When heart collides

rn lines mixed with touches of old-world luxury, exactly the image Blackwood Enterprises needed to project. She h

wasn't ab

f her desk, breaking her focus.

mi

her lips as she

exist," Alicia teased, l

la's voice rang out, warm and playful. "

lenging. I've never met a ma

still there. Wh

. "Besides, I'm not interested in arrogant b

ally. "Speaking of interesting men,

me it's one of y

ila purred. "

surprise. "Alexand

ago, and apparently, I made an impression." Cam

, I guess you're moving up i

he's half as charming on a date a

an handle him,"

ce softened. "But hey... you o

than standing at her door. "I'm fine," she said qui

gly. "You're keeping secret

reed, grateful fo

-

king at the edge of his notebook. The buzz of students rushing past barely regist

sing a crumpled chip bag into the

ooding," No

ker, sighing like you're in a soap oper

I'm not in a soap opera

not a genius,"

stepped into view. She stood near the bleachers, laughing

o you," Jake said,

h argued. "And e

ause of Chase

e it his life's mission to make everything harder. Rich, arroga

t stop hoverin

m," Noah admit

"He's a tool. S

ly. "And she's looking over he

is ribs when Lily caught his

of it, Noah straightened his shou

him on the ba

-

e-deep in floor plans when the sound of foots

easy confidence. His smile was warm and inviting, comple

d, voice smooth. "Busy

tting down her pen

xander's demanding. But if he didn't thin

of saying I shou

ing unreadable. "I came to check in,

tly. "But I'm pretty sure your

ine, relaxed sound. "

alk to, too easy. But nothing about him set off alarm bells.

o it," Alicia said,

hly. "Don't work too hard. We

n the air as he disa

-

rs, sketchbook balanced on her lap. The late afternoon sun ca

sliding onto the

soft but genui

ke. And yet, the silence wasn't a

new?" he asked, noddin

"I'm always workin

eart that he didn't understan

hing past the knot of nerves in his ch

lip, eyes spa

ing back a little. "Bec

the first time in a long ti

-

soft shade of violet. She exhaled as the cool night air wrapped arou

he growing unease that Ethan had stirred. She w

ging voice warned he

lid into her car. For now, she had

ood and the complicated, danger

is was only