Read Online Legal Heat by Sarah Castille - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Castille
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better address the potential conflict.”
Even to her ears it sounded ridiculous. How could she expect respect after their encounter in the wine cellar? And yet, she did. The courtroom and the club were totally different worlds.
He studied her for a long moment. “You play it very close to the line with my client, and you make it extremely difficult to concentrate. But I may have overcompensated and been a tad harsh.”
Katy’s eyes widened. “A tad harsh? You toss out objections like sweets in a parade.”
“If I had known you thought they were sweet, I’d have thrown out a few more.”
A small smile curved her mouth. “I don’t like sweets.”
“Such a shame.” He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m particularly fond of sugar.”
Liquid fire shot to her core. She forced herself backward, step by step, until she reached the brightly lit corridor. “What about the potential conflict?”
“We’ve only had one encounter, and a brief one at that. I doubt the Law Society would consider that worthy of sanction.”
“But…you…touched me.” The words came out in a harsh whisper.
“Yes. And you touched me.”
His words charged the already electric air between them. Desire, barely controlled, burned in his eyes. For a long moment neither of them moved.
Finally Mark drew in a ragged breath and broke the connection. “Do you think it will impair your ability to run the case?”
Katy narrowed her eyes. “Of course not. But, obviously, I can’t see you again outside the courthouse.”
A smile ghosted his lips and she caught the hint of a challenge in his deep, brown eyes. “What if you have to come back to the club?”
“I don’t.”
“What if Valerie didn’t sign the statement and you had to ask for an adjournment of the hearing to find her?”
Katy narrowed her eyes. “How do you know about that?”
“Wild guess.”
“Trixie told you.” She had called the club on Monday and talked to the helpful receptionist after Valerie failed to show up at her office.
“I never divulge my sources,” he rumbled.
“Why would I come back to the club? I’ll just have her come to my office.”
Mark shook his head. “She won’t go to your office. She’s afraid of anything to do with the law—including lawyers. She had a rough start in life. That’s why she didn’t show up. If you want your statement signed, you’ll have to go to her. She’s working on Friday. Seven to two.”
A shot of adrenaline streamed into Katy’s veins, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.
“Will you be there?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
He gave her a slow, sensual smile. “Do you want me to be there, sugar?”
She put her hands on her hips to hide her trembling fingers. “If you are there, you have to promise to behave.”
“Do you promise to sheathe those claws, little wildcat? Will you stop provoking my client?”
“Never.” Her temper flared, warming her blood.
“I didn’t think so,” he chuckled. “And I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
He brushed past her and stepped into the hallway. Katy spun around, reeling at the electric jolt his brief touch had sent through her body.
“Looks like we’re in for a fun afternoon.” He looked back over his shoulder and winked.
“You’re a dangerous man,” she muttered, never thinking he would hear.
His eyes darkened, almost to black. “Sugar, you have no idea.”
Chapter Five
The doorbell rang.
The jarring cacophony of discordant chimes reminded Katy she had neglected to erase every trace of Steven from the house. The doorbell had been one of the worst presents she had ever received from him.
She opened the door and a uniformed courier thrust a large, white box tied with a purple ribbon into her hands. “Katy Sinclair?”
“Yes.”
“What is it, Mom?” Melissa appeared behind her as she closed the door.
“It’s just a dress. I’m going out tonight and needed something new to wear. They had to alter it
Even to her ears it sounded ridiculous. How could she expect respect after their encounter in the wine cellar? And yet, she did. The courtroom and the club were totally different worlds.
He studied her for a long moment. “You play it very close to the line with my client, and you make it extremely difficult to concentrate. But I may have overcompensated and been a tad harsh.”
Katy’s eyes widened. “A tad harsh? You toss out objections like sweets in a parade.”
“If I had known you thought they were sweet, I’d have thrown out a few more.”
A small smile curved her mouth. “I don’t like sweets.”
“Such a shame.” He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m particularly fond of sugar.”
Liquid fire shot to her core. She forced herself backward, step by step, until she reached the brightly lit corridor. “What about the potential conflict?”
“We’ve only had one encounter, and a brief one at that. I doubt the Law Society would consider that worthy of sanction.”
“But…you…touched me.” The words came out in a harsh whisper.
“Yes. And you touched me.”
His words charged the already electric air between them. Desire, barely controlled, burned in his eyes. For a long moment neither of them moved.
Finally Mark drew in a ragged breath and broke the connection. “Do you think it will impair your ability to run the case?”
Katy narrowed her eyes. “Of course not. But, obviously, I can’t see you again outside the courthouse.”
A smile ghosted his lips and she caught the hint of a challenge in his deep, brown eyes. “What if you have to come back to the club?”
“I don’t.”
“What if Valerie didn’t sign the statement and you had to ask for an adjournment of the hearing to find her?”
Katy narrowed her eyes. “How do you know about that?”
“Wild guess.”
“Trixie told you.” She had called the club on Monday and talked to the helpful receptionist after Valerie failed to show up at her office.
“I never divulge my sources,” he rumbled.
“Why would I come back to the club? I’ll just have her come to my office.”
Mark shook his head. “She won’t go to your office. She’s afraid of anything to do with the law—including lawyers. She had a rough start in life. That’s why she didn’t show up. If you want your statement signed, you’ll have to go to her. She’s working on Friday. Seven to two.”
A shot of adrenaline streamed into Katy’s veins, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.
“Will you be there?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
He gave her a slow, sensual smile. “Do you want me to be there, sugar?”
She put her hands on her hips to hide her trembling fingers. “If you are there, you have to promise to behave.”
“Do you promise to sheathe those claws, little wildcat? Will you stop provoking my client?”
“Never.” Her temper flared, warming her blood.
“I didn’t think so,” he chuckled. “And I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
He brushed past her and stepped into the hallway. Katy spun around, reeling at the electric jolt his brief touch had sent through her body.
“Looks like we’re in for a fun afternoon.” He looked back over his shoulder and winked.
“You’re a dangerous man,” she muttered, never thinking he would hear.
His eyes darkened, almost to black. “Sugar, you have no idea.”
Chapter Five
The doorbell rang.
The jarring cacophony of discordant chimes reminded Katy she had neglected to erase every trace of Steven from the house. The doorbell had been one of the worst presents she had ever received from him.
She opened the door and a uniformed courier thrust a large, white box tied with a purple ribbon into her hands. “Katy Sinclair?”
“Yes.”
“What is it, Mom?” Melissa appeared behind her as she closed the door.
“It’s just a dress. I’m going out tonight and needed something new to wear. They had to alter it
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