Acting Counsel

Copyright © 2023 by Morgana Bevan All rights reserved. Acting Counsel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the authors imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Design by: Pretty Little Design Co. Editing by Dayna Hart ISBN: 978-1-9196091-9-5 CONTENTS About This Book Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Epilogue Author’s Note Also by Morgana Bevan About Morgana To all the strong-willed, fierce women out there. Without us, the world wouldn’t turn and men like Nathan Logan wouldn’t get their Happily Ever Afters. ABOUT THIS BOOK Lawyers are meant to fight, but when her notorious celebrity client makes a play for her… she just wants to surrender. Catrina My firm has one rule: never sleep with the client. Too late for that. Not that he was my client when we slept together. But now he is, and I’m stuck in an impossible situation. Closing this deal could make my career. And his, for that matter. But he doesn’t seem to care. The renowned Hollywood flirt who could have anyone is determined to have me. Our attraction could ruin everything. For true love, it might be worth the risk. But with Nathan, it’s hard to know what is real and what isn’t. Nathan Power, fame, success— I have it all. Until I meet her. She’s my attorney, and until the deal is done, she’s off limits. I'll be damned if I let her go. She's the first woman to see beyond the glamour of my life, into the real me. She’s all I want, even if having her means losing everything else. Acting Counsel is a forced proximity Hollywood romance with forbidden vibes set in the Kings of Screen world. It can be read as a standalone. CHAPTER ONE CATRINA Bright and early Monday morning, I rolled into the office with a noticeable bounce in my step. I’d worked hard trying to prove my worth — weeks and months of late nights, early mornings, and endless briefs — and they’d finally taken notice. Today, I started my first solo case: acquiring an LA film studio for one of the most popular actors in Hollywood. Not that I could put a name to the face if a celeb walked past me. Even if I couldn’t care less about the celebrity goings-on, one thing remained: I was one step closer to making partner. At some point, I’d stop grinning like a loon each time the thought cycled through my mind. It wouldn’t be this week. If my colleagues saw me, they’d blame my unusual pep on my boss’s decision to trust me with the Starlight Studios acquisition, and I didn’t care if they did. Only I knew the truth. Only I could feel the ache of disused muscles as I walked, reminding me with each step how I celebrated my step up. I’d never been the one-night stand kind of girl, but I have to admit, it was exhilarating. “Knowing my luck, I’d get swept out to sea and eaten by something.” “I could teach you, if you’re up for the challenge.” “Are you going to stop a sea monster from eating me?” “I’ll keep you safe from any sea monsters.” He grazed my cheek with his nose. “Besides, I’m the only one allowed to taste you.” Nathan. I could feel the ghost of his hands mapping every curve of my body, leaving marks I wished would never fade. Mike knocked on my door. Thankfully, I’d completed all of my preparations for this meeting and got myself as caught up as the sparse notes from my predecessor allowed. “Catrina,” Mike’s voice boomed from the doorway, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I hope you’re ready for a big day.” “Good morning, Mr Nelson. As ready as I’ll ever be.” I set my coffee cup down on the desk and stood, pasting a bright but confident smile to my lips. “I’ve been preparing all weekend.” “Good.” He stepped inside, his tall frame taking up much of the space in my modest office. “I told you she was my best, Mr Logan, and I never lie.” A tall, blond man followed Mike into my office. My heart lodged in my throat. Nathan. Those piercing blue eyes instantly found mine. Two days. It had only been two days since I kicked him out of my apartment at dawn, banishing him from my home and my thoughts. Yet here he was, conjuring up memories I’d spent days savouring. Nathan strode in casually confident as if he owned the place — and perhaps a part of me too, after a single unforgettable night. His blond hair was tousled, a reminder of tangled sheets and roaming hands. That knowing look in his eyes said he recalled my bed as clearly as I did. “Cat,” Nathan mouthed, his eyes widening briefly before a sly grin spread across his face. Panic surged as the ramifications hit me. If he said the wrong thing, my career could be over before it truly began. “Catrina Sinclair, meet Nathan Logan,” Mike introduced us with a wave of his hand, completely missing the tension in the air. “Nathan is purchasing Starlight Studios. He’s agreed to get you up to date on any additional details you might require.” “Nice to meet you, Mr Logan,” I said, extending my hand for a