A week after my encounter with Devin and the end of my representation of Clint Bassett, I walked toward the doors of my law firm, Kumar, Zain, & Associates.

I’d enjoyed seven days of sleeping in, yoga, and countless laps in the pool. Now it was time to get a little work in so I wouldn’t go insane from relaxation. I’d become a workaholic and trying to break the habit had become harder than I thought.

At least I had Karina to keep me up to date with the antics of the Bassetts. Her daily report kept me from getting bored. Thankfully, Karina hadn’t thrown her hands up and decided she’d rather work for another firm instead of keeping Clint in line.

I took in the sign above the building, and a slight jolt shot through me. After five years and a few well-known clients, my firm was considered one of the top litigation groups in Washington State.

I’d graduated from law school when most of my friends were finishing up their undergraduate degrees. Besides my best friend, Jacinta, who was a super nerd herself, very few people could say they’d completed law school and clerked for some of the top judges in Texas by the age of twenty-one. A lot of doors opened up when you were the child of Minesh Kumar, a finance and tech billionaire. Thankfully, once I started work and proved my worth, most people forgot my parentage and focused on my skills.

A couple of years later, when I’d moved to Seattle and eventually started my firm, my reputation as a top up-and-coming litigator was all anyone knew about me. To this day, most people had no clue whose daughter I was.

I walked inside and toward the elevator. I punched the button and then I straightened my shirt over my jeans. Rarely would I come to the office so casual, but technically I wasn’t working.

As the cab doors closed, I noticed some surprised glances projected in my direction along with a few worried ones.

What could be going on?

I had planned to run in, grab some files I needed to review, and be out the door within minutes, giving me more than enough time to grab some food at my favorite Thai place and get back home for a phone conference with a former client.

Now I was second-guessing this thought process. There was no doubt I’d have to put out some sort of fire.

God. Please don’t let it be anything to do with Clint.

I sent my prayers up to heaven and exited the elevator. I turned the corner leading to the executive offices and then came to an abrupt halt.

Devin was in my law partner Tara’s office.

All our offices were made of glass walls to give the illusion of openness with the benefit of soundproofing. There was the option to tint the glass for even more privacy, but we rarely used that.

This couldn’t be good, no matter what it was. Tara’s facial expression told me she was pissed, and Dev’s said he was determined to get what he wanted. He’d given me that same stance numerous times over the years.

I approached the door and knocked before opening it.

“Why are you here?” I fixed Dev with a glare.

“I came to get advice on what my options were to live in our house. The condo is small, and I need space to spread out. I think nine thousand square feet is plenty of room to keep us from bumping into each other.”

I clenched my jaw, stepping into the office and shutting the door. “You never expressed any inclination or desire to move in. If I recall, you wanted nothing to do with me or the house.”

Tears prickled the backs of my eyes as I remembered the devastation I’d felt my first night under the roof of our beautiful home.

“I changed my mind.”

“Well, you can change it back.”

“Not happening. I have rights. You think Clint Bassett is a pain in your ass, wait until I get started.” He lifted a brow. “Are you afraid of us living together again?”

The last thing I needed was him under the same roof as me. We’d end up fucking within the first ten minutes, and we both knew it. I had to keep my head on and my hormones in check.

Plus, I was in the middle of making essential plans I wasn’t ready to disclose to Devin.

“Tara, I know this is your office and all. But would you give me a moment alone with Devin James Camden?”

I knew some of the clerks were loitering close by. Only a select few knew about my relationship with Devin, and they were long-term staff who’d all signed non-disclosures.

Without a word, Tara got up and left the office, closing the door behind her.

“Do you know you only call me by my full name when you’re irritated with me? No matter how much you like to deny it, you have a true Southern side to you.”

I ran a frustrated hand over my face.

“What do you want from me, Dev?”

“Say that again.” He stood and walked over to where I leaned against Tara’s desk. “Say my name the way you’ve always done. The way you say it when I make love to you.”

He traced my lips with his thumb, making my pulse jump.

I grabbed his hand, planning to push it away, when I noticed his ring, a custom-made gold-and-platinum band.

