Love Beyond Fortune

ully balanced a tray of empty glasses, her focus split between finishing her shift and ignoring the way her feet ached in the stiff cateri

nded. She let out a sigh of relief, placing the tray on a nearby table. But as s

e French doors. The crisp night air greeted her, clearing her thoughts. The sk

planned on drawing again tonight-especially after the spilled wine debacle-b

ross the page. The stress of the evening melted away with every stroke. Her hand moved instincti

by the occasional sound of distant traffic below. The world inside th

e hours ago, but his mind kept circling back to the girl with the sketchpad. Lila. There was someth

r among the catering staff cleaning up. When she didn't appear

furrowed in concentration as her pencil moved across the page. His curiosity

sound of footsteps broke her focus. Startled, she looked

sion impatient. "Manager's looking fo

e her sketchpad, shoving it into he

e skyline one last time. As much as she hated working thes

ugh the French doors. She made her way to the staff room, clocked out, and disap

ly noticed. His sharp eyes scanned the space, his gaze landing on the small bench in the c

d picked it up. I

icate cityscape, the skyline rendered with a level of detail that surprised him. E

llroom from earlier that evening. It wasn't complete, but the energy and

himself face-to-face with the begi

ng jawline and intense eyes staring back at him. A faint smil

over anyone, least of all him. So why had she drawn him? Was it mer

m out of his thoughts. Vanessa stepped onto the b

one laced with impatience. "I've

hpad, holding it under his ar

ut she forced a smile. "I just thought you'

" Alex replied curtl

, but she didn't comment. She watched him disappear

and collapsed beside it. The evening had been exhausting,

r sketchpad, her stomach

frantically searching for it. Panic set in as she r

rsonal-especially the unfinished portrait of Alex. She'd drawn it almost instincti

slumping back against t

Astoria now. She would just have to hope the s

ought of her missing sketch

ble in front of him. He poured himself a drink, his thoughts still li

it. And when he did, he would have questions-quest