Seducing the Marine. Kate Hoffmann

      “Will?”

      He spun around, his nerves already on edge, and saw Olivia approach. Her hair fell in waves around her face and she was wearing a dress, her slender legs visible below the revealing hemline. Will reached for his tie, feeling woefully underdressed. He should have just worn his dress uniform. But he knew the stir that would cause, the comments and the questions, the endless conversations with strangers about what was going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was much better to stay under the radar.

      “You look...incredible,” he said, leaning in to brush a kiss to her flushed cheek.

      “So do you,” Olivia replied. She reached up and tugged at the knot on his tie. “A sport coat and tie. Very nice.”

      “I borrowed it from Jim. Not too casual?”

      “No, not at all.” She slipped her arm around his. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

      Will knew the moment he started up the stairs that it would take all his strength and determination to get through the evening. There was so much chatter coming out of the ballroom that his brain hurt trying to process every voice. How was he supposed to carry on a conversation? Without camo and a weapon, he felt vulnerable. Olivia belonged here. He didn’t.

      They checked their coats and Will’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the dress she wore. It fit her body like a second skin, showing off her tiny waist and long legs. The neckline was cut just deep enough to tease him with thoughts of her breasts. He was reminded again that this wasn’t the girl he’d loved all those years ago. She was confident and powerful and brilliant.

      “Nice dress,” he murmured as they walked into the ballroom. He’d been to a few events in this room years ago, but it didn’t feel like familiar surroundings. He was a fish out of water.

      A small jazz combo played on the stage, and several couples danced. Tables were set up on either side of the room, and candles cast a soft glow over the pale blue linens. The waitstaff, dressed in black, wandered through the room with trays of champagne and appetizers, and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

      Liv filled out name tags for both of them, then pasted his on his chest. Almost immediately, they were swallowed up by the crowd. People came up to talk to her and she politely introduced him. He attempted to reply to questions directed at him, but suddenly his mouth felt as if it were filled with sawdust.