Crystal's Dilemma [Bonding Camp 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read online

  Bonding Camp 5

  Crystal’s Dilemma

  Crystal White has been conflicted of late. She’s been wondering if maybe it’s time for her to settle down. When Tommy Rain introduces himself after she wins her latest court case, she’s more than attracted to him. With his fresh good looks and the air of confidence he has, Crystal wants to get to know more about him. So she offers him a job. Tommy takes the bait. He’s been watching Crystal in the courtroom for almost a year and is not only impressed by her spirited ways—he’s very attracted to her.

  Crystal invites Tommy to bonding camp. Soon after Tommy arrives, Crystal finds out just how attracted to her he is. After hours of bonding with Tommy, and her partner Justice Cane and the caretaker of the compound, Rodgers, joining in to help, Crystal finds herself experiencing a new emotion—something so powerful it has to be love.

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre

  Length: 21,120 words

  CRYSTAL’S DILEMMA

  Bonding Camp 5

  Christelle Mirin

  MENAGE AND MORE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage and More

  CRYSTAL’S DILEMMA

  Copyright © 2012 by Christelle Mirin

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-019-4

  First E-book Publication: August 2012

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  CRYSTAL’S DILEMMA

  Bonding Camp 5

  CHRISTELLE MIRIN

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  “The court finds the defendant not guilty.” The gavel came down with a resounding crash.

  Crystal turned to her client, Jason Dobbs, and smiled. “Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  Crystal White loved her job. It was times like these she wanted to celebrate. Today, however, it seemed she was only gifted with a handshake from her client and a long night ahead of her. Alone.

  Dobbs rushed from the table to join his family. Crystal glanced at them out of the corner of her eye while she shuffled her paperwork, placing it into her briefcase. The Dobbs family was jubilant with kisses and hugs in abundance. Crystal smiled crookedly. It wasn’t as if he’d been on trial for murder. She snapped her briefcase closed, putting an end to another day in court. She turned away from the defense table, chiding herself for the snide thought about Dobbs and knowing full well his family deserved to celebrate. Dobbs could have been sentenced to years for embezzlement, but Crystal had pulled through and her client had been found not guilty.

  “Excuse me, Miss White?”

  Crystal pulled her gaze from her client’s family and turned toward the voice. “Yes?” She looked up into the most gorgeous brown eyes rimmed with thick, dark lashes. “Can I help you?”

  His smile was fast, wide, and bright against the tan skin of his face. “Tommy Rain. You don’t know me, but I would like to invite you for a drink. I’d really like to discuss your defense of this client.”

  Crystal tilted her head to the side. She’d seen him in the courtroom during the trial. He was hard to miss. Young, good looking with shoulder-length brown hair that had been streaked with blond highlights by the sun made him stand out in a crowd. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and red tie. A power suit. And he wanted to discuss her case. Crystal could sense he was on a fishing expedition for a job. For some odd reason it didn’t bother her. Crystal smiled at him and took the hand he had held out to her.

  As soon as she touched him, skin to skin, a jolt rushed through her, travelling up her arm and straight to her heart. The sensation almost took her breath.

  “There’s a little pub called Ryan’s around the corner,” she said, slipping her hand from his.

  “I know the place. Meet you there in twenty minutes?” His smile didn’t falter.

  “That sounds wonderful.” She picked her briefcase up off the table. Giving him a nod, she walked toward the door.

  Half an hour later, she sat across the table from him at Ryan’s. He had chosen a booth, getting there before she did. Crystal took a sip of bourbon, the flavor rich as it flowed over her tongue.

  “I’ve been very interested in the case you just tried.” Tommy turned his glass in his hands on the tabletop, looking a bit nervous. “Why did you represent Dobbs in the first place?”

  Crystal leaned back, resting one hand on the table. “I found the case interesting. Why would you ask something like that?”

  “Well,” he looked down at his drink. “I’ve been following your career for a while and you normally don’t take on cases like this. Ones that don’t involve large companies. Representing Dobbs was more personal, since you were defending a person instead of a corporation. It intrigues me that you’d take the time to do this one. I was wondering what spurred you to do it.” He looked back up, meeting her gaze.

