Amorous Liaisons. Sarah Mayberry

was so contrite he had to laugh.

      “It’s bronze. It could probably survive a nuclear holocaust,” he said.

      She looked at him, shaking her head.

      “I can’t believe you didn’t mention this last night, or in any of your e-mails, for that matter. I remember you used to sketch, but this is…I don’t have the words. What a dark horse. How long have you been doing this?”

      He shrugged. “I’ve just been dabbling, really. But I’m about to get started on a new series I’ve been planning.”

      “Was that what the call was about?”

      “Yeah. Gabriella, my life model, pulled out at the last minute. I’m going to have to find someone else.”

      He sounded pissed. Probably because he was.

      She’d moved on to inspect his smaller, earlier works. He shuffled from foot to foot, then shoved his hands into his back pockets. They weren’t as good as they could be. He’d been learning his craft when he made them, honing his skills. He should have destroyed them. Or put them in storage somewhere.

      Maddy’s eyes were warm when she looked at him again.

      “Max. I don’t know what to say. These are really, really good.”

      He was embarrassed by how much her praise meant to him.

      “Thanks.”

      She stroked the bronze figure again. “Losing this life model is a pretty big deal, yeah?”

      “It’s a setback. It took me a while to find her. The series is dance-based, and ordinary models aren’t up to it.”

      “Dance-based.” She looked at the bronze woman again. “Like this?”

      “More dynamic. I want to capture that moment when dance becomes more than just movement,” he said. Then he stopped. Could he sound like any more of a tosser, crapping on about his work like some beret-wearing poseur?

      She looked at him. There was a new light in her eye, as though she’d made an important decision.

      “Use me,” she said.

      “Sorry?” He actually shook his head, convinced he hadn’t heard right.

      “You need a new life model, right? Someone to portray a dancer. Why not me?”