Chapter 14
Daniela slid a tube of red matte lipstick over her lips and finger-combed her luscious twist-outs before turning away from the mirror.
As she bent to retrieve a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals from the floor, she felt the onset of a migraine behind her eyelids.
For just a moment she wished she could crawl into bed and sleep it off, both the headache and the growing fatigue that had dogged her all afternoon.
But she’d promised April that she would attend tonight’s art exhibit at the Blue Star, where some of April’s photography would be on display for the first time ever.
She’d spoken of little else during their study session that morning, so Daniela would have felt like an asshole if she didn’t make an appearance.
Besides, she needed a distraction, something to get her mind off the library encounter with Caleb.
It was all she’d thought about for the rest of the day, torturing herself with illicit mental images of being pinned to the bookcase while he kissed her dominantly, his strong hands roaming all over her body until she arched into him with a breathy moan of surrender, until he lifted her against the row of books, their spines digging into her back as he pulled her legs around him and dry humped her to a body-rocking orgasm.
Holy hell.
No wonder she felt so hot and bothered.
Giving herself a hard mental shake, she slipped on her sandals and swallowed two aspirin, then grabbed her black clutch and left the house. It was a mild summer evening, perfect for the five-minute stroll to her destination.
Nestled on the outskirts of the historic King William District, the Blue Star Arts Complex boasted an eclectic cluster of old warehouse buildings divided into galleries, artists’ performance spaces, design offices and studio apartments.
The Blue Star’s most popular event was First Friday, a community-wide art walk held the first Friday of every month that drew crowds from all over San Antonio for art openings, theater productions, shopping and dining.
The event was held rain or shine, which meant that every so often the turnout was low.
Such was the case tonight, Daniela noted upon arriving at the brightly lit complex.
The parking lot was only half full, though it was well past seven o’clock.
On a busy night, the valets were usually turning motorists away by six.
Live jazz music beckoned to visitors from the Blue Star Brewing Company, a charming pub located in what was once an old beer storage warehouse.
Passing the brewery, Daniela climbed a steep set of metal stairs to reach the gallery dedicated to showcasing the works of new and emerging artists. Because she was a regular at First Friday, she didn’t flinch at the muggy heat that greeted her when she entered the building.
At the end of the long corridor and wearing a chic black pantsuit, April stood at the entrance to one of the small exhibit rooms, talking animatedly to a middle-aged couple dressed for a night on the town. Her grin widened when she saw Daniela.
Giving her classmate a wink, Daniela stepped into the narrow confines of the room and wandered from one mounted photograph to the next while she waited for April to finish with her customers.
She was pleasantly surprised by the collection of rich candids that captured the essence of San Antonio: a wide shot of a tourist-packed barge drifting down the sun-dappled River Walk; a close-up revealing the crumbling, faded glory of the Alamo; a festively attired mariachi band; a vibrant blanketing of wildflowers along a Texas highway; the historic Majestic Theatre framed against a glittering night skyline.
She turned as April approached, her dark eyes shimmering with excitement. “I made my first sale!” she squealed, throwing her arms around Daniela’s neck.
Daniela laughed, hugging her back. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”
April drew away on a breathless giggle. “I was so worried that I wouldn’t sell anything,” she confessed.
“I don’t know why. You’re very talented. These photos are amazing, every last one of them.”
April beamed. “You really think so?”
“I know so. You have a real eye, April.”
“Thanks, Daniela.” April’s proud gaze swept across the photos displayed around the room. “I see life in frames, captured in the blink of an eye for all eternity.”
Daniela grinned. “That’s pretty deep, Kwan. Are you sure you want to become a lawyer?”
April’s expression clouded. “I don’t really have much of a choice,” she said wistfully.
“Everyone in my family expects me to become an attorney. The day I graduate from law school will probably be the first time I ever see my father cry. But don’t worry,” she added quickly at the concerned look on Daniela’s face.
“I’ve got a plan. See, I’ll use my lawyer salary to support my photography side hustle until my work ends up on exhibit at the Guggenheim.
After that I’ll quit my day job and travel around the world selling my art. ”
Daniela chuckled warmly. “Sounds like a plan, kiddo. In the meantime, allow me to do my part to hasten those plans along. I want to buy the Majestic, and the hauntingly beautiful photo with the Swahili mother and child.”
