With everyone teasing her, Gwh could only smile shyly, relieved that none of them tried prying into whatever was or wasn''t going on between her and Hawthorne. She let out a quiet sigh, grateful she didn''t have to waste her breath on exnations nobody would believe anyway. As if anyone would really buy that she and Hawthorne were nothing but a walking disaster together.


    After a few sses of wine, Gwh felt her head start to spin. She rarely drank -her godfathers and mentors had always treated her like a precious gem, warning her about the dangers of the world. "You can be wild, you can be bold," they''d said, "but never let your guard down with alcohol. No matter how tough you think you are, it only takes one careless moment for someone to take advantage."


    It was only because they''d mentioned Hans wasing to pick her up that she''d allowed herself a drink. Even then, her tolerance was embarrassingly low.


    She left the restroom, her steps unsteady, as though she were walking on clouds. Her head was fuzzy, and the world tilted a little as she made her way down the hall toward their booth.


    "Gwyn?"


    She''d barely taken a few steps when, out of nowhere, a strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her into a man''s chest.


    A heavy cloud of cologne hit her nose, making her eyes sting with tears. When she finally got a good look at who it was, she shoved him away immediately.


    "Bill Crawford?"


    Of course it was him. No matter how many times she''d blocked his numbers, Bill had a way of popping up like a bad penny. Running into him here of all ces- what were the odds?


    "You''ve been drinking?" Bill frowned, his gaze lingering on the rosy flush across Gwh''s cheeks. The dim golden light only made her look more alluring.


    Seeing Bill made Gwh tense up. The relentless calls over the past couple of weeks had left her on edge. She knew all about his reputation-Greenvale''s notorious yboy, nevercking in femalepany. Why he''dtched onto her, of all people, was anyone''s guess.


    "My coworkers are waiting for me. I should get back."


    All she wanted was to put as much space between them as possible.


    But Bill had no intention of letting her go. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her firmly into the circle of his arms. Startled, Gwh pressed her hand against his chest, keeping him at arm''s length.


    It was strange. There''d been a time when they were close—nothing as far as kissing or sleeping together, but hugs and yful touches had never bothered her before. Now, even the thought of his hands on her made her skin crawl.


    Bill seemed to notice, a cold smirk curling his lips. "Let me guess-you think just because Leonie hooked up with Ethan, you can set your sights on Hawthorne? That guy''s


    practically a monk. Rum Sights


    has it he doesn''t even like women. You''d be


    wasting your time."


    From the moment he''d spotted her, Bill''s eyes hadn''t left Gwh''s face.


    Gwh''s voice was colder still. "We''re over, Bill. Who I''m interested in now is none of your business. Maybe you should worry about your own life instead."


    Leonie had filled her in on all thetest gossip-Bill changing girlfriends every other week, even dating a minor celebrity at one point. Maybe he''d finally run out of new faces to chase.


    "Gwyn,e on, I''m serious. Stop ying games ande back to me. Why bother working yourself to death at somepany when you could have everything you want? Whatever Hawthorne''s paying you, I''ll triple it. Plus, I''ll throw in an extra five grand a month for living expenses. What do you say?"


    The words were barely out of his mouth when Gwh pped him, hard, across the face. His eyes darkened instantly, a storm brewing beneath the surface. "Not enough? Fine. Ten grand."


    The p had sobered her uppletely. She raised her hand for another, but this time Bill caught her wrist midair.


    "My patience isn''t endless, Gwh. Opportunities like this don''te around every day. Don''t make me change my mind."


    "You''re delusional, Bill. I pped you because you''re arrogant, and I won''t get back together with you because simply don''t want you. You know? what? You''re right-I do like


    Hawthorne. If he''s not eno


    in


    women, I''ll just have to change his


    mind.


    If you really think, between you and him, I''d ever pick you... maybe take a long, hard look in the mirror. It''s not that I''m not good enough for your ten grand a month. It''s that I''d never want it from you. This is the end of the line, Bill."