CHAPTER ONE

 

Crystal Hayden strode with confidence into the office of Frost and Company, Attorneys at Law, in Pleasant Valley. The firm was looking for a paralegal, and as a freelance paralegal, she had the freedom to take jobs when and with the firms she wanted.

She needed a job, but she wanted this job, in particular. The grapevine said this firm was handling a huge case, and if the courts ruled in their client’s favor, it could set far-reaching legal precedents. The case could also make the firm a household name and, by association, further her career. So, after talking to people in the know, she set up an interview.

Crystal stepped into the lobby of the building, the warm air caressing her cool skin. She removed her raincoat as she waited for the elevator. It had decided to rain in the Pacific Northwest today, nothing odd there. The wet weather was part of living here, and she’d rather live here than anywhere else.

The elevator pinged, and Crystal stepped in and pushed the button for the third floor. The firm occupied the entire floor. When she stepped out, her feet sank into plush, likely very expensive beige carpet as she made her way to the reception area. Very nice. Top end leather furniture. Chrome with beveled glass on the cocktail and end tables, an espresso machine, real china for coffee, and what looked like Waterford crystal glasses for the bottled water in the small refrigerator next to the coffee station.

The muted chatter of the law office made her smile. She sometimes missed the camaraderie an office setting offered. She stepped up to the curved receptionist desk. The young woman smiled back, her strawberry-blonde hair caressing her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Good morning, welcome to the Frost law offices. How may I help you?”

“I’m Crystal Hayden. I’m here to meet with Kendra Winslow about the paralegal job.”

“Oh yes. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll let Ms. Winslow know you’re here.” Her gaze moved to the coat over Crystal’s arm. “If you’d like, I can hang your coat up.”

“Yes, thank you.” Crystal carefully handed the young woman her raincoat.

“Please feel free to have coffee or water.”

“Thank you.” Crystal wandered over to the waiting area. Drinking anything was out of the question right now. Why was she so nervous? She’d been on interviews before. Crystal glanced down at her outfit. Everything still in place.

“Ms. Hayden,” a soft voice said.

Crystal raised her head to the older woman standing in front of her. “Yes.”

“Kendra Winslow.” She held her hand out. Kendra had on a navy pantsuit with a white blouse tailored to fit her perfectly.

“Ms. Winslow.” Crystal clasped the office manager’s hand.

“Kendra, please. If you’ll follow me.” Kendra moved down the hallway.

Crystal followed, noting the soft painted walls and original artwork. No lithographs or prints. Oil on canvas. Kendra gestured for Crystal to enter the small conference room.

“Please have a seat,” Kendra said as she shut the door. “Is it still cold and windy outside?”

Crystal pushed a strand of stray hair back. “Yes, Western Washington in winter is always a surprise.”

“At least it’s not snowing,” Kendra said, taking the chair to Crystal’s left at the circular table, leaving the one to the right empty. “Thank you for coming in on such short notice.”

“Not a problem. I was surprised to see the firm needed a short-term paralegal.” Surprised, but grateful. She needed a challenge.

“Yes.” Kendra opened the file she’d brought in with her. “Your references are impeccable, along with your reputation.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. A knock sounded at the door.

“That would be Mr. Frost. He wanted to sit in. Come in.”

Frost. The name tingled at the back of her neck. While she’d done her research, she... How could she have missed it? There was only one name: Jordan. She closed her eyes.

“Good morning, Kendra.” Then his brown gaze turned to her. “Crystal.”

“You two know each other?” Kendra asked as Jordan took the chair to Crystal’s right.

Damn it, why hadn’t she’d put two and two together? She trembled. She and her friends, Sierra and Tess, had discussed their jobs over coffee a little over a month ago.

“Crystal and I have met, yes.”

He leaned forward, and she caught a whiff of his cologne. A woodsy scent that reminded her of hiking in the forest. Mind on the interview.

“I wish you would have told me,” Kendra said.

“My apologies, Kendra,” Jordan replied. “The meeting was over a month ago, and it was coffee with mutual friends.”

“Very well.” Kendra looked back down at the papers in front of her. “As I was saying, your references are stellar, as is your resume.”

“Thank you.”

Jordan’s intense stare sent a wave of uneasiness through Crystal’s body. Damn that heat. She shouldn’t have worn a suit jacket today.

Jordan shifted in his seat. “Why do you want this job, Crystal?” he asked.

