My eyes are filled with tears of exhaustion as I stare blankly at the screen of my computer. After my break, I worked for six more hours. Although it's a bit overwhelming, I'm pleased with the results. The first phase of the project is nearly complete, and it hasn't even been a week yet.

Yawning, I check the time on my phone to see that it's almost eight o’clock - three hours past my quitting time. The office has gradually become eerie with each staff member's departure, and right now, I'm pretty sure I'm the last person standing.

Yawning again, I scrub my eyes and force myself to focus on finishing my work for today. If I can get this job done, I know I'll be free as a bird for the rest of the week, project aside.

An hour more and I should be done.

Thank God I don't have to worry about picking up Skye from Fiona's today.

I'm about to get back into my task when a knock sounds on the door. I’m startled for a moment because I'm pretty sure I’m the only one left at the office. Who else could still be at the office this late?

The person knocks again and, this time, pushes the door open a crack. I heave a sigh of relief when I see my boss’s familiar face peeking out from behind the door.

He looks tired, and when he speaks, his voice doesn't carry across the room as it used to, "Still around?"

I nod, exhaling through my mouth, "Yeah. I just have a couple more things to finish up, and then I'll be on my way."

He comes in and settles into the nearest swivel chair, folding an arm behind his head. Every movement he makes is so effortlessly sexy, and I wonder how he's able to be that graceful, especially at his age.

Not that he's old. But he's not young, either.

I give him early forties, even though he doesn't look like it at all. His full head of dark hair doesn't have a single strand of gray in it, but I see some gray in his stubble. His face is still very smooth, and the only indication of his maturity would be the laugh lines framing his mouth and the depth of his eyes and composure.

"Do you need help with anything?" He asks out of the blue.

I shake my head and respond, "No. And even if I did, you wouldn't be the first person I would run to for help."

His lips tilt up in a smile. "Oh yeah? We'll see about that."

The office falls quiet, with only the sound of the thermostat humming. I notice that I'm trying harder than before to focus, and it doesn't take a magician to know why.

Everything about Kane commands my attention whether I like it or not, and this time, it's his long, well-formed thighs enclosed in navy blue pants. I imagine running my fingers along the length of it, tracing through every inch of the packed flesh. Will he twitch like Tim does? Or will he stay as stoic as his personality?

"If you're staying in the office this late, where's your daughter?"

His question is so random, and it takes me by surprise. I look up to see him staring at me with all seriousness. I don't know why, but I didn't expect him to remember I had a daughter.

"She's with a friend."

He hums to himself and returns back to thinking. This is the first time he's brought up any topic remotely concerning his niece, and I wonder why.

But then I guess the bigger question should be why he doesn't bring them up as often. He hasn't even made a reference to his brother since I got here, and as much as I'm grateful for it, I can't help wondering why he is not close to his family.

"How do you like your new office?" He pipes up again, and I refrain from sighing aloud in bliss at the deep baritone of his voice.

"I...um..." Good God. I'm free-falling faster down the slippery slope. "I'd rather be downstairs with the rest of the team," I say as a means of self-preservation. My pride wouldn't admit that his decision to change my workstation was a good one.

"Uh huh," his deadpan tone suggests he isn't convinced of my answer, so I up the ante,

"The journey up here is too long, and the fact that I have to go downstairs often to talk to my team lead is just a pain in the butt. Also, I'm closer to my narcissistic and tyrannical boss who, by the way, happened to kiss me in the elevator…"

The rest of my words come out as jumbled, muffled sounds when a hand suddenly clamps over my mouth.

Warm breath filters into my ear when Kane whispers next to me, "Shhh."

I didn't even see him move. How did he get here so fast?

"I know you're upset," he continues speaking, and this time, his voice takes on a whole new tone, "But there are some things you shouldn't be speaking so freely. It could get us in big trouble."