Maxwell reached over, pulling her closer to him. He kissed her. Camille responded, matching him kiss for kiss.

      Maxwell touched a finger to her chin. His eyes were bright with an emotion she could identify.

       Lust.

      His mouth curved up at the corners. His finger brushed against her skin, moving back and forth, making it difficult for her to think.

      Desire ignited in her belly, causing her to pull away reluctantly. She didn’t want Maxwell to think that she was easy.

      “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

      “Nothing. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for us to get carried away,” she murmured against his cheek.

      Their gazes locked and both of them could see the attraction mirrored in the other’s eyes.

      Maxwell pulled her back into his arms.

      Camille drew his face to hers in a renewed embrace. He kissed her again, lingering, savoring every moment. Camille’s emotions whirled. Blood pounded in her brain, leaped from her heart and made her knees tremble.

      “I have always been drawn to you, sweetheart,” Maxwell said. “From the moment I laid eyes on you.”

      Dear Reader,

      When people work closely together in a high-emotion environment like a hospital—sharing highs, lows, victories and losses—a unique bond forms, often bringing two people together as friends, lovers or both. I really enjoyed writing Case of Desire because of my excitement over the entire Hopewell General series. It is always a pleasure to be partnered with such wonderful authors as Brenda Jackson, Maureen Smith and Ann Christopher.

      Public relations director Camille Hunter and Maxwell Wade, the hotshot attorney from New York retained to fight an unlawful-termination lawsuit, find themselves falling in love as they work together to protect the teaching hospital’s reputation. I hope you will enjoy getting to know them as you witness the birth of a love like no other.

      As always, thanks for your support and please keep in touch. You can reach me at [email protected].

      Sincerely,

      Jacquelin

       Case of Desire

      Jacquelin

       Thomas

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Bernard, you are my best friend and the love of my life.

      There are no words to adequately express how honored

      I am to be your wife. Thank you for being my #1 fan

      and supporter. Other men should follow your example

      as a husband, father and friend.

       Chapter 1

      Alexandria, Virginia, the hometown of George Washington and Civil War General Robert E. Lee, attracted visitors from near and far, but Maxwell Wade wasn’t in the city to take in glimpses of Alexandria’s proud history. The last time he visited Alexandria, Maxwell had spent a day on the bustling waterfront on board a lunch and dinner cruise, and had visited several of the historic museums that preserved the city’s important heritage.

      This time Maxwell was in town on business. He had been retained to represent Hopewell General, one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country, in a wrongful termination lawsuit.

      He pulled up to a stoplight and waited patiently for the light to change from red to green.

      Maxwell felt the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He glanced out the window, his eyes landing on the gorgeous woman sitting in the car next to him. Maxwell smiled and gave a slight nod.

      She batted her long lashes and returned his smile.

      The light changed and Maxwell was on his way. He harbored no regret at not getting her name and number. He was not lacking when it came to women.

      Maxwell pulled into a parking space ten minutes later. He got out of the car, grabbed his briefcase and strolled confidently across the lot and into the lobby of Hopewell General.

      “Here comes the East Coast equivalent of the late, great Johnnie Cochran,” a man announced as Maxwell approached the north elevator. “Congratulations on winning the Benson case.”

      “Thanks,” Maxwell responded with a grin. “Ray, I hear your checkbook’s a little lighter after Judge Hanson fined you for suggesting that she recuse herself from your case.” He eyed his friend from law school for a moment, and then shook his head. “I heard that she is not one to mess with.”

      Ray Graham shrugged. “Hanson really needs to put in for her retirement. I’m pretty sure that she went to college with Moses.”

      Laughing, the two men stepped into the elevator when the doors opened. They rode up to the second floor, which housed the hospital’s legal department.

      “Max, I really appreciate you helping us out with the Matthews lawsuit,” Ray said, leading Maxwell into his office. Dr. Terrence Matthews had been fired when it was discovered that he had a drug problem and now he was suing the hospital for wrongful termination.

      “I’m glad you called. I understand that his family was the hospital’s largest benefactor.”

      Ray nodded. “We have our annual fundraiser coming up this month. Maxwell, we really need to settle this lawsuit before then. The hospital needs funding for our new cancer research center. Rupert and Sarah Matthews are no longer donors and we could lose others because of their influence.”

      Maxwell nodded in understanding. He followed Ray through a door leading into the legal offices.

      Ray paused by his assistant’s desk and said, “Angie, this is …”

      “Oh, I am very familiar with Maxwell Wade,” she quickly interjected. “Mr. Wade is the attorney who strikes fear in the hearts of all who oppose him.”

      Maxwell smiled warmly. “It’s very nice to meet you, Angie.”

      “The pleasure is all mine,” she responded, eyeing him hungrily.

      He recognized the lustful gleam in her eye. At thirty-five years old, Maxwell had grown used to getting this type of reaction from women and it amused him.

      Maxwell followed Ray into his office, closing the door behind him. They sat down to discuss more details of the Matthews lawsuit.

      “I want to touch base with Camille Hunter at some point today,” he told Ray. “We exchanged a few emails, but I want to speak with her in person.”

      “She’s worked hard to keep this lawsuit from being the focus of the hospital,” Ray stated.