  Crystal sighed. She wasn’t used to explaining herself to anyone. Then this handsome young man came along and she felt like
spilling her whole life out to him. What was it about him? His warm brown eyes maybe? “I guess the reason I agreed to do it was because Dobbs looked so desperate when he came to my office. Also, I was surprised by him. It’s not often someone comes into my office and asks me to represent them and not their company. It’s not what my firm is known for.” She shrugged. “I wasn’t doing anything, so I took it on. Does that explain it?”

  His smile slowly faded, and his expression became serious. “It would be nice someday to be able to do something for someone like that and still make a living.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said. “Are you an attorney? Do you work for a firm?”

  He let out a little snort. “Yes, I am an attorney. No, I don’t work for a firm. Actually, I don’t have a position at the moment.” He raised his drink, a bourbon like hers, and drained his glass. When he placed it back on the table, he flashed her a smile. “I’d like to find a firm who would take me on.” His eyebrows rose. “Would your firm have any openings?”

  There it was. “And why would you want to work for us? I have to tell you, I get multiple queries every week about openings. I don’t take them all seriously. We’re pretty choosey about who we invite to join our firm.”

  “I’d like to work with you because I’m impressed by your firm and especially by you, Miss White. Your style in the courtroom is amazing. You make them notice you. It must be hard even in this day and age to be a woman in your line of work. Your looks and your size must hamper your presentations, but you pull it off wonderfully.”

  Crystal barked out a laugh. “You are forward, aren’t you? What is it about my looks that you think ‘hampers’ my career?”

  He wriggled his fingers in the air, his eyes wide. He looked quite stricken when he realized he may have insulted her. “Don’t get me wrong, please. I didn’t mean…your looks…” He cleared his throat and dropped his hands, laying them on the table.

  Crystal bit this inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. He was struggling, and she was enjoying every minute of it.

  Tommy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he looked at her and a smile bloomed on his lips. “There’s no easy way to say this. I think you’re hot. And in the courtroom, a sexy woman is a distraction. Male judges notice you, but not necessarily in the way you want them to.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m being forward but I don’t care at this point. Miss White, you are the most seductive woman I have ever laid eyes on. You’re very attractive in an edgy sort of way and you’re very smart and that in and of itself is like an aphrodisiac to me. I can’t lie. I’m attracted to you.” He rubbed his thumb slowly over the backs of her fingers. “To work for you would be a dream even though being so close to you would be a constant distraction.”

  Even in the dim light of the bar, Crystal could see the glimmer in his eyes. He was not only attracted to her, he seemed to be enthralled. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. It wasn’t often someone made her feel this way. She wanted to know more about Tommy Rain. She looked down at his hand that held hers. Long, delicate fingers. He didn’t work with his hands obviously. Those hands looked like they belonged playing the ivory keys of a grand piano. He was such a contradiction. The tan and sun-streaked hair screamed beach boy. The elegant hands spoke of a life not spent waxing a surfboard. “Tell me about yourself, Tommy.” She had to know more before she even entertained the thought of offering him a position.

  He pulled his hand back and sat up a little straighter. “So, is this an interview?”

  When he actually reached up and straightened his tie, Crystal had to stifle a giggle. “Let’s consider it so, yes. Where did you go to school?”

  His expression became more formal. “I went to school at the Indiana University of Law in Bloomington, Indiana. I graduated last year and passed the bar. I’ve applied for a license to practice in the state of New York and just was awarded that a month ago.” He leaned forward, his eyes blazing. “I’m ready to work. Even if it’s only as an assistant or researcher.”

  Crystal raised her glass and took a sip, rolling the warm liquid on her tongue. He would be an asset to the firm, wouldn’t he? Didn’t she need a new assistant? The one she had, Tiffany, had just resigned two weeks ago. Tiffany had gotten married and wanted to immediately start a family. Crystal had been giving Rhonda, their office manager, fits since then. It was time to hire a new assistant and why not one who was so young and good looking? She couldn’t discriminate against Tommy just for how darn nice he looked, could she?

  “Where are you from, Tommy? Where did you grow up?” She needed to know more before she offered him a job.

  “I grew up near Indianapolis. I have to admit I haven’t actually held a job. My parents are pretty well off and they paid for my education.” He shrugged. “I’ll confess that I’m a spoiled brat, but I think a career in law is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’m focused on it and in love with the process. I’m twenty-eight years old and it’s time to start my life.”

