Читать книгу Into the Night - Kate Hoffmann - Страница 7

TESS ROBERTSON STEPPED through the doors of the Perryman Hotel, nodding at the doorman as she passed. The lobby of Nashville’s most luxurious hotel was decorated for the Christmas holidays, although the atmosphere was now buzzing with the excitement of the upcoming New Year’s weekend.

She searched the scattered guests, lounging on upholstered sofas and chairs. A few of them glanced over at her and she wondered if they could see right through her elegant facade. Maybe that saying was true. You can take a girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl.

Her gaze dropped to her shoes, purchased just that morning, along with her dress and the small clutch purse she had gripped in her hand. The sexy shoes pinched and the sleek bag barely held more than money, a lipstick and her cell phone. But she had to admit the dress was the prettiest thing she’d ever owned, worth every penny she’d charged on her credit card. It was important she looked her best tonight. For the first time in the five years she’d worked for the Beale family, she’d been invited to their annual New Year’s Eve party.

The Beales, Frank and Nan, and their son, Jeffrey, were Tennessee gentry, their old family money made in industry—cotton, tobacco and shipping—and now invested in commercial real estate and the thoroughbred farm she managed for them outside Lexington, Kentucky. They wintered in Palm Beach and summered at a mountain estate near Asheville, leaving their vast business concerns to Jeffrey, their thirty-three-year-old only son.

Though people like the Beales moved in a very different world from Tess’s, their paths often intersected at the farm and at all the important horse races—the Derby, the Preakness, Belmont. Still, there had always been an invisible wall between them—the Beales relaxed in a luxury box while she worked in the stables. They wore beautiful clothes and she dressed in jeans. They traveled on private jets and she rode in a pickup truck, pulling a horse trailer. The rich were very different—except for Jeffrey.

“Tess!”

She spun around to find her best friend, Alison Cole, hurrying across the lobby, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she walked.

“Sorry I’m late,” Alison said. “Have you been here long?” She leaned close and hugged Tess. “How was your Christmas? And your Dad? Good I hope.” She stepped back and gave Tess a quick perusal. “You look fabulous! You clean up very well.” She examined Tess’s hair and nodded in approval. “No hay. That’s a good sign.”

Tess’s spirits brightened. “Do you really like the dress? It was between this and a blue one. The blue one made my chest look enormous, but I thought this garnet color was more sophisticated.”

They both glanced around the lobby, realizing that Tess had spoken a little too loudly. “Good choice,” Alison said with a laugh.

“Well, it’s true,” Tess whispered, silently reminding herself to think before she spoke. It was one of her worst habits, one she was trying to change.

“Now, tell me, why was it so important that I come along with you to this party? You hang around these people all the time. Why are you nervous about tonight?”

Tess grabbed Alison’s hand and led her toward the bar. “I’ll explain everything over a drink. I don’t want to get upstairs too early. I haven’t eaten all day and the buffet will be too much to resist. You know I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to crab claws.”

Once they’d settled themselves at the bar, Tess took a gulp of her vodka tonic, then drew a deep breath. “I think Jeffrey is going to propose to me tonight,” she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth.

Alison gasped, her eyes going wide. “What?”

“I’ve been expecting it for a while. We’ve been carrying on this relationship for about four years and I can tell he’s getting … restless. When he was at the farm a couple weeks ago, he told me he was going to make a very important announcement at the party tonight and that I might be surprised. Then, out of nowhere, I get an invitation. I’ve never been invited before. And this would be so him, shocking his parents with the news that he wants to marry me. I can just see him, getting down on his knee at midnight in front of all these people.”

“Have you even discussed marriage?”

“No, not really,” Tess said. “But it makes perfect sense for both of us. We make a good team.”

“And you love him?”

Tess hesitated before answering. It was a question she’d asked herself over and over again. The answer seemed to change like the weather. “He can give me the security I never had, and I can be a good wife to him.” She shook her head. “I know you’ve never really liked him, but—”

“No,” Alison said. “It’s not that I don’t like him. I don’t know him. We’ve never met. You’re the only one who knows him. This whole relationship exists in the dark, Tess. No one has a clue anything’s going on between you. Don’t you find that strange?”

“We both wanted it that way,” Tess insisted. “It would have caused too many problems if everyone at the farm thought I was sleeping with the boss. And you know my father. Give him a few drinks and he’d be bragging about it to all his buddies. Besides, the Beales have always wanted Jeffrey to marry someone from a prominent family. He’s trying to protect me.”

Alison shook her head, turning back to her drink. “I just think it’s a little weird.”

Tess reached out and touched her arm. “I know it is. But we’re two very practical people. We respect each other. We’re both focused on our work. And even though the sex isn’t earth-shattering, it’s enough for me. I can be very happy with that.”

“I thought I could, too,” Alison said. “But when you find the real thing, you’ll feel much differently. Think about yourself for once, Tess. Don’t worry about your father or your finances.”

That was easy for Alison to say, Tess mused. Alison had two parents who had loved and cared for her and two sisters to support her along the way. All Tess had was an alcoholic father who’d drifted from job to job during her childhood and gambled away any chance they ever had at a stable home life.

Tess had become his caretaker at the age of seven, at the moment her mother had walked out nearly twenty years ago. How many times had they been homeless since that day? How many days had they scraped out a living doing menial labor on horse farms just to eat? She knew exactly what Jeffrey’s money would buy. Tess would finally have a home of her own, a place in the world that wasn’t dependant on keeping her job.

“I know what I’m doing,” Tess said.

“Then why am I here? Are you sure you didn’t want me to talk you out of this?”

“Moral support. I need at least one person in that room on my side. And I can say anything to you. You understand me.”

“You should be able to say anything to Jeffrey, too,” Alison said. “You shouldn’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, Tess.”

“I’m not pretending,” Tess countered. “I’m just moderating my bad habits.” She straightened. “He lives in a whole different world, with different rules. I just want to fit in.”

Up until the time she’d entered college, Tess and her father had been gypsies, outsiders who never stayed in one place more than a year. From upstate New York to Florida to California, back and forth across the country, Tess had made friends only to lose them.

She’d met Alison their freshman year in college at University of Kentucky in Lexington. They were both there on scholarship and spent long nights working at various campus jobs to make ends meet. Alison was Tess’s first and only true friend.

“Do you really think I’m settling?” Tess asked.

“I just want you to be happy. You deserve a guy who makes your heart race, one who can’t live without you. A guy who loves you exactly the way you are.” She paused. “How do you feel? Can you live without him?”

“Of course I can,” Tess said. She stopped short, realizing she’d spoken too quickly. It wasn’t the answer Ali wanted to hear. “You know what I mean. I’ve been providing for us since I could muck out a stall. I just meant that it’s possible—to live without him. To live without anybody.” She paused, her voice going soft. “I know what I want.” Tess took a long gulp of her drink then set the glass in front of her.

“You also deserve a man who doesn’t want to keep your relationship a secret,” Alison continued. “Who doesn’t have to explain his feelings for you to his parents—who doesn’t send you an engraved invitation to show up for his marriage proposal.”

“Stop!” Tess cried. “Have you found this paragon of manhood? I don’t know if he exists. I could wait my entire life and never find him.” She looked over at Alison to find a tiny smile twitching at the corners of her friend’s mouth. “What? You have?”

“I’m almost afraid to talk about it,” Alison said. “It’s so new. But it is so incredible. We just can’t seem to keep our hands off each other. He’s a doctor. And he works out of a little clinic in the mountains, a few hours from Johnson City. I’ve only known him about a month, but it’s like we’ve been together forever. He’s sweet and sexy and funny and he’s turned my life upside down. And I love him.”

“Then why aren’t you with him tonight?”

“Because you said you needed me here. And you’re my dearest friend.” Alison smiled coyly. “All right. He’s upstairs, naked, in bed, enjoying treats from the minibar and watching a hockey game until I get back. I’m planning to rejoin him as soon as my duties as best friend are completed.”

“Oh, no you don’t!” Tess cried. “You don’t need to stay with me. I’m just being silly. Go back to your naked man.”

“He’s just fine,” Alison said.

“Really. I can do this on my own,” Tess insisted. “And after Jeffrey proposes, I’ll bring him downstairs and introduce you. Then I can meet your doctor.”

“Or maybe we can get together for breakfast tomorrow?” Alison suggested. “Or brunch?”

“All right,” Tess agreed, anxious to send Alison on her way. “Brunch.”

“Are you ready?” Alison asked.

She shook her head. “No. I’m going finish my drink. Then I’ll be ready. You go ahead. I’ll talk to you later.”

“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Alison gave her a hug, then picked up her purse. “Listen to your heart, sweetie, and you’ll be just fine.” As Alison headed back out to the lobby, Tess grabbed a bowl of pretzels and munched on one, thinking about the way the evening might unfold.

She’d met Jeffrey when he’d visited the farm with his parents right after Derby Week four and a half years ago. She’d been working as the assistant manager at Beresford and Tess had thought he was handsome and friendly. There hadn’t been an attraction, at least not on her part. But after he’d returned every weekend for a month with the excuse that he wanted to learn how to ride, they’d just fallen into a sexual relationship. Two years later, she was promoted from assistant manager to manager, due in part to Jeffrey’s recommendation.

Though they secretly slept together whenever he was at the farm, they’d maintained a cordial business relationship outside the bedroom. Jeffrey had helped her learn how the stable fit into the Beale holdings and she’d taught him nearly everything she knew about the horse business.

Beyond their shared interests on the farm, they were quite compatible in the bedroom. Sex was enjoyable, if not a bit mundane. And Tess seemed to satisfy his needs. She’d never felt giddy or light-headed, never heard angels singing or saw fireworks when they were in bed together, but she’d written all that off as some silly schoolgirl myth.

The past few years, Jeffrey’s family had been pressuring him to choose a wife and give them grandchildren. And though she and Jeffrey had discussed the subject of marriage—his marriage—their conversations had always just danced around her part in the equation. She knew he loved her. He’d told her that on a number of occasions. In her heart, she believed a marriage proposal was the next logical step.

So why did it feel as if she were settling? Perhaps, she was just too practical to lose herself in the pursuit of some fantasy man. In truth, she had a hard time imagining any relationship in which she could completely surrender her heart. The wounds of her childhood ran far too deep.

Tess studied her reflection in the mirror behind the bar. She’d taken special care with her appearance, knowing she’d want to look her best for the photos that would be taken. She’d chosen a dress of garnet Thai silk that shimmered with black and gold highlights as she moved.

A rhinestone necklace circled her neck, leaving the rest of her shoulders and chest bare.

Her attention was caught by the reflection of a man who had appeared at the other end of the bar. She studied his reflection silently, listening as he requested a bottle of scotch. He was the kind of gorgeous she didn’t see very often, at least not working on a horse farm. Her stomach fluttered and she turned away, drawing a deep breath.

Tess ran her fingers through the soft curls of her shoulder-length hair, pushing the dark strands back into place. Though she wasn’t a great beauty, she was pretty enough. Standing at Jeffrey’s side, they made a handsome couple. If she set her mind to it, she could pass as someone who belonged in the Beales’ social circle.

Tess took one last sip of her drink, then opened her purse and paid the bartender. But as she walked back through the lobby to the elevator, she began to doubt her resolve. Though she ought to be feeling exhilarated, all she could sense was a faint sense of dread. His parents wouldn’t approve, the party guests wouldn’t welcome her, and she be left as she always was—an outsider searching for a way in.

“So what else is new,” she muttered, quickening her step. She’d been an outsider her entire life and had survived quite nicely. If Jeffrey asked, then she’d say yes. He was the only one who mattered. She didn’t care what people thought.

Tess hurried toward the elevator. Though her nerves threatened to get the better of her, once she’d accepted his proposal she’d be fine. The doors to the elevator were just closing as she approached. “Hold the elevator!” she cried.

A hand appeared between the doors and they opened again. Tess hurried inside. “Thanks,” she murmured as she punched the button for the top floor. There were plenty of marriages based on friendship, on respect, on mutual goals for the future. “It’s not like I have men waiting in line,” she murmured.

“What?”

She looked up and saw a familiar face. The man from the bar stood on the other side of the elevator, his piercing blue eyes suddenly stealing the breath from her lungs. She blinked, her ears suddenly filled with an odd ringing. “What?”

“You said something. I’m sorry, I thought you were talking to me.”

“No. I was just thinking out loud.” Her voice cracked. “Thanks. For holding the elevator.”

“No problem.”

They waited together for the doors to close, both of them staring back out into the lobby, Tess’s heart slamming in her chest.

“Maybe you should push the button to close the door,” he suggested.

She risked another glance over at him. Gawd, he was drop-dead sexy. She’d never seen a guy so beautiful. And it wasn’t just the perfect features or the boyish smile or the thick, dark hair. He was dressed like he’d just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. From his suit to his immaculately tailored shirt to his silk tie, it was clear that there was a killer body beneath the clothes.

“The door?” he said.

“Yes,” Tess murmured. “Thank you for holding it.” Oh, God, she’d already said that.

He stepped around her, his shoulder brushing against hers as he passed, but then she realized what he wanted her to do. Stumbling forward, she reached for the button, but her legs were so wobbly, she tripped into the control panel.

A moment later, his fingers firmly closed around her elbow and he restored her balance. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she said, busying herself by punching at the buttons for the door. “Fine.” She pressed her hand to her chest and felt her heart pounding beneath her palm. This was how it was supposed to feel, Tess thought. This is what Alison had been talking about. Here she was, on her way to her own engagement party and she was flustered over a complete stranger.

“What floor did you want?” she asked.

“Twelve,” he said. He pointed to the panel. “I pressed it when I got in.”

“I’m going to the roof.”

“Not planning to jump, are you?” he teased.

She gave him a sideways glance and found him smiling. “I’m considering it. But I’m afraid of heights.”

“That would be fifteen, then,” he replied, pointing to the panel.

She quickly reached out and punched the button again. Though Tess thought an outdoor party on the hotel’s roof garden was a bit foolhardy in the middle of a Nashville winter, the Beales would no doubt bring in portable heaters to warm the chilly, damp air. Money was never an object with them. The roof of the Perryman was supposed to have a stunning view of the city and the river. Only the best for the Beales, regardless of the cost. Her engagement party would certainly be memorable.

He met her gaze again and she found herself staring into the most arresting eyes. There was a devilish twinkle in them that only intensified when he smiled. “It’s going to be cold up there. Are you dressed warmly enough?”

She shrugged. “It’s a party. I’m sure there will be tents and heaters.” She nodded toward the bottle he held. “What about you? Are you going to a party too?”

He shook his head. “I’m not in a party mood. I plan to spend a quiet night in my room, maybe watch a movie.”

“You and a bottle of scotch?” This time Tess met his gaze squarely, refusing to look away. “They say you should never drink alone.”

“I know. It’s such a cliché. But this is a very good bottle of scotch. And I haven’t met anyone I’d be interested in sharing it with.” He paused. “Until now.”

She felt a warm blush creep up her cheeks and a shiver skittered down her spine. This was crazy. She was supposed to be in love with Jeffrey. Why was she even allowing herself to flirt with this stranger? Especially when she had absolutely no idea how to flirt.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” he said, pointing the bottle in her direction. “That dress is … well, looking like that, you’re going to be the prettiest girl at the party.”

She hadn’t imagined it. They were definitely flirting. And for the first time in her life, she felt as if she wasn’t making a complete fool of herself. Tess had never really learned how to charm a man, how to draw him in and make him want her. She’d always blurted out something sarcastic or brutally honest, ruining the mood.

But this stranger seemed to be totally entranced by her. Tess felt her stomach drop as the elevator started moving up. She’d never put much thought into her appearance. But suddenly she was glad she had, if only to feel this way just once in her life. “Thank you. You’re very … charming.”

They were still smiling at each other when the elevator suddenly jerked. Tess fell back, slamming her shoulder against the wall. Crying out, she struggled to stay upright, but instead tumbled into his arms.

The lights in the car flickered and went out. Tess’s breath caught in her throat as she waited, his body warm against hers, her breath coming in shallow gasps. This was it. This was God’s punishment for flirting with a handsome stranger. She was about to plunge down to the basement and die on the very night she was supposed to get engaged. The Fates were cruel.

But when the elevator didn’t drop, Tess wondered if she wasn’t being sent a different message. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to go upstairs. Maybe this was exactly where she belonged.

DEREK NOLAN WAITED in the silence. His fingers gripped the woman’s arms, her skin soft beneath his touch. She hadn’t said anything since the lights went out and the elevator bumped to a stop. Though he couldn’t see her, an image of her was still swimming around in his head.

Until she’d stepped into the elevator, he’d been having a rather unremarkable night. He’d been prepared to spend his evening alone, with room service and a glass of the hotel’s best scotch, get a good night’s sleep and then head out at dawn to his next destination. The routine had become so familiar that there were times when he even forgot the city in which he was staying.

Since the economy had gone south, Derek had been working at a frantic pace to keep his family’s business well in the black. The Perryman was one of thirty-seven luxury hotels the Nolan family owned around the world and it had become his job to make sure they were all operating at peak efficiency. Though he found a lot of satisfaction in doing his job, he’d begun to realize that working sixteen-hour days didn’t leave much time for fun.

Just that afternoon, he’d found himself daydreaming through a meeting on the hotel’s energy costs, his thoughts wandering to the last time he’d really enjoyed himself. Sure, he’d had vacations and women and distractions over the past eight years, but college had really been the last time he’d felt completely free of responsibility—enough that he was able to relax and just let go.

“Are we stuck?” she asked.

“It should be up and running in a minute,” he said, rubbing her back to soothe her nerves. “It probably just needs to reset itself.”

“And what if it doesn’t? Shouldn’t we try to get out while we can? “

She turned, her hip brushing up against his groin, and Derek clenched his jaw. Being near a beautiful woman still caused the same physiological response, the same need to possess. But somewhere along the line, he’d stopped surrendering to his impulses. Sure, he had no trouble finding women to share his bed, but lately, he’d been searching for something more.

Could men and women be friends first and lovers second? Though he’d had a number of long-term relationships, Derek hadn’t found that one woman who he felt completely comfortable with.

“We’re still not moving,” she said, her voice tense and her fingers digging into his arm.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly.

“You don’t think it will …” Her voice faded.

“Plummet to the basement?” Derek asked. “No, I don’t think so. There are all kinds of safety features on elevators these days. That only happens in horror movies and bad dreams.”

“I have that dream all the time,” she said. “And it never ends well.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his BlackBerry. The screen lit up, providing enough light to see the features of her face. “There should be an alarm button,” he said. Derek found the button behind a door on the control panel and pushed it. A buzzer sounded in the shaft above their heads.

Then he dialed the number for the front desk. “Hi, this is Derek Nolan. I’m stuck in the elevator with …” He leaned closer to her. “What’s your name?”

“Tess,” she said. “Tess Robertson.”

“With Tess Robertson. Could you call maintenance and have them get us out?”

“Certainly, Mr. Nolan. Right away. I’m so sorry about this. We’ve been having a lot of trouble with the elevators lately.”

“Just get us out,” he said calmly. “And call me at this number if there’s any problem.” He hung up, then turned the light from the screen toward her. “Is there anyone you’d like to call?”

Tess hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

But she didn’t sound fine. She sounded uneasy. Being in a dark, confined space with a stranger would make anyone nervous. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “You’re safe with me. In fact, you’re better off with me. I’m a pretty important guest here. They’ll get us out as quickly as they can.”

“I’m really not worried,” she said. “I mean, not about you. But the whole ‘plunging to the basement’ thing is still an issue.”

He chuckled. “Why don’t we sit down and make ourselves comfortable.” Derek held out his hand and she placed her fingers in his as he helped her settle onto the floor. Derek sat down next to her. Then he set the bottle of scotch between them. “What do you think? Should we open it? It’s really good stuff. And it may calm your nerves.”

Tess shrugged, crossing her legs in front of her and folding her hands in her lap. She forced a smile. “Why not? Maybe it will soften the fall, too?”

