Bride by the Book (Crimson Romance) Read Free Page B

to feel out her skills and experience.
    Miss Angelina Brownwood was silent a moment. Just as he was about to ask if she was the person who had sent out the résumé, she spoke.
    “I’m a secretary who knows how to use a computer, although I’ve never done legal work before,” she said, in cool, even tones. “May I know to whom I’m speaking, please?”
    Garner concentrated hard on her voice but found himself unable to identify her accent. She was definitely what Southerners called a “Yankee,” but that term was liberally applied to accents hailing from New England and the Midwest, all the way to California.
    “I’m Garner Holt. My office is located on West Hickory Street, across the street from the New South Diner.”
    “I’ve seen the diner,” she said, still cool and precise. “Very well, Mr. Holt. I’d better come in and discuss the job requirements with you. When would you like to see me?”
    Just like that, Garner thought, amazed. No nonsense. No equivocating. His heart beat fast with hope. But she was bound to be in enormous demand with some of the local business offices.
    Unless she was an ax murderer. Garner looked around his dusty, cluttered office once more. But if she could clear up some of this mess …
    “How long have you been a secretary, Miss Brownwood?”
    “Five years,” she said. “How long have you been a lawyer?”
    Garner blinked at the wall, which held his framed diplomas and certifications. “About seven years,” he said drily.
    Having her as his secretary was probably going to be like having a tough maiden aunt who saw through you to the bone, Garner decided. No matter how much you loved her, you were always terrified she was going to take you over, body and soul.
    In the corner, a tottering pile of old newspapers and legal briefs suddenly gave up the good fight and spilled onto the floor.
    Maybe someone needed to take him over. Or, at least, take his office over.
    She was perfect. He was tempted to offer her the job right now, but supposed he should at least ask about her skills to try to preserve some dignity. “Do you know how to use VP-Base and Microsoft Word?”
    “Of course,” she said. She recited an entire list of other programs she used, including two he had never heard of before.
    “Oh.” Garner wondered what they were for and decided not to ask.
    He glanced at the résumé more carefully. To his surprise, it stated that she’d graduated college—Stanford University, at that—six years ago. Younger than he’d expected. At twenty-seven she was old enough to have some sense, and young enough to have some stamina. But why would an Ivy League grad be looking for a secretarial position?
    “I didn’t realize they taught secretarial courses at Stanford,” he commented. “No wonder you have so many computer-related skills.”
    She coughed delicately. “Exactly.” Was that relief he heard? “Stanford is rather … computer-oriented. Don’t worry, Mr. Holt. I’m quite skilled at what I do.”
    He blinked at her silky-voiced assurance and wondered briefly what Miss Brownwood looked like. Not that it mattered. He had three cases coming to trial in the next few weeks, and needed help. He didn’t care what the woman—or man—he hired looked like if they could type at least 50 words per minute.
    “I’m sure you are, Miss Brownwood,” he said. “That’s all I need to know for right now. I’ll see you at two o’clock sharp on Wednesday. Bring another copy of your résumé along, please.”
    It wasn’t until he’d hung up that Garner realized she had sounded a bit eager to bypass any further discussion of her academic career.
    Perhaps she had flunked. Perhaps she had never received a degree. Surely a place like Stanford didn’t have the associate degree programs popular at many community colleges.
    What did he care? Garner asked himself and decided against calling Stanford. Lots of good secretaries had never gone to college at all. Either she could do the