The December Deception

by Dana Volney

  Praise for Dana Volney

  The December Deal

  “From the beginning, The December Deal by Dana Volney had me smiling . . . a guy hiring a girl to marry him for career advancement or to secure a position in the family company isn’t anything new. However, Dana has managed to put a little spin on this premise.”—5 stars, Read Your Writes

  “Romance, unforgettable characters and a joy to read, what more can a gal ask for?”—4 stars, Pure Jonel

  A Heart for the Holidays

  “ . . . a dramatic story that truly touches the heart (quite literally) . . . a feel-good novel that will potentially bring readers to tears.”—4 stars, InD’tale Magazine

  Holiday Hoopla

  “There’s a lot to appreciate in this quick read of fifty-seven pages, including an engaging plot, believable conflict, and two very likable main characters. It was a pleasure to escape to Casper for Christmas, and I look forward to indulging in future works from this talented new author.”—4 stars, The Romance Reviewer

  Christmas Clash

  “ . . . had me hooked from the very first pages. Christmas Clash is a fabulous holiday read but can certainly be enjoyable regardless of time of year.”—5 stars, Women on Writing

  “Despite the title, holiday references are minimal, so readers will delight in this solidly written and satisfying romance no matter the time of year or the temperature outside. Well done, Ms. Volney!”—4 stars, The Romance Reviews

  Candlelight Conspiracy

  “This has to be my favorite romance written by Dana Volney yet!”—author Mary Billiter

  And don’t miss Dana’s exciting Wyn Security series and other suspense novels:

  Protecting Her Secrets

  Protecting His Heart

  Protecting the Prince

  Paradise Point

  Thank you for downloading this Simon & Schuster ebook.

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  Contents

  Cover

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  ‘The December Deal’ Excerpt

  Copyright

  Guide

  Cover

  Contents

  Start of content

  The December Deception

  Christmas in Casper

  Book 3

  Dana Volney

  Avon, Massachusetts

  To my support system: thank you for being a positive influence in my world.

  Chapter One

  Lorelei Sullivan sat statue still, waiting for the verdict. The file folders were neatly stacked on the wooden table in the high-ceilinged courtroom, her navy leather-bound notebook closed. She’d argued Shelia Monroe’s case of wrongful termination well, and she lacked only the words “we side with the plaintiff” from the jury foreperson followed by a hefty dollar figure for the win to be recorded legally.

  Not that Hale Law would see a dime. This was the seventh pro bono case Mr. Hale had brought to the firm this quarter. Of course, it was his firm so he could do as he pleased. She was going to give each one her all. She wanted to be partner so badly she could practically feel the fine white cashmere sweater from Nordstrom she’d been lusting over all fall—the purchase would be an official reward for her victory.

  The brunette lady in all black who’d worn a gaudy necklace every day of the two-week trial stood in the jury box and read from a sheet—the words danced to the tune of “Eye of the Tiger” in Lorelei’s mind.

  Another win.

  Mrs. Monroe teared up as she reached for Lorelei, putting her shaking arms around Lorelei’s favorite black jacket that went perfectly with her fitted black knee-length skirt.

  “Thank you,” the middle-aged woman squeaked between silent sobs.

  “You’re welcome.” Lorelei tapped her back and pulled away the first chance she got. She never had any idea how to handle clients when they wanted to invade her personal space. She hadn’t grown up with parents who were overly affectionate when it came to professional accomplishments, but she was trying to get better at not acting so awkwardly. It was a work in progress.

  “I’ll file the necessary paperwork. It will take a little time with the holidays to get your full payment.” She reached out and rubbed Mrs. Monroe’s shoulder.

  Lorelei collected her folders and clicked in her red pumps out of the five-floor building. Across the street, she entered a staunchly square, cream-colored building lined with brown window shutters. Hale Law took up half of the first floor. She swung the glass door adorned with the company name in block font wide open and strode for her office three doors down on the left.

  “I know that look.” Diana passed her in the hall, holding her black coffee cup with the scales of justice prominent.

  “Nailed it.” Lorelei smiled as she whirled around before continuing to her office.

  “Good job, girl,” Diana called over her shoulder as she slipped into the kitchen.

  Lorelei’s high would, of course, eventually fade, and she wasn’t going to get another until after the new year. She had one more case before her holiday, a mediation, but the courtroom wins were what really got her blood pumping.

  She pressed her finger to the twist in her hair—the tightness was bugging her today. The pins were dug in a little too much.

  “How’d the Monroe case end?” Mr. Hale was in her doorway, a pinstriped navy suit tailored to his every edge and plain.

  “We won.” She unloaded her MacBook Pro and files from her bag and set them on her oak desktop. “Actual lost wages, lost benefits, plus compensation for potential lost wages.”

  “Good work. Danielle can start the paperwork; she just finished up with my Sheryl filings.”

