Page 107 of A Legal Affair

Hoyt Philbin.

What the hell was he doing here? And what did he want?

Only one way to find out, unfortunately.

She reluctantly crossed the lobby and walked outside.

“Miss Roarke.” Philbin’s languid smile crawled across her skin like fire ants. “Nice to see you this fine morning.”

“This is the second time we’ve run into each other in less than a week,” Daniela said suspiciously. “Are youfollowingme?”

His smile didn’t slip a notch. “We’ve got things to discuss. Get in.”

Daniela frowned, glancing back at the building. Caleb had been standing at the windows earlier. What if he’d returned to that spot? What if he happened to look down and see her climbing into a strange black SUV? How would she explain herself?

She shook her head at Philbin. “I don’t think?—”

“You can either get in,” he calmly warned, “or I’ll follow you inside and make a scene that will surely get back to your new beau.”

A chill ran through her. Somehow she knew he wasn’t bluffing.

His driver got out, walked around to the other side and opened the back door for her. Gritting her teeth, she went around the rear of the SUV and climbed into the cool darkness of the backseat. The driver slammed the door shut behind her and returned to his side to stand guard.

She glared at his boss. “What do you want?”

Philbin wore a perfectly tailored dark suit, a narrow silver tie and polished black wingtips. He sat with his legs elegantly crossed and his hands folded in his lap.

“Aw, look at you wearing your boyfriend’s clothes.” His flinty blue eyes raked over Daniela, taking in the too-big Longhorns shirt and too-big slides. “How adorable.”

His mocking condescension raised her hackles. “Again I ask, sir, what do you want?”

He gave her a hard look. “You’re starting to test my patience, Miss Roarke. I’m not paying you to play house with Caleb Thorne. You’re supposed to be getting me the goods on him and his father.”

“I don’t have any goods to give you,” Daniela said tightly.

“That’s disappointing to hear. Very disappointing.” His lips thinned in grim disapproval. “I know you may find this hard to believe, Daniela, but Caleb Thorne is no Boy Scout. When he practiced law, it wasn’t uncommon for him to engage in unscrupulous conduct that could have gotten him disbarred.”

I did things I’m not proud of….

She stared at Philbin as a chilling possibility struck her. “Are you after Crandall Thorne or his son?”

Philbin smiled narrowly. “To successfully dethrone a king, you must first strike down the fearless prince to kill the bloodline and prevent future uprisings.”

Icy dread congealed in her veins. “Leave him alone,” she hissed without thinking.

Philbin’s eyebrows shot up. “I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me. Stay the hell away from Caleb.”

He stared at her for a moment, then threw back his head with a roar of laughter.

Daniela frowned, darkly tempted to stab him in the throat with Caleb’s mail key. She wouldn’t get away with it, of course. His goon/driver would rugby-tackle her to the ground before she’d made it even three steps. But it was a pleasant, albeit twisted, fantasy.

“Oh dear. You really have fallen head over heels, haven’t you?” Philbin tsked and wagged his head at her. “Your brothers assured me you were a sensible, level-headed young woman. They said if anyone could resist the legendary Thorne charm, it was you. How wrong they were. Frankly, Daniela, I’m feeling a bit swindled. Perhaps I should demand a refund of my retainer.”

“Fine by me,” she said hotly. “Doing business with you was obviously a big mistake.”

“Your brothers would strongly disagree.” He sighed and regarded her pityingly. “You’re not thinking clearly right now, Daniela. You’re caught up in the first blush of love, and it’s clouding your judgment and making you irrational. But you need to understand that you and your brothers entered into an agreement with me. Money changed hands, promises were made. I fully expect you to uphold your end of the bargain.”