Page 89 of A Legal Affair
Of course, Daniela thought bitterly.How could I forget my exit strategy?
According to the original plan devised by her brothers, after getting the goods on Crandall Thorne, she was supposed to quietly withdraw from law school and disappear from Caleb’s life. If anyone asked, she was to say she’d had a change of heart about pursuing a law degree, and leave it at that.
It had all seemed so plausible in the beginning, so straightforward and easy.
Now the idea of walking out of Caleb’s life sent unimaginable pain knifing through her heart.
Janie glanced at her watch and frowned. “I have to pick up the twins from school,” she said regretfully. She signaled the waiter for the check, and a moment later he bustled over to drop the bill on their table.
As Daniela reached inside her purse for money, Janie said quickly, “Don’t worry about it. Lunch is on me.”
Daniela gave her a wan smile. “You don’t have to buy me lunch just because you feel sorry for me.”
“Of course I do. But that’s not the reason I’m buying.” Her eyes glowed with warmth. “Kenny told me you talked him into offering me the secretary position. I owe you big time, El.”
Daniela waved off the gratitude. “Don’t mention it. Remember, you’re doingusa favor as well. You’re rescuing us from the incompetence of people who have no business calling themselves administrative professionals.”
Janie smiled. “Andyou’rehelping me save my marriage. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, Daniela, just name it.”
Unless Janie possessed the ability to turn back time, Daniela doubted there was much anyone could do to help her out of the mess she’d made of her life.
27
Standing at his office window, Caleb stared down at the courtyard bustling with students and faculty heading to and from classes. Though he had lecture notes to review and an article to finish writing, he couldn’t seem to bring himself to concentrate on work. Much as he tried to blame his restlessness on the coming holiday weekend, he knew better.
The source of his distraction was a certain doe-eyed ingénue who’d consumed his every waking thought ever since he drove her home, walked her to her front door and kissed her goodnight.
Although they’d spent the entire ride back to town holding hands and sharing heated looks, once they reached Daniela’s house, she’d pumped the brakes on any hopes he’d had of enjoying an erotic night cap. Standing at the door, she’d gently asked him if they could slow things down a little. His body—already clamoring for the feel of hers, already imagining her long legs wrapped around him as he thrust into her—balked at her request. He’d wanted nothing more than to carry her into the house, lay her down wherever they landed first, and make love to her long into the night and well into the next morning. Butthrough the dense fog of lust clouding his brain, he’d seen the quiet resolve in her eyes and realized she meant business.
Walking away from her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life. He’d gone home, back to the furnished emptiness of his penthouse, and done something he rarely, if ever, had to resort to: he took an ice-cold shower and jerked off.
And then he’d lain awake half the night thinking about her, fantasizing about her.
Obsessing about her.
“I was hoping to find you here.”
Caleb glanced over his shoulder to see Shara standing in the open doorway with a warm, easygoing smile.
“Hey,” he greeted her quietly, remaining at the window. Though he wasn’t in the mood to make small talk with anyone, he waved Shara in.
She strolled through the door and sat in one of the visitor chairs, the same one he’d found Daniela sitting in two days ago when he’d returned from class. As memories of their steamy office tryst intruded on his thoughts, he frowned. He was behaving like a sex-starved, horny adolescent. Time to get himself under control.
“Caleb?”
Shara was watching him expectantly, and belatedly he realized that she’d asked him a question. “Sorry,” he murmured. “What did you say?”
She frowned, clearly none too pleased with having to repeat herself. “I asked if you had any exciting Labor Day plans.”
“Not really,” Caleb said with a dispassionate shrug. “I was thinking about heading up to the ranch and helping out where I can, maybe doing some horseback riding. I’ll probably take my laptop to get some writing done, too. What about you?”
“Devon and I are driving down to Corpus Christi. Now that he’s feeling much better, I thought he could use some fun in the sun at the beach.”
Caleb smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Well, if you happen to changeyourplans, you’re more than welcome to join us. You know Devon would love to see you. It’s been a while.”
Caleb didn’t miss the trace of censure in Shara’s tone. He ignored it.
