ly quiet-almost solemn-and the thick carpeting muffled the sound of her sensible heels. Clutching a stack of heavy docu

ly rehearsing the lies she needed to tell to gain access to the penthouse again. All she

rounded the corner near the m

of a man-the unmistakable feel of a

ages scattering across the mirror-polished floor. Eleanor stumbled backward, catching her heel awkwardl

d: cedarwood and bergamot, underscored by a deep, musky note. It wa

murmured close to her ear, the vibration

ome in a dark, high-end suit, his expression utterly composed. "Cruz?" she whispered,

in a sharp grey suit and holding a t

t over the documents scattered on the floor before shifting to the two of them. "Th

nt Este

. He wasn't just her best friend's wealthy, handsome older brother; he was the CEO o

t and shock washed over her. Her mo

l distance, but Cruz's arms held her waist firmly, preventing her from pulling away. The

, his lips grazing he

murmured, his voice a dangerous, dark-velvet whisper that mad

ied and furious that he would say something s

on Eleanor's face. "Cancel my afternoon schedule. Miss Thompso

widened as she

nd, his long, elegant fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His thumb brushed against her burni

ispered-his voice dropping to a low, seductive register mean