  Twenty-eight. Almost ten years her junior. She toyed with the glass, turning it on the table. Pursing her lips, she considered him. She had seen him at the trial every day, sitting in the back of the courtroom. It was hard not to notice a man with so much charisma. When she would glance at him as she worked her magic in the courtroom, he had always seemed focused on the testimony and all parts of the trial. Maybe she should give him a chance. Justice Cane had given her one, despite her edgy looks and wild spiked hair. Justice and Morgan had asked her to come in with them as a partner in the firm not long after she had passed the bar, giving her immediate status as an attorney. It was time to pay it forward. And she would have some eye candy to boot.

  “Okay, Tommy. I’m going to give you a shot. I’m in need of a new assistant right now and if you’re okay with that, we’ll see how we get along. There are some stipulations though. Working for Cane, Moss and White isn’t easy and we have certain requirements of our staff. Are you willing to go through the hiring process?” She raised one eyebrow, knowing he was going to jump on the offer. But he didn’t know the whole deal…yet.

  “Are you serious?” He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “I’m most definitely willing!” He threw his head back and laughed. When his eyes met hers again, they were filled with mirth. “When do you want me to start?”

  Crystal laughed at his eagerness. “Whoa, hold on.” She pulled her hand out of his grasp. She didn’t want to cross a line with him. If he wanted to keep touching her, she was fine with it, but she wasn’t going to open herself up to a sexual harassment suit without getting some papers signed by him first. “Today is Thursday. If you can be in my office at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, we’ll go over the paperwork. Then we’ll talk about when you can start.”

  His brows drew together in a frown. “Paperwork? Like a nondisclosure statement?”

  She smiled at him. “Something like that.”

  His smile returned to his lips. “No problem. I’ll be there bright and early.” He waved his hand in the air, signaling the bartender to bring another round. Turning back to her, his smile was even wider. “Let’s have one more drink. To celebrate.”

  Crystal drew in a deep breath. One more drink? Sure. The thing she really wanted to do with him was tie him to her bed. Shaking her head, she thrust those thoughts out of her mind. “One more then I’ll have to get going. I’ve got some files to go over tonight.”

  The bartender slid two drinks across the table. Tommy raised his glass. “To us and a long relationship.”

  Crystal felt a little shiver race down her spine. She picked up her glass and touched the rim of it to his. “Back at you.” Then she raised the glass to her lips.

  Chapter Two

  Crystal had dreamed about Tommy all night. Hot, steamy dreams that caused her to awake amid damp sheets and an ache deep inside. She had it bad for this guy, and that might not be good for business. But she had made him an offer and she was going to stand behind it. What
came of it, well, she’d have to wait and see.

  The elevator doors swished open and she walked out into the main lobby of Cane, Moss and White. “Good morning, Rhonda.”

  Rhonda looked up from her desk. “Good morning, Crystal. You have someone waiting in your office.”

  Crystal stopped in front of Rhonda’s desk and shifted her briefcase to her left hand. “Really? I’m assuming it’s a nice-looking young man, am I right?” She reached for her mail in her personal bin on the corner of Rhonda’s desk.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact. Very nice looking I might add.” Rhonda smiled up at her.

  Crystal smiled back, tucking her mail under her arm. “You know, you’re looking pretty happy these days. I’ve heard you’ve found someone. Jack, is it?”

  At her mention of the company driver, Jack, Rhonda lit up. “We do have something special, Jack and I.” Rhonda touched her hair lightly.

  “That’s good. Glad to hear it. Life is too short, you know?” Crystal winked at Rhonda and turned toward her office.

  She opened her office door and breezed in. “Hello, Mr. Rain. How are you this morning?” She moved behind her desk and placed her briefcase on the credenza behind it before she turned to look at him.

  He was sitting in one of the chairs in front of her desk. Dressed in black slacks and white shirt, his gold tie set off the flecks in his brown eyes. He stood, offering her his hand. “Good morning, Miss White.”

  She looked at his hand and waved one of her own. “We don’t stand on protocol here, Mr. Rain. You don’t need to shake my hand every time you see me. We’re a bit more informal than that.” She pulled out her chair and took a seat behind her desk. “Please, sit.”