Morning slipped into afternoon quietly, the café soft and warm with the hum of conversations and clinking mugs. Crescent City felt brighter in daylight ,less haunting, more alive. Almost comforting.
Almost.
I tried to focus on work.
People came and went, leaving trails of perfume, laughter, or complaints about their day. I liked watching them. Regular people with regular problems. It made me feel… normal,I needed that .
Around noon, Margie wiped her hands on her apron.
"Lunch break, sweetheart. Go walk a little. Clear your head."
I didn't argue. Fresh air sounded good.
The sunlight outside was gentle, brushing my skin in a way that made last night feel like a bad dream. I walked down the street, passing small shops,florists, bookstores, a little art supply store painted navy blue with gold letters.
I was staring at a display of sketchbooks in the window when someone spoke behind me.
"You like art?"
I jumped.
Rowan stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, hoodie sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His hair was messier than earlier, like he'd run his hands through it repeatedly.
"Oh,hi," I said, exhaling a little laugh to hide my nerves. "You scared me."
He smiled, soft and crooked.
"Sorry. I just noticed you were staring at the window like it was calling your name."
I shrugged. "I used to draw. Not much anymore."
"Why not?"
Too many reasons,too much fear.
"I guess life happened," I said.
Rowan nodded like he understood completely.
"Life happens to me every damn day. I just draw through it."
I smiled at the way he said it.
He leaned closer, dropping his voice playfully.
"I can teach you again, if you want."
My cheeks warmed. "Maybe."
Rowan's grin widened, but before he could say more, his phone buzzed. He checked it, and his expression changed slightly,nothing drastic, just a flicker. He cleared his throat.
"Uh… I need to go. But...
He pulled a small sketching pencil from behind his ear and handed it to me.
"Keep it. You know… in case inspiration hits you."
I turned the pencil in my fingers.
"You walk around with extra pencils?"
"Only for people who look like they need one."
His smile lingered on me for a second longer before he jogged away . Warm ,gently and easy
Rowan Hale was a spark.
But the moment the warmth settled in my chest, something else brushed against my awareness.
Eyes.
I turned, slow and careful.
Across the street, under the shade of a balcony, a man watched me,again,still,quiet,
Too focused.
My breath froze.
This wasn't the Hale brothers,this wasn't an accident
He'd been there last night and now again.
I stepped back instinctively and bumped into someone behind me.
Large hands steadied my arms.
"Ava." I knew that voice
Elias.
I turned, breath shaking. His expression wasn't angry or surprised.
It was… sharp. Controlled. Observant.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I thought I saw someone."
His eyes flicked immediately to the place I'd been looking but the man was gone.
Like he'd slipped into the cracks of the city.
Elias didn't speak for a moment. His jaw shifted. Then he placed a single hand on my back, guiding me gently but firmly toward the café.
"Come on," he said quietly. "This isn't a good street to stand around on."
"Why not?" I whispered.
He didn't answer,
But as he opened the café door for me, he said something so soft I almost thought I imagined it
"Some people in this city watch too closely."
The words curled through me like smoke.
And even though the café was warm and bright, I felt a chill settle in my spine.
Because Elias didn't look confused.
He didn't look surprised.
He looked like a man who'd been expecting this.
Expecting him.
Whoever he was.