had that strange sense of hostility that I hadn’t been able to understand at Toddy’s.
He nodded curtly, barely an acknowledgment of me and started moving past the table toward the door.
I released a shaky exhale of trepidation. Between my bout of nerves and Nico’s attitude toward me, I didn’t know how much I’d even learn at Saint’s firm. Interning had a reputation for being free labor of the most basic kind rather than being a teaching environment.
Luckily, Saint’s positions paid a little this year, but that didn’t mean I wanted to make my money between filing and coffee runs if Nico had an issue with me. Still, I straightened my shoulders. Maybe his attitude was actually going to make my life easier. I couldn’t exactly have a crush on someone who wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.
“Come with me.” Nico’s words held no expression, and his face remained neutral. He could have been talking to me or the wooden doorframe.
I followed him to his office in uncomfortable silence. I didn’t dare start speaking in case nerves kept the words coming. I could just imagine them flowing from my mouth in an unstoppable stream of nonsense. That wasn’t the first impression I wanted to make. Instead, I focused on his designer shoes, muffled against the glossy hardwood of the serene hallway, the fit of his pants as they hugged his thighs, and the tangy scent of his soap overlaying the woodsmoke cologne that seemed to be his essence.
I gave myself a mental shake. I needed to stop focusing on Nico. My mind recited his name to the cadence of his steps. Ni-co, Ni-co, Ni-co. All the way down a seemingly endless corridor.
To distract myself, I peered into other rooms as we passed. First, a large open-plan room with at least six desks. Some were occupied, and everyone looked busy. Then individual offices. They were all so different. I spotted Saint’s right away—only he would fancy himself as old English aristocracy on the job. But I only caught a glimpse as Nico didn’t slow his stride at all.
Ni-co. Ni-co. Ni-co.
Nico.
I shook my head, suddenly flustered as he swung toward me and gestured toward a door. The office was almost the exact opposite of Saint’s luxury and opulence. Nico’s office, though large, was utilitarian.
“Nice bookshelves.” I nodded to the books covering two of the walls.
“Oh.” He looked up as if he hadn’t expected to see them. “Thanks.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk as he moved around to his own. “Take a seat.”
I sucked in a breath between barely parted lips. He wasn’t going to make this internship easy. For a moment, I hesitated. I could just pack it all in. I didn’t have to stay where I clearly wasn’t wanted.
As I wrestled with my own thoughts—to stay or go and the pros and cons of each—I sat down without really giving myself permission to do so. I pulled my laptop out of my messenger bag and perched it on my lap.
Nico waved a quick hand. “You can put it on that side of the desk until we get a space set up for you. I’m not particular about the furniture.”
“Thanks.” I had no idea whether I needed to take notes, but I wanted to look ready. I set everything up and waited, my fingers hovering over keys.
“First.” Nico shuffled a little and cleared his throat. “I just want to welcome you.”
“Thank you.” I murmured.
“I just need to make sure we’re on the same page about this firm—about Caldwell & Holton—and what I expect from you while you’re here.”
My fingers flew over the keys while I transcribed what he was saying. I was lucky—I’d been able to touch type at speed for a long time.
“There’s no need to type this.”
I glanced up, halfway through typing ‘this,’ and met Nico’s sheepish grin.
“I mean, it’s a welcome speech. Hardly Shakespeare.”
“Oh. Sorry, yeah. I mean it’s just how I work in class.” And typing the words gave me less time to focus on my nerves or how much I’d like Nico to spread me across his desk.
He gestured. “Okay. Whatever you prefer then.” Then he cleared his throat. “This is family law. I know you understand what that means in your classroom and to your professors, but I just want to give you a quick rundown of what it means to this firm. The one thing I want you to remember most of all is that we don’t just handle cases.