when most of his brothers were so much younger, and we, of course, were fully grown men doing manly things. Now I grabbed onto that rule and clung to it like a lifeline. It might be my only hope.
“Why have you decided to apply for an internship at this company?” I blurted the words and looked up, probably interrupting whatever he and Saint were discussing, but the question burned within me.
I wanted it to be more than just a family connection. I wanted… Me. I coughed lightly, trying to dislodge that single inappropriate thought.
It didn’t matter what I wanted or didn’t want. It couldn’t matter. Saint’s family to one side, I didn’t shit where I ate. That was my rule. Lifeline two. I almost checked off the reasons not to be attracted to Jamie on my fingers at the same time as I breathed his scent deeper into my lungs.
“Simple.” Jamie’s face remained calm. “Caldwell & Holton is a very successful young company. You have a range of specialties, and I’ve spent some time researching your case history—you’ve won more than you lost. I think I can learn a lot here.”
“Good answer.” Saint scribbled something in Jamie’s file. “I wish every prospective intern did some research before an interview.”
I nodded agreement then returned my attention to my standard question list. “What are your strengths? I mean, I understand you might gain working here, but what will you offer to the firm in return?”
Saint turned to me and scoffed a little. “Apart from someone to make the coffee and do some photocopying?”
I knew what he was thinking. I hadn’t gone after any of the others as hard. No one else had needed to prove themselves beyond “what area of law would you like to work in?” but for my own sanity and Saint’s rule, this needed to be as hard as possible for Jamie to achieve.
“Actually,” Jamie spoke up, “I’m tenacious, and although I don’t like confrontation—”
I laughed in surprise at his frank admission, the sound harsh rather than amused.
But Jamie continued as if I hadn’t interrupted. “So when I have to make any sort of argument, I like to be prepared. I know my facts inside out, upside down, and around the back. I’m fast but accurate, and when I want something, I go for it.”
The look he sent me seemed to hum with challenge, and I dropped my gaze first. “Very good,” I murmured, and a thrill of electricity darted through me.
His poise unnerved me. And his confidence was irritatingly sexy—especially when I needed him to be a whole lot less impressive.
Saint stuck his hand out, the same way he had to dismiss all the candidates. “Well, thank you for coming in, Jamie. We’ll be in touch with you in due course.”
“Oh.” Jamie’s mouth formed an actual small ‘o,’ and an unexpected wave of affection rippled through me “I had a question, if that’s all right?”
Saint’s brow creased for a moment, then he waved a small gesture. “Another first from today. Someone who won’t leave when they’re told. All right. Go ahead.”
“What is Caldwell & Holton’s history of hiring summer interns into full-time positions?”
My pulse notched up, and I almost wanted to high-five him. He was acing this interview. But I gripped my armrests to keep me in my seat. “Good question, Jamie.” Then I pressed my finger to my lip like I might be considering my reply. “Frankly, none.” I glanced at Saint. “I mean, we have very high standards and only three years of potential intern hires, so the math checks out. But who knows? This year might be the one where an intern becomes a new hire.”
Saint nodded his agreement. “It might.”
Jamie stood and shook Saint’s hand again, then mine. “Thank you both for the opportunity to interview,” he said, and as the door clicked shut behind him, my skin still tingled where he’d touched me.
“He did pretty well.” Saint’s eyes were full of admiration for his brother.
“No doubt. Maybe law runs in your family as much as medicine?”
Jamie would make a great asset to the firm, especially if he decided to stick with us beyond graduation. Maybe this year would be the year we wanted to hire someone after all—although it was still far too early to make that sort of judgment. We still had twelve more hopeful prospects to interview.
After the final interviewee left, Ella brought us each a cup of coffee and we studied the interviewee files, making pros and cons lists and