Bonding Camp
Bonding Camp
When Lauren Brooke’s secret wish to be handcuffed is revealed to her boyfriend’s footbal buddies, she quickly ends the relationship.
Feeling exposed, she’s kept to herself ever since. Until now--until Justice Cane informs her that a requirement of her employment with his law firm is to attend bonding camp.
Justice Cane’s associates are bonded together, forming a formidable force in the courtroom. Knowing all about their coworkers, including their secrets, creates a favorable work environment. The col eagues are close...very close. Will Lauren bond with them--with Justice--at bonding camp?
Lauren is cautious, but Justice reassures her with his calm, yet intriguing, way. Not quite sure what she’s getting into, she agrees to attend bonding camp. After all, would bonding with Justice be such a bad thing?
Genre:
Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length:
20,715 words
BONDING CAMP
Christelle Mirin
MENAGE AND MORE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage and More
BONDING CAMP
Copyright © 2011 by Christelle Mirin
E-book ISBN: 1-61034-059-0
First E-book Publication: January 2011
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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Bonding Camp
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DEDICATION
For Rhiannon Neeley
BONDING CAMP
CHRISTELLE MIRIN
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
“You’ve got to be kidding.” A ball of dread formed in the pit of Lauren’s stomach, seething hot, molten metal searing her insides until it congealed into a heavy weight, solid and not going away soon. “Is it truly one of the requirements of employment I attend bonding camp?”
Lauren forced herself not to clench her hands into fists. She focused on keeping them elegantly crossed, one on top of the other, in her lap. It wasn’t easy. She’d heard about these corporate bonding camps, and it wasn’t something she was interested in doing. Lauren wasn’t into getting close to strangers. Sure, you worked with them but that’s what it was—work. Lauren kept her friends close, closer than most, but she kept them private. She had her reasons. That’s why she always kept work and her private life separate. But bonding camp?
Problem was…she really wanted this job.
Already chiding herself for the “you’ve got to be kidding”
outburst, she waited for Justice Cane’s answer to her question and tried not to fidget. This was her fourth interview with Cane, Moss, and White, but her first with one of the partners. Justice Cane—the name suited his profession, to say the least. She wanted to give the impression of class and elegance, the exact qualities the firm was noted for. They were one of the most prestigious law firms in the Tri-State Area and were known nationally for some high-profile cases. It
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9
would only be a stepping stone for her, true, but a reference she would need if she wanted to move on to bigger and better firms in the larger cities. She wanted the name Lauren Brooke to be synonymous with elegance and hard-biting lawyer. A position with Cane, Moss, and White would be the first step toward achieving the distinction.
“Lauren…may I call you Lauren?” Mr. Cane asked.
“Of course, Mr. Cane.”
“Call me Justice. Mr. Cane puts distance between us, and here at Cane, Moss, and White, we like to keep everyone close. A connection of sorts between all of us, partners and associates included. It gives us a combined front when it comes to appearances, and we share a bond, a closeness, while working on sticky cases. It’s the reason we ask our newest associates to attend bonding camp. So they can be brought into the family, so to speak. Be a part of what it means to be one of us.” He leaned back in his chair, his mouth forming an easy smile.
“That way we learn your strengths and your weaknesses. What makes you tick. What your passions are…”—he tilted his head—“…so we can handpick associates for specific cases.”
Lauren swallowed. He had an awesome smile, with dimples included. It was warm and inviting and…
Don’t go there.
She could not allow herself to think of him as anything other than a partner in the firm, therefore her prospective boss. But, dang, this man was the definition of handsome. Dark hair, tan, trim with the hint of muscles beneath the suit, his warm brown eyes sparkled with energy and a bit of daring. The “daring” part was intriguing. Was he daring her?
“I try to keep my private life and my work life separate. Bonding camp seems so…personal.”
He threaded his fingers together and rested his hands on his stomach. “You’re right. It does get personal. The exact reason why we require it. We want to know you. Know your limitations. If it’s a problem—”
10
Christelle Mirin
“I think I can do it, Mr. Cane…Justice,” she interrupted. “I know I can.” She really wanted this position. If bonding camp is what it took, she’d have to deal with it. Chalk it up to another step toward her goal.
“Good to hear, Lauren.” Justice sat forward and pulled an appointment book toward him. He flipped through a few pages. “Let’s see…Are you free this weekend?” He picked up a pen and poised it above the book. Looking at her, he raised an eyebrow. “Will that work for you?”
She took a slow breath in. It was almost as if he were asking her for a date. But she knew he wasn’t. So far, he’d been all business with no hint of attraction to her other than his smile. Then there was that mention of passion…
Don’t go there.
“This weekend, yes. I’m free,”
she managed to say.
“Good. We’ll schedule a two-day bonding camp for this weekend.” He wrote in the appointment book, finishing with a flourish. Closing the book, he smiled at her. “My secretary will give you the particulars on your way out. I look forward to seeing you this weekend, Lauren.” He stood and extended his right hand.
She stood and shook his hand. “You’ll be at the bonding camp, then?” she asked, noting the warmth of his palm before she released his hand.
“Of course. I make it a point to get to know the associates I hire.”
“I’m hired?” A tickle of excitement threaded through her veins.
“We’ll attend bonding camp this weekend, and you’ll begin your career here at Cane, Moss, and White the following Monday morning if all goes well.” He tilted his head again, his gaze dropping to her lips, then back to her eyes. “I don’t doubt it will go well.”
If all goes well.
The statement gave her an odd sense of foreboding.
Shake it off, girl. Just think of bonding camp as an
extended interview.
She stopped at the secretary’s desk and picked up a booklet titled
Cane, Moss, and White ~ Bonding Camp Agenda
and made her way to the elevator. She pushed the down button and bit the inside of her
Bonding Camp
11
lip to keep from impatiently tapping her foot. When the doors opened, she nearly bolted through them into the elevator. Thankfully, it was empty and she didn’t have to deal with fake smiles and nods of people you meet in the elevators. She punched the lobby button once, twice.
The doors closed, and the elevator began its descent.
How was she going to get through this weekend? How was she going to get through the next two days worrying about this weekend?
She flipped open the booklet. Okay, so she had to be ready to be picked up at eight a.m. Saturday morning at her residence. Today was Wednesday. She had two days to prepare herself. What to pack?
Where was it held? Who else would be there besides herself and Justice Cane? A hundred questions flitted through her mind.
She closed the booklet, closed her eyes, and heaved a cleansing sigh. She reminded herself again that, no matter what, it was going to be worth it. It would all be worth it in the end.
* * * *
Justice sat at his desk and gazed at the closed door of his office.
The woman was striking.
It was the only word that came to mind when he thought of Lauren Brooke. She was tall, slim, and well, striking. She would be pure intimidating elegance in the courtroom. After reading her resume, Justice knew she would be an asset to the firm. True, she was older than most lawyers fresh from taking the boards, but at twenty-nine, she projected experience even though she didn’t have any to speak of.
He relaxed back in his chair, picked up a pen from the desktop, and absently tapped it on the blotter. Lauren had conveyed a professional attitude during the interview, but she seemed a bit…inhibited. She gave him the impression of being closed off and private with her emotions.
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Christelle Mirin
Possibly bonding camp would open her up and show her getting to know people could open doors and create new possibilities. He hoped so. Though they were proud of their portrayal of distinction at the firm, they were also closely tied to each other in their business lives and their personal ones. Friends, and even some lovers, but all who worked at Cane, Moss, and White thought of the firm as their family as well as their livelihood.
He would like to add Lauren to the family and get to know her…intimately.
Bonding camp this weekend would show him whether she could open up enough to allow him to. And if she would open up to him, maybe she would open up to the other partners also. But then…he may want to just keep her to himself.
