What? I’m dumbfounded at how abruptly Brett has left as I watch him escape to the kitchen. Seriously? What is his deal with Izzy? They dated, it’s over, why is he so anxious around her? Izzy gets up. “I better go see what’s bothering him. I can tell when that boy has something on his mind.”

Before I can say a word, Izzy’s making her way to the kitchen, and the rest of the models surrounding us have disappeared along with Brett.

“Good thing I drove you here,” Clarissa says. “You wouldn’t have a ride right now if he did.”

I sigh. “Screw it. I want to know what the hell this is about.” I get up, but Clarissa pulls me back down to the couch.

“Don’t, Lexi. It’s not a good idea to go chasing after boys in a situation like this. Whatever is going on between them two needs to be resolved without you around. Let’s see what Brett does.”

“I think Izzy gets under his skin.”

“Izzy gets under everyone’s skin,” an angelic model comments as she wanders past our couch. “If I were you, I’d ignore what that girl is doing right now.”

I look up at the tall statuesque blonde. She was the model that was tripped by Izzy during the show. “Are you Hannah Fray?” I ask, tilting my head.

“That’s me.” She holds out her hand and I shake it. “Actually, I came over here to congratulate Clarissa. I saw your piece at the show. Original.”

Clarissa looks up in surprise, “You’re not offended?”

“Not at all,” Hannah says brightly. “A friend of mine told me you’d be showcasing a piece tonight. I like that you portrayed that we go on to lead normal lives. You know, some people think we eventually have drug problems.”

I look down at the Dom in front of us, now that Brett is gone, it would be a shame to waste it. “Would you like a drink with us?” I ask. I realize I haven’t seen Gwen since she dropped off our wine and poured it for us. I see an empty glass on a shelf beneath the table.

“Sure.”

“Where the hell did Gwen go?” I ask Clarissa as I pour some Dom for Hannah.

“No idea.” Clarissa sneers.

“Who’s Gwen?” Hannah asks.

“She’s our server.” I hand Hannah a glass.

Hannah takes it, “Thank you.” She gives a smug look and points over to a swarm of women. “Is your server in there somewhere? James is in there.”

I laugh, spotting Gwen in the swarm of women. “Actually, she is in that crowd, trying to get a piece of James. Why aren’t you? I saw him come to your rescue at the show.”

Hannah’s delicate facial features harden, “If you’re wise you don’t date male models.”

“Why?”

“Well, most are playboys and can have their choice of women. Male models don’t take female models seriously, either.”

“Why’s that?” Clarissa asks. “I mean, don’t you feel like his hot looks match yours? You’d probably have gorgeous looking kids.”

“I don’t know.” Hannah’s dimples appear in her cheeks. “Maybe we’re all too vain to admit the other’s better looking.” I howl along with Clarissa who is slapping her thigh. “Think about it, though,” Hannah says, “when do you ever hear of two models dating? Or marrying? You hear of actors dating each other, musicians dating each other. But when do you hear of models dating?”

“So, you’re basically telling us that every model has to feel more beautiful than her partner?” Clarissa asks with an incredulous expression.

“Guess so. I’m still pretty new to this. I only came to New York a few months ago.” Hannah looks across the room staring at the crowd of women surrounding James.

Clarissa gives Hannah a look, “Are you interested in James?”

“Huh? Hardly. James is so full of himself. He thinks he can have any woman he lays his eyes on.”

I grin, “Can he?”

Hannah says nothing for a moment as she stares into the throng of women. “Izzy seems to have a problem with it. But then again, Izzy has a problem with any man she used to see.”

“Wait a sec,” I begin, “I thought you said models don’t date other models.”

“No, they don’t, Lexi. But they do play with each other. Izzy is obsessed with James and any other man she sees. If she’s gone on one date with a man, she needs to control his heart. I saw how Brett Brock acted with her earlier. I’m guessing they used to see each other.”

“You suspect right,” I say. “Why else would Izzy follow him out the door?”

“Beware of Izzy Avery. That woman has all the keys to New York,” Hannah mutters.

Clarissa gives her a strange look, “All the keys of New York? What does that mean?”

“It’s only a rumor, but I’ve heard some pretty strange things.” Hannah takes a sip of her Dom.

“I have too,” Clarissa says, “I heard she once broke into Aidan Platt’s penthouse after he took a girl home.”

“That’s not even the half of it.” Hannah snorts. “She’s been known to go to her ex-boyfriend’s homes and make herself at home.”

“At home?” I repeat. “How do you mean?”

Hannah’s soft cheeks turn pink and she looks cute and dangerously sexy at the same time. How is it possible to look cute and dangerously sexy at once? “Well, one guy went into his home and found her on his bed, making herself very comfortable with a toy of his.”

“What?!” Clarissa yells. “She was masturbating with his sex toy on his bed!”

Hannah goes bug-eyed as a bunch of people stare at us. It’s embarrassing, but the crowd’s attention quickly shifts again, as if we were only a flavor of the week. Now, I know I’m spending time with a bunch of true fashionistas.

The women surrounding James begin to divide and I see James emerge, looking about. Hannah quickly turns away, a demure expression on her face. “I should get going. I need my sleep and I have a bunch of shows tomorrow.” Hannah gets up.

Then I hear a deep voice next to us, call to her, “Hannah? You’re leaving already?”

It’s James Tipton, looking at Hannah as if he were about to pounce. “I thought we were going to discuss some of tomorrow’s shows?”

“Oh, there isn’t anything to talk about, James. We are only walking down runways and I already know how to do that.” She turns on her heel and leaves. I watch her go, wondering what the hell is going on between the pair.

“Well, that’s a shame.” James slinks down next to me. “Hey! Aren’t you Lexi Driver?”

“The one and only,” I say, checking him out. Clarissa wasn’t kidding about his skin. It seems to glow.

“I thought I saw Brett Brock here. Where did he go?”

“He left,” Clarissa says shortly.

“With who?” James asks. “I thought he was here with you two.”

Clarissa shrugs, “Don’t know.”

I can see the wheels turning in James’ mind. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Hannah didn’t follow him out if that’s what you’re wondering.”