Читать книгу Into the Night - Kate Hoffmann, Kate Hoffmann - Страница 7

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE DOOR of his room, they were both out of breath. Tess leaned back against the wall as he slid the key card through the lock. Suddenly it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

It wasn’t really right to run away from her doubts and insecurities—or from Jeffrey—but she was tired of always choosing the safe route. From the time she was seven, she’d had to be the responsible one, always doing her best to choose the right path, make the right decision. For once, she wanted to do something impetuous. She wasn’t sure what she’d tell Jeffrey or how he’d feel about being stood up. For one night, she could be wild and spontaneous. Tomorrow she’d start the rest of her life, but tonight she’d be the woman she always wanted to be.

Derek pushed open the door and stepped aside, leaning against the wall and gasping for breath. “Man, you are fast.”

“You’re not one of those guys that always has to win, are you?” Tess asked. “Because we can go back and do it again, and I can pretend to pull up lame on the last flight of stairs.”

He laughed, then swept his arm in front of him. “After you, Secretariat,” he said.

“Was that a horse joke?”

“A bad attempt at one.”

“Very clever. But Secretariat was a stallion. Genuine Risk was a mare and she won the Derby. And placed at Belmont and Pimlico. My horse, Genny, is named after her.”

“You’re faster than me. You’re prettier than me. And you have your own horse. I think I may have found the perfect woman.”

Tess strolled into the suite. It was so easy to relax around Derek. She could be herself, say anything that came into her head, something she’d never been able to do around Jeffrey.

The lights were low and through the wide windows on the opposite wall, she could see the far side of the Cumberland River. She walked over and looked down, watching a barge slowly float south with the current. A moment later, he joined her, bracing his hands on the windowsill next to her.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“I’ve never really liked this hotel,” he said. “But I’m beginning to think I might have been wrong. It is beautiful.”

“Do you have a home somewhere, or do you just go from hotel to hotel?” she asked, turning to face him.

“I live out of a suitcase,” he said, pointing to the packed garment bag lying on the sofa.

Tess waited for him to continue, but he was suddenly silent. His gaze dropped to her mouth and she felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. Was he thinking of kissing her? She hadn’t been kissed by anyone other than Jeffrey for over four years. But she wasn’t nervous … just curious.

What would it feel like? Would the thrill racing through her right now increase? The anticipation was so delicious, Tess wanted it to last forever. Anticipation was all she could enjoy, after all. She was supposed to be in love with Jeffrey, committed to him.

He leaned closer and she waited, hoping, knowing that it would probably be more wonderful than she could imagine. But then he drew a deep breath and smiled. “Champagne,” he murmured. “I’m going to open a bottle of champagne. Would you like something to eat before we leave? Unfortunately, we don’t keep the jet stocked.”

Tess swallowed hard. She hated flying. “We’re going on a jet?”

“Did you think we’d just set out on foot? Or maybe hop on our bicycles? I have a little more style than that.”

“I kind of thought we were metaphorically running away. I assumed we’d stay here. Or maybe go out and get some dinner.”

“We could do that,” Derek said. “But if we’re going to run, I figure we should run as fast and as far as we can.”

“Yes,” she murmured, so caught up in the fantasy that she could think of only one answer. “Let’s go. Right now. Where are we going?”

“I assume you’re not carrying a passport, so we’ll have to go get that first. You do have a passport, don’t you?”

Tess nodded. “I’ve never used it.”

He nodded. “Good. Now, where to go? I really don’t want to spend the next ten hours on a plane. How about if we fly to the Caribbean? We can be walking on a beach in three, maybe four hours. Does that sound good?”

The thought of escaping to a warm, sunny beach was almost too good to believe. But this was crazy! Derek Nolan was a complete stranger. “I can’t just leave the country. I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Sure we can. We’ll send a messenger to pick up your passport for you and they can meet us at the airport in Lexington. And then we’ll be on our way. Is there someone who can get the passport for you at your house?”

