“You’re shaking,” he observed quietly, his voice rough.

“Just startled,” she lied, barely able to form words with his thumb tracing an unconscious pattern where it rested just below her rib cage. “Maybe we should review the-”

“Juni.” The nickname fell from his lips like a confession, his grip tightening slightly. “Maybe we should talk about-”

The lights surged back, the elevator lurching into motion. Juniper stepped backward quickly, smoothing her skirt with trembling hands.

“The witness lists,” she said too brightly, “They need to be updated by-”

“Right,” Daniel cut in, resignation coloring his tone. “I’ll get those done first.”

The doors opened to reveal Sophia waiting in the lobby. Her eyebrows rose slightly as she took in their carefully maintained distance.