Blinking back tears, April wrapped her in another tight hug. “Thank you so much, Daniela,” she whispered fervently.
While April rang up her purchases, Daniela wandered around the corner to check out the works of other exhibiting artists. When she returned, she discovered that April had lured two new potential customers.
Daniela’s heart sank when she recognized the couple: Caleb and Shara Adler.
Shara was elegantly gorgeous in a silk sheath dress that accentuated her sleek curves. But it was Caleb who captured and held Daniela’s attention.
He looked dark and devastatingly handsome in a black button-down shirt that hugged his powerful chest, and expensively tailored charcoal trousers that rode his long legs in a way that would make Giorgio Armani weep with pride.
He exuded such raw magnetism and sex appeal that it was all Daniela could do to keep from rushing over and pouncing on him.
April saw her and waved her over excitedly. “Daniela, look who’s here! Not one but two of our law school professors!”
Daniela wanted to disappear through the floor as both Caleb and Shara turned to watch her slow approach. While Shara’s eyes narrowed in displeasure, Caleb’s impassive expression betrayed no emotion.
Daniela forced herself to smile civilly at each of them. “Good evening.”
Caleb inclined his head. “Miss Moreau.”
Shara linked her arm through his, staking her claim. Her cool, appraising gaze ran the length of Daniela, taking in her simple black cocktail dress and black four-inch heels.
“You look nice, Miss Moreau,” she said, a malicious gleam in her amber eyes. “Hot date tonight?”
“Afraid not,” Daniela murmured. “You?”
Shara’s laugh had all the warmth of a polar ice cap. She cast a demure look at Caleb beneath her lashes. “We shall see.”
Cheerfully oblivious to any undercurrents between the threesome, April said to Daniela, “I was just thanking Professor Thorne for coming out tonight. After class today I was telling him about my photography exhibit. I had no idea he would actually show up.”
Humor threaded Caleb’s deep voice as he said, “I think you mentioned the time and location at least three times during our conversation.”
April grinned unabashedly. “Never underestimate the power of subliminal messaging.”
Caleb chuckled, drawing away from Shara and stepping inside the room. “Come talk to me about your work. Sell me something.”
“With pleasure,” April said, eagerly leading him to the first wall.
Daniela started to follow when Shara’s low, mocking voice stopped her. “You really do look nice tonight, Miss Moreau. I like that dress. Chanel, isn’t it?” At Daniela’s brief nod, her lips curled derisively. “A bit of a change from your usual jeans-and-miniskirt look, isn’t it?”
Daniela feigned a wounded expression. “You don’t approve of the way I dress, Professor Adler?”
Shara pointedly ignored the sarcasm. “When I attended law school,” she said haughtily, “we were more mindful of what we wore to class. But then, most of us weren’t there to seduce our professors in order to earn an easy A.”
Daniela’s face flushed. Before she could muster a comeback, Shara gave the dagger in her chest another vicious twist. “As I was saying, dear, it’s a shame you don’t have any special plans this evening.
Caleb is taking me to dinner and then to the symphony for a late performance.
After that,” she said coyly, “who knows where we’ll end up? ”
Daniela had a pretty good idea just where she wanted Shara to end up.
Gritting her teeth, she pasted on a saccharine smile.
“Thanks for sharing your evening plans with me, Professor Adler. As much as I’d love to hear more, I really think we should save it for our next bonding session, say, when hell freezes over. ”
With a curt nod, she sidestepped the scowling woman and walked over to where April was explaining the creative inspiration for her photography to Caleb.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Daniela said, directing her apology to April. “I’m going to head down to the main gallery to check out some of the other exhibits. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“Okay. Oh, hey, guess what, Daniela? Professor Thorne really liked the same two photos you bought. You both have the same taste. Isn’t that funny?”
“Hilarious,” Daniela murmured, meeting Caleb’s dark gaze for the first time that evening.
At the memory of their earlier encounter, forbidden heat curled through her blood.
As if he, too, remembered, his ebony lashes flickered, his eyes touching her mouth like a whispered caress.
It was so subtle she could have imagined it.