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Tanith slipped her hand behind her back, not wanting anyone to see the way it shook. His touch had been so warm, so firm—so comforting. It was unlike any man’s handshake she’d ever experienced before, and being a schmoozer in the art world, Tanith had had her fair share of men’s handshakes. Mostly from the business types. Artists were prone to hug without asking.
“Blake teaches one of my classes at the college,” Maida interjected into the silence that followed. Tanith realized that while she had been carefully averting her gaze and trying not to blush or swoon, Blake’s gaze hadn’t left her face.
“He’s also just started as a doctor at the hospital,” Espie added, and Tanith noted the woman wearing a strange sort of unreadable smile, like she was in on an inside joke that everyone else understood except for Tanith. “ER and trauma, right, Blake?”
He nodded. “Yep. Moved back to Angel Fire just last month to start the job, actually.”
Tanith let out a soft breath and smiled, no longer feeling quite so ridiculous that she had never seen him before. “That’s why I can’t place you. We must not have crossed paths before.”
“Don’t have much time for gallery visits most days, unfortunately,” he admitted with a boyish grin, “but Maida told me this was reopening today so I thought I’d come lend some support.”
“And Tanith did all of this,” Espie said before anyone else could jump in. “She owns the place. You’re officially in the local art aficionado’s lair.”
There was that inside-joke smile again, though this time a few others in the group wore it too. Blake, to his credit, seemed more friendly and curious than anything.
“Really? That’s amazing.” His bright blue-green eyes scanned the front entrance. “It looks fantastic.”
“Tanith should show you around,” Espie continued. She looked like she was holding back a mischievous giggle, which wouldn’t surprise Tanith at all. “We have to get going, anyway.”
What followed was a whirlwind of hugs and farewells, and within two minutes the only people left in the gallery were her and Blake. They studied one another politely from a distance, until Tanith finally cleared her throat and forced herself to be a professional—despite the way his near unflinching gaze threatened to make her knees buckle.
“Why don’t I give you the grand tour, then?”
