Legally Seduced Read online

  Legally Seduced

  Taylor Brent

  Contents

  Legally Seduced

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

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  © Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.

  It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental.

  Legally Seduced

  She’s ruthless in the boardroom, but I’ll show her who’s really in charge when I get her in the bedroom.

  Smart. Sexy. Maddeningly stubborn.

  Scarlett might look like a prim and proper lawyer, but I can see the sultry seductress underneath.

  I have to have her.

  It’s a bad idea. We’re on opposite sides in a legal dispute and taking her to bed will only complicate things.

  Too bad that I don’t care.

  I’m going to put that sharp tongue of hers to good use.

  As a successful business man with billions in the bank, I’m used to getting what I want.

  Women usually fall at my feet, and New York city has plenty to choose from.

  But I may have met my match this time.

  Can I tame this temptress? Or will she deny me in the name of professionalism?

  ~ Sugar and Spice Romance ...

  for every season ~

  Chapter 1

  Scarlett

  “Don’t fidget, Jason,” I told my client as we sat in the conference room of Nova Tech.

  It was impressive. As a behemoth in the tech industry, Nova Tech was expected to have a large and flashy headquarters. The walls were all glass and the furniture was modern and bright. Looking around, the place featured a lot of white and chrome, clean lines and squared edges.

  I understood that Jason was intimidated. His small company wasn’t nearly as striking in appearance. But he had innovative technology and I wasn’t about to let Nova swoop in and low-ball him.

  “Sorry, Scarlett,” Jason said, folding his hands in his lap.

  I smiled at him reassuringly. Jason was young, a prodigy that graduated from high school at sixteen and went straight to MIT. Now, at twenty years old, he already owned Wyatt Computing, a small, but successful start-up company that had caught the attention of Nova Tech. They wanted to buy the business.

  “Just let me do the talking. These corporate lawyer types are always overconfident and I’m ready to knock them down a few pegs.”

  Jason nodded but looked uncertain. Despite all his intelligence, the guy was severely lacking in real life and social skills. But that was why I was here.

  When he had come into the law firm looking for representation in this deal, I had jumped on it. It was the reason I worked in a tiny brick building making far less than I could if I had taken a job with one of the big companies. Many of them had tried to recruit me after graduating from Yale at the top of my class.

  Yeah, I could have my own massive high-rise office now, pulling down a six-figure salary. But I wanted to help people like Jason, not these bigshot corporations that crush small businesses like Wyatt Computing.

  Looking up, I saw them coming before they reached the conference room, due to the walls being made of glass. Three men were walking side-by-side as they approached, looking like they belonged on the cover of Forbes magazine, a perfect visual representation of corporate America.

  I sat with my spine straight and shoulders back, well aware that the men could see us waiting for them. As they drew near, my eyes zeroed in on the man in the middle, with short brown hair and stunning crystal blue eyes. I could feel my entire body come to life as I watched him move with grace.

  There was something about this guy, something intangible that called for my attention even from a distance, with the glass separating us. He was a sex fantasy come to life and I had to hold tight to my composure as he entered the room. He pushed a button in the wall and the glass surrounding us turned opaque.

  Fancy.

  Confidence seemed to pour out of him, filling the small space. It was in the very air, settled against my skin, making my entire body aware of the man as he stood on the other side of the table.

  I stood and extended my hand to him as the other two men hovered at his sides. It was clear to me who was in charge here. Jason scrambled to follow my lead, standing as well.

  “You must be Mr. Bishop,” I said, making an educated guess. He grasped my hand and I felt electricity shoot down my spine. Was it suddenly hot in here? “I’m Scarlett Russell, Mr. Wyatt’s attorney.”

  “Call me Liam. Pleased to meet you, Scarlett,” he said, taking the slightest pause before he said my name slowly. It made me think of sampling a fine wine as if he were testing the way my name felt in his mouth. I swallowed thickly.

  “This is my business partner, Nick Totten,” he indicated to the man on his left, “and our attorney, Chad Gibson. You must be Jason,” Liam said when Jason remained silent.

  “Uh, yeah. Hi,” Jason replied. He gave an awkward little wave instead of offering his hand.

  As we all sat down, Mr. Gibson placed his leather briefcase on the table and withdrew a Manilla folder. It looked like the pleasantries were over. Fine. Game on.

  I pushed aside all thoughts of the man in front of me, refusing to allow myself to wonder if his lips were as soft as they looked or acknowledge the warmth spreading through my body just from being in his presence. I had a job to do.

  “We’ve put together an offer for Wyatt Computing, I think you’ll be very pleased,” Mr. Gibson said as he pulled out a contract and slid it across the table to Jason. I scooped it up and took a quick look before turning it over and sliding it right back to him. I gave a short, humorless laugh.

