Page 83 of A Legal Affair
Daniela smiled. “Thank you, Ms. Owens. I’m glad to be here.”
“Come in, come in,” Rita urged, opening the door wider to usher them inside the cool interior of the house.
The wide foyer spilled into a large living area that boasted the finest in contemporary furnishings, and tall glass windows that soared to cathedral ceilings. Custom ceramic tile floors gleamed beneath their feet as they followed Rita Owens down a wide hall with archways on both sides that opened into several spacious rooms, each showcasing the handiwork of a very talented, and doubtless expensive, interior designer.
“Your father asked me to show you to the study when you arrive,” Rita told Caleb, and he gave a brief nod, his hand never leaving Daniela’s back. She felt the warmth of his touch through her dress, infusing her with the strength and courage she needed to get through the evening.
At the end of the hallway, Rita stopped at a door that had been left slightly ajar. Without bothering to knock, she ushered Caleb and Daniela into the room. It was a large, richly appointed library that featured a twenty-foot ceiling and mahogany-paneled walls containing rows and rows of books, the upper tiers accessible by a pair of tall ladders on wheels. The mingled odors of leather, ink and freshly polished wood scented the air.
Behind the carved mahogany island of a desk sat Crandall Thorne, a man who’d graced countless magazine covers and hadbeen at the center of more controversial court cases than Daniela could recall. His leather chair was angled away from the desk, one elbow propped on the gleaming surface as he pored through a sheaf of documents on his lap. Upon their entrance, he glanced over, then slowly set aside his paperwork.
“Your guests have arrived,” Rita told him, unnecessarily.
“Yes, I can see that,” Crandall said in a deep, gravelly voice that resonated with authority. Behind a pair of rimless reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, eyes the color of bittersweet chocolate unerringly homed in on Daniela’s face. “You must be the young woman my son’s been raving about.”
Taken aback, Daniela threw Caleb a surprised look. “You have?”
His mouth twitched with faint humor. “I may have mentioned one or two complimentary things.”
She felt an impish grin tugging at the corners of her lips. “Such as?”
His gaze roamed across her face. “If I wanted you to know,” he drawled with an amused glint in his eyes, “obviously I would’ve told you already.”
“Of course,” she teased. “Obviously.”
When Crandall discreetly cleared his throat, Daniela swung her gaze around, embarrassed at how easily she’d forgotten that she and Caleb weren’t alone in the room.
She stepped forward, her hand outstretched. “Daniela Moreau,” she introduced herself with a courteous smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thorne.”
As Crandall rose smoothly to his feet, Daniela realized that Caleb had inherited more than his father’s arresting good looks. Wearing a crisp white shirt over impeccably tailored trousers, Crandall Thorne exuded the confidence and charisma of a man who knew who he was, and knew how to get what he wanted—an innate quality his son also possessed, which made him impossible to resist.
Crandall’s large, elegant hand swallowed Daniela’s in a firm handshake. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Moreau. Please have a seat,” he said, indicating one of the oxblood leather chairs opposite his desk.
Daniela murmured her gratitude as Caleb pulled out the chair for her. Instead of claiming the other seat, he wandered over to a pair of French doors that overlooked a small courtyard, the stucco walls covered with a network of vines that were lush and green this time of year.
As Daniela watched him, he leaned a negligent shoulder against the wall and lazily slid his hands into his pants pockets, looking as if he had not a care in the world.
“I’m going to check on dinner,” Rita announced before slipping out of the room and closing the door quietly behind her.
Crandall’s dark, assessing gaze settled on Daniela. “My son tells me you’re interested in doing an internship at my law firm.”
“That’s correct,” said Daniela, pleased by how steady her voice sounded. “I think it would give me a wonderful opportunity to explore how the legal system works, not to mention the tremendous opportunity to learn from some of the finest criminal defense attorneys in San Antonio.”
Crandall nodded toward Caleb, whose back remained to them. “You’re already learning fromthebest criminal defense attorney in all of Texas. Did you know that?”
Daniela smiled. “Yes, I did. He’s pretty amazing in the classroom as well.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Crandall said gruffly. “My son excels at everything he does. Always has.”
Caleb sent a wry glance at them over his shoulder. “I thought we were here to discuss Miss Moreau.”
Daniela and his father exchanged amused looks.
“Speaking of the classroom,” Crandall said, leaning back in his chair as he removed his eyeglasses, “I understand this is only your first semester of law school. What makes you so sure you’re ready for an internship so soon?”
“I’mnotsure,” Daniela admitted, and saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes at her candid response. “My background was in accounting, so the field of law is pretty new to me. The truth is that if I were to intern at your firm, I would definitely get more out of the deal than you would. But what I may lack in experience, I more than make up for in a strong work ethic, proven initiative and a willingness to learn and be challenged. I guarantee you that being a first-year law student will not hinder me from successfully accomplishing whatever’s required of me.”
Crandall passed a slow, appraising gaze over her face. “I’m impressed by your tenacity, Miss Moreau, and I’m not easily impressed.” His eyes narrowed thoughtfully on hers. “What do you think about the indictment of Carlito Olivares?”
