POV: Siena Blake**

I clicked the pen shut and placed it carefully on Lucian’s desk, the signed agreement between us now resting in front of him. He didn’t reach for it right away. He didn’t even glance down at the contract. Instead, he watched me. Quiet. Still. His expression unreadable.

I stood up slowly, smoothing the front of my blouse. “If that’s all, I should head to my office. I have a long list of tasks to get through this morning.”

Lucian didn’t move.

But his voice stopped me halfway to the door.

“Ms. Blake,” he said calmly, “Are you sure we haven’t met before?”

My heart jumped.

Not skipped....