The office was quiet now, the usual hum of activity fading as the afternoon sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the polished floors. Ava sat at her desk, reviewing a stack of contracts, her mind attempting to focus on the figures and clauses in front of her. Yet her thoughts kept drifting back to Lucas Sterling—his presence, his teasing, the subtle way he had watched her today, and the faint but undeniable pull he had on her.

She heard the soft click of his office door ...