Erotic Invitation. Carly Phillips

      He shook his head, clearing his mind. From all he’d seen and heard of Mallory Sinclair, she wasn’t one to inspire seductive visions. And as he turned to Waldorf, Haynes’s sole female associate, her appearance put him squarely back into office-mode. The woman standing before him was as hard as her voice was soft. From her severely pulled back hair, to her overly long skirt and conservative suit, she was every inch not his fantasy woman.

      But she was the woman with whom he’d be confined at a resort owned by the firm’s biggest client, off the coast of Long Island. For Lord knew how long.

      Jack cleared his throat and met Mallory’s gaze. Behind the black-rimmed glasses, she’d narrowed her eyes until he couldn’t tell if they were a blue or a bland shade of gray. He’d obviously irritated her. He hadn’t meant to get on her bad side from the get-go, and he hadn’t meant to ignore her.

      While waiting for her to arrive, his father had called and delivered a personal blow. Apparently, his beloved mother had embarked on another affair, this one more public than the last. And his tolerant, accepting dad, had finally walked out. Jack’s stomach rolled to think his father was about to go through the kind of nasty divorce he specialized in, but it was about time. The marriage should never have lasted—most didn’t—and if not for his father’s unending acceptance and patience, his mother would be on her own by now. Yet as bad as Jack felt for his father, he had no choice but to deal with family issues later.

      Right now he had more immediate problems at hand. He stepped away from the window. “I was preoccupied,” he explained to Mallory.

      Her hands gripped the edge of his desk. “Obviously. I can always come back at a more convenient time. I have plenty of work sitting on my desk.”

      Work he’d obviously taken her away from and she wasn’t pleased. He doubted she’d be any happier when she learned the reason for their last-minute meeting. “No, now’s fine. Have a seat.” He gestured to the wing chair in the corner, a congratulations gift from his father for making partner. His mother hadn’t bothered to make it to his law school graduation, never mind acknowledging his career accomplishments.

      Mallory lowered herself into the chair and crossed one leg over the other. His gaze fell to the shifting material of the skirt that covered way too much skin, even in this staid profession.

      “So.” Her voice captured his attention.

      Amazing, Jack thought. When he wasn’t focused on her plain features or tailored clothes, that husky voice wreaked havoc on his nerve endings, sending the wrong signals from his brain to parts of his body that had no business rising during office hours. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

      “What can I do for you?” she asked.

      “I’ll be brief. I understand you’re working on a real estate deal, but I’ve arranged to shuffle your workload around to free you up. For me.”

      His words sent her into a frenzied fit of coughing. Concerned, Jack rose from his seat and came up beside her. “Are you okay?”

      She removed her glasses and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue she’d grabbed from his desk. “Fine. I’m perfectly fine. I just swallowed wrong. Sorry about that.” Obviously embarrassed, she cleared her throat and patted around her eyes once more before meeting his gaze.

      In the instant those china-blue eyes met his, Jack felt as though he’d been sucker punched. His breath caught and he nearly went into a coughing fit of his own. Sweet heaven, someone should have warned him the woman had such expressive, gorgeous eyes. Before he could continue, she pushed the black frames back on and resettled the glasses on the bridge of her nose. Once again, thick lenses obscured his ability to see into her eyes, making him wonder if he’d imagined the depth and clarity of hue.

      “What do you mean you’ve shuffled my workload? Didn’t anyone tell you Mendelsohn Leasing requested I handle the negotiation on their newest land acquisition personally?”

      He rounded his desk and resettled himself into his seat. At this point, he was off balance and uncertain of Mallory Sinclair, something he never felt with a woman or in business. Distance seemed the safest bet. “I assure you I was fully informed of the situation but we decided to weigh all involved interests and the scales tipped in Lederman’s favor.”

      “Our biggest client. One who’s been farming out business to other firms, leaving us vulnerable to losing an important money base.”

      So she was up on all firm business. “Yes. However this time we’re not talking about a potential merger or acquisition but Lederman’s divorce.”

      She inclined her head. “If you’re involved, that much is obvious. What isn’t clear is where I come in. You could pick any associate specializing in domestic or family law. You don’t need me.”

      Jack leaned forward, elbows propped on his desk. “Now that’s where you’re wrong. Much as we both obviously wish differently, you’re exactly what I need.”

      Mallory Sinclair hadn’t been his first choice as an assistant, but he’d been outvoted. His partners felt a woman’s presence would strengthen their position with the client and assure him of their willingness to play hardball against his wife. Jack couldn’t argue the point. Waldorf, Haynes couldn’t afford to lose Lederman’s business and securing the role of counsel in this divorce was of paramount importance.

      After a moment she let out a long breath of air. “Why don’t you explain why you need me.” She paused. “Please.”

      He picked up a pencil and twirled it between his palms. “It’s simple. Lederman wants to win. He wants a team of attorneys who sympathize with him as a man whose wife wants to take him for a ride and who aren’t afraid to play hardball to accomplish those goals. And we—the partners—feel his needs can best be met by having a female attorney sitting at his side. And as you know, when there’s direct contact with Mrs. Lederman, a woman dealing with another woman would give us greater strength. You could relate to her in a way I could not.”

      He watched for the play of emotions sure to cross her face during his explanation. There were none. Whatever her thoughts, she kept them to herself. The woman knew how to play poker, Jack thought, and his respect for her rose. He could see now how she’d come so far with the older male guard at Waldorf, Haynes. But she hadn’t earned their trust completely. He doubted any female ever could. This was an old boys’ network and they weren’t ashamed to admit it.

      Jack didn’t agree with their way of thinking on many issues, this one included. He didn’t trust women in the marriage arena—his family background, client history and divorce statistics providing backup to his beliefs. But regardless of whether women were usually at fault on the domestic front, business was different. Skill alone determined whether Jack would trust their abilities. The old men weren’t as easily swayed, but Mallory was useful to them. And she obviously knew it.

      She nodded slowly. “So I’m yours by default. Being the only female associate, that is.”

      He couldn’t help it. He grinned. “In a manner of speaking, yes.” She was his. In all her tweed and glory.

      From all he’d seen and heard, Mallory Sinclair was one of the best. But before they could get down to business, they were headed for an informal get-to-know-you-better session, demanded by their eccentric client. Based on Mallory’s cool personality and severe looks, casual and relaxed wasn’t her thing. Which meant Jack wasn’t looking forward to their enforced time together.

      Yet despite himself the memory of those china-blue eyes stayed with him. Intrigued him. Made him wonder what else he didn’t know about Ms. Mallory Sinclair.

      She rose from her seat. “Guess that means case closed, then.”

      “I’m sure we’ll survive,” he said, issuing a grin meant to ease things between them.

      He waited for a smile in return and was disappointed not to get one. “I’ll need to wrap some things up before I can start on Lederman’s case,” she said.

      “No