“Why are you wearing it now? It’s been almost five years.”

I stared at the ring I’d given him. The one that meant we belonged to each other.

“Because my wife refuses to wear hers unless I wear mine. I want every man in your vicinity to know you belong to me.”

I released his hand and tried to move away from him, but he caged me against the desk with an arm on either side of my hips.

“You confuse me. What’s changed? You’re still a judge who needs to keep a low profile, and I’m an attorney who takes on well-known clients and has become a celebrity in my own right. Hell, I have groupies.”

“I thought about what you said last week, about putting you first.”

“And?” I folded my arms across my chest.

“I can’t lose you. The thought of anyone else touching you…” his fingers gripped my thighs, “…anyone else kissing any part of you…” he sank to the floor, holding my legs tighter, making my core spasm, “…giving you pleasure, is unbearable to fathom. I’ve spent too many years neglecting you.” His thumb grazed the inside of my jean-clad crotch, making a moan form in the back of my throat. “The idea of another man taking my place rips me apart. And I know, without a doubt, we are headed in that direction unless I change.”

I glanced to the side and noticed one of my legal secretaries doing her best not to gawk at the sight of Dev kneeling before me, with his face a hairsbreadth from my overheated sex.

“Dev, stand up. Everyone will know we were involved if you don’t stop this.”

“Are involved.”

I couldn’t bring myself to repeat him. Sexual attraction couldn’t be the only thing to make a relationship.

Devin kissed the inside of my knee. “We’re married. That’s as involved as a couple gets.”

He gazed up at me, and I held in the urge to grip his hair and make him kiss my feet for all the crap he’d made me deal with throughout our time together.

“It’s not that simple. If you recall, you’re the one who wanted to keep our relationship quiet for our careers’ sake. How do we go from pretending we barely know each other to a normal married couple? Besides, my life is going to get a hell of a lot more complicated before it settles down again.”

A look passed in his eyes, telling me I shouldn’t have said that.

Only a few people knew what I was considering. And if Devin latched on, he wouldn’t let go until he knew everything.

To my surprise, he only responded with, “By walking out that door, hand in hand.”

At that moment, Tara barged in, shaking her head at seeing Devin on his knees between my legs. She’d known about my relationship with Devin from the time she and I were in law school together, and nothing surprised her when it came to our antics. She was also the one who drafted the separation decree I’d sent to Devin six weeks ago.

“Sam, we’ve got a big problem. I truly regret pushing that damn case onto you.”

Dev released my hips, stood, and let me slip around him.

“What happened?” I asked a little too breathlessly, giving away the intimacy of what she’d interrupted.

“Look outside.”

Both Dev and I walked over to the sixth-story window.

There were at least fifty photographers and media outlets outside the building with people holding signs saying “Hot Stuff,” and police officers trying to keep the crowd under control.

“They weren’t there twenty minutes ago. What happened?”

“Your former client announced on his show that he was on a mission to get you laid. He decided that he wanted to play radio matchmaker, offering one million dollars to the lucky man he approved to take you out.”

“Oh, for the love of God.”

I released a deep breath as I willed away the painful throb flaring to life in my head.

“Tara, go see if you can call in more security. I’ll get to the bottom of this from my end.”

I ignored Dev’s pacing as I reached for my phone and dialed Clint Bassett’s private number.

“Yello, sexy lady. What can I do you for?”

“Clint, you have to stop this. My life is crazy enough. I thought you accepted my decision. Why would you create this contest? I am not dating anyone you pick.”

“It’s either I find you a date or nominate you for president. I think you’d make a fabulous politician, all controlled exterior but a heart that bleeds for any injustice.”

“Clint, please.”

“I did this for you, Sam.” Clint’s voice went from the cocky radio DJ to the normal and ultra-private man outside of the media. “The guy that’s had you twisted up for the last few months needs a kick in the ass. Especially if you’re about to do what I suspect you’re about to do.”

How the hell would he know my plans when I hadn’t made anything official?

