Page 43 of A Legal Affair
“Same thing everyone else is doing,” Caleb murmured, gazing at Daniela. “Admiring art.”
“Of course that’s what you’re doing here. I didn’t mean?—”
Caleb chuckled dryly. “I know what you meant, Stuart. I see you’ve met Miss Moreau.”
“Not quite,” Stuart said. “We hadn’t gotten around to introductions yet.”
“Allow me,” Caleb offered smoothly. “Stuart Epps, I’d like you to meet Daniela Moreau, a student of mine at the university.”
Daniela wondered if she’d only imagined the possessive note in his voice when he’d introduced her as “a student ofmine.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Daniela,” Stuart said, reaching forward to eagerly clasp her hand. “What an absolutely beautiful name.”
“Thank you,” she said, giving her hand a discreet tug when he held on a little longer than etiquette necessitated. She forced a pleasant smile. “And how are you and Professor Thorne acquainted?”
“Caleb and I went to UT together,” Stuart explained. “We had a bit of a friendly rivalry going back then—with academics, sports. Girls,” he added with a cocky wink at Caleb.
“Ah, yes,” Caleb murmured, nodding. “Stu married the girl we all wanted, a lovely and talented gymnast named Harmony. Whereisshe tonight, by the way?”
Stuart’s face reddened. “Uh, she had to work late. We’re, uh, supposed to be meeting for dinner at—” He glanced at his Rolex and started in surprise. “Damn. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“Better not keep Harmony waiting,” Caleb warned softly. “She always did have quite the temper.”
With an embarrassed look at Daniela, who was biting the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing, Stuart turned and beat a hasty retreat.
“Poor Stuart,” Caleb lamented with a mournful shake of his head.
Daniela covered her mouth with her hand to muffle a peal of laughter, but it spilled out, anyway.
Caleb grinned, watching her. “Aren’t you going to thank me?”
“For what?” she gasped between giggles.
“For rescuing you from the clutches of a notorious womanizer.”
At that she sobered, the laughter dying on her lips like a flame that had been suddenly doused. Her chin went up. “Well,youwould know.”
Caleb frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re the brilliant professor,” she said, moving on to the next display. “I’ll let you figure it out.”
Caleb followed her. “Is there something you’re trying to tell me, Miss Moreau?”
“Where’s Shara?” she answered with a question of her own.
He hesitated. “On her way home. Her son called to say he wasn’t feeling well. Seems there’s a flu bug going around.”
“That’s too bad,” Daniela murmured. “You two hadsucha romantic evening ahead of you.”
Dark eyes narrowed on her face. “I fail to see,” he said carefully, drawing each word out, “how that could possibly be any concern of yours.”
Her cheeks heated. “It’s not.”
A taunting gleam entered his eyes. “If I didn’t know better, Miss Moreau, I would think you were jealous.”
Her temper flared. Before she could respond, he turned and sauntered over to an exhibit on the facing wall. This timeshefollowed him.
“I’m not jealous of you and Shara,” she snapped, reaching his side. “If you think I am, think again.”
