weight, solid and not going away soon. “Is it truly one of the requirements of employment I attend bonding camp?”
Lauren forced herself not to clench her hands into fists. She focused on keeping them elegantly crossed, one on top of the other, in her lap. It wasn’t easy. She’d heard about these corporate bonding camps, and it wasn’t something she was interested in doing. Lauren wasn’t into getting close to strangers. Sure, you worked with them but that’s what it was—work. Lauren kept her friends close, closer than most, but she kept them private. She had her reasons. That’s why she always kept work and her private life separate. But bonding camp?
Problem was…she really wanted this job.
Already chiding herself for the “you’ve got to be kidding”
outburst, she waited for Justice Cane’s answer to her question and tried not to fidget. This was her fourth interview with Cane, Moss, and White, but her first with one of the partners. Justice Cane—the name suited his profession, to say the least. She wanted to give the impression of class and elegance, the exact qualities the firm was noted for. They were one of the most prestigious law firms in the Tri-State Area and were known nationally for some high-profile cases. It Bonding Camp
9
would only be a stepping stone for her, true, but a reference she would need if she wanted to move on to bigger and better firms in the larger cities. She wanted the name Lauren Brooke to be synonymous with elegance and hard-biting lawyer. A position with Cane, Moss, and White would be the first step toward achieving the distinction.
“Lauren…may I call you Lauren?” Mr. Cane asked.
“Of course, Mr. Cane.”
“Call me Justice. Mr. Cane puts distance between us, and here at Cane, Moss, and White, we like to keep everyone close. A connection of sorts between all of us, partners and associates included. It gives us a combined front when it comes to appearances, and we share a bond, a closeness, while working on sticky cases. It’s the reason we ask our newest associates to attend bonding camp. So they can be brought into the family, so to speak. Be a part of what it means to be one of us.” He leaned back in his chair, his mouth forming an easy smile.
“That way we learn your strengths and your weaknesses. What makes you tick. What your passions are…”—he tilted his head—“…so we can handpick associates for specific cases.”
Lauren swallowed. He had an awesome smile, with dimples included. It was warm and inviting and…
Don’t go there. She could not allow herself to think of him as anything other than a partner in the firm, therefore her prospective boss. But, dang, this man was the definition of handsome. Dark hair, tan, trim with the hint of muscles beneath the suit, his warm brown eyes sparkled with energy and a bit of daring. The “daring” part was intriguing. Was he daring her?
“I try to keep my private life and my work life separate. Bonding camp seems so…personal.”
He threaded his fingers together and rested his hands on his stomach. “You’re right. It does get personal. The exact reason why we require it. We want to know you. Know your limitations. If it’s a problem—”
10
Christelle Mirin
“I think I can do it, Mr. Cane…Justice,” she interrupted. “I know I can.” She really wanted this position. If bonding camp is what it took, she’d have to deal with it. Chalk it up to another step toward her goal.
“Good to hear, Lauren.” Justice sat forward and pulled an appointment book toward him. He flipped through a few pages. “Let’s see…Are you free this weekend?” He picked up a pen and poised it above the book. Looking at her, he raised an eyebrow. “Will that work for you?”
She took a slow breath in. It was almost as if he were asking her for a date. But she knew he wasn’t. So far, he’d been all business with no hint of attraction to her other than his smile. Then there was that mention of
Lauren forced herself not to clench her hands into fists. She focused on keeping them elegantly crossed, one on top of the other, in her lap. It wasn’t easy. She’d heard about these corporate bonding camps, and it wasn’t something she was interested in doing. Lauren wasn’t into getting close to strangers. Sure, you worked with them but that’s what it was—work. Lauren kept her friends close, closer than most, but she kept them private. She had her reasons. That’s why she always kept work and her private life separate. But bonding camp?
Problem was…she really wanted this job.
Already chiding herself for the “you’ve got to be kidding”
outburst, she waited for Justice Cane’s answer to her question and tried not to fidget. This was her fourth interview with Cane, Moss, and White, but her first with one of the partners. Justice Cane—the name suited his profession, to say the least. She wanted to give the impression of class and elegance, the exact qualities the firm was noted for. They were one of the most prestigious law firms in the Tri-State Area and were known nationally for some high-profile cases. It Bonding Camp
9
would only be a stepping stone for her, true, but a reference she would need if she wanted to move on to bigger and better firms in the larger cities. She wanted the name Lauren Brooke to be synonymous with elegance and hard-biting lawyer. A position with Cane, Moss, and White would be the first step toward achieving the distinction.
“Lauren…may I call you Lauren?” Mr. Cane asked.
“Of course, Mr. Cane.”
“Call me Justice. Mr. Cane puts distance between us, and here at Cane, Moss, and White, we like to keep everyone close. A connection of sorts between all of us, partners and associates included. It gives us a combined front when it comes to appearances, and we share a bond, a closeness, while working on sticky cases. It’s the reason we ask our newest associates to attend bonding camp. So they can be brought into the family, so to speak. Be a part of what it means to be one of us.” He leaned back in his chair, his mouth forming an easy smile.
“That way we learn your strengths and your weaknesses. What makes you tick. What your passions are…”—he tilted his head—“…so we can handpick associates for specific cases.”
Lauren swallowed. He had an awesome smile, with dimples included. It was warm and inviting and…
Don’t go there. She could not allow herself to think of him as anything other than a partner in the firm, therefore her prospective boss. But, dang, this man was the definition of handsome. Dark hair, tan, trim with the hint of muscles beneath the suit, his warm brown eyes sparkled with energy and a bit of daring. The “daring” part was intriguing. Was he daring her?
“I try to keep my private life and my work life separate. Bonding camp seems so…personal.”
He threaded his fingers together and rested his hands on his stomach. “You’re right. It does get personal. The exact reason why we require it. We want to know you. Know your limitations. If it’s a problem—”
10
Christelle Mirin
“I think I can do it, Mr. Cane…Justice,” she interrupted. “I know I can.” She really wanted this position. If bonding camp is what it took, she’d have to deal with it. Chalk it up to another step toward her goal.
“Good to hear, Lauren.” Justice sat forward and pulled an appointment book toward him. He flipped through a few pages. “Let’s see…Are you free this weekend?” He picked up a pen and poised it above the book. Looking at her, he raised an eyebrow. “Will that work for you?”
She took a slow breath in. It was almost as if he were asking her for a date. But she knew he wasn’t. So far, he’d been all business with no hint of attraction to her other than his smile. Then there was that mention of
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