Tess nodded. “But what if we can’t get a flight? We don’t have reservations.”

“We’re taking my private jet,” he said. “And my family owns the island, so there won’t be any immigration problems. And where we’re going, you won’t need anything to wear.”

Tess’s breath caught in her throat. “What does that mean? I’m not going to run around naked.” Although the prospect seemed intriguing, she thought. Why not just cast aside all her inhibitions and go for it? This was her one chance to live without regret.

Derek laughed, shaking his head. “We have plenty of clothes at the house,” he said. “And there’s a small resort on the other end of the island that has a number of shops. We can buy you something there if you don’t find anything that suits you.” He paused. “But if you do decide to run around naked, I’m all right with that, too.”

“Good to know,” Tess said, giving him wary look.

“Just say the word and I’ll call for the plane.”

“What’s the word?” she asked.

“Yes,” he murmured. He smoothed his hands over her bare arms. “We’ll have fun, I promise. No expectations, no pressure.”

Tess held her breath. This is exactly how she had imagined it, the thrill, the excitement, the undeniable attraction. A handsome man and a tantalizing invitation. “I don’t know you,” she said.

“I’m a good guy. And we won’t be flying alone. I’ll introduce you to my pilot and if you don’t like him, I’ll bring you right back to the hotel. But I think you’d really enjoy spending the night sitting on a sandy beach with your toes in the sand, staring up at the stars.”

“All right,” she said, throwing caution to the wind. When would she ever have an opportunity like this again? Tonight, she’d live a fantasy with this handsome stranger and tomorrow, she’d make a decision about the rest of her life.

“I’ll call my pilot,” he said.

Tess nodded. “I’m just going to go freshen up.”

“The bathroom is through the bedroom,” he said, pulling out his cell phone.

She wandered over to the bedroom door, then looked back at him. For all she knew, he could be a homicidal maniac—a serial killer … with a plane and pilot at his beck and call, and his very own string of hotels with managers and maintenance workers who knew him by name.

Tess stepped inside the luxurious bathroom, then sat down on the edge of the whirlpool tub. She pulled her phone from her clutch purse and quickly dialed Alison’s cell phone. When her friend picked up, she turned away from the door and spoke softly. “Hi, it’s me.”

“Hi,” Alison said. “What’s going on? Did he propose yet? Are you engaged? “

“I haven’t seen Jeffrey. On my way up to the party, I got stuck in the elevator with a gorgeous man. Now I’m in his hotel suite and we’re going to get on a plane and fly … somewhere. To the Caribbean.” She moaned softly. “Please tell me I’m not crazy.”

“Are you kidding me? Of course you’re crazy. Get out of there right now.”

“But I don’t want to leave. I feel like I’m in the middle of some Hollywood movie. He has his own plane. He owns hotels, all over the world. He owns this hotel. And he’s so funny and nice and he says he doesn’t expect any—”

“That’s what they all say,” Alison interrupted. “Have you had too much to drink?”

“No,” she said. “I want to do this, Ali. I want one night of spontaneity and excitement. One night to be someone I’m not. After that, I can marry Jeffrey. One night is all I need.”

“You don’t even know this guy,” Alison said.

“We’re not going to be completely alone. There’s the pilot. And he told me he’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“What are you going to tell Jeffrey?”

“I’ll figure out something,” she said. “I just know that I can’t bring myself to go to that party. I don’t want him to ask me to marry him tonight.”

“You are crazy,” Alison said.

“I know! Isn’t it wonderful? I’ve never been crazy in my life!” She deserved a fantasy just once, Tess reasoned. She’d spent her entire existence waiting for the next disaster to strike. Now she had a chance to let go of all her worries for one night and to really live. She’d become a practical woman who was about to accept the marriage proposal of a very practical man and together, they’d live a practical life. But not until she had this one night of utter fantasy.

“Let me talk to him,” Alison said.

