Model Marine. Candace Havens

influential chefs in New York City. Every restaurant he owned turned to gold.

      She hugged him. “Thank you.”

      He glanced up at Will and gave him a once-over. “Leland didn’t lie. You did find yourself a real man.”

      She teased him back. “Behave.”

      He waggled his eyebrows. “That is not how I roll, Hannah, love. Oh, and did you hear the gossip from the Hags in the corner? Such jealousy about you, the hate spews like a river of lies. That means you are on top, my sweet. Leland says you killed, so watch out for the claws.”

      Hannah peered over his shoulder. The Hags, as everyone called them, were three women who had tried to design their own lines, only to fall flat on their faces. So instead of going back to the drawing board, they became online fashion critics. Their site didn’t have a single nice review but they had a huge following. Unfortunately, people seemed to eat up their wickedness. They wore too much makeup and their clothes were meant for women twenty years their junior. Hence, their name.

      “I guess it would be too much to hope they’d give me a pass.”

      “My darling Hannah, sometimes your naïveté brings such a lightness to my cold, dead heart. Don’t worry. You know how it works. The more they hate you, the more everyone else will love you.”

      “I suppose,” she grumbled.

      “Now you two run off and get some food. Leave those sorry wannabes to me. I have a bit of juicy gossip that might just lead them off your scent.”

      Before he left, he blew her a kiss and nodded to Will.

      Will guided her to the dining area that had been set up banquet style. “I didn’t realize the fashion business was so cutthroat,” he said.

      “It’s the worst, really. I’m lucky Leland invited a lot of my friends, too, who are really sweet. But he has to include some of the others because to snub them is a big faux pas.”

      “I always feel sorry for people like those women and the one who came up to you before. They obviously have no self-esteem if they have to beat up on others to make themselves feel better. They are no better than the bullies on the playground.”

      She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek again. “You really are my hero.”

      “Let’s go eat,” he said, changing the subject. He seemed to be uncomfortable whenever she tried to compliment him. “I don’t know about you, but that modeling is hard work.”

      They stood in front of the food table and she was surprised when Will ate a big plate of sushi.

      He caught her watching him.

      “What?”

      “I’m sorry. I seem to have all these misconceptions about marines. I assumed you were more of a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.”

      He shrugged. “I’ve been stationed all over the world, and I’ve learned to eat whatever is available. And honestly, most anything is better than what you get in the mess hall. Or my mom’s cooking. I love her, but she has never belonged in a kitchen. As for the meat and potatoes, I never turn down a good steak.”

      “Well, I’m one of those crazies who is allergic to wheat, white rice, shellfish and dairy,” Hannah admitted. She loved food, but had learned long ago that her body had specific needs. Her allergic reactions varied from rashes to her throat swelling so badly she couldn’t breathe. “So I eat a lot of protein and vegetables and fruit. None of which are here.” The table was laden with sushi, dim sum and all types of puff pastries filled with a variety of meats and shrimp.

      Will put his chopsticks down. “Do you want to get out of here and find something else to eat? Is that okay, since it’s your party?”

      She was starving and alone time with Will didn’t seem like such a bad idea. The crazy day and several nights of no sleep sent her into zombie mode. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold up the pretense. “The bathroom is near the entrance—if anyone asks, that’s where we are headed.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” He covered her hand in his and pulled her through the crowd.

      A few seconds later they were out in the hallway with hopefully no one the wiser. “That was much easier than I thought it would be.” Hannah’s shoulders dropped about an inch.

      Will laughed. “I caught a few people staring and whispering. They’re probably thinking the worst.”

      Hannah grabbed a clip from her purse and put her hair back up in a loose ponytail. She was already more relaxed now that she didn’t have to impress the denizens of the fashion world. “My guess is they’re jealous. How would you feel about a steak?”

      “Like I said, I never turn one down.”

      AFTER THEIR MEAL at the steak house, Will escorted Hannah to her studio. It was only a few blocks away and she wanted to walk off the calories she’d eaten. As far as he could see, her body was perfect. Every time she brushed against him at the party he had to control his libido.

      She’d warned him, been so worried about how he would view her friends. They were definitely eccentric, but many of them were good people. Will’s instincts when it came to judging people had never steered him wrong. Besides, she should hang out with a group of marines on a Friday night. That was some weirdness.

      “You suddenly seem really far away,” Hannah said.

      He squeezed her hand. “I’m right here.”

      “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to thank you for everything you’ve done today.”

      “Hannah, I told you earlier. I was happy to help. And tonight, well, I’ve had a great time.”

      “Me, too.” She smiled up at him sweetly.

      That grin was a like a light directed straight to his blackened soul. There were times the past two years when he wondered if he would ever feel joy again. Throughout dinner he found himself relaxing and even laughing at times. Hannah did that to him and he feared he could become addicted to her quite easily.

      She stopped in front of a five-story building. “This is me. It’s been a long day, but I was wondering if you would come upstairs. There’s something I want to give you.”

      He paused as he tried to figure out what she meant.

      “Uh, that sounded so lurid. I promise I have no—uh, you know, on your body…uh. Yeah. Do you want to come up?”

      “Sure. It’s hard to say no to an invitation like that.” Though Will had to admit, he wished she did have designs on his body. At the very least he wanted to deeply explore the kiss they shared earlier in the night.

      Inside the building he was surprised to see her name across a door on the first floor, but she led him to a freight elevator.

      “That’s my studio. I rent out the rest of the floors as loft spaces. We have a cool view of the Hudson on the back side of the building.”

      “You own the building?”

      She smiled. “I inherited it from my grandmother, along with an apartment on the Upper West Side. I sublet that one, too. I like being close to work because I never know when a creative binge is going to happen so I moved into the penthouse here. Plus, I’m not really a west-sider. My parents are, but not me.”

      Will knew enough about Manhattan real estate to understand that was a pricey neighborhood. She must have come from a wealthy family.

      “Were they at your show tonight?”

      “Who?” The elevator opened and they entered her apartment. Everything was white and she hadn’t lied about the view. The lights flickered across the river.

      “Your parents. Were they at your event this afternoon?”

      She laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “My