A second chance.
One I’m not going to take for granted.
Cleo is also a new member to my team. She didn’t want to go back to aged care after getting out of rehab, and I told her that she always has a job here, and she took me up on it. I’m so proud of how well she’s doing, and I know Hunter is too. Everything is coming together, and after struggling so hard to get it this way, I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.
After my first day, I head to the stables to see Beauty before I head home. Hunter is waiting for me, a candlelit dinner set out on the table. He couldn’t make it to my opening today because he was in court, but I know he wanted to be there. He sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers to me, ones I left at work because the sunflowers brighten up the place, and because I smile every time I look at them.
“What’s all this?” I ask, leaning in for a kiss.
“A celebration dinner,” he says, pouring wine into two glasses. “I’m so proud of you, Riley.”
“Thank you.” I blush, ducking my head.
“I want to hear everything about opening day,” he says, pulling out my chair for me.
I sit down, thank him again, and take a sip of my wine. “Well, the place was packed,” I start, then tell him in detail about how it all went, about my new staff members, and about how Preston was letting his new power as manager go to his head.
Hunter listens to every word, hungry for information, laughing at the part about Preston.
“I’m going to come in tomorrow,” he tells me. “I don’t have too much on my schedule, and I need to experience the new and improved Riley’s. Save me my spot.”
“I will,” I reply, lip twitching. “And don’t worry, everything you love on the menu is still there.”
“Good,” he replies, eyes never leaving my face.
“How long are you going to stare at me for?” I ask, repeating words I’ve used in the past.
“How does forever sound?” he replies, smiling gently at me. “Fuck, I love you, Riley.” He stands up, then lowers himself down on one knee, opening a little black box in his hand. “Will you marry me?”
I look at the pear-shaped diamond ring, my mouth dropping open.
“Yes, of course I will,” I say, my fingers shaking as he places the ring on my finger. He stands, and kisses me deeply, and I reach my arms up around him and hold on to him for dear life.
I’m going to be his wife.
Let’s hope husband number two goes better than the first.
Want even more sizzling hot lawyers who stay just on the right side of the law?
Download the first book in the series now! Will an intern and a partner at the same law firm be able to keep their work and personal lives seperate, or will they get entangled in the best way?
Breaching the Contract
* * *
New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando returns to her latest, steamy Conflict of Interest series with this electrifying tale of murder, justice, and intense attraction.
Seducing the Defendant
* * *
And don't miss Chantal Fernando's bestselling Wind Dragons MC series! When Faye catches her boyfriend Eric cheating on her in their apartment, she begins to make decisions that hurt their relationship by getting involved with Eric's brother Dex, vice president of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club.
Dragon's Lair
* * *
ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!
about the author
© CHRISTIAN HOWARD
CHANTAL FERNANDO is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series and the Maybe series, along with several other novels. She lives in western Australia, where she is working on her next book. Find her online at AuthorChantalFernando.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.
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THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST SERIES
Breaching the Contract*
Seducing the Defendant
Approaching the Bench*
Dragon’s Lair
Arrow’s Hell
Tracker’s End
Dirty Ride*
Rake’s Redemption
Wild Ride*
Wolf’s Mate
Last Ride*
Crossroads
*ebook only
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Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Chantal Fernando
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition April 2018
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Cover design by Patrick Kang
Cover images © Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock; © Spectral-Design/Shutterstock
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Fernando, Chantal, author.
Title: Leading the witness / Chantal Fernando.
Description: First Gallery Books trade paperback edition. | New York : Gallery Books, 2018. | Series: The conflict of interest series ; 4 | Identifiers: LCCN 2017049739 (print) | LCCN 2017051721 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501172403 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501172397 (softcover)
Subjects: LCSH: Divorce—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Romance / Contemporary. | FICTION / Romance / General. | FICTION / Action & Adventure. | GSAFD: Romantic suspense fiction. | Legal stories.
Classification: LCC PR9619.4.F465 (ebook) | LCC PR9619.4.F465 L43 2018 (print) | DDC 823/.92—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017049739
ISBN 978-1-5011-7239-7
ISBN 978-1-5011-7240-3 (ebook)