Model Marine

“That was—”

“Freakin’ stellar.” Anne Marie hugged her.

“We did it.” Hannah squeezed her friend tight.

Kayleigh squealed behind them. “Who knew we would be the hottest thing at Fashion Week? And hello! I just checked the machine at the office, and we have tons o’ calls from buyers and editors.” Kayleigh was a terrific publicist and stage manager. She helped Anne Marie hire the models, and even designed the look of the show within the parameters Hannah had given her.

They gathered hands and did a happy dance they’d made up when they discovered Hannah’s designs had been chosen for this special New Stars of Fashion event.

“Why is it you leave me out of everything?” Jesse, her fabric guru, mumbled. They opened their arms to him.

“Group hug,” Anne Marie ordered. Hannah and the others complied.

“Tonight wouldn’t have happened without you guys,” Hannah stated matter-of-factly.

“Phfft,” Jesse said. “You have more talent than the majority of designers at Fashion Week combined. You would have succeeded no matter what.”

She kissed his cheek. “No, I wouldn’t have. You guys kept me sane. Each of you is so important I can’t even—” Emotion clogged her throat so she cleared it.

“If you cry, I will hit you,” Anne Marie warned. She was a tough one. Dressed in her requisite fishnets, black mini and vintage rocker T-shirt, she knew her friend would follow through with the threat.

“No tears. Just gratitude for some really great friends.”

Someone moved just outside the circle and she saw the handsome marine who had saved her show.

“Hey!” She waved to Will.

He nodded.

“I promised to take him to dinner so I’ll see you guys later. Thank you again.”

“Wait,” Anne Marie yelled. “Don’t forget you have Leland’s party at seven. He’s throwing it for you, so you have to be there. We’ll get everything packed and meet at Leland’s.”

Hannah had forgotten. She glanced at Will and then at Anne Marie. She didn’t want to disappoint Will, but she owed Leland so much. It would be selfish to bail on a party in her honor. “I’ll be there.”

Will waited for her near the entrance.

“I thought you would have given up on me, but I’m glad you didn’t.” She suddenly felt shy. After seeing him without a shirt, she’d wanted him in the most carnal of ways. But she also had an enormous respect for him. What he had done for her couldn’t have been easy for him or his friend.

And they had saved her show. Will and Rafe were two of the biggest reasons people were excited about her clothes.

Who could blame them?

Captain Will Hughes was walking sex. That seriously hot uniform he wore hid the rippling muscles, but she’d seen the goods and she couldn’t stop thinking about them. Hannah clasped her hands behind her back so she wouldn’t touch him again.

“You asked me to wait, and I’m good at taking orders.”

She smiled at that. “I would have thought a captain was used to giving them.”

“I do my fair share of that, too, but I’m a marine and there is always someone barking orders somewhere higher up.”

Feeling lucky that she didn’t have to deal with anyone, except an occasionally cranky Anne Marie, she patted his arm. She hoped the contact would calm her nerves. No dice.

“Congratulations. From what I understand you had a great night. I don’t know much about fashion, but those reporters seemed to like what you did.”

Uncomfortable with the praise from him, Hannah bent her head and stared at her toes. “They liked you and your friend, Rafe. You guys sold the show. Where is he?” She glanced around.

Will motioned with his thumb toward the entrance. “He left about fifteen minutes ago with one of the models.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. All the girls were talking about you guys. I really can’t thank you enough.”

“It’s not a big deal. So are you ready to go?”

Hannah scrunched her face. “I am, but there’s one thing I have to do. I forgot my friend Leland is throwing a big party in my honor. We don’t have to stay long, but I must make an appearance. He’s invited a lot of industry peeps and—”

Will grinned. “I get it. Do you want to take a rain check on the dinner?”

“No. That is, if you don’t. I’d really like you to be my, uh…” She couldn’t get the words out.

“Date?” His face was a mask and she had no idea what he was thinking.

She nodded.

“I’d be honored. But won’t your friend—” he pointed toward Jesse “—mind? You guys seem close.”

“Jesse?” She coughed back the laughter. “Uh, no. He works for me. We call him the intern, but as you can see he’s not very internish looking. He’s been helping me with fabrics and pattern-making. Genius, that guy. But not interested in me in the least. And I have nothing but sisterly feelings for him. I think he might have something for my friend Anne Marie, but they’re both so busy neither of them have noticed yet. Look at me, Miss Gossip. Sorry. The answer is no. I am thoroughly unattached.”

He smiled the warmest smile she’d ever seen.

Without thinking she threw herself at him and kissed his cheek. “Oh, sorry. It’s just you look so sweet. I’m, uh, overexcited tonight.”

“Don’t apologize. Trust me.” His husky voice deepened.

The heat of his words spread through her like a match to tinder.

“In casual circumstances I’d rather not wear my uniform. Do I have time to go back to my hotel and change?”

Her first instinct was to offer him something from her collection but she remembered how tight the shirts were. If he went to Leland’s party with his chest bared the females and males would maul him before he could get through the door. Her heart did double-time as she remembered how he looked strutting down the runway with his tough-guy ’tude.

“Sure.”

“Let’s get out of here and grab a taxi.”

IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, the festivities were in full swing. When they entered Leland’s penthouse everyone yelled, “We love you, Hannah.”

Her hand flew to her chest and her eyes burned with tears. But she refused to let them fall because she was so happy so many of her friends were there. She grabbed Will’s hand and pulled him into the throng.

“Darling girl, you were fabulous tonight. And your Adonis was the perfect touch,” Leland said as he air-kissed both of her cheeks.