Love between two heartbeats

hy she knew exactly how many minutes and seconds Draven Callahan was late. One

es. Forty-seven se

on for the three other students who'd actually shown up on time. Her notes were organized in color-coded sections

h book was placed in its designated spot, each pen returned to its proper compartment. Order from chaos

since 5:45 AM, arriving early as she always did, prepared to guide struggling students through the labyrinth of phar

ion preceded him like a warning label: Caution: Content

for, cases to review, and a family crisis that wouldn't resolve itself. She certainly di

librarian who'd been there since the Mesozoic Era. Heaven's footsteps echoed against the mar

when disaster struck in the form of one v

been running his fingers through it, scrubs slightly wrinkled, and carrying what appeared to be a coffee cup, a

lse: tall, probably six-two, with dark hair that seemed determined to fall across his forehead despite his obvious attempts to tame it. Brown eyes that held an odd comb

voice-warmer somehow, like he was tasting something unexpectedly

emained carefully neu

in in any way that makes me look like a functional human being. But I can offer increasingly creative exc

sity, maybe, or possibly indigestion from the terrible break room

ha

te. In medical terms, that's enough time for a routine

d. "You've be

me, heartbeats, the number of students who actually show up when they say th

his own words. "That was-that came out wrong. I'm not usually this much of a disaster. Well, actually, th

the overachievers, the slackers, the ones who cracked under pressure, and the ones who sailed through on natural talent. But she'

ere, Mr. Calla

se I'm drowning in pharmacokinetics and drug interactions, and everyone says you're the best tutor in the school. Because I know I've

eemed oddly appropriate. He looked like trouble wrapped in an apologetic smile, the kind of person her mother w

ded an hour and a h

king, Heaven stepped forward and caught it before it could hit the floor. Their fingers brushed for a moment

said, reading the book'

... good

about several cardiac medications." Heaven handed the book back to him, caref

augh was rueful. "Story of my

the self-deprecating humor, she heard something familiar: the s

to review, but those could wait. And despite every instinct telling her to walk away fr

ha

e can review basic pharmacokinetics over somet

nadulterated gratitude mixed with panic. "Thirty minutes. Right. I can work with thirty minutes. T

toward the library's study area. "And put that coffee

now I'm going

I've known you, you've already dropped one textbook and are currently balancing six others

ngerously. Heaven watched in fascination as he performed what could only be described as an interpretive dance to save both his academi

left him slightly out of breath and hi

d calmly, "was imp

much dignity as he could muster. "It's a family trait. My cousin once caused a th

lt her lips twitch. "Your

s face-too quick to interpret, but Heaven caught it anyway.

er students to avoid distractions but visible enough that their interaction remained a

m her. "And please, for the love of all that's hol

on the table. One immediately slid toward the edge. Heaven

u do that?

wh

ways exactly where you need to

eat stack. The question was unexpectedly serious, and som

s a learned skill, Mr. Callahan. Some of

ttling into his chair, "are appar

face more carefully-the tired lines around his eyes, the way his smile didn't quite reach them,

notebook to a fresh page. "Phar