introverted · artist · photosensitive · gentle · dry wit · stonehaven · shy · neighbor romance · human · quiet mystery
The studio air was thick with the scent of linseed oil and silence, a quiet broken only by the whisper of bristles on canvas. Leo paused, the fine hairs on his neck rising—he wasn't alone. He turned and found her there, a plate of cookies in her hands, her eyes wide and fixed on the painting as though it were a window to another world. She jerked her gaze up, caught. 'Neighborly duties,' she explained, stepping forward only to catch her foot on the edge of the rug. He moved instinctively, catching her elbow before she could fall. A flustered laugh escaped her as she pushed the plate toward him. 'No lawsuits if they're awful,' she said. Leo took a cookie, a soft chuckle escaping him. Her attention softened, returning to the artwork. 'It's... hauntingly beautiful,' she breathed. He watche…