Page 82 of A Legal Affair
“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.”
Daniela laughed impishly. The man’s jealousy knew no bounds.
Soon they were cruising out of the city and through rolling pastureland surrounded by steep hills blanketed in the deep green of pine forests. With at least two more hours of daylight left, the sun remained high on the horizon—a vibrant, glowing orb.
For the next forty-five minutes, Caleb and Daniela talked, about anything and everything. They swapped tales about growing up in San Antonio, and discovered commonalities ranging from favorite foods to places they’d frequented as teenagers. As they laughed and conversed, their roles as professor and student ceased to exist, nor did their eight-year age gap matter. They were simply two people enjoying each other’s company as they became better acquainted. If there was any way Daniela could have prolonged their ride to the ranch, buying herself more time alone with Caleb, she would have—in a heartbeat.
And that should have scared her.
Eventually the road narrowed into two twisting lanes that wound through the foothills of the mountain range. Caleb negotiated the steep curves with the skilled ease of someone who could drive the route in his sleep.
“We’re almost there,” he told Daniela.
She nodded, anxiety knotting in her stomach. But as she turned her head and stared out the window, nerves were all but forgotten as her attention was captured by the natural beauty of their surroundings. Perched high on a bluff before them was a rambling hacienda-style ranch house with a wraparound porch. Below that lay a rugged valley set against the backdrop of rolling hills that rose from the earth like proud, silent sentinels.
“Oh, Caleb…” Daniela breathed, soaking in the sight before her. “Your retirement plan just received my ringing endorsement.”
He chuckled softly. “It has that effect, doesn’t it?”
She nodded vigorously. “How long has your father lived here?”
“He bought the ranch as an investment property twenty years ago. He only began using it as his primary residence earlier this year, after he got sick.” As Caleb spoke, he steered the car uphill, past several barns and outbuildings and a large roping arena where a few ranch hands lingered, herding cattle into a holding pen and tending to other tasks that required completion before the day’s end. The men, their faces covered in sweat and grime beneath the brim of dusty Stetsons, grinned and called greetings to Caleb when they spied the Phantom. He waved in response and continued up the road until they reached the main house, where he parked in one of the six detached garages.
As he cut the ignition, the butterflies in Daniela’s stomach returned. She was seized with the terrible fear that Crandall Thorne would take one look at her, see her for the fraud that she was and have her unceremoniously jettisoned from his property.But that wasn’t even the worst part of it. The worst part was that Caleb would never speak to her again—except, maybe, to call her an indescribably horrible bitch who deserved to burn in hell.
As if sensing her apprehension, Caleb reached over and gently cupped her cheek in his big, warm hand. “It’s going to be okay,” he said quietly. “Just be yourself.”
Daniela felt a fresh stab of guilt.Just be yourself.Hadn’t Kenneth told her the very same thing yesterday? What a cruel freaking joke.
Swallowing hard, she forced a nod. “I’ll be fine.”
Caleb smiled, then climbed out of the car and came around to open her door and help her out. His warm palm settled reassuringly on the low curve of her back, a light pressure that guided her up the walk toward the sprawling two-story ranch house. They had barely reached the front door before it was swung open by a tall, handsome woman wearing a red cotton sundress with a matching belt cinched around her broad waist.
She beamed a welcoming smile at them. “It’s about time you two made it!” she exclaimed in warm, lilting tones that hinted at a Southern accent.
With a lazy grin, Caleb leaned down to plant a kiss on the woman’s upturned cheek, which was the color of dark caramel and looked just as smooth.
“Evening, Ms. Rita,” he drawled with unmistakable affection in his voice. “You’re looking pretty as a picture. Is that a new dress?”
The woman’s smile widened with pleasure as she glanced down at herself. “What, this old thing? Shoot, no. It’s just something I pulled out from the back of the closet for the special occasion.”
Before Daniela could wonder what special occasion she was referring to, the woman’s dark gaze landed on her. “This must be the young lady your father has been expecting.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Caleb turned to Daniela at his side, his hand returning to the small of her back in that unmistakably possessive manner she found irresistible. “Ms. Rita, I’d like you to meet Daniela Moreau. Daniela, this is Rita Owens—the only woman on earth patient enough to put up with my father for thirty years and counting.”
Grinning and wagging her head at Caleb’s introduction, the woman clasped Daniela’s hand in the solid warmth of her own. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Daniela. Welcome to our home.”
