma could see him trembling.
There was no doubt Leland picked up on the man’s body language, since he noticed everything down to the smallest detail. The only thing he never seemed to notice was her, at least as anything other than his fact checker.
Rather than help the man or give him the information, Leland let the anticipation build. Emma knew what would come next and gathered up her file and prepared the next piece of evidence.
The courtroom fell absolutely silent.
“Counselor.” The judge’s voice shattered the steely tension.
Leland barely glanced at the woman. Even in front of a judge, the ultimate ruler in the courtroom, Emma’s boss still reigned supreme. “Yes?”
The judge rocked her chair back. “Are you going to cross-examine the witness or are you going to stand there doing nothing?”
“I am not doing nothing,” Leland countered but still didn’t move. In fact, he appeared relaxed enough to go lie down and take a little nap, if there’d been a cot in the corner.
Emma gazed at him. The man was brilliant in the courtroom, a master, a puppeteer and an actor all rolled into one delicious package—one she had never been allowed to open.
“Then what are you doing?” The judge sat up and leaned over the bench.
Emma bit her lip. More than once her boss had been held in contempt of court. Over the last two years she’d worked for him, he had even spent some hours in jail. No matter, he always came out victorious. Always.
“Straightening my tie.” As if to prove his point, his hand went to his perfectly straight blue satin tie. The one that brought out the dark blue in his eyes, played off the black of his hair and matched his tailored deep gray pinstripe suit.
The judge growled. “Fashion aside, would you mind continuing on?”
“Only if the defendant can tell me what is confusing about my question,” he shot back.
It was almost time. Emma gripped the file and straightened.
Once more, Leland approached the witness. “Did you or did you not forgive the loan?” He spoke slowly, low and demanding, and backed up toward their table.
The man swallowed.
Emma lifted her papers.
Right as Leland turned around, Emma thrust the evidence at him.
“Miss Hollingsworth.” He narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“But don’t you need it?” They had reviewed the case over and over.
His jaw tightened and the cords on his neck stood out. “I need to ask for it.”
At his hard tone, she shuddered and took the papers out of his hand. “All right. You ask and I’ll give it to you.”
“Miss Hollingsworth,” he barked.
“Here you go.” Again, she gave him the evidence. “Oh, here’s your pen.” As she reached for his expensive writing implement, it rolled off the table. She scurried and retrieved it then placed it in his free hand. “I know you like to use this as a prop.” An uneasy smile sat on her face as she returned to her seat and waited for him to continue.
He gave her a slight shake of his head then resumed. “I am going to ask you one more time.” He walked over to the witness, held the papers up and pointed at them with his pen. “Did you or did you not forgive the loan or are these documents from my client merely a fictional story?”
The man cleared his throat. “You don’t understand.”
“Is this your email, blatantly stating that you loved my client? Was it you who spoke about summers in the Bahamas and winters in Aspen?” Leland’s voice had regained its deep, throbbing timbre.
The man turned away.
“Maybe it was during those professions of love, those promises to tell your wife, the statements about not caring about money that you forgave the loan.” He twirled his pen between his fingers.
Emma practically swooned. All she wanted was to feel those fingers on her. Her skin craved him. Part of her understood the desperate man on the stand who would do anything to get the woman he loved.
“You do know that once you forgive a loan, there is no going back?” Leland returned to the table and put the papers down.
The opposing counsel stood. “Your honor, I object.”
“On what grounds?” Leland turned toward the lawyer, his stance that of a ferocious animal about to decimate his prey.
The witness held his hand up. “Stop!”
Everyone in the courtroom focused on the man.
The witness faced their client sitting at the table next to Emma. “Keep the money, keep everything.” The same man then played out every cliché courtroom movie scene by standing up and charging out of the room. The bailiff ran after the rogue witness and those in the audience gasped and mumbled.
“With that admission, I am assuming this case is dismissed?” The judge strummed her fingers on the bench.
The opposing lawyer simply nodded.
Leland puffed out his chest, his eyes lit up in victory. A winner as always. Little did anyone know all the emails contained were some confessions of love and reliving a pretty steamy sexual encounter. The man had never forgiven the loan, but he’d had one orgasm that had almost made him pass out. Emma wished she could remember the last time she’d had such a release. Actually, she’d never had such a release.
“Case dismissed.” The judge banged her gavel.
Everyone stood as the judge exited the courtroom.
Leland returned to her. “Miss Hollingsworth.”
“Here, let me take that. I have the papers our client needs to sign.” She plucked his pen out of his hand, opened his briefcase and gave him the documents and a different pen. Leland never allowed anyone to use his pen.
“Miss Hollingsworth.” He stepped closer.
The scent of his earthy, woody, masculine cologne wafted around her. She looked up to his perfectly shaven cheek. How did he stay so smooth? It was as if his stubble was afraid to disobey him. “Yes, Leland? Is there something you needed?” Maybe her? Since the day they’d met she’d called him Leland, a bit of familiarity to cut through his shell. While he never corrected her, he always called her Miss Hollingsworth.
“I wanted you to put my pen away and give me the documents for our client to sign.” He huffed. “Along with another pen.”
“You were brilliant.” She tried to bat her eyelashes. “You went right for his jugular.”
He gave her one nod. “Every attorney must take advantage of every opportunity.”
“Is there anything else?” Since the day she’d realized she was in love with Leland Ryan, she’d tried to heed that piece of advice and the questions that would lead to the answer she wanted, but to no avail. And she was an attorney, damn it.
He gaze traveled over her. “You should know what I need.”
Her body heated. “I try.”
“You succeed almost too well.” His tone came out accusatorily and, without another word, he went to their client.
Emma packed away their belongings, running her fingers over the fine leather of his briefcase. She succeeded at everything except what she really wanted.
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