  “Perfect. I’ll get her the court paperwork when it arrives.” The clerk for Judge Staubbs was usually fast. Considering everyone was in holiday-readiness mode, Lorelei expected it by tomorrow. Christmas was in just over a week, and no one wanted to work on Christmas. She wanted to tell herself she wouldn’t be working on the holiday, either, but she and her mother always ended up discussing cases, and no doubt this year would not be any different.

  “How was the mediation on the O’Hara case?” Mr. Hale asked, still standing with his feet shoulder-width apart in the threshold of her office like a statue. He was always like bronze—didn’t matter if they were at work or not, he rarely let loose. She squelched a smirk; she was one to talk. She had no idea how to talk to him outside of work, and after the first dinner with their best friends, she hadn’t made much of an effort. It was easier to maintain a polite rapport between them.

  “That is set for tomorrow. It was postponed.” There’d been a mix-up in the judge’s schedule, and a trial case had taken precedence.

  “You feel good about your approach?” The side of his jaw rolled as his lips pressed together.

  The man hated to lose. Even the hint of it made him visibly tense.

  “Yes.” She wasn’t going to elaborate. She didn’t need his input. “Are you going to take time off for the holidays?” she asked, but she already knew the answer. He hadn’t taken time off for fun or
even had the nerve to get sick since she’d met him more than two years ago.

  “I have some potential cases to look over.” He slipped his hands in his pants pockets.

  She had a couple of files to take home herself.

  “I did want to talk to you before you left.” She stood so she wouldn’t be at a height disadvantage, then quickly grabbed her empty turquoise coffee cup so it wouldn’t look like she stood just to challenge him. She wanted him to say yes, after all. “Are you off to an appointment now?”

  “No. What’s going on?”

  “It’s about the partner track.” She paused for his reaction, but there wasn’t one. “When will you be making a decision?”

  She’d had this conversation with him twelve months ago. Only, then, it had been about her starting down the road to partnership. He’d said he’d make a decision in the coming year. That time was now.

  “I’ll consider it over the holidays to implement in the new year.” He broke eye contact. Taking a step back from her doorway, he nodded once before continuing down the hall toward his office at the end.

  Lorelei sat and set the coffee cup in front of her, her body numb. How exactly was she supposed to read that reaction? She had to believe she was a main contender for partner—he’d not said she was unfit. Now he knew where she stood, so that was good. As long as it was next in line.

  • • •

  Henry Hale dialed the conference call number and entered the code he used once every quarter. This was the last official meeting of the year for the branches of Hale Law.

  His father, Dwight, and his older brother, Trent, were both up north ninety minutes in the Buffalo, Wyoming, office. After college, Henry hadn’t wanted to practice under his family’s thumb. He wanted to get away, be his own person. And having two branches had landed the Hales a couple of lucrative retainer clients that conducted business all over Wyoming.

  “Who’s on?” Trent asked.

  “It’s me,” Henry replied. “Are you not with Dad?”

  “No. I’m home with Arthur. Alicia had court today, and the day care is closed for the holiday already.”

  Trent’s boys were adorable hellions, but Henry hadn’t quite mastered how to be an uncle yet. It didn’t help that he wasn’t around them often.

  “I’m on.” Dwight’s voice always boomed no matter how close he was to a speaker. “The main item I want to discuss is bringing on a new partner.”

  “In Buffalo?” Henry pushed the arrow to decrease the volume on his phone.

  “Either office.”

  The question was more of a formality. True, Henry’s firm technically was a division of the family business, but he retained all control of his Casper office. His father and Trent were partners in name only, a legal move to help them form a stronger presence spanning two towns. He was in complete control of his destiny. And Lorelei’s, for the moment.

  “Do you have anyone in mind for the Buffalo office?” Henry asked.

  “Yes. Alicia is thinking about leaving her position.” Trent’s voice was like his father’s, just not as strong.

  Henry nodded but didn’t say anything. His sister-in-law was good people; he had nothing against her joining the ranks.

  “Do you have anyone for Casper?” Dwight asked.

  “Lorelei Sullivan is interested.” There was no harm in being honest. “But I’m not ready to bring anyone up to partner yet.”

  “Isn’t she your top biller?” Dwight pressed. Subtlety was not his strong suit and had only deteriorated with age.

  “Yes.”

  That fact didn’t matter. Henry was still finding his path, seeing what he wanted the firm to become. If he opened the door to Lorelei just a little, he’d no longer control what he’d worked so hard to create.

  There was a long pause building on the line. Oh, fine. Anything to keep the meeting going. “I’ll consider it, but not for this year.”

  He’d fought hard to gain his own independence. He was not about to hand over the reins to his future to someone else.

  The problem wasn’t with her. It was him. He didn’t want to confer with someone about his firm. He didn’t want to put his trust in someone only to have them let him down. Except for his friendship with Fisher, whom he was closer to than his own brother, his trust circle didn’t include anyone else.

