AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If someone would have told me that watching Landon West in action would have been some sort of sexy aphrodisiac…actually, I probably would have believed them. Landon makes everything look sexy. Despite the fact that I was furiously scribbling down notes, I couldn’t ignore the way my skin heated up every time he objected to something the opposing counsel said. Every time he made a point that left the other side scrambling in defense, I squeezed my legs together tighter. He’s a brilliant lawyer, with a level of charisma that can’t be taught. It’s innate and all one can do is hope that by proxy the skills will rub off on them.
Now I’m thinking about him rubbing off on me.
Rubbing on me.
I cough back the tension bubbling up in my throat and I’m grateful that he’s been on the phone since we emerged from the courtroom because the way I’m feeling, I might ask him to touch me right here in the middle of the hallway. To kiss me like he did last night.
So, not only am I attracted to him physically, but now I am attracted to him mentally, too.
I am so screwed.
Yes, screwed, Serena. As in let him screw you.
“What did you think?” His words interrupt my train of thought. Our eyes meet and the crooked smile I’ve come to love spreads across his face.
“It was so exhilarating.” The words leave my mouth in a gush. “You were fantastic!” I hadn’t meant to sound like a fangirl mooning over a rockstar but the way he looks at me in shock, it’s safe to say he appreciates my praise. “Thank you for letting me tag along.” I hold my memo pad—with all the notes I took— close to my chest as we make our way through the empty hallway.
His hand skates over my shoulders, finding my lower back and I shiver at his touch. It stops me in my tracks and he follows suit, leaving us in the middle of the hallway. He moves closer to me, close enough to remind me of his cologne and the fact that he is currently chewing spearmint gum; it makes me weak in the knees. “You are most welcome, sweetheart. I’m glad I could be there for your first time.” His term of endearment warms my bones as well as other parts of me.
“I took so many notes.” I push my glasses further on my nose and tuck a hair behind my ear. “Do…do you want to see? I’m sure you’ve already thought of everything, but there was one card I feel like you could have played.” I fiddle with the notepad in my hand, suddenly feel stupid. He’s a smart, cunning lawyer, what could I possibly add that he hasn’t even thought of? “I…sorry.” I look down, regretting my words instantly when he raises my chin to look at him.
“Why are you sorry? I’d love to see what you wrote down. Good lawyers talk a lot, great lawyers listen. Remember that, Serena.” He winks.
I nod, soaking in all the advice that this man can give. We walk towards the exit and I feel like I’m floating on a cloud, when I’m suddenly brought back to Earth at the sound of my name being called.
I spin when I hear the familiar voice. “Dad! You’re not going to believe—” I start when I notice the frown on his face as he gets closer.
“Serena, what are you doing here?” My father rarely gets angry. Irritated or frustrated, yes, but it takes a lot for him to get truly angry, and rarely has it ever been towards me. But seeing the look in his eye, I can sense his anger flowing out of him in waves. His tie is loose around his neck and his jacket is slung over his arm. His hair is slightly disheveled like he’d run his hands through it several times and his eyes look tired behind his glasses.
“I…Lan— Mr. West brought me,” I stammer.
His eyes dart to the man next to me, and I wonder if he notices my slip of almost calling him by his first name. He told you to call him Landon in front of your father. Relax, Serena. Your father doesn’t know you kissed him. He doesn’t know you’re hanging out with him tonight.
“If I thought you were ready, I would have brought you myself, Serena.”
“There’s nothing to be “ready” for,” Landon interrupts. “She’s an intern it’s not like she needs to make closing remarks, P. Lighten up.” He chuckles, but I hear his defensiveness and, for a moment, I let myself dwell in that.
“You throw your interns in the deep end without so much as a life raft. I’m not about to let you do the same with Serena. She’s not ready,” He barks at Landon.
“She’s right here.” I perk up as I point at myself. “And Dad…”
“Serena, wait outside.” He gestures towards the mahogany polished door.
“Wait. What?” Is he…dismissing me?
“I said: Wait. Outside. I’m heading back to the office, you can ride with me.” I frown, hating this chastising tone he’s using. I chance a glance at Landon, but he gives nothing away as I make my way outside. I briefly think about calling Skyler to rant, but Skyler and my dad share a bond I don’t quite understand.
You understand it quite perfectly, she’s his favorite.
I take a deep breath trying to ignore the embarrassment that threatens to come out in the form of tears when my dad’s voice interrupts me. “He’s not your friend, Serena. It’s not appropriate for you to just go off with random men.”
His words are like a punch in the gut and I feel like the air slowly leaves my lungs. ‘He’s not your friend, Serena.’ “He’s not exactly random, Dad. I need material for my paper, and I wasn’t getting any sitting in your office like I have been all week.”
“You’re not interning for him, Serena.” He runs a hand through his hair and I can already hear the implication.
“So, it wasn’t that I came to court without you, but that I came with Mr. West?” Maybe, just maybe he had more faith in me than I thought. Maybe it wasn’t about wanting to keep me out of the courtroom. But just getting caught up in the charm that was Landon West.
“It’s both. You weren’t ready. You still have so much to learn. And as I told you, they were both closed hearings.”
