"We're committee coworkers, Hazel," Archer said. His breath was slightly cool against my neck. He was way too close to me. "We should clear up some of thistensionbetween us."
I cleared my throat and hurried to the front of the room.
"Thank you so much for participating in the first artists' retreat at Harrogate. This is a gathering of creative minds. Everyone here has something to contribute. I'll be showing you various techniques over the next few weeks. Let me know if there's anything I can do to make this a fun, creative experience."
Archer watched me with an amused expression from the corner of the room. He leaned against the wall, posed alluringly like Michelangelo's David except he was wearing too many clothes.
"Use this as an opportunity to be inspired," I finished lamely, still staring at Archer. "Any questions?"
Ida stood up. "I feel like I speak for everyone when I say nude models."
The older women cheered. Theo and Otis looked a little concerned.
"We won't have any nude models," I said hastily.
"Booo!"
"Or if we do, it will have to be a separate session for people who don't feel uncomfortable with that type of art," I added. The grin on Archer's face was Cheshire sized.
He mouthed,Private session, to me.
The blush crept up on my cheeks.
"You need a drink, hotcakes?" Ida called over her shoulder to Archer.
"It's three in the afternoon," he said. "Of course!" Archer sauntered up to the front of the room, where I had the glasses and pitcher of vodka lavender thyme lemonade.
I could swear he was posing as he poured a cup and took a sip.
"Exactly what I was craving," he said, looking straight at me, his eyes flicking back and forth between my nose and my chest and my mouth. I could feel the nervous sweating start. Archer was so unfairly attractive, and he clearly enjoyed teasing me. I, however, was terrible at flirting. I slapped the thought down. That wasn't what this was.
"If I could please sit on you," I said.
"Anytime," Archer called out.
"That's not what I meant!" Why did he have to be so stupidly attractive? "If you could please take your seats, and I could have your attention," I said carefully, "I will start the lesson."
A slow smile spread across Archer's face. I wanted to punch it.
No, you want to sit on it.
Archer grinned, almost as if he knew what I was thinking.
"I'll sit on your face if she won't," Ida stated.
"See, Hazel?" Archer said. "Someone here appreciates a fine work of art."
When he was seated on the couch in the back of the studio, I explained, "Today we are doing a still life. This exercise is about capturing light and shadows. Using only one color, paint this pitcher of water on the table."
I demonstrated on the canvas I had set up.
"This is a very quick exercise. Don't overthink it. Just act and capture the essence of what you see." Everyone seemed like they were into it once they started. Of course the seniors had all been drinking enough that they seemed pretty loose, which with this type of exercise, was a benefit.
Otis and Theo were having a little trouble understanding the exercise.
"You have to paint around the light," I told them, taking the paintbrush and showing them.
I could see Archer out of the corner of my eye sitting on the couch. I froze as he lazily surveyed me. For a moment I thought maybe he saw something he liked. Then I remembered he used to date McKenna. He probably still hooked up with her occasionally. She seemed like the type who would be up for that, not that I was judging, except that I kinda was.
