Chapter 24
For the rest of the day, Daniela could think of little else but her pending dinner engagement with Caleb and his father.
When she’d finished dressing, she surveyed her appearance in the mirror and nodded approvingly.
She looked cool, sophisticated and professional, which was the effect she’d hoped to achieve.
Although part of her had wanted to look sexy and alluring for Caleb, she also recognized the importance of making a positive first impression on his father and being taken seriously as a job applicant.
Calm down, she told herself, sliding her feet into a pair of strappy nude heels that accentuated the sleek curve of her calves.
You’re not going on a date. This is strictly a business meeting.
A business meeting that happens to be at the home of one of the most powerful men in San Antonio, but a business meeting nonetheless.
When she opened the door and saw Caleb standing there, her mouth went dry.
He wore black slacks and a white button-down shirt open at the neck to reveal the strong column of his throat.
In deference to the warm summer weather, he’d eschewed a jacket.
With his hands tucked comfortably in his pockets, he looked incredibly handsome and virile.
As his lazy gaze traveled the length of her, pleasure washed through her veins at the glint of approval that lit his dark eyes.
“Good evening,” he said huskily. “You look beautiful.”
“Why, thank you.” Daniela smiled. “You don’t look too bad yourself, Professor Thorne.”
He inclined his head in simple acknowledgment of the compliment. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, stepping onto the porch and locking the door behind her.
With a hand resting possessively against the small of her back, Caleb escorted her to the driveway, unlocking the doors to a gleaming Rolls-Royce Phantom in smoke gray.
“Oh, wow.” Daniela ran an appreciative gaze over the luxury vehicle and grinned. Her bucket list was getting shorter by the day. “Another awesome ride. But, um, where’s the Ducati?”
Caleb chuckled, glancing down at her slim-fitting dress and heels. “You’re not exactly dressed for it,” he said, repeating the same words he’d told her the day of their coffeehouse excursion.
Daniela laughed as he helped her inside the car, then rounded the gleaming fender to slide into the custom leather seat beside her. She caught the clean scent of him, soap and the subtle spice of an expensive cologne that was undeniably male, and uniquely him.
She slanted him a teasing look as the powerful engine purred to life. “I’m beginning to have my doubts about the existence of your motorcycle.”
His mouth curved in a lazy white grin. “Yeah?”
Daniela nodded. “I think you carry the helmet to class to intimidate your students, to make them believe you’re a real badass who’ll fail them the second they step out of line.”
Caleb laughed, a deep, rich sound that settled like a caress over her skin. As he pulled away from her house, he shook his head in mock chagrin. “When did I become so obvious?”
“You’re not,” Daniela assured him. “I’m just that good at reading people.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes, sir. It’s a special gift.”
“Mmm. Well,” Caleb huskily intoned, sliding her a heavy-lidded look that made her pulse quicken, “you’re a woman of many talents, Daniela Moreau.”
She didn’t miss the veiled reference to the blowjob she’d given him their first night together. Next time she’d make him finish in her mouth.
“Are you in the mood for Boney?”
Daniela let out a choked laugh. “Excuse me?” She couldn’t have heard right. Had he just asked her if she was in the mood for boning?
“Jazz music,” Caleb explained. “Do you like Boney James? He’s an old school jazz musician.”
“Oh! Boney James! Yes, of course. I’ve heard of him.”
Caleb slanted her an amused glance. “What did you think I said?”
Daniela shook her head, covering her mouth with one hand to smother an embarrassed giggle. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
A crooked grin curved his mouth, but he let her off the hook and turned on the music.
Seconds later the bluesy notes of a saxophone poured into the luxurious interior of the Phantom, washing over them like a silky breeze.
Daniela crossed her legs and sighed, settling more comfortably into the butter-soft leather seat.
“A Phantom, a Lambo, an SRT Hellcat and a Ducati,” she humorously mused. “Just how many vehicles do you own, sir?”
“Got a couple more stashed at my father’s place.” His grin turned rueful. “When I worked at the law firm, I needed ways to spend all the money I was earning—and the faster the better. Buying vehicles seemed to do the trick.”
“I’ll bet,” Daniela teased.
As they passed block after block of elegant Victorians cradled by columned wraparound porches and neat manicured lawns, Caleb asked, “How long have you lived in the King William District?”
“A little over three years,” Daniela answered.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. The rich history, the quaint charm of the little shops and restaurants. And everything is within easy walking distance.” A soft, reminiscent smile touched her lips.
