Free Incognito: Sinful by Madison Layle

 
     

     
     
     
     
    Rachel Morrissey Sinclair dropped her satchel on the loveseat just inside her office door, kicked off her pumps, and sank into the leather executive chair behind her desk with a relieved sigh.
    Closing arguments had gone well, and the jury had taken only one hour longer than she expected to reach a verdict of not guilty. Her client walked out of the courthouse a free man. She could ring in the New Year with a clear conscience.
    So why didn’t she feel like celebrating? Why did she feel as if she’d tear up any second? This trial hadn’t been any more difficult than others she’d worked tirelessly on throughout the years. Her workload had been eased after resigning as a prosecuting attorney a few years back, but it had taken time and hard work to build a successful private practice.
    She propped her elbows on the desktop and rubbed her eyes, her temples…not even glancing at the unopened envelope on her desk or looking up when her office door opened.
    “I said I didn’t want to be disturbed,” she muttered to her secretary, “and didn’t I tell you to take off already? Go home. Spend the holidays with family—”
    “You should take your own advice, Counselor.”
    Jon’s deep, rich voice had her head snapping up with surprise.
    Her pulse quickened at the sight of her husband’s chiseled features, but despite her pleasure, her question came out sharper than she intended. “What are you doing here?”
    If she’d blinked, she would’ve missed seeing his step falter slightly before he swept around her desk, spun her to face him, and leaned over her with hands at either side. “I’m here to retrieve my wife who has no more excuses for staying late at the office.”
    “Excuses?” Anger simmered. “My job is not an excuse! I’ve been working a case.”
    “I know. A trial that ended over an hour ago…with a successful conclusion, I understand. Congratulations.”
    Her lips parted, but the thanks she wanted to mutter wouldn’t come. “Checking up on me?”
    His frown was her only answer.
    What was wrong with her? She loved Jon, and he loved her. So why did everything she have to say to him lately—to him or Jackson, for that matter—have to come out sounding so acidic?
    To her horror, moisture welled in her eyes. She squeezed them shut, turned her face away from his all-too-observant stare, and said, “I was going to leave in a few minutes. There’s no reason for you to come and retrieve me as if I’m incapable of driving myself home.”
    Silence filled the air until she was forced to open her eyes and look at him. His chiseled jaw was as hard as granite, his gorgeous blue eyes determined. “Work’s over for now.” He reached past her and punched a few keys to lock her computer, grabbed her by the wrists, and pulled her from her seat.
    “What do you think you’re doing? Jon, I—I have things to do…depositions to…” She tried to jerk free of his grasp.
    He tossed a look at her so severe she silenced her protestations. He gripped her upper arms. “I’ve never dominated you here, Rachel, because I know you need your career…your own space where you can be in charge. You’re a strong, independent woman, and I admire that about you, but I refuse to let you hide out here to avoid facing me or Jack.”
    “I…” What could she say to that? The legal papers could wait. So could her email and any other files that lay on her desk. Her other cases were on recess until after the first of the year. He was right. She’d run out of excuses, but why did she feel the need to avoid the two most important men in her life? She should be eagerly anticipating her time with her husbands.
    They were the loves of her life, cherished her to the point of distraction, and understood her better than she did herself. They removed the burdens of a stressful career and freed her to explore her sexuality in a way she never dreamed possible.
    Jon’s gaze softened. “I love you, my pet, more than