Page 44 of Reckless Temptation

Tiffany was no doubt behind the sabotage of my car out here in the city. She wouldn’t quit, either. Up until the intern spot was awarded to one of us, she would continue to strike out against me and compete with every dirty trick she could think of. I knew this. It was fact, not guesswork. She wouldn’t stop at this.

So is it worth it?

I was never the kind of person to shy away from challenges. My determination to get my car running again was proof of my drive. But I also wasn’t the sort of individual to willingly offermyself up for abuse and harassment. My motto of ignoring and turning the other cheek wasn’t cutting it anymore.

Aside from my skepticism about dealing with Tiffany any further than this, I had to admit, again, that Elise was right. I had a front-row seat to see how Lorsen & Spengler worked. They, and their clients, just wanted money, no matter the risks and lack of ethics. I wanted to go into practicing law to help people, to better the world we lived in.

Maybe being an intern for Lorsen & Spengler would give me an association Idon’twant.

I had a lot to think about, but as I sped home, covering all the miles, I knew it’d have to come later. A more thorough reflection about my goals with this internship would be waiting.

Now, though, as I sped home, I focused on getting to the dinner before it would be completely over.

My phone charged as I drove, and I replied to Mom’s texts. She was worried when I didn’t answer. Dad, too. I replied to them both that I was okay, that the car gave me some trouble, and that I was on my way to the Lorsens’ home now.

Guilty that I couldn’t help Mom as I’d planned, I winced and worried that I was failing her while I fumbled with my education and internship consideration.

By the time I reached town, the scheduled time for the dinner and meeting was almost over.

There was nothing I could do about my extremely tardy arrival. Nor was there anything I could do about how horribly filthy and ragged I looked.

Sweat had streaked from my brow, and the baby wipes I had in my purse hardly helped. My hair was a mess, tangled and out of the low ponytail I’d started the day with. Rips, stains, and smudges showed on my blouse and my skirt. Blood had caked on my fingers, knuckles, and forearms from the manual labor of working on the car, too.

When I arrived and entered the elegant, grand dining room at the Lorsen estate, I swore everyone gasped at once.

“Sabrina?” Professor Lorsen looked up at me with alarm. The other professors raised their brows too. The other seven students in the running for the intern spot reacted the same. Some laughed. Others gaped at me. Tiffany grinned.

Ignoring them all, I cleared my throat and kept my chin tipped up. I was doing my best, and they could take it or leave it. “I’m sorry for my tardiness. I had a few issues on the trip back.”

“I… I can see that,” Professor Lorsen said.

“You roll out of the window or something?” Professor Gowen asked.

“Are you all right?” Professor Angus asked, furrowing her wrinkled brow.

Not in the slightest.

I was angry about Tiffany stooping this low.

I was annoyed that I was questioning my path to my future.

And I was still uneasy and left bewildered by Nick’s kisses and touches.

When I spotted him in the reflection of a mirror at the back of the wood-paneled room, I held my breath and spun to face him.

What the hell is he doinghere?

16

NICK

Sabrina turned to meet my gaze after spotting my reflection in the mirror. She looked like a mess, her hair all over the place, dirt and grime on her golden skin. Her office outfit of a skirt and blouse looked ragged and filthy, torn in spots.

But she was here.

She’d made it. She’d figured out how to fix her car to get here after all, and by the scrapes on her skin and the mess on her clothes, she’d done it herself.

She’s got grit.

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