  “That’s so insultingly low that I’m tempted to walk out of here right now.”

  “You think a million dollars is laughable?” Liam asked, raising one eyebrow. “That’s a Fair Market Value for the company.”

  “Do you think you’re dealing with some gullible fools?” I asked sharply. Liam’s eyes flashed, and the anger I saw there confused me because it made my core bloom. I didn’t understand my own body’s reaction. I saw Jason shift his weight out of the corner of my eye and shot him a quick look. I didn’t want him to appear weak while we were negotiating.

  “Watch your tone, Miss Russell,” Liam said, his voice cold and calm.

  Excitement shot through me. There was something almost dangerous about this man, but for some reason, I wanted to see what happened when he lost control. The men at his sides ceased to exist as I stared into those bright blue eyes.

  “Or what?” I asked, the challenge clear in my voice.

  The atmosphere in the room sizzled and Liam shot me a smirk. His expression was dark and it held promises that scared and exhilarated me. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could get a word out, his business partner, Nick, cleared his throat and leaned over to whisper something to him.

  The moment between us shattered and I felt like I had been splashed with cold water. What was I doing?

  Chiding myself for being so unprofessional, I picked up my briefcase and stood, gesturing for Jason to do the same. I straightened my suit jacket and leveled Liam with a cool, utterly professional look.

  “I recommend that you look into the Investment Value of Wyatt
Computing and don’t call us back to the table until you’re ready to make a serious offer. Good day, gentlemen.”

  Clinging to my dignity, I marched from the room with Jason trailing behind. I could feel eyes on me until we turned a corner and were out of sight of the conference room. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

  “So, what happens now?” Jason asked as we waited for the elevator.

  “Now, you go back to running your business and we’ll see what happens. I imagine they’ll contact us again in a few days.”

  “So, that went the way you expected?”

  “Sure, yeah,” I lied, rattled by my uncontrollable desire for a man I didn’t even know. It wasn’t like me to let my composure slip like that. “It’s all part of the plan.”

  Chapter 2

  Liam

  I rounded the corner just as the elevator opened and Scarlett was stepping inside. I hurried forward, determined to continue the verbal sparring we had begun back in the conference room. The glimpse I had seen of this ruthless lawyer was too intriguing to allow her to walk away just yet.

  I reached the elevator just as the doors were starting to close and stuck my hand between them, stopping the motion. Scarlett stared at me with an impassive expression but her dark eyes betrayed her. She couldn’t hide her desire for me.

  “May I have a word?” I asked directly, pinning her with a heated stare. She locked eyes with me for a long moment before turning to Jason.

  “You go ahead. I’m going to talk to him for a minute.” Jason nodded as she stepped back out of the elevator to stand beside me. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  Jason seemed to relax at her words. “Thanks, Scarlett.’

  When the doors closed, she turned to me with a frown.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Bishop?”

  “I told you to call me Liam.”

  “Liam, then,” she responded.

  “We weren’t done talking there. You can’t just walk out like that,” I reprimanded. I would love to punish her properly.

  With a sigh, she pushed the ‘Down’ button on the wall again. “Yes, I can. I have my client’s best interest in mind and this is a waste of time.”

  “Really? Is that the only thing on your mind?” I asked, taking a step forward until we were as close as possible without actually touching. Her breath quickened as she gazed at my face.

  She was tall for a woman, only a couple inches shorter than my above average height, and her olive skin was smooth. My hand itched to reach out and touch her, but I knew that if I started that I might not be able to stop.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stubbornly. I was dying to show her what stubborn really was if only I could get her alone.

  “Don’t you?” I asked with a smirk. “Fine, then. You can play it that way.” The elevator opened once again behind her and I scowled. “But, if you think we’re done here, you’re wrong.”

  “But I’m still leaving,” she said, her voice full of mischief. Stepping back into the elevator, she stood composed, as the doors shut between us.

  Damn, she was a sultry vixen. I had to have her.

  I rarely attended charity events. Since Nova Tech took off and I joined the ranks of the wealthy, it seemed everyone was lined up for a handout and I got sick of it real quick. This was different, though. This was a silent auction to benefit Multiple Sclerosis research. My brother had MS and it was the one cause that was important to me.

  So, here I was, dressed to kill as I walked into the event center. It was a large open space with several long tables laden with donated items up for bid. There were also large round tables with pristine white tablecloths in front of a stage with a podium and a microphone.

  The place was already full of people milling about, taking advantage of the open bar. The women wore elegant evening gowns while the men had all donned tuxedos. I fully intended to bid on numerous items, but I needed a drink first.

  Making my way to the bar, I nodded at the other members of Manhattan’s elite as I passed. The organization in charge of this event was going to do very well tonight. The collective worth of the people in this room was astronomical.

  I wasn’t planning to stop and make small talk with anyone this evening, but that all changed when I reached the bar. There, with raven hair flowing down her back, was the sassy lawyer that had been lingering in my mind all day, Scarlett Russell.

  My eyes roamed over her body as I sidled up beside her at the bar. In a skintight black dress with a slit up the side, showing off her smooth leg, she was stunning. My eyes traced the line of her hip and I couldn’t see a trace of a panty line. My cock throbbed.

  I took note of her nearly empty glass that looked to be a gin and tonic as I leaned against the edge of the bar. Scarlett’s eyes widened when she turned and caught sight of me.

  “Happy to see me?” I asked, seeing her eyes flicker over my body so quickly that I almost missed it.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s a charity event and I have money,” I shrugged. “The question is, what are you doing here?”

  “My firm represents The MS Research Foundation and I guess I represent the firm,” she said with a grin. “So, here I am.”

  “Do you enjoy working for Yaxley and Grant?” I asked, referring to the small law firm she worked for. It seemed to me that she was a big fish in a little pond there.

  “Of course. I chose to work there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I had plenty of options when I graduated from law school three years ago, but I wanted to work where I could make a difference. At Yaxley and Grant, I work with non-profits like this,” she gestured to our surroundings. “I’m happy to represent this charity. Or small business owners like Jason. I want to help people like him, not help a billionaire fatten his already overfilled wallet.” She shot me a scornful look and I chuckled.

  “Well, aren’t you a charmer?”

  “I just call it as I see it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check out the auction.”

  “I think I’ll join you,” I said.

  Scarlett turned toward me and slid off the barstool, the front of her body barely brushing mine. My insides clenched, and I wanted to pull her body flush against mine, but the contact was brief.

  Fuck. This girl was killing me.

  “Come along, then,” she said, looking at me over her shoulder with one eyebrow raised. She turned away and headed to the tables with all the items to be bid on.

  I turned to the bartender and ordered a scotch, determined not to trail along after her like a lost puppy. I’d find her in a moment or two. It was all a game and I knew how to play.

  I caught up with her a few minutes later, bent over as she signed her name to a paper on the table. I took a moment to appreciate the view, then peeked over her shoulder.

  “A trip to Paris? Have you ever been?” I asked.

  “Nope. But I’m sure it would be a good time.”

  “It’s a trip for two. Would you be bringing your boyfriend? Husband?” I asked as she fell in step beside me. We walked along the tables, perusing the items up for grabs. I sipped the Lagavulin in my hand leisurely.

  “That’s subtle,” she said with an eye roll and a smirk.

  I just shrugged, unashamed.

  “I don’t know who I’d bring. I’m sure I could find a man willing to take a trip to the City of Romance for a long weekend with me.” Her eyes sparkled as she stared at me.

  “Is that an invitation?”

  “What if it was?”

  Her boldness startled me. “In that case, I suppose I’d want to know why you’re embracing a game of cat and mouse now when you denied me just a few short hours ago,” my voice was menacing, and I saw her eyes darken in response.

  She was silent for a moment as we walked together, seemingly lost in thought. I waited patiently.

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because my job is so import
ant to me. I have to compartmentalize these things while I’m on the clock. Or maybe I just can’t help myself after seeing how well you fill out a tux.”

  Her honesty was a shocking turn-on. This woman was full of intrigue. Staring at her expressive face, I couldn’t seem to hold myself back. I leaned forward, closing the distance between us, and connected my lips to hers in one swift movement.

  Heat exploded between us and I felt every nerve ending in my body come to life. I didn’t care where we were or who could see us. I was lost in my hunger for her.

  She responded to my kiss immediately, molding her lips to mine. The kiss joined us together, forming a connection that made my head swim. But as I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, she seemed to snap out of her haze. Breaking away from me, she severed our contact. I opened my eyes to see that she was looking around us, at the other people in attendance. She looked mortified by the attention we were receiving. Personally, I didn’t give a damn.

  Let them watch.

  I was clearly alone in that sentiment because Scarlett was backing away from me, and I knew before she even spoke that she was going to flee. She shook her head and avoided eye contact.

  “I…uh…I have to go. I shouldn’t…” She trailed off. I didn’t say a word, just watched as she scurried away, getting lost in a sea of well-dressed people. Her black hair was the last thing to disappear from view as it flowed behind her, almost seeming to wave goodbye.

  I clenched my jaw and swallowed the last of my drink in one gulp. Plagued by frustration and now blue balls, I was in a foul mood as I walked along the tables, adding disproportionately high bids to various items; a sailboat, a painting by a famous artist, a baseball signed by the New York Yankees, anything that caught my interest. I would either walk away with these things or drive the bids up a bit as others tried to beat me. It didn’t make much difference to me.