Jacquelin Thomas - Legal Attraction

“Eminence just did an article on my family, and when you look at the photos, we look like a modern-day version of the Cosby family—picture-perfect.”

He grinned. “Are you saying that you’re not?”

Marissa smiled. “You know the answer to that just from the amount of time you’ve spent around Jake and Harper. I love my brother and my cousin, but I hate how competitive they are with each other.”

“It keeps them both on their toes,” Griffin stated. “I wouldn’t worry about them.”

Marissa’s attention returned to the present.

Her family was anything but picture-perfect. Unspoken tensions that lay rumbling beneath the surface threatened to topple them all.

* * *

“How did it go in court today?” Griffin asked as he held the elevator door open for Marissa.

“Great,” she said. “Rita should get probation and if she stays out of trouble, she’ll be able to return to college and finish her degree.”

He glanced at Marissa as the elevator doors closed on the two of them, alone in the car. That’s what made her a good lawyer and a good person. How much she cared for her clients. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.

She was also incredibly sexy, despite her conservative dress.

And she wasn’t afraid of hard work.

These were just a few of the reasons why he loved her.

He pulled up short as he stole another glance her way. Loved her?

He felt a strange sensation in his gut as he finally admitted it. Yes, he loved the very woman who was off-limits.

* * *

Marissa was surprised when she glimpsed her aunt in the hallway a couple of days later. Vanessa Bonnard was a renowned fashion designer who traveled frequently. She rarely made visits to the firm whenever she was home. In fact, she rarely attended any family functions—unless there were media involved.

“Aunt Vanessa,” she murmured in greeting. Marissa struggled to meet her aunt’s intense gaze. Her mother and Vanessa had never been close, but her aunt had always treated Marissa kindly.

“Hello, Marissa. How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Vanessa’s gaze left her face and traveled downward briefly. “What a beautiful dress,” she said with a smile. “It’s quite lovely on you.”

“Thank you,” Marissa responded. “I didn’t know that you were back from Milan.”

“I arrived last night. I thought I’d surprise my husband for an early lunch, but it seems that he’ll be in court all day.”

“They usually break for lunch around this time. Why don’t you give him a call?” Marissa suggested.

Vanessa smiled. “I just may do that. Thanks, sweetie.”

“You’re welcome,” Marissa said. “Well, I guess I had better get back to my desk. It’s good seeing you, Aunt Vanessa.”

“You know…why don’t you join us, Marissa?” Vanessa blocked her path. “We hardly get to spend any time together. C’mon, it will be fun to catch up.”

“Oh no,” Marissa responded quickly. “You and Uncle Frank should spend some quality time together. You just got back.”

She certainly could not handle having lunch with the man who could be her father. Marissa was not interested in any family reunions of this kind.

“Oh, but we would love for you to join us,” Vanessa said smoothly.

“Maybe next time,” Marissa told her.

Vanessa smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Marissa gave her a slight nod. She was grateful when her assistant interrupted them regarding a trial date.

When they were alone, she turned her attention back to her aunt.

Vanessa chuckled. “You know…that expression on your face…you look just like Frank. My husband makes that face whenever he is silently contemplating something. I guess it must be hereditary.”

“I really need to get back to my desk,” Marissa blurted. “I have some phone calls to make.”

“Enjoy the rest of your day, sweetie.”

“You, too,” she said. Marissa thought she glimpsed something in Vanessa’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had come. For a moment, it looked like displeasure, but she could not be sure.

Marissa walked briskly to her office. She was barely aware of Harper’s presence. He must have followed her.

“Hey, what were you and my mom talking about?” Harper asked in a low voice. “I saw you two in the hall.”

Marissa glanced over at him. “She invited me to lunch. I turned her down.”

“How did she seem?”

“Same as always,” Marissa said. “Why? Do you think she knows anything? Please tell me that you didn’t tell her.”

“I didn’t say anything to my mother and I don’t plan to. If anyone tells her, it should be my father.”

“Nobody should say anything to anybody,” Marissa declared. “Just let them both take it to the grave. My dad does not deserve to be hurt. Neither does Aunt Vanessa.”

“Knowing my mother, she would find a way to make Dad pay if she ever found out,” Harper said.

Chapter 4

“Are you feeling okay?”

Marissa looked up from the notes she and her assistant were going over in one of the conference rooms. She gave her a slight nod. “I think I’m coming down with a cold. I’ll be fine, though.”

“Why don’t I make you a cup of tea? You can close your door and lie down on your couch for a while. You don’t have any appointments until later today.”

“Some tea would be nice, Roberta. Thank you,” Marissa murmured. The idea of taking a nap was very appealing to her. She was feeling a bit tired.

She was in her office and sitting on the couch when Roberta entered the room carrying a cup of hot tea.

Marissa smiled as she accepted the tea from her assistant. “Thanks so much.”

“Go on and rest. I’ll see that no one disturbs you.”

Marissa began to feel better almost as soon as she lay down.

She could hear Griffin outside her office talking to one of the other associates. Marissa loved the sound of his voice. He reminded her of the smooth, late-night disc jockeys on the radio.

Marissa allowed her memory to drift into forbidden territory—one night five months ago. She had decided to work late. She had been surprised to find that Griffin was also there after everyone had already gone home. They decided to take their laptops into a conference room to work while they shared a dinner of shrimp fried rice, orange chicken and egg drop soup.

Maybe it was the adrenaline of working on a case; maybe it was sleep deprivation or maybe it was just inevitable, but Marissa and Griffin could no longer ignore their mutual attraction.

They soon decided to call it a night.

Marissa followed Griffin to his apartment. As soon as they were inside, they were in each other’s arms.

Griffin had undressed her slowly and then carried her into his bedroom.

He laid her on the bed. Griffin removed his own clothing before joining her.

“I’ve wanted this for a long time,” he whispered.

“So have I,” Marissa admitted.

Griffin captured her lips with his own, holding her close to his nakedness.

Marissa moaned softly as her passion ignited into a flame in the pit of her belly. She burned with desire for Griffin’s touch.

They had made love slowly that night, not wanting the moment to come to an end.

Marissa could still feel the heat of their passion from that night—it burned in her memory. The sweetness of his kisses lingered in her mind, filling her with the desire to be kissed by Griffin again.

But that night was long gone.

The special moment they had shared was just that—a moment.

As soon as the thought revealed itself, Marissa shook her head in denial. What she had shared with Griffin that night was only meant to last for a moment, but for Marissa, it would last a lifetime.