“What?”

“You heard me. I want to talk to this guy. Where are you? I want to meet him right now. If I say he’s all right, then you can go.”

“I can’t—”

“You will or I’ll call security and have them find you.”

Tess stood and opened the bathroom door. Derek was waiting in the bedroom, a worried look on his face. “Are you all right? You’ve been in there an awfully long time.”

“Here,” she said, holding the phone out to him. “My friend Alison wants to talk to you.” Tess felt her cheeks warm. This was definitely not part of the fantasy. She shouldn’t need to get permission from anyone to run away with a handsome man.

Derek gave her an odd look, then took the phone. “Hi,” he said. For a long time he listened, interjecting a ‘yes’ every now and then. And finally he gave Alison their room number, said goodbye and handed the phone back to Tess. “She’s a little scary. Does she always screen your dates?”

“No. Only those who want to fly me out of the country on a private jet.”

He nodded. “Good to have a friend like that. Hey, she can come with us if she wants. You can invite as many people as you like. We can make a party of it.”

A knock sounded and Tess followed Derek into the sitting room. Alison was waiting at the door, with a handsome man standing behind her, dressed in faded jeans and a T-shirt. Derek let them both in, introducing himself.

“This is Drew Phillips,” Alison said. “Drew, my mentally deranged best friend, Tess Robertson.”

Drew sent Tess an apologetic smile. He was almost as handsome as Derek, Tess mused. But not quite.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Drew said. He turned to Alison. “Why am I here?” he whispered. He turned back to Derek. “Sorry about this. I was just watching the hockey game and she dragged me down here.”

“No problem. Hey, would you like to come along with us?” Derek offered. “There’s plenty of room in the plane. We’re going down to my family’s island in the Caribbean. Good food, good weather … good company?”

Alison forced a smile, then grabbed Tess and pulled her into the privacy of the bedroom. When the door was shut behind them, she gave Tess a shrewd look. “Are you drunk? “

“I’ve had a little scotch,” Tess said. “But I’m not drunk. Although I feel … lightheaded. What do you think? Isn’t he gorgeous?”

“Yes, he’s gorgeous. And he seems like a really nice guy. But you can’t be serious about running off with him.”

“Why not? He’s offering us a free trip to the Caribbean. The last vacation I had was a day at Disneyland when my dad and I were living in California. I was fourteen. If you’re worried, come along.” Tess sighed. “Haven’t you ever done something completely spontaneous?”

“No,” Alison said. She shook her head. “All right. Yes. I slept with Drew about twelve hours after I met him. But that was different. I spent the night in his cabin up in the mountains and there was a storm and the road was washed out and … one thing led to another. You’re supposed to be getting engaged to Jeffrey.”

“And just an hour ago, you were trying to convince me that I needed to find a man who made my heart race,” Tess said, grabbing Alison’s hand and pressing against her chest. “Feel that? It’s racing.”

Alison glanced over her shoulder at the closed door. “If you go, then I want some assurance that he’ll bring you back in one piece.” She opened the door to the bedroom and called Derek inside.

“Give me your wallet,” she said.

Derek regarded her suspiciously, but then pulled his wallet out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. They both watched as Alison rifled through the contents. “You can always see inside a man’s soul by going through his wallet.” She pulled out a photo of a girl. “Who is this? Your wife?”

“My sister,” he said. “Chloe. That’s her on her twenty-first birthday.”

Alison pulled out a black American Express card. “I suppose you use this to purchase the services of call girls?”

Derek chuckled. “No. I’ve never been with a call girl. At least, not that I know of.”

She held up a condom. “What’s this?”

“I think you know what that is,” Derek said. “It’s always a good idea to be prepared. I’m a guy who believes in being safe.”

“Good guy,” Drew commented from the door of the bedroom.

Alison gave him a cool look. “All right,” she replied. “Well, I think Tess should keep the condom.” She closed the wallet and waved it under his nose. “If you do anything to hurt my friend, I will hunt you down and relieve you of the manparts that make that condom necessary. I want her back on Monday morning at the latest.”

Tess stepped between them, grabbing Derek’s wallet and handing it back to him. “Enough.” She drew Alison toward the door. “I’ll call you when I get there, I promise. I have my cell phone.”

“What are you going to tell Jeffrey?”

“I’ll figure that out when he calls,” she said. Tess threw her arms around Alison’s neck and gave her a hug.

“I still think you’re crazy,” Alison muttered.

Tess grinned. “I know. But it feels so good.”

DEREK GLANCED AT THE SEAT next to him and watched as Tess slept, her head resting on his shoulder. He bent close and drew a deep breath, letting the scent of her perfume tease at his nose.

After jumping through a few hoops, he’d managed to get her on the plane and off the ground. She wasn’t keen on flying, worried about the size of the plane and only having one pilot on board. But Derek had assured her that he was a licensed pilot and could land the plane if their pilot dropped dead.

She spent the first half hour on edge, questioning every sound and bump. Then, after a few glasses of champagne, she’d kicked off her shoes, curled up in one of the large leather seats, and dozed off. He smiled to himself, reluctant to wake her. Derek relished the chance to look at her freely.

He hadn’t noticed before, but she had the most perfect mouth, in the shape of a Cupid’s bow. How would it feel to kiss that mouth, he wondered. Though he’d assured her he had no expectations, that didn’t stop him from thinking about seducing her. After all, he did find her incredibly attractive. And the more he got to know her, the more interested he became.

What kind of woman would walk away from her engagement party and get on a plane with a complete stranger? Except for her habit of saying whatever popped into her mind, she didn’t seem like the impulsive sort. Yet, here she was, running away to paradise with him. She hadn’t revealed much about herself, beyond the fact that she managed a horse farm, that she’d moved around a lot as a kid and that she was about to marry the boss’s son.

But he saw something in her eyes, in the way her brow furrowed while she was making the decision to escape. It was as if his offer had lifted the weight of the world from her shoulders. It wasn’t just a marriage proposal she was trying avoid. That could have been settled with a simple “no.” Derek suspected there was something else, something much deeper that was pulling her down.

Everyone had at least a few secrets, he mused. His love life hadn’t been a bed of roses. Five years ago, he’d been ready to consider marriage. But after a prolonged engagement, his fiancée, an interior designer working out of their corporate offices, dumped him—for his older brother, Sam. Since then, every family gathering was an exercise in awkwardness for Derek.

He turned to stare out the window of the Lear jet, searching for the lights of the landing strip at Angel Cay. His family had owned the island in the Caribbean since his grandfather had bought it forty years ago. At the time, his board of directors had fought the purchase. Back then, it had been little more than a small patch of sand and scrub northwest of Abaco. But over the years, the island had become a pet project of his grandfather’s and he’d turned it into a lush, tropical paradise with palm trees and gardens and white clapboard buildings.

He’d designed a beautiful plantation house, built to weather the hurricanes. The airstrip had been lengthened to accommodate small jets ten years ago and private cottages had been added on the north end of the island, creating an exclusive resort popular with the Hollywood crowd.

Though the cottages were probably booked, Derek knew the main house was empty. His family was spending the holidays at their newest hotel in Bermuda, Sam and Alicia included. Derek had left them there the day after Christmas, making his excuses that he was needed for a week of meetings at some of the U.S. properties.

Though he’d been prepared to greet the New Year alone, in a comfortable suite somewhere, Derek was glad he’d chosen to enter a balky elevator. He wasn’t quite sure what he was doing with Tess or where their time together would lead, but from the moment he’d set eyes on her, he’d decided not to waste too much time thinking about it.

Derek reached out and touched her knee. “Hey,” he whispered. “Tess. Wake up.”

She opened her eyes, then frowned, taking in her surroundings. At first, it seemed as if she didn’t know where she was, but then she stared straight at him. “Is there something wrong with the plane?”

“No. But we’re going to be landing soon.”

“Too much champagne,” she murmured, stretching her arms over her head. “And no sleep last night.”

His eyes took in the smooth expanse of her shoulders and the soft flesh of her breasts above the deeply cut neckline. Drawing a ragged breath, he ignored the desire racing through him. He’d made a promise to her and he intended to keep it—no matter how difficult it was. “You need to put on your seat belt.”

She straightened and searched for the ends of the belt, but fumbled with fastening it. Derek slid out of his seat and knelt down in front of her to help. As she leaned forward, they bumped heads. He glanced up to find her lush lips just inches from his and the impulse to kiss her was impossible to deny.

He brushed his lips against hers and her breath seemed to catch in her throat. Time seemed to stand still, the soft roar of the engines lulling them both into a quiet contemplation of what had just happened. Derek had never put a whole lot of thought into kissing a woman. It normally just happened in the course of events. But with Tess, there was much more at stake. One kiss could be the end of their time together. One kiss and she might demand that he turn the plane around and take her home.

But like a tantalizing flavor he couldn’t resist, Derek took another taste, this time tracing the crease of her mouth with his tongue. A tiny sigh slipped from her throat as her lips parted and he took the reaction as an invitation and deepened the kiss.

Bracing his hands on either side of her body, he pressed her back into the soft leather seat. There was nothing in her response that told him to stop. If anything, she seemed curious to explore further. Her hand rested on his chest and he knew she could feel his heart pounding through the fabric of his shirt.

Derek smoothed his hand along the length of her leg, her skin like silk beneath his fingers. The fabric of her skirt rustled as he slid beneath it. He didn’t know her, yet the attraction to her was so intense, he could barely control himself.

Though he tried to tell himself that kissing her was enough, the process of slowly seducing her was what intrigued him the most. Each word between them, each glance, each touch took them further down that road. They’d started at square one in the elevator, two complete strangers sharing a drink in the dark. And now a few hours later, they were moving closer and closer to surrender.

When he finally drew back and looked down at her, her face was flushed and her lips damp. He held his breath, waiting for her protest, but it never came. “I have to go up to the cockpit,” he murmured. He fastened her seat belt, then stood up in front of her, taking a deep breath and willing his heartbeat to slow down.

“Is there something wrong with the pilot?” she asked.

“He hasn’t done a night landing on Angel Cay before and I have. It can be tricky. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Derek made his way to the cockpit and slipped into the copilot’s seat. Jeremy Nichols, one of the corporation’s best pilots, was behind the controls for this flight. He’d been more than happy to leave Nashville early, especially for a two-day layover in the Caribbean.

“You’ll want to circle around and come in from the west. There’s usually a pretty stiff breeze from the east. The runway is 5500 feet. Touch down between the blue lights and you’ll have plenty of room.”

“Got it,” Jeremy said. He glanced over at Derek. “So, who is the girl? I thought you were planning on spending New Year’s weekend hard at work.”

Derek chuckled. “Do you blame me for changing my mind?”

“She’s pretty. Where did you find her?”

“In an elevator.” He grinned, his gaze scanning the instruments. “I don’t know. There’s something about her. We were sitting in the dark and her voice just drew me in. It’s like I know this girl, but we’re complete strangers.”

“Well, I’m happy you met her. I won’t mind spending the next few days lying on a beach and working on my tan.”

“I thought I’d send you back to San Diego,” Derek teased.

“No!” Jeremy said.

“Kidding. The pool house will be empty. You can sleep there.”

“And where is the girl going to sleep?”

“Wherever she wants,” Derek said. “We have plenty of bedrooms, although I wouldn’t be adverse to have her share mine. Now, can we stop talking and land this plane?”

“You got it, boss.”

They went through the landing checklist with quiet efficiency and though Jeremy was focused on the job at hand, Derek couldn’t keep his thoughts off Jeremy’s question. Where would she sleep? Did she think he’d expect her to share his bed? Though he’d made it clear that he’d be a gentleman, there was no denying the attraction between them.

With other women, he’d always been certain of the outcome of an evening. But for once, it felt good not to know. Whatever transpired between the two of them would be a surprise. That would be his New Year’s resolution, Derek thought to himself. “Add more spontaneity to my life,” he murmured.

“What?” Jeremy said, reaching for the switch that lowered the landing gear.

“Nothing,” Derek said. Hell, he’d brought her to one of the most romantic spots in the world. He couldn’t help it if the atmosphere had a seductive effect on her.

THEY RODE from the airstrip in a Range Rover, the windows open to the warm night air. Tess sat in back with Derek, feeling a bit uneasy in the company of Jeremy and the driver. What did the two other men think of her? Was she just another in a long line of women that Derek Nolan had brought to this island to seduce? Or were they aware that she and Derek were not romantically involved?

Tess groaned inwardly, her thoughts wandering back to the kiss they’d shared on the plane. She ought to have felt remorseful, yet Tess couldn’t muster even the smallest sliver of guilt for what she’d done.

In all the time she’d been with Jeffrey, he’d never once elicited the kind of reaction from her that Derek had managed. She shivered, the memory causing a physical response. It was a delicious kiss and something she’d probably have to explain to Jeffrey—someday.

Though the notion of flying off with a handsome stranger was the stuff of fantasies, she still had to rationalize her decision. Maybe this was the female equivalent of a bachelor party, that one last chance to sow her wild oats, before committing herself to Jeffrey. Besides, though the kiss was wonderful and she’d been a willing participant, Tess hadn’t initiated it.

It wasn’t the best rationalization, but she had time to work on something better. From now on, she was going to hold Derek to his promise—no expectations. And no more kisses.

The facade of the stucco plantation house was lit up in the dark and she could see it from the long winding driveway. As they approached, Tess realized that it wasn’t just a house, but an estate. The main house at Beresford Farms was nice, but this house was truly impressive.

“Wow,” she murmured.

“I know,” Derek said. “My grandfather started building and he couldn’t seem to stop. It’s big, but comfortable. You can have a room in the main house or you can have one of the cottages.”

“I’m afraid the cottages are all rented, Mr. Nolan,” the driver said.

“Then it’s the house,” Derek replied.

When the Range Rover pulled to a stop, he hopped out and helped her from the car, resting his arm on the small of her back as they approached the wide verandah that circled the building.

The front door burst open and a young woman came running out. She threw herself into Derek’s arms. “Oh, you’re here! God, I thought I’d have to spend New Year’s Eve all alone. Chris couldn’t fly in with me and Daddy said I couldn’t send one of our pretty little jets to pick him up, so now he’s stuck in New York and I’m stuck here. But now I have a jet.” She glanced over at Jeremy. “And a pilot, I see.” She looked at Tess. Pulling away from Derek, she held out her hand. “I’m Chloe. Derek’s sister.”

“Chloe, this is Tess. Tess Roberts.”

“Robertson,” Tess said.

“Right. Robertson. Tess.”

“Are you Jeremy’s girlfriend?” she asked, looking over at the pilot.

“She’s here with me,” Derek said.

“Really? Derek never brings company to the island. You must be pretty special.” With that, she turned and walked back inside the house. “Come on, Jeremy, I’ll feed you and then we’re going to get my boyfriend in New York.”

“I bet she’s a handful,” Jeremy muttered, climbing the front steps. When he reached the top, he turned. “Good night. It was a pleasure flying you both.” He disappeared through the open front door, leaving Tess and Derek alone.

“Sorry about this,” Derek said. “I didn’t know she’d be here. I thought we’d have the place to ourselves. But she’ll be gone soon enough.”

In truth, Tess was glad for the company. Having a chaperone around would keep her from tