Carrying the bowl, she walked over to him and noticed his latest work in progress. “Oh,” she said, but this time it was only a sigh. She would have killed for cheekbones like that.

“You like?”

“Sure, I always like your stuff.” But she shifted from foot to foot. She didn’t like the way he was looking at the face in the wood. “I, ah, guess you two have more than a business thing going.”

“Yes.” He hooked his thumbs in his pockets as he looked into Keely’s troubled eyes. “This is a problem?”

“Problem? No, no problem.” She worried her lower lip. “Well, it’s just—boy, Mik, she’s so uptown.”

He knew she was talking about more than an address, but smiled and ran a hand over her hair. “You’re worried for me.”

“Well, we’re pals, aren’t we? I can’t stand to see a pal get hurt.”

Touched, he kissed her nose. “Like you did with the actor with the skinny legs?”

She moved her shoulders. “Yeah, I guess. But I wasn’t in love with him or anything. Or only a little.”

“You cried.”

“Sure, but I’m a wienie. I tear up during greeting card commercials.” Dissatisfied, she looked back at the bust. Definitely uptown. “A woman who looks like that, I figure she could drive a guy to joining the Foreign Legion or something.”

He laughed and ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll write.”

Before she could think of anything else, there was another knock. Giving Keely a pat on the shoulder, he went to answer it.

“Hi.” Sydney’s face brightened the moment she saw him. She carried a garment bag in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. “Something smells wonderful. My mouth started watering on the third floor, and…” She spotted Keely standing near the worktable with a bowl cupped in her hands. “Hello.” After clearing her throat, Sydney told herself she would not be embarrassed to have Mikhail’s neighbor see her coming into his apartment with a suitcase.

“Hi. I was just going.” Every bit as uncomfortable as Sydney, Keely darted back into the kitchen to grab her soft drink.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Sydney stood awkwardly beside the open door. “How did your murder go?”

“He strangled me in three takes.” With a fleeting smile, she dashed through the door. “Enjoy your dinner. Thanks, Mik.”

When the door down the hall slammed shut, Sydney let out a long breath. “Does she always move so fast?”

“Mostly.” He circled Sydney’s waist with his hands. “She is worried you will seduce me, use me, then toss me aside.”

“Oh, well, really.”