Before I could respond, he spoke again. “And don’t try to deny that you have a man. I’m going to make him see red in order to fix things with you.”

“I appreciate the thought, but this is the worst way to go about it. I don’t need this type of drama added to my life.”

“Sure, you do.”

“Clint…” I couldn’t hide my irritation.

“Sam.”

“Why don’t you terrorize Karina instead of me?”

“Because that battle-ax is scarier than my Italian grandmother with a cast-iron skillet.”

I started laughing, and I couldn’t help it.

A throat cleared behind me, bringing me back to the situation at hand.

“He’s there, isn’t he?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Good. I’ll be up in a second. I want to see the man who made me lose the best damn attorney I’ve ever encountered.” Clint hung up before I could respond.

Oh shit, this was about to go from bad to worse.

“Dev, can we talk later? Clint is on his way up, and I need to handle this.”

“No.” His gaze bored into mine. “I’d like to meet the man who thinks my wife needs a date.”

“You can’t get possessive when for the last six years of our relationship, you pretended to date other women and never cared what man was around me.”

“I’ve always been possessive of you. Do you think I liked seeing my woman on another man’s arm? Why do you think I fucked your brains out the minute you got home?”

My cheeks flushed as memories of past encounters flooded my mind.

“That was your choice, not mine.”

“From now on the only man you’re seen with is me.”

“It doesn’t work that way. You don’t get to dictate what I do. I’ve let you steamroll me for too long, and it stops now.”

“Is that right?”

I crossed my arms in front of me. “Did I stutter?”

“Listen carefully, Mrs. Camden.”

“Ms. Kumar,” I countered. “That’s my professional name.”

He walked forward, making me retreat until my back hit the wall. He cupped the back of my head while the other gripped my waist.

“You may be the boss here, but when we’re together we both know who’s in charge, and it isn’t you.”

My heartbeat accelerated, and my breath came out a little shallow.

“Then it’s time things changed. It doesn’t work anymore.”

“Is that so?” He pressed his hard cock against my abdomen.

“Yes.”

“Liar. I bet if I slipped my hand down your pants, I’d find you aroused and soaked for me.”

I licked my lips, and his eyes went to them, dilating.

Before he could lean down and kiss me, I heard from behind him, “Well hell. A federal judge and a high-profile attorney. Now it makes complete sense why you ditched me. You two send conflict of interest to a whole new level.”

A flash of annoyance crossed Dev’s face as he held my gaze. “We’ll continue this discussion later.”

He kissed my forehead in the way it always made me melt, and released his hold on me.

Turning to Clint, he extended his hand. “Mr. Bassett.”

“Judge Camden.” Clint shook his hand and inclined his head. “So, are you two dating or is it more?”

He noticed the ring on Dev’s left hand.

“You could say that. She’s my wife.”

Clint gave no outward reaction to Devin’s announcement except his signature smirk.

“Well, you’ve done a piss-poor job of keeping her happy. I know when a woman spends her time alone and crying. I’ve raised four daughters. I suggest fixing whatever is wrong between you two. Within minutes of my announcement, I had thousands of applications flood the station inbox for the opportunity to take your place. She needs a good man by her side.”

I groaned out loud and smacked the back of my head against the wall I leaned on.

Dev clenched his jaw. “I’m not the one being sued by my ex-wife.”

“True, but I’m on the side you’ll be on soon enough. I neglected Kim for years and then she turned to someone else. The divorce was a hair-trigger reaction to my pain. Something I’ll regret for the rest of my life.”

Clint had never expressed his remorse until this moment. I knew he’d been devastated when he learned of Kim’s affair. He’d drawn first blood by calling her out on national radio. Before that day, he’d never once discussed his twenty-year marriage. Now he was in a heated lawsuit that had nothing to do with the money at stake and everything to do with the pain.

“Your advice is duly noted, Mr. Bassett.” Dev flashed me a grin. “I’ll see you tonight when I move in.”

“Wait. What? You can’t be serious.” I braced myself against the windowsill.

“Either that or I sue to have access to a house that is fifty percent mine. You make the call.”