“We’re not going to fall,” Derek insisted. With a grin, he handed her the BlackBerry. “You hold the light.” He peeled the foil from around the cap, then twisted it open. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any glasses. Some might consider it a crime to drink twelve-year-old scotch right out of the bottle but desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“I don’t care what some people say,” Tess replied. “I’ve never really liked arbitrary rules.” She raised the bottle to him. “To … to the very strong and capable cable that’s holding this elevator up.” Like an experienced drinker, she tipped the bottle and took a sip, then coughed. “It’s good.”

Derek reached over and patted her on the back. “Easy there, you don’t want to drink too fast.”

With a soft laugh, she handed him back the bottle. “Don’t worry. I can handle my liquor.”

Derek took a swig of the scotch. “So, Tess Robertson. Since we’re stuck here for a while, tell me about yourself. Are you from Nashville?”

She shook her head, her dark hair falling into her face. “No. I live near Lexington, Kentucky. I manage a horse farm. We breed and raise thoroughbreds. For racing.”

“You work with horses?”

Tess nodded. “My dad is a trainer. He put me on a horse when I was three and I haven’t been off one since then.” She smoothed her hands over her skirt. “Yesterday, I was mucking out stables. Today, I’m sipping expensive scotch in a party dress, waiting for my eminent death.” Tess reached for the bottle and took another sip. “What about you?”

“My family owns a chain of hotels.”

“Hah!” she said with a laugh. “I bet you’re sorry you decided to stay at this one.”

“I probably shouldn’t admit this, but this hotel is one of ours. The one with the broken elevator.”

“You own this hotel? Sorry. It’s very nice.”

“I’m here looking after the family interests. Making sure the staff is doing its job. Tomorrow I head down to Puerto Rico to visit another hotel.”

“Your job sounds very glamorous,” she said.

“So does your job,” he said.

Tess shrugged. “Horses can’t bring you room service.”

It was an odd statement and caused him to chuckle. Was the scotch beginning to take effect? Or was this just the way she was—honest and plainspoken? “I suppose they can’t. But you can’t ride a hotel. Or race one.”

“Very true,” she said.

The light on his phone went out, but they continued to talk in the dark, passing the bottle between them.

“You said you were on your way to a party?”

“The owners of the farm are giving a New Year’s Eve party. It’s an annual event and I was invited.”

“And now, you’re stuck here with me,” he said in an apologetic tone.

“No, it’s fine. I’m really not much of a party girl. I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress. And it’s one of those high-society deals. Half the time, I don’t know what they’re talking about and the other half, I don’t really care.” She paused. “Sorry.”

“For what?”

“You’re probably one of those high-society types, aren’t you.”

“No. And you’re right to want to stay here,” he said in a teasing tone. “I hate socializing with snooty people, too. The atmosphere here is so much nicer. And the conversation more interesting.” He picked up his BlackBerry and pulled up a song, the melody barely audible, the light illuminating her profile again. “We even have music.”

“Maybe this is exactly what I needed,” she said with a sigh.

“Really?”

“I have to take a deep breath. Clear my mind.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

He leaned back against the wall of the elevator and smiled. For the first time in a very long time, he found himself completely relaxed. His brain wasn’t spinning with thoughts of business. He took a sip of scotch, then handed her the bottle. “I like this,” he murmured.

“Me, too,” she said softly.

When their shoulders touched, she didn’t pull away and Derek felt the warmth of her body seep into his. He had everything he wanted and needed here in this elevator—a beautiful woman to talk to in the dark, a good bottle of scotch and time to relax.

By anyone’s standards, he was successful. He had a job that gave him the opportunity to travel the world on a moment’s notice, to stay in luxury surroundings, to work at something he truly enjoyed. And he had a social life that most guys his age would kill for. But he felt old, as if the years spent working were starting to take a toll on him.

Derek knew exactly why he threw himself into his job. It made it easier to forget that he didn’t have a life beyond work. And not having a real life just made it easier to work harder. He was caught in a vicious circle and he needed a way out. When he was kid, he’d always considered running away as a viable option. But as an adult his options were—

It was the perfect answer. No explanations necessary, no opportunities to reconsider. Just pick up and leave, deal with the consequences later. “Did you ever feel like taking off?” Derek asked. “Just dropping all of your problems and worries and running in the opposite direction?”

