t thudded erratically as fragments of last night tumbled through her mind-Xander's kiss, the feel of his ha

as she

l deal. And yet, the way Xander had kissed her wasn't fake. It h

running pulled her attention. Her stomach flipped at the thought of him just

he muttered to herse

is hips. His dark hair was damp, droplets of water trailing down hi

, his lips curving into

tending to focus on the clo

ulled out a shirt and began dressing right in front

l?" he ask

tated. "I-y

arp and assessing. "You've

uldn't have happened," she sai

sion unreadable. "You didn't se

s-whatever this is-complicates things. We

whelming. "Pretending doesn't mean w

d in her chest. "

ouch so gentle it made her breath

oor interrupted them. Sienna practically jumped

d. "Saved by the knock," he mut

-

d in the living room, facing a sharp

ard the woman. "She handles the PR for Hawthorne Indu

ortably under Veronic

ica said, her tone clipped. "The sudden marriage has ev

ies?" Sienna asked,

culation that this is a sham to distract fr

hat's why we need to control t

able. "Interviews, public appearances, and a curated social medi

nterviews? Public appearance

horne," Veronica said coldly.

s knee, the touch grounding. "R

eassuring, but instead, they

-

lly staged outings, and interviews where Sienna had to sit besi

Xander, the more blurred the lines became. He was attentive in a way

herself on the penthouse balcony, staring out at the city lights. The cool

you're a mill

y, two glasses of wine in hand. He handed one to

e in," she admitte

ine. "It's a lot for anyone. But you'

compliment?

said with a

stretching out before them. For a moment, it wa

ked suddenly, br

his expression serio

d have chosen for this... arra

searching hers. "Becaus

ke

ietly. "You challenge me, Sienna. You don't take my bullshit, and you

ipped a beat

is hand brushing against hers. The tension between

me," he murmured, hi

elieve him, but the walls she'd built a

nde

h a desperation that stole her breath. She melted into h

ed apart, both of them

me," she

furrowe

his to be real," she admitt

his gaze burning into he

-