nvases leaned against the walls, paint-splattered jars doubled as brush holders, and the faint scent of turpentine lingered in t

e a voice from

ing a precarious stack of boxes, his

ompson?"

said, stepping a

the boxes with a relieved sigh, and han

open again. Sam burst in, a bright pink smoo

supplies?" Sam asked, eyeing the

exi replied, closing the d

stom art supplies? Are we sure this isn't just an elaborate way of flir

sure I don't screw up his precious nightclub." so he is providi

maybe he's secretly into messy artists w

likely. And speaking of messy, I

he struggled to balance it, the stack teetered and collapsed, sen

er," Sam said,

!" Lexi grumbled, crouching to

with mock seriousness. "Fancy name for fancy paint. Are you sure

t from her. "Ha

-

r, surrounded by Julian's supplies. She was working on a mor

with a text from

w are the

exting her? The man didn't seem like the casu

hough next time, maybe fewer b

r, her phone

l send a smaller a

humor in his response. Maybe he wasn

e it. I'll star

et me know if y

always this efficient-or if he just wanted to keep tabs on

-

offee. The nightclub was quiet, its sleek, modern interior bathed in soft morning li

," came Julia

nding a few feet away, imp

replied, settin

ked jeans, oversized hoodie, and messy b

asked, cross

smoothly. "It's j

did you expect? Ba

d into the faintest

of the wall and prepping the base layer. As she worked, J

re the whole time, are you?" she

es it bo

itted. "It's like ha

sound that surprised her. "I'

nd pulled out his phone, though she could s

-

lue and gold that hinted at the galaxy-like design she'd envisioned. She steppe

done well", she m

," Julian said

he turned to find him standing closer than

ood start

brushing a stray strand

ilence, the air between them

iet, "how long do you think it'l

sement. "About as long as it t

gh the empty club. Maybe working with

-

acked up her supplies, Ju

rrow," he said, glancing at the mural. "

brow. "You care ab

tter," Juli

n't make it too bright. I want th

d. "I'll keep

ouldn't resist adding, "You know, for someone

"I'll take that

. Julian Saint Clair was proving to be an enigma-a man of sharp contrasts and unexpe