Chapter 1 Temptation and Lust

Monday Morning

Sienna's POV

The soft click of Sienna’s kitten heels echoed through the marble lobby of the Morgan & Michaels law firm on State Street. She gave Todd the front desk clerk, a polite smile as he handed her her visitor clearance badge, though she didn’t need it anymore. She was official now, one month in as Head of Forensics Accounting, and yet, this morning, her nerves itched beneath her skin like it was her first day all over again.

“Morning, Todd.”

“Morning, Ms. Carter,” he said with a wide grin, eyes flicking over her plain navy-blue oversized suit. “Looking sharp as always.”

Sienna chuckled softly and kept moving, breezing past security and into the elevator. As the silver doors slid shut, she caught her reflection. Gone was the woman from Saturday, no contacts, no bold lipstick, no figure-hugging dress. Just Sienna Carter... quiet, efficient, and dressed like someone’s stern favorite librarian. Saturday felt like a lifetime ago.

She touched the side of her glasses, wondering if he had even recognized her then.

When she reached the eighth floor, her assistant Trevor practically burst through the frosted-glass doors of their suite.

“Good morning... wait. Sienna!” Trevor huffed, breathless. “We have a huge problem.”

Sienna paused mid-step, brow lifted. “Okay. What kind of problem?”

“You’ve been summoned.”

“By who?”

Trevor swallowed hard. “The office.”

Sienna stopped dead in her tracks. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath, quickly scanning her brain for any mistakes, misfiled data, anything. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know,” Trevor whispered dramatically. “But he said he wants to see you now.”

Without another word, Sienna dumped her bag on her desk, snatched a notepad and pen, and nearly tripped over herself as she rushed back into the hallway. Her heart pounded against her ribs, not just from the sudden urgency, but from him.

Knox Michaels.

She paused outside his office door, inhaled sharply, and then knocked twice. Her stomach fluttered as his deep voice boomed from the other side.

“Come in.”

She opened the door and stepped inside.

There he was.

Tall. Commanding. A black Adonis behind a sleek mahogany desk.

Knox Michaels sat with the confidence of a man who’d never been told no. Six-foot-four of smooth, caramel skin and lean muscle beneath his white dress shirt, the top two buttons left undone like temptation itself. Tattoos peeked out from his sleeves and his collar, hinting at a past he didn’t speak about. His jaw was carved, his beard perfectly lined, and his eyes, God, those eyes, were a rich, dangerous brown that studied her like she was something to be unraveled, not just respected.

He motioned to the seat across from him. “Have a seat.”

Sienna tried to steel herself, but her hands were already damp with nerves. “Good morning, Mr. Michaels,” she said, sitting down stiffly. “Trevor said you wanted to see me. Is everything alright?”

“It’s good to see you again,” he said smoothly, eyes lingering just a fraction too long.

She blinked. “You too.”

“Let’s get to it,” he continued, leaning back with effortless authority. “We’ve got a situation. The mayor of Evanston has hired us for full representation. There’s an ongoing federal investigation into misappropriated city funds, millions unaccounted for. Your team will be the first step. I want every dollar traced. I want a paper trail that sings.”

Her professional switch flipped on. “Understood. I’ll assemble the team immediately.”

He nodded once. “The files have already been sent to your office. I need this tight, Sienna. You’ll be reporting directly to me.”

She rose to her feet. “I’ll get started right away.”

But as she turned to leave, he said casually, “You looked incredible at the wedding, by the way.”

Her feet froze. Slowly, she turned back around. “Oh… thank you,” she said, her voice suddenly soft, smaller. “It was a beautiful event. How was your night?”

He smirked slightly. “Beautiful… went home with someone.”

The words landed like stones in her chest. She masked the ache with a tight smile. “That’s… nice.”

She turned quickly, not trusting herself to say anything else. But before she could open the door, his voice stopped her again.

“I’ll be waiting on your findings.”

“Of course,” she replied, hand trembling as she gripped the doorknob.

The moment she stepped out, she closed the door behind her and rested her forehead against it. Her breath shuddered out of her chest.

“That man is… too much,” she whispered. “Too damn fine. And way out of my league.”

She gathered herself and walked away, heels clicking with purpose, though her mind was anything but focused.

Inside the office, Knox watched her go.

His jaw clenched as his gaze trailed the sway of her hips beneath that shapeless suit. His eyes narrowed slightly, lips parting as he took in her full curves, the softness of her breasts hidden behind the lapels, the memory of her exposed skin from the wedding flashing across his mind.

She didn’t even look like the same woman from Saturday night.

Then, she had shimmered. Bold red lips. Tight black satin dress. Smooth skin that made his mouth water. The same lips she nervously bit when she walked into his office.

That mouth…

He shook his head, jaw tightening.

Not your type.

Too quiet. Too modest. Too real.

But there was something magnetic about her. Something he didn’t want to want, but did.

His phone buzzed. A text from Bree lit up the screen.

Bree: I’m in town. Let’s make tonight unforgettable.

He exhaled sharply, clicking the message open.

Knox: When?

Bree: Your place. Tonight. And I want you naked.

His lips curled into a grin as he typed:

Knox: Say less.

But even as he stared at Bree’s I*******m-perfect face in her profile photo, fiery red curls, perfect tan skin, pouting full lips, his mind wandered to another image.

Light caramel skin.

Thick curls tied back.

Glasses that hid a fire behind her eyes.

Sienna.

He swallowed the growl building in his throat and threw the phone down.

“Too damn real,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair.

But even with Bree coming over tonight, he already knew what woman would haunt his dreams