When the Hearts collide

sketchpad balanced on her knees, umbrella tipped just enough to protect the page but not herself. Her black coat was soaked th

aked in a navy-blue suit that had seen better days. She couldn't hear him, but his frustration translated easily into posture and expression. There was som

ic

er mechanical

looked up-r

pped mattering. His dark eyes narrowed in confusion before he

eart

t like the begin

in her studio apartment. It was the size of a closet, the rent was absurd,

n. Despite the hurried strokes, it was good. Too good. Emotion practica

," she whispered, sippi

it jacket and slumped into his leather chair. The day had been hell. His firm was collapsing under an embezzlement

d in his mind wa

was

He'd only glanced at her for a moment, but something about

ated

away spot near the art district, more out of habit tha

not n

ere sh

n concentration, messy curls tucked behind her ears. She wore overall

yes met

ned. Sh

she said, standing

ed. "Exc

k yesterday. I drew you." She tilted her sketchp

ketch, then at her

You looked miserabl

t exactly

ant to be. I

. But he laughed. A real,

, offering a hand

haking it. "Still ca

he was odd and open and chaotic. He was guarded, poli

it

the next day.

him reading, thinking, and once while he was sleeping on th

el human. He ma

ey were falling unt

rriving with thunder-an

ts. Ugly ones. Ones that

hing he didn't know he w

o