Sharon Cooper - Legal Seduction

When it comes to desire, they’re both pleading guilty

In the courtroom, criminal defense attorney Iris Sinclair is cool and confident. Yet around her new client’s guardian, she loses all composure. Atlanta club owner Nash Dupree is an infamous playboy who could compromise Iris’s heart as well as her case. For once, she feels like a curvy goddess instead of a straitlaced lawyer—even if the evidence suggests what he’s looking for is strictly short-term.

No matter what the tabloids claim, Nash has made his teenage niece his first priority, and without Iris’s help he’ll lose guardianship. What began as seduction, a sweet thrill, has turned into something more—now he wants Iris forever. But proving his intentions means winning her trust before his reputation drives away the only woman who has ever captivated him, body and soul….

“Don’t even think about saying you’re not pretty enough.” The pads of his thumbs stroked her cheeks, lulling her into a submissive trance.

The night before, she had dreamed about kissing Nash, their lips mating.

“You are one of the most desirable women I have ever laid eyes on,” he said, his head tilted and his mouth hovering over hers. “So whoever told you otherwise lied.”

Nash’s mouth covered hers, and spirals of ecstasy surged through her body. He kissed her slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. His lips caressed hers with a polished mastery, boldly taking what he wanted. Her body melted into his, and she found she no longer wanted to pull away. His tongue tasted like wine and peppermint as it explored the inner recesses of her mouth, soft, thick lips pleasing her way beyond her dream.

SHARON C. COOPER

spent ten years as a sheet metal worker. And while enjoying that unique line of work, she obtained her B.A. in business management with an emphasis in communication. Sharon is a romance-a-holic and loves anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies or real life. She writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense, and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance, of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net.

Legal

Seduction

Sharon C. Cooper

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

It’s not often you meet someone who will welcome a stranger into their home, especially a troubled teen. Iris Sinclair in Legal Seduction is just that type of person.

When I created Iris’s character, a stunning woman who has never considered herself beautiful thanks to an event during her childhood, I knew she had to be paired with a hero like Nash Dupree, a sexy hunk who oozes self-confidence. The chemistry between the two can only be described as hot and combustible! Nash is used to getting what he wants, and though Iris might have a soft spot for anyone in need, she’s no pushover. Nash soon realizes he has his work cut out for him!

I hope you enjoy reading Iris and Nash’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Stop by www.sharoncooper.netand find out what I’m working on these days.

Enjoy!

Sharon C. Cooper

To the other two-thirds of “Charlie’s Angels”—authors Candace Shaw and Delaney Diamond—So glad we’re on this ride together! Love you ladies!

Hugs and kisses go out to my best friend, who happens to be my awesome husband! Al, my dear, thank you for your unwavering love and your immense tolerance during my writing journey. I love you more than words could ever express!

To Yolanda Barber: Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and ALWAYS being willing to light a fire under me whenever I think about dragging my feet!

To my SUPER supportive family: I love you all. Thanks for always being in my corner!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

Chapter 1

“Has the jury reached a verdict?”

“Yes, Your Honor, we have.”

Defense attorney Iris Sinclair stood slowly and motioned for her seventeen-year-old client to do the same. She had logged more hours in this murder case than she had in her last few cases put together, and was confident that they would win.

Still seated, her client Terrance Gibson tugged on the collar of his light blue button-down dress shirt and yanked on the striped tie, loosening it from around his neck. He took a deep breath, grabbed hold of the edge of the table and pulled himself up, knocking a file folder to the floor and sending Iris’s pen flying across the tabletop in the process.

Horrified, he glanced at Iris, his troubled eyes wide. He made a move to retrieve the folder, his chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor before she halted him with a reassuring pat on the back. “Leave it,” she mouthed silently and smiled.

He managed a small smile back and after a deep breath, turned his attention to the jury foreman.

“We the jury, find the defendant, Terrance Gibson, not guilty of the charge of first-degree murder.”

Cheers went up around the courtroom and Terrance dropped down in his seat, his face in his hands and his shoulders shaking as he sobbed. Iris’s heart went out to him while she swiped at her own tears. It had been one of her toughest cases, but she proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that her client was not guilty. She was relieved that it was finally over and an innocent young man wouldn’t spend the rest of his life behind bars. Terrance’s only mistake the fateful night that he was arrested for murder was that he had succumbed to peer pressure and attended a house party instead of going home after a football game.

Terrance threw his arms around Iris’s neck. “Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.”

Iris hugged him back. “It was my pleasure.” She pulled back. “Just make sure I don’t see you back here again.”

“You won’t,” he said before he went to go join his family.

Iris gathered her belongings, preparing to leave the courthouse. Despite her best efforts, she always tried not to get emotionally involved in her cases, but it was usually inevitable. One of few defense attorneys in the Atlanta area whose defendants were mostly teenagers and good kids who ended up in bad situations, Iris’s clients often got caught up in the wrong crowd, or made one bad decision, as in Terrance’s case.

“Attorney Sinclair, we’ll never be able to thank you for all you did for Terrance through this horrible ordeal,” Mr. Gibson said to Iris when he pulled her off to the side. “We knew our son was innocent, but for you, someone who didn’t know him the way we know him, to take on his case based on Terrance’s word alone, means more to me and his mother than we could ever express.”

Iris smiled. She had connected with Terrance and his family from day one, promising to do whatever she could to prove his innocence.

“It was my pleasure, Mr. Gibson. Terrance is a good kid. When I saw and heard the pain behind every word that he said while describing that night, I sensed he was telling the truth.” If proof of innocence wasn’t available, Iris relied on her gut to decide whether or not to take on a case.

She stuck around for a few more minutes before leaving the courthouse.