“I’ve wanted to live here ever since I was a little girl, when my mother took us to our very first art exhibit at the Blue Star.
I remember having to park a few blocks away from the gallery because the lot was full, and as we walked past these amazing Victorian houses, I remember wishing I lived in one of them.
I think that’s when my affinity for all-things-antique was born.
” She sighed deeply. “Maybe someday, after I’ve retired from…
whatever, I’ll open my own antiques store. I think I’d like that very much.”
Caleb watched her as she spoke, his gaze almost tender. “Sounds like a great way to enjoy your retirement,” he agreed. “If you’re in the area, I’ll be sure to drop in and buy a few things from you.”
Daniela laughed. “You’d better!” Sobering after a moment, she studied his handsome profile with keen interest. “So what about you, Caleb? What are your retirement plans?”
He sent her a lopsided grin. “Who says I ever plan to retire? I might decide to teach until I’ve got one foot in the grave.”
Daniela gave him a wry grin. “Even then, your female students would still swoon when you walked into the room.”
He chuckled, the sound so warm her stomach began to melt. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would.”
Smiling, he glanced over at her. “All joking aside, to answer your question, I’ve been giving serious thought to life on a ranch after retirement.”
“Really? You mean as a cattle rancher?”
He nodded. “It definitely has its challenges, chief among them being market volatility and increasing government overreach. But I enjoy working on my father’s land—more than I ever thought I would, in fact.
I could easily see myself settling into the quiet life of a rancher, getting away from the hurried pace of the city and waking up to golden sunrises every morning. ”
“Mmm,” Daniela murmured, closing her eyes on a deep, languid sigh at the vivid image his words painted. “That sounds heavenly, Caleb.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said, and something in the deep rumble of his voice told her he really meant it.
She opened her eyes to look at him. “Speaking of your father’s ranch, how far is it from here?”
“We’ve got another forty-five minutes,” he replied, meeting her inquisitive gaze. A half smile quirked the corners of his mouth. “Are you in a hurry to get there?”
She chortled dryly. “If you knew how nervous I am about meeting your father tonight, you’d know better.”
“Don’t be nervous,” Caleb told her. “My father’s bark is much worse than his bite.”
Daniela eyed him suspiciously. “Do you really mean that? Or are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
He cut her a sideways glance. “What did I tell you in my office yesterday?”
She gave a low, sultry laugh. “You said quite a few things yesterday,” she purred. “Shall I repeat them all?”
Caleb cleared his throat, lips twitching. “What I told you is that I never say things I don’t mean. If I tell you not to be nervous about meeting my father, then take my word for it.”
“All right,” Daniela conceded with exaggerated reluctance, “but if you’re wrong, it’s gonna be a long ride back for you, buddy.”
He merely grinned at the threat. He was in gentleman mode tonight. The feral, lust-crazed sex beast who’d ravaged her under the moon lay dormant for now.
She slid him a teasing smile. “I’m not surprised you listen to old school music.
You’re kind of an old soul, aren’t you? Like Jalen Hurts,” she added, referring to the Philadelphia Eagles’ star quarterback.
“I bet you have playlists with Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Maze, The Isley Brothers, Levert, The Commodores. All the oldies but goodies.”
Caleb chuckled, nodding. “Guilty as charged.”
Her smile widened with delight. “Which reminds me, I just saw that video of you and Jalen Hurts vibing to Con Funk Shun’s ‘Love’s Train.’ You were at some charity event in Philly. The crowd was singing along and women were going wild. The video had over five million likes.”
“Yeah?” Caleb chuckled again. “I think I know which one you’re talking about. It was shot by my best friend—”
“Professor McGhee?”
“Yeah. Evander’s from West Philly,” Caleb elaborated. “He does a lot of work in the community and co-founded a charity with some local athletes and rappers. The video was taken at their Juneteenth celebration. Jalen was the keynote speaker.”
“Very cool,” Daniela said, smiling warmly. “Your best friend sounds like an amazing guy with a big heart.”
“He is, absolutely. Brilliant, too. He likes to be underestimated. It fuels him.” Caleb smiled. “If you take his Evidence course next year, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.”
“Will I learn as much from him as I’m learning from you?”
Caleb met her innocent gaze. His eyes narrowed and visibly darkened before he grumbled, “Let’s not get carried away.”