“How does it work?”

He began explaining how he’d created the optical illusion, showing her from different angles how each piece of hammered steel could be two things at once. They climbed ladders to see the piece from higher up, so she could see the different side of the same piece of metal—one a part of a flame, the other, a part of a tree. He was clearly thrilled, and she continually caught herself remembering that uncertain, worried expression earlier. It was almost as if he hadn’t believed in it himself until she’d told him how good it was. Now, permission given, he was genuinely elated, yammering away so quickly and boisterously that some of the other artists came by to listen to his lecture, clearly interested in hearing about the piece themselves. Eventually, they began asking him pointed questions about technique that she couldn’t follow. She stood to the side, watching him gesture and speak, her heart swelling again. Someone touched her elbow, and she turned to see Maddie’s smiling face.

“He’s incredible, isn’t he?” Maddie asked.

“He really is. I don’t know when I’ve ever been so proud of someone.”

Maddie’s smile was almost as wide as Stuart’s. “Me either. I think this will be the piece people will remember him for.”

“Me, too.” She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry, and returned her attention to Stuart to avoid Maddie’s scrutiny.

“Are you here for your studio hours?” she asked, risking another glance at her.

“Nope,” Maddie said. “Just came to pick you up. I finished my last class for the day. The college is right around the corner.” She paused, her gaze dropping down and sweeping up Ryann’s body. “Nice outfit, by the way. Picturing it and seeing it are really something else.”

Ryann’s heart hammered, and she almost reacted inappropriately. She kept silent, and eventually she managed to focus on Stuart’s lecture. She wasn’t surprised to see that more of the other artists and what she assumed were some of the students had joined the crowd. Stuart was obviously very happy to have people interested in his work. She glanced up at Maddie again and saw that she, too, was listening raptly. Ryann flushed with happy pride again. Whatever strange happenstance had brought him to this town, it was clearly the place he was meant to be.

He wrapped up, blushing a little when several people clapped and whistled. A few wanted to shake his hand, and she and Maddie shared an amused look, Maddie rolling her eyes. He joined them a few minutes later, a little sheepish and clearly embarrassed by the adulation, but she could tell he was proud of himself, too, and with good reason.

“That was really interesting,” she told him.

He waved a hand dismissively. “Okay, thanks. I’m sorry I kind of went off on a tangent there.”