Read Online Legal Heat by Sarah Castille - Free Book Online Page A

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    “You were saying, Ms. Sinclair?” Mark raised a questioning eyebrow.
    Katy gritted her teeth at his apparent indifference. She would get a response out of his client if it killed her. But first she had to deal with his disrespectful behavior.
    “We need a word in private.”
    Mark pushed back his chair. “Good idea. I don’t think our clients are interested in the legal posturing that threatens to overshadow the real reason we’re here.”
    Katy’s mouth dropped open at his clipped tone. Aha. She had ruffled his feathers. Maybe he was not as imperturbable as she had thought.
    He stood and walked over to the door. “Twenty-minute break?”
    “Agreed.” Katy dropped her file down on the table and waited until Martha and Tim left before following Mark into the hallway.
    “I think we should go somewhere we can’t be overheard. There’s an alcove down this way.” He didn’t wait for her to answer but disappeared around the corner.
    Arrogant. Intractable. Condescending.
    She considered a few less flattering words to use in the tongue-lashing she intended to give him. He had no reason for making the discovery such a total nightmare unless he was hiding something. But that would be against the rules, and it wouldn’t work with her.
    Katy followed him to a small alcove hidden at the end of the unused hallway and peered inside. Big, dark and dusty. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of old books. “I’m not going in there,” she snapped. “The hallway is fine.”
    “Then you might want to lower your voice.”
    Katy snorted. “As I’m sure you’ve picked up today, I don’t like being told what to do.”
    He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. His broad shoulders and imposing height almost entirely blocked her view of the hallway beyond. “Actually, I picked that up on Friday night.” His lips curved into a suggestive smile.
    Desire spiked through her body with such intensity she forgot to breathe.
    Totally inappropriate.
    Inappropriately thrilling.
    Her face flushed and she looked away. She had thought, even hoped, he wouldn’t bring up her indiscretion at the club. But, after spending a day with him in the discovery, she should have known he would give her no quarter, personally or professionally.
    “Not here,” she muttered.
    He ran the back of his finger lightly over her cheek. “I couldn’t believe it when I first saw you this morning. I thought I’d never see you again.”
    Hot, searing flames of need licked over her body. The world narrowed to the secluded alcove, the scent of sandalwood, and the dark, sensual male towering over her.
    Fiercely arousing.
    Strictly forbidden.
    She drew in a ragged breath. “Well, now you’ll get your fill. We’ll be stuck in this case for at least two years and I’m sure we’ll see each other every few weeks in court.”
    He shook his head and took a step closer. “It won’t be enough.”
    His scent, spicy, exotic and achingly familiar, engulfed her, teasing her with memories of the wine cellar and the sensual caress of his hands over her body.
    “What do you mean?” The inane question squeaked through her lips. There could be nothing between them while they opposed each other on the same case. She pressed her hands against his crisp, white shirt, intending to push him away.
    Mistake. Her fingers instinctively fanned out over the cool, smooth cotton covering the rock-hard expanse of his chest. Mark hissed in a breath. She fought the fierce urge to slide her hands around his body and pull him close.
    His lips quirked into a smile. “I won’t let you run away again.”
    “I didn’t run away. I made a reasoned decision to leave and I’m about to do it again.” Her hands tingled as she forced her fingers to lift away, one by painful one.
    Once she had detached herself, she stepped back and took a deep breath. “Didn’t we come out here to discuss something? I believe it had to do with your lack of respect. I suppose we’d also