This one's for Daven and Wendi, friends who finally taught me the fine art of flirting. Thanks for the inspiration. For Jonathon, too, because he was there by my side when inspiration struck. He has taught me that to be happy with someone, first they must be my friend. Without that there can be nothing else. Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. - Anais Nin Acknowledgments To Carri, who, with this book, saw the process from beginning to end for the very first time. Welcome aboard. Shawn, Semper Fi. I know you both have my back. Pili, thanks for the food and the friendship. To the rest of the crew who are still hanging in there: Mary, Sherry, and Teresa. To Jennie, for all the funny and the hard work. To my writing group: Tom Drennan, Deborah Millitello, Marella Sands, Sharon Shinn, and Mark Sumner. No one has it who isn't capable of genuinely liking others, at least at the actual moment of meeting and speaking. Charm is always genuine; it may be superficial but it isn't false. - P. D. James Introduction How do I get my ideas? How do I know it's enough for a book? How do I work? I get these questions so often that when the idea for