“Never,” she said. “I’ve always stayed and worked them out.”

“Me, too. But I’m starting to think that every now and then, it might be nice to just go. Run. And don’t look back.”

“I was supposed to get engaged tonight. At the party.”

The news took him by surprise—first, that she seemed so blasé about their predicament and second, that he felt a sliver of envy for the man who was about to claim her as his own. This was crazy! He’d met her only a few minutes before. Yet he was selfish enough to want her to stay here, with him.

“I guess we’d better get you out of here, then,” he said.

“No.” Her voice was soft and unsure. “I’d rather stay.”

She reached for the bottle at the same time he did and their hands touched. The contact was electric and for a moment, neither of them moved. Derek smoothed his fingers over the back of her wrist, imagining the contours in the dark. “With me or inside this elevator?”

“Both,” she said.

“All right, then.” He grabbed the bottle and held it up. “Another toast. To a rather unconventional meeting. And to the good fortune that put us in this elevator together.”

The lights flickered, then came on. Tess held up her hand to the glare, squinting at the sudden change. Derek cursed beneath his breath. Why the hell did the staff have to be so damn efficient?

A knock sounded and then the doors were slowly forced open. The car was stuck between two floors and the maintenance men were standing on the upper floor. “Sorry about the wait,” the hotel manager said, bending down to speak to them. “We’re bringing a ladder and we’ll have you—”

“Don’t bother,” Derek said. He stepped over to the doors, setting the scotch down in the corner. “Come on, I’ll lift you up.” He held out his hand and helped Tess to her feet. Slipping his arms around her waist, he gently lifted her up until the maintenance men grabbed her hands. Then Derek boosted himself up and climbed out into the lobby of the fifth floor.

He dusted his hands off on his pants. “Thank you,” he said, nodding to the manager. “And don’t worry. I’m not going to mention this to anyone.”

“Thank you, Mr. Nolan. I appreciate that.”

Tess turned and looked back inside the elevator. “We left the scotch.”

“Oh, I can get that for you,” the manager volunteered.

“No,” Derek said. “There’s more where that came from.”

They both slowly walked toward the door to the stairwell. When they’d regained a bit of the privacy they’d shared in the elevator, Derek turned to her, still holding on to her hand. “So …”

“So …” she said softly, a winsome smile curling her lips. “It was a pleasure, Mr. Nolan.”

“Derek,” he murmured.

“Derek. It was nice meeting you.”

He knew he had to find some way to keep her with him. But she was late for her engagement party. What could he possibly say to convince her to spend the evening with him? “You don’t have to go upstairs. You could stay here with me.”

“Right here?” she asked.

“Here. The bar. My suite.” He paused. “Or we could always run away.”

She drew in a deep breath and to his surprise, he watched her consider his invitation. It was clear from the confusion etching her features that she wasn’t thrilled with what awaited her upstairs. “I don’t expect anything,” he assured. “I just want to get out of here and I’d like you to come along. It’ll be an adventure, I promise.”

“Why me?” she said.

“I don’t know. I like the sound of your voice. It relaxes me. And I don’t want to go without you.”

“Where will we go?”

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”

She smiled, then nodded. “All right. Yes, I’ll go with you.”

Derek grinned. “All right.” He pushed open the door to the stairwell. “We’re going up,” he said. “It’s going to be a hike.” Pointing to her shoes, he shook his head. “And those are going to kill you.” He turned his back to her. “Hop on.”

“You’re going to carry me up the stairs?”

“Yes,” Derek said. “You don’t think I can do it?”

“I’m perfectly capable of walking.” She kicked off her shoes, picked them up and handed them to him. “I bet I can beat you to the top.” With a laugh, she started up the stairs. Tess was already on the first landing before he’d even moved.

Derek chuckled to himself. Now, this was going to be fun—a woman as beautiful as Tess challenging him to a race in her party dress and bare feet in a hotel stairwell. Either she’d had too much scotch or she was the most charming creature he’d ever met. He intended to spend the rest of the evening figuring out which it was.