“On the other hand,” she went on, “if I want to succeed, I need the education.”

“And do you want to succeed? In digital business strategy or anything like it?”

A secretive smile pulled at her lips as she placed both hands out and shrugged. “I’m unsure, Mr. Knight–”

“Ethan.” He let out another little growl, not wanting the formal distance between them.

“Right. Ethan. Part of me just wants to dive in and just … do.”

Far be it from him to push her to go to school when she wasn’t sure what her path should be. “One thing I’m certain of, you’ll put one hundred percent into whatever it is you choose to do. I can tell that from this one conversation alone.” She was an excited ball of energy and drive but one without direction, he thought.

He’d like to direct that enthusiasm, he mused, thinking of her on her knees in front of him. He shook his head and refocused on the task at hand. Discussing the courses offered at Columbia, doing his job as someone who both funded and hired from this school.

But all the while, his mind kept drifting to Sienna Dare, not as a potential student or employee, but as the first woman who had interested him sexually in longer than he cared to remember. He had the distinct feeling she would be incredibly difficult to forget, and as the evening came to an end, he found himself reluctant to part from her, something he never could have anticipated.

It was everything about her, how she went from youthful free spirit to bright businesswoman capable of having a serious conversation about topics that would have most people’s eyes glazing over. The way she spoke, so animated and excitedly, as if everything she said had great importance. She alone had taken him away from the burdens that consumed him day in and day out, making him forget everything but the joy of being with her.

He’d allowed her the freedom to talk to other trustees, donors, and CEOs who could enlighten her on the program and the benefits of furthering her education here, despite hating every second of her focus being on other people and not him.

At the moment, another man had captured her attention, an older gentleman who was clearly interested not just in what she had to say about social media marketing strategy, but was also inching nearer to her the longer they talked.

Ethan might not be much better than this man when it came to noticing Sienna’s charms, but there was no way he was going to let the man monopolize her attention or behave inappropriately on his watch.

As the guy inched closer and Sienna took a visible step back, Ethan swooped in. “The night’s about over and, Cooper, isn’t your protégé waving, trying to get your attention?” As soon as the man glanced over his shoulder, Ethan hooked his arm into Sienna’s and walked her away.