  Chapter Two

  Henry watched his American Bar Association award fall from his bookcase in slow motion, bouncing not once but twice on the dark hardwood floors in his office. One day. His brother, sister-in-law, and their three boys had only been in Henry’s home for twenty-four hours, and already he was willing to call off Christmas. Not that he had much spirit in the first place. But any ounce he’d mustered had been sucked away by his prized possession smashing to pieces. His mentor, who’d died two years ago, had made the introductory speech to present that Nelson Award.

  “You know you’re not supposed to be in my office.” He took a stern tone, although he already knew it wouldn’t stop the rascals.

  “Sorry, Uncle H,” the youngest lisped as he ran after his older brothers.

  Henry desperately wanted to look forward to trimming a tree and indulging in desserts people gave out only once a year. Last year had been monumental—Fisher, his best friend, had received a heart transplant and fallen in love. Henry’s fourteen-hour days at the firm had paid off as he made inroads in the market and gained more retainer clients.

  So why was it, when Christmas rolled around again, he was more inclined to set fire to the tinsel rather than dance with it? Probably because of the two-grand bill his sweet nephews had caused two years ago for new downstairs carpet. This year’s damage total promised to be higher.

  His phone started singing a wooden percussion tune in his pocket. Lorelei Sullivan’s name lit up on his screen.

  “Hello?”

  “I just finished the O’Hara case.” Lorelei’s naturally velvety voice dove right into work. No pretense needed. Yes, the holiday time off wouldn’t last forever, and soon he’d be able to get back to work.

  “Good or bad?” he asked.

  “Good.”

  He expected nothing less than a win from his star lawyer.

  “Probation,” she continued, “set to start January first. After 233 hours of community service, the sentence will be sealed in his juvenile record.”

  “Nicely done.” He closed the door to his office, taking in the silence that was not found anywhere else in his home, and sat in his reddish-brown leather chair.

  The seventeen-year-old kid she’d been defending had graffitied a couple of alleys downtown, with impressive skill actually, and the DA had pressed for jail time. A gross overreach. Fighting for the case to be protected in juvenile records had been Lorelei’s idea.

  “The thirty-three is an odd choice.” He leaned back and closed his eyes. How in the world was he going to get through one entire week with his family? He’d specifically not taken on any more cases so that his staff could have a well-deserved break. He needed a vacation, too, that was for sure, just not the kind this week was going to provide. Between now and December 25, he expected to constantly guess which item in his home would be broken next and be on guard for his father to pit him and his brother against each other.

  “Something about the judge’s son’s birthday being today. I don’t know . . . I think he turned thirty-three.” She seemed distracted. She was probably ready for a break, too.

  “Oh, that’s right. I’ll have to tell Trent that Gill’s probably in town then.” Trent and the judge’s son had been close once upon a time.

  “Your brother is in town?” she asked with a perk in her voice. He imagined her sitting at her desk, wearing a pressed suit with her auburn hair pulled back in one of those French twists.

  “Yes. He, Alicia, and the boys are all here.” Henry tried not to physically cringe. He should be thankful he had family that wanted to be around each other. Not everyone had that. Still, he preferred the years when he went to their home an
d could stay in a hotel. “Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow,” he continued.

  “A full Hale law firm Christmas.”

  “And all at my house.” His sardonic tone was not lost on his own ears. “We’re going to Brahman’s tomorrow night.”

  “That place has the best food.” There was a pregnant pause on her side. “I’ve never met the other partners.”

  Hmm. Lorelei had been a hit at a backpack-packing party at Fisher’s Combat Children’s Hunger facility last week. She’d commanded her line of volunteers, laughed most of the time, and dealt with the children like a pro.

  He rubbed a circle into his temple. “You should come by.” Be my buffer.

  “Yes.” Her answer was quick. “I’d love to.”

  He sat forward with a jolt. “To dinner?” he clarified.

  “I don’t have plans for tomorrow. It would be great to get to know the other Hales. You know me and my work, but they don’t necessarily. What time?”

  “Six o’clock.”

  “I’ll see you there.” She hung up.

  He slid his cell onto his desk. Lorelei really would help him out for one night on the whole family holiday front. If she wanted to use the opportunity to try and network, he wasn’t going to stop her. He hadn’t promised her partner status by inviting her to one dinner. She wasn’t going to be named partner in his law firm just because she met his brother and father.

  • • •

  Lorelei wiped her palms down her skinny black pants. Should she have worn jeans? Or something dressier? She rubbed her red-glossed lips together. She wasn’t going into a courtroom, but she was going into an interview of sorts. She’d finally settled on a sleeveless, red-satin blouse with a bow that swooped around her neck and tied to the side, her shoulder-length hair waved and pinned to the same side, and three-inch black heels with a pointed toe.

  You got this, girl. Seize the day. Last New Year’s Day she’d written down “become partner” and worked her ass off. This year’s resolution would be “become partner or leave.” She was darn good at being a lawyer. But she was never prepared to be stagnant.