The husky tone of his voice sent a tingle of awareness down her spine. She was a mass of contradiction. First unease, now awareness. He’s a lawyer and your potential boss, she reminded herself. She wouldn’t get involved with a lawyer, not again.

“The grapevine made it sound like a challenge.” The ad hadn’t said much. Paralegal wanted. Experience with civil law a plus. Temporary position for three months, possibly less.

“The grapevine?” He shook his head. “Figures. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep this completely quiet. And yes, it will be a challenge.” He leaned back in his chair.

“It was bound to get out,” Kendra said, then looked at Crystal. “The case is very sensitive. So you’ll understand there are some legalities we need to work out. Are you and Jordan going to have any issues?”

“We won’t.” Crystal’s voice was firm. Kendra looked at Jordan.

“Kendra, will you give us a minute?”

Crystal saw the surprise on Kendra’s face, but she nodded and left the room. Crystal kept her gaze on Jordan. He was watching her, and she had to force herself not to shift under his scrutiny.

“I’ll ask Kendra to come back in a minute. I wanted to make sure you’re okay working closely with me. You were pretty upset with me after coffee.”

Crystal looked down at her hands. She was a professional, and this was the office, not a coffee shop. Yeah, she’d been a bit curt with him. She blamed it on two parents arguing and their little boy looking so upset. How many times in her childhood had an argument like that turned into a punishment?

“I was upset. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I apologize.”

“I can understand why it upset you. I dislike when parents air their issues in front of their kids, and I accept your apology.” He rubbed his chin. “I want to make this clear. You’ll be working for me, exclusively.”

A tremor went through her body. The way he said it made her think of late nights and midnight kisses. “What about the other lawyers?” Thank goodness her voice was steady because her body was reacting to Jordan in ways it shouldn’t be.

“They have their own paralegals.” Jordan leaned forward, his expression serious. “I asked around when you made the appointment, Crystal. You’re one of the best paralegals in the field. I need someone like you.”

He’d checked her out; she hadn’t expected any less. Maybe next time she’d do better due diligence when researching the lawyers in the firm before agreeing to the interview. “What is the case?”

“Let me call Kendra back in.” Jordan stood and went to the door. Kendra stood there, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Inappropriate,” Kendra said as she walked past Jordan and back into the room. Crystal’s gut clenched. Maybe she should leave and look elsewhere. But she didn’t want to. This case sounded like something interesting, and Crystal couldn’t wait to do research.

Kendra sat down. She glared at Jordan as he retook his seat, then looked at Crystal and blew out a breath. Crystal steadied herself.

“Maybe it would be better if I turn the job down,” she said. The last thing she wanted was to make an enemy of the operations manager.

Kendra’s green eyes lit up with surprise. “I was pointing out to Jordan that he wasn’t acting in the firm’s best interest in asking me to leave.” Kendra took a breath. “It’s not your fault or mine. Jordan has a tendency to be hands-on in certain things. I’m trying to break him of the habit.”

Jordan flashed a grin. “I wanted to clear the air with Crystal. She asked me about the case, which is why I called you back in. All I can say is it’s a civil case. I can’t go into particulars until we have a signed contract and NDA in place.”

Crystal’s spine stiffened. “An NDA?” While nondisclosure agreements in the legal profession weren’t unheard of, her gut tensed. She was still wary of them in the workplace.

“Yes, this case is sensitive.” Jordan’s gaze focused in on her.

“I see.” She shifted in her seat. Sensitive. The word didn’t make her think of the case. A shiver ran over her skin. Why was she reacting to Jordan this way? It was like she’d never been attracted to someone before. Crystal took a deep breath and pushed her fascination aside. “The ad mentioned this is a temporary assignment for three months?”

“That is correct,” Kendra said, flipping the papers in the folder.

“We have depositions set up a week from today, with a hearing a week after, so you’re going to have your work cut out for you, getting up to speed.” Jordan spread his hands on the table.

“Why did you wait so long to hire someone?” Another anomaly.

Kendra chuckled. “Because he thought he could handle it himself when his paralegal went out on maternity leave.”

“There is that.” Jordan’s finger tapped against the table. “Also because I didn’t think the case would get this far.” He ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I’m in a bind. I hear you’re the best. I’m willing to pay for your expertise and time.” He named a salary.

Kendra rolled her eyes, and Crystal’s jaw dropped.

“You have to be kidding.” He had to be. She was prepared to negotiate a fair wage, but doing so would be moot. Yes, she was at the top of her field, but seriously… She shook her head.

“I’m not kidding. You’re the best. You’re not afraid of hard work or long hours. Your research skills are the stuff of legend. This salary takes everything into account.”

“It’s far too much.”

“I’ve never had anyone tell me I was paying them too much.” The humor in his voice was apparent.

“It’s definitely a first for me as well,” Kendra said.

Crystal shrugged. “Being truthful.”

“As am I. You’re worth the money.”

A tremor wracked her body at his husky tone. What was it about his voice? “All right. May I see the employment agreement?” She looked at Kendra.

“Of course.” Kendra pulled it out of the folder and passed it to her.

Crystal began reading. “Sure of me, were you?” He already had her name and certification details filled in.

“Jordan prepared it; it’s my job, but he overruled me,” Kendra said.

“I was being hopeful.” He grinned at her.

His grin sent a tingle of awareness all the way to her toes. He’s a lawyer; don’t fall for his charm. The employment agreement was standard. Crystal was still concerned about the money. She had never argued before about someone paying her too much. “The NDA?”

More papers were passed across the table. Crystal read it.

Most of it was standard, but there were a few areas of concern.

“I can’t discuss the case with anyone at all?” A bit unusual. Well, not exactly. She never talked about an active case with anyone, not even her best friends.

“I have a list of professionals you can talk with about the case and, of course, our client and those here in the office who need to know, but no one else.”

Crystal nodded. “What about the clause: There will be disclosures and other information pertaining to this case you may find personally offensive and/or disturbing. What kind of case is this?” The hair on the back of her neck stood up.

“Civil case. I can’t say more about it at this point.” Jordan sat back in his seat.

She placed the papers on the table. “I understand your client’s desire to ensure their privacy, but I need to know more before I sign anything so I can make an informed decision.”

Jordan stared at her with those mesmerizing brown eyes. “How about this? Sign the NDA, and I’ll explain. Then, if you don’t want to work on the case, no harm, no foul.” He glanced at Kendra.

“I can agree to that,” Kendra said.

Crystal frowned. This was highly unusual. Her fingers twitched. What harm could there be in signing the NDA and finding out what the case was about?

Jordan’s phone rang, and she jumped in her seat. She hadn’t realized how quiet the room was.

“Excuse me, I need to take this.” He stood up and went to the opposite side of the room.

Crystal nodded and began reading the NDA once more.

“I know this is unusual, but this is an unusual case,” Kendra said.

Crystal was about to answer when she heard Jordan speak. “Sage, I know.” Jordan’s voice was soft. “I’m working on it. You have to trust me. If you and Brady are seen together, it will spell trouble.” He paused. “Yes, I know you miss him, and he wants to be with you.”

Crystal glanced up to see the frustration on Jordan’s face. Whatever the client was saying was not making him happy.

“The first court date is soon. Just hold on. Okay?” His features lightened. “Thank you. Yes, see you Thursday.” He ended the call and looked at Crystal. “Sorry.”

“Clients come first.” What an intriguing conversation. And if it was tied to the case he wanted her working on, decision made. She picked up the pen lying on the table between her and Kendra and signed the NDA, then slid the document over to Kendra. “Now tell me about this case.”

Kendra picked it up and nodded. “My client has been accused of abuse,” Jordan said.

“Wouldn’t that be criminal?”

“Yes, my client was arrested and charged, but then the DA dropped the charges. This is a civil case. His family is making the allegations.”

“The accused is a woman?” Her eyes widened in surprise. Unusual, but it happened.

“My client is a woman. Everything that happened between my client and her su…boyfriend was consensual.”

He’d stumbled over a word. Crystal wondered who the client was. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“This is a very delicate situation.”

“And that’s my cue.” Kendra stood up. “Jordan will explain what he needs to and call me back in when you’re ready to go over the employment contract.”

“Thank you, Kendra,” Jordan said.

Crystal watched the woman leave, but before she closed the door, Kendra gave Jordan a hard look.

“I know you’re friends with Sierra,” Jordan said the minute the door closed. “How much has she told you about her and Max?”

“Probably everything. She and Max… Oh.” The light bulb came on. “This involves someone in the kink community.”

“Yes. I wasn’t sure how much Sierra had shared.”

“Only about how she’s Max’s submissive and how much she enjoys him dominating her.” Crystal suppressed a tremor of fear mixed with excitement. Her sensuality had been suppressed as a teenager. College had helped her come out of her shell, but there were times she could still feel the beatings at the hand of her father.

“Do you understand Dominance and submission?”

“A little bit.” Crystal shifted in her chair again. Jordan’s eyes followed her movement. A gleam lit his gaze, and she forced herself to still. Of all the things she had thought they’d talk about, this was not one of them. Was Jordan a Dom? Her body heated. Whoa, time to pull those thoughts back and remind herself: She didn’t date lawyers.

“Before I go on about this case in particular, how much do you understand about kink?” He leaned forward in his chair and settled his elbows on the table.

She froze in her seat. How to answer? She’d talked with Sierra, but they hadn’t gone into details. “I’ve read about it in romance books and from some of the things Sierra has told me.”

“No practical experience?”

“Not really.” If her parents even thought she had what they considered ‘impure thoughts’, they’d punish her and put her in the sin room for days. And then there were the men she’d dated. They’d tried a club and some bondage, but it wasn’t anything like what Sierra had told her.

Jordan leaned forward, his hands splayed out on the table. Her gaze was captured by his. Her heart rate picked up at the smoldering look in his brown eyes.

“I need a paralegal who is open to doing the necessary research, which will likely include talking with others in the kink community.”

“I can do that.” Crystal forced herself to breathe normally. Jordan was too close. Just like the night at the book club meeting and again at the coffee shop, his heat, his masculinity, called out to her. Her fingers tangled together in her lap.

“Can you?” He turned his hands palms up. “It means we’re going to be working closely together. Late nights and weekends.”

Crystal swallowed. How was she going to handle her attraction to him? She blew out a breath. “I can be professional; can you?” She almost clamped her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant for those words to slip out.

Jordan’s eyes widened, and then a grin spread over his lips.

“That came out wrong. You’re going to be my boss and nothing more.” She closed her eyes. She was making a mess of this. “What I mean is—”

“I know what you meant. I’m going to lay my cards on the table, so to speak. I’m attracted to you, Crystal. There was a spark from the first night.” He held his hand up when she opened her mouth. “Please, let me finish. I will be professional on the job, totally and completely.”

“Jordan, if you’re going to be my boss, we can’t have a personal relationship.” Oh but she wanted to. Where was her willpower? He was a lawyer, and she’d promised herself—after her last failed relationship with a lawyer—she would never get involved with anyone she worked with.

“This has nothing to do with your job and never will.”

“I want that in the employment contract.” The words came out before she could stop them.

His grin widened. “Done.” He stood. “Be right back.” Crystal blinked. What the hell happened? Before she could analyze it, Jordan returned with Kendra.

Kendra had a stack of papers in her hand. “Here’s the new employment contract,” Kendra said, sliding it across to Crystal.

She flipped through the pages until she got to the end. She read the added wording. Oh my, he’s serious. He’d put in the contract anything personal between them had nothing to do with her job, and she would be paid in full no matter what. Even if she left the job early.

“Change the ‘paid in full no matter what’ to ‘paid in full for all work completed at the time of separation’.” Crystal pushed the contract back to Kendra.

Kendra made the changes, initialed, as did Jordan, then gave it back to Crystal who initialed it. She read the rest and then picked up a pen. This was crazy. She was crazy.

“Hold on,” Kendra said. “Let’s get a notary up here. I want this done properly.”

“Agreed.” Jordan pulled his phone out.

“Hey, Holly, it’s Jordan. Can you come up to the office, conference room one for a minute and notarize a contract? Thanks.” He hung the phone up. “Holly will be here in a few minutes.”

She hadn’t expected the notary, but it would protect her and his firm. She reached down and pulled her wallet out of her bag and then pulled out her driver’s license. When there was a knock on the door, Crystal straightened.

Jordan opened the door, and a bubbly blonde woman walked in. “Okay, Jordan, what do you need?”

“I want you to notarize an employment contract between myself and Crystal.”

The woman looked at her and smiled. “Easy job.” She sat down at the table and laid down her book and seal. “The contract please, Jordan, and Crystal, your ID. We’ll get this taken care of.”

Crystal handed Holly her license.

“Very good.” She handed them back and then flipped to the last page of the contract. “All right, if you’ll each sign.”

Crystal took the pen Holly held out, signed the contract, and handed it to Jordan, and he signed. Holly signed and applied the raised seal. “Done.” She left the office.

“I’ll get you copies of this and the NDA for your records.” Kendra stood and took the papers off the table. “Be right back.”

“Now that’s out of the way…” He gestured for her to sit.

Crystal shook her head as she put her license away and sat down. “You’re moving fast.”

“Time’s of the essence. Can you start tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Her fingers tingled with excitement to start a new job.

“Good. I start at seven, but if you’re here by eight, it will be fine. Tomorrow I have to be in court in the morning. Kendra is usually here by seven-thirty, and Valerie, the receptionist, arrives at eight.”

“I can be here when Valerie gets here.” She ran over her schedule in her head.

“Works for me. There’s an office next to mine; I’ve had a desk installed along with a phone, computer, and printer.”

“You’ve thought of everything.”

“Not everything.” The heat coming from his gaze caused Crystal’s breath to catch in her throat.

As if he knew how he was affecting her, the heat turned to amusement. “Soon,” he whispered. Regret tinged his voice. “First, I need to get you up to speed on this case.”

She sat back in her chair. “So a sub’s family is suing the Dominant, thinking there is abuse going on?”

“Yes. Sage is my client and the one being sued. Brady is her sub.”

“Wait a second. Female Dom.”

“Sage prefers Domme, pronounced dom-eh and spelled d-o-m-m-e with a capital D.”

“What about Dominatrix?”

“A Dominatrix is a paid female Dominant.” Jordan rested his chin on his fingers.

“Got it.” Crystal made a mental note. This was going to be very interesting.

“Brady’s family believes Sage is abusing him.”

“If he’s denied it, why is this going forward?” she asked.

“That’s why it’s civil and not criminal. His family has decided it’s a form of domestic violence and abuse. They’ve made a case, and because there’s no standing law in the state, it’s been allowed to go forward.”

“And Washington State doesn’t have a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation or SLAPP law. You mentioned depositions are next week?”

“Yes. We’ve completed initial interrogatories and discovery. The prelim in two weeks will determine if the case will move forward.”

Crystal pulled out her phone and opened her note application. “I’m jotting down some notes on what I’ll need to research.” She didn’t know much about Dominant/submissive relationships outside of the books she’d read, but she’d get up to speed.

“I have a list of kink-friendly professionals you can contact, especially other lawyers. I’ve reached out to a few; none have had any experience with this type of civil case.”

“You’re a kink-friendly professional.” She hadn’t heard the term before, but it made sense, especially since kink and abuse were often confused.

“I am.”

Was he also part of the kink community? He didn’t say, but Crystal thought he might be. He was friends with Max, after all. So what did that mean? She was friends with Sierra and wasn’t into kink except for reading about it. And she had asked Sierra if she could get her inside Max’s club, because she was curious. Was Jordan a member?

“Sorry, I missed what you said?” Her cheeks turned warm. She was so lost in her head she hadn’t been paying attention.

“I said this is a delicate case, and I’d like to protect the kink community and avoid perpetuating stereotypes as much as possible.”

“I understand. What people do in their private lives should be exactly that—private.”

“Exactly. Misconceptions run rampant when it comes to the kink community. Some people think its abuse or worse.”

Crystal tilted her head. “Sierra told me everything is consensual, and if it is, then why object to it? People should enjoy what they enjoy.”

“Even if they’re into pain?”

She frowned. “I guess. I don’t see the point in causing someone pain.”

“I can see you’ll need some education.” A knock sounded at the door. Valerie stuck her head in. “Mr. Frost, your eleven o’clock appointment is here.”

Crystal glanced at the time on her phone. She’d been here almost two hours.

“Thank you, Valerie. I’ll be out in a moment.” The door closed. “I hate to cut this short.”

“I understand.” Crystal slipped her phone back in her bag and zipped it shut. Jordan was at her side when she stood. Awareness shot through her body. “Kendra will be here when you get here tomorrow. She’ll show you the office and get you all set up. You’ll have access to the case files. I should be in around one, unless my court case takes longer.”

“Perfect.” Maybe by then she would have her unruly body under control.

“And Crystal?” He tugged her to a stop at the door.

She looked up at him.

“Professional in the office, but outside of it, I make no guarantees.”

“You’re assuming a lot, Jordan.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.” She took a deep breath. “I’m my own woman. You should realize that by now. So don’t make assumptions.” She swept by him and out of the room. Kendra was waiting by the reception desk with her raincoat and a manila envelope. “Thank you,” Crystal said, taking the items from Kendra.

It wasn’t until Crystal got to her car that she realized her nerves were still tingling from her encounter with Jordan.

Resisting him was not going to be easy. This was not good. Not at all.