Chapter 20 #2
He shook his head, his gaze intent on her face. “One thing you’ll learn about me, Daniela, is that I never say things I don’t mean.” He leaned down, taking her lips in a hot, deeply possessive kiss that drugged her senses and left her feeling even weaker than before.
When he lifted his head, she could only gaze up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. “Believe it or not,” she murmured, her words sounding slurred to her own ears, “I didn’t come here this morning to seduce you.”
Caleb chuckled softly. “You don’t hear me complaining, do you?”
“Mmm. But you should. I didn’t return the favor.”
He groaned, nuzzling her throat. “Don’t tempt me, woman.”
“Oh, but it’s so much fun,” she teased.
“Don’t be cruel,” he said, drawing away to playfully tweak her nose. He lifted her by the waist and deposited her gently on the corner of his desk before reclaiming his own chair.
As Daniela watched, he deliberately arranged his features into a sober expression. “I’m going to get serious on you now,” he warned, holding her gaze as if to channel “serious-mood” wavelengths into her. “Are you ready to go there with me?”
Smothering an impish grin, Daniela gave him a dutiful salute. “Yes, sir. I’m ready.”
His mouth twitched. “I want to run a couple of things past you,” he said, drumming his fingers on the desk. “I’ve been doing some thinking since our last conversation, when we spoke about what you hope to get out of law school. Have you heard of the National Black Law Students Association?”
When Daniela shook her head, he explained, “It’s a national organization designed to improve the educational and social experiences of African-American law students.
We have a chapter here at Northbridge—the Black Law Students Association, or BLSA.
As you already know, our people are greatly underrepresented at the university, particularly in the law school.
So an organization like NBLSA is really valuable in providing support and networking opportunities for black law students.
NBLSA also sponsors various fundraisers and community service projects, and hosts a minority law symposium in the spring.
” He slid open his top desk drawer, took out a white business card and passed it to Daniela.
“Here’s the contact information for our chapter president—her phone number, email and social media handles. She’s a 3L—”
Daniela, still somewhat dazed from their steamy encounter, gave him a nonplussed look as she accepted the card. “3L?”
“Third-year law student,” Caleb clarified, lips twitching.
“Don’t worry. The abbreviations will be rolling off your tongue in no time.
Anyway, if you’re interested in attending a BLSA meeting or just want to learn more about them, give Sonja a call.
She’s always looking to recruit new members, so I know she’d be happy to hear from you.
I also think she could serve as a great mentor. ”
Daniela gave him a look of tender gratitude. “Thank you for thinking of me, Caleb,” she said sincerely, crossing her legs. “Maybe I will give Sonja a call. The NBLSA sounds like a wonderful organization.”
“It is,” Caleb said proudly. “The students are awesome, and really committed to fulfilling the organization’s mission.
I was the faculty advisor up until last year, when I decided to take a break to work on some other projects.
But I left our chapter in the good hands of my best friend and colleague, Evander McGhee. ”
“Aww. Your best friend works here, too?”
“He does. We met in law school thirteen years ago.”
“That’s wonderful that you guys get to work together,” Daniela said warmly, propping her elbow on one knee and her chin in her hand. “Does he teach first-year classes, too?”
“No, but you’ve probably seen him around campus before.
There are only three of us here—meaning, three black law professors—so at some point or another you’ll run into all of us.
” Leaning back in his chair, Caleb laced his fingers together and rested them on the hard surface of his stomach.
“That brings me to the next thing I wanted to discuss with you.”
Smiling, Daniela leaned forward on the desk, making an exaggerated show of giving him her undivided attention. “I’m listening.”
His mouth twitched at her playfulness. “Would you be interested in doing an internship at my father’s law firm?”
Her smile faltered, and she stared at him in bewildered disbelief. “Of course, but…I thought internships were only available to second- and third-year students?”
“Most are,” Caleb agreed. “For example, you can only qualify for a judicial internship after you’ve completed your first year. But we’re talking about a private firm here, which means that the hiring of interns is at my father’s discretion.”
“Does he normally hire first-years?”
“Not normally,” Caleb admitted. “But he would consider it, if a particular student came highly recommended.”
Daniela’s eyes widened. “You would recommend me?”
He inclined his head. “I would.”
She felt a surge of excitement, even as her conscience pricked her. She glanced away from him for a moment. “I—I couldn’t let you do that for me, Caleb,” she murmured.
His lips quirked into an ironic half smile.
“Believe it or not, Daniela, I’m not making this offer because we’re involved.
I think you’re a very intelligent, mature young woman, and your strong work history can be substituted for your lack of legal experience.
In light of the conversation we had on Monday, I believe you could really benefit from interning at a law firm.
It would give you a terrific opportunity to learn how the criminal justice system works and gain firsthand knowledge of the legal profession.
If nothing else, at the end of your internship, you may decide a law career is absolutely the last thing you want. ”
Daniela grinned. “Or it could turn out to be my life’s calling.”
“Could be.” Caleb smiled faintly. “Now, I have to warn you up front that my father puts his interns to work, and there’s nothing remotely glamorous about the work they do.
You’ll be doing everything from typing lengthy court documents and assisting the paralegals with research, to serving coffee to clients and running personal errands for the senior associates.
It won’t be a cakewalk, but I can guarantee that you’ll learn a great deal and come away from the experience with a tremendous addition to your résumé. So, are you interested?”
Daniela laughed. “Are you kidding? I’d have to be crazy to pass up the opportunity to intern at San Antonio’s top criminal defense firm.”
“Good,” Caleb said with a brisk nod. “I’ll let my father know. Now, there’s just one other thing.”
“What’s that?”
“He’d like to meet you in person.”
Daniela’s heart knocked. “You mean your father personally interviews interns?”
Caleb gave her a look of wry amusement. “You obviously don’t know Crandall Thorne. He monitors everything at the firm, right down to the price of bulk pens. For as long as I can remember, he’s been involved in the hiring of each and every new employee, from attorneys to mail clerks.”
“Wow,” Daniela murmured.
“I know,” Caleb said, his mouth twitching. “To say my father is a control freak would be a huge understatement. But the firm is very important to him and, to his credit, he’s always made the right hiring decisions, which has largely contributed to the success of the business.”
Daniela nodded. “When would he like to set up the interview?”
“As soon as possible. Are you available tomorrow evening? I thought we could all have dinner together at his ranch.”
Daniela’s mouth went dry. She could hardly believe she’d soon meet the powerful, notorious Crandall Thorne in his own domain.
When she’d accepted the undercover assignment earlier that summer, never could she have imagined that such a golden opportunity would present itself, seeming to fall right into her lap.
Kenneth and Noah would be extremely pleased, she thought, then suffered another pang of guilt, this one sharper than the first. Caleb, out of a genuine desire to help her with her career, had gone out of his way to speak to his father on her behalf, all but securing her an internship that any of her classmates would kill for.
And she would repay his generosity by deceiving and betraying him.
“Daniela?” Caleb’s deep voice broke into her grim musings. She blinked, and realized that he was watching her quietly as he awaited her answer.
She forced an easy smile. “Tomorrow evening sounds perfect, Caleb.”
He nodded, his dark gaze lingering on her face another moment before he picked up his phone. “What’s your number?”
She rattled it off, watching him add her to his contacts and send her a quick test text.
“I’ll pick you up at five-thirty,” he said. “In case you have any questions or need to cancel at the last minute, you have my number.”
“Thank you.” Smiling, Daniela glanced at her watch, and saw that it was already close to eleven.
If she didn’t get moving, she’d be late for her next class.
And yet, she wanted nothing more than to stay right where she was.
She wanted to spend the rest of the day with Caleb, sequestered alone with him as if they were the only two souls in the world.
When she looked up again, she saw a softness in his eyes that made her wonder if he’d read her thoughts, or if he, too, felt the same way. Holding her gaze, he got slowly to his feet.
“Better not be late to class,” he said quietly.
With a reluctant nod, she slid off the desk and rounded the corner to retrieve her purse and half-empty water bottle from the floor. At the door to the office, she paused and turned around to face him. “Thanks again for looking out for me, Caleb. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate it.”
He inclined his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening, Daniela.”
She mustered a winsome smile before opening the door and slipping out of the room.
She was so preoccupied with thoughts of Caleb and the pending dinner date with his father that she barely noticed Shara Adler hovering in the doorway of an office across the hall, watching her departure with a look of pure venom.