linting beneath a pale afternoon sun. Cars glided along the streets below, distant and insignific

hinking

na

tle girl wi

o focus on work all morning, but every time he blinked, he saw the same image - t

at a part of him he hadn't realized was st

Black

stepped in. "The legal team is waiting fo

tly. "Leave it ther

hen asked, "Is ever

is chair, exhaling slow

ely. "About busines

morless laugh. "Isn't i

said it, he kne

quieter - at lea

e sat at her desk, sorting through a pile of papers, pretending her hands weren't tre

od next to her and Aria.

le

fellow teacher, leaning against the doorway, arms

r ten minutes," Lydia said. "Don't tell m

, setting the papers

dia teased. "Or

rubbing her te

chool again this morning. The Adrian Blackwood. Bi

ad with a small laugh. "He's just.

the word out. "And the sun jus

traced the rim of her coffee cup absently. "It's bee

brow. "You su

She wasn't sure abo

opened her laptop to che

al for Art Prog

drian B

omach

e to ignore. He wanted to fund a new art initiative for the school and req

e

pushed the laptop slightly aw

ness... or so

om

a holding a crayon-streaked paper

tting the laptop aside.

her picture proudly. "It's you and me

hing her daughter's c

. Adrian's voice still echoed faintly in her memory - calm, deep, f

world to stay safe from e

l earlier than scheduled. The halls were stil

ack, building programs that mattered - but when he walked

hinking

ing jars of paint. The light caught the curve of her face, the f

throat gently

arly dropping a brush. "Mr

slightly.

n. "I wasn't expecting you yet. I

ea," he said, ly

d a chair. "You can

lancing around the colorful room. "It's

d most of my time,

replied, his gaze

The air between them was thick, ful

me. I'd like to sponsor an art program here - something ongoi

focus on something practical. "That would

"Especially your da

ipped. "Yes.

l," he said softly.

ed, her throat tight.

d, time stilled. There was hist

m, flipping it open. Their hands brushed as t

ack - his touch, his laugh, the way he once traced his t

her eyes, the same hesitat

k. "You seem familiar," he said quietl

ly. "I don't think so," she l

ong moment, then smiled fai

ng ended, she

me, Miss Hart," he sai

shaking it. His palm

rmured. "Thank you

oed down the hall - Aria running toward her, p

und. The little girl threw her a

made anoth

hem - the closeness, the easy affection.

, gentle but curi

. "Hi, Mr.

ly. "What are you

whispered dramatic

d. "I'll look

here was something new in his expression - not just curiosit

nod and walked

him go, her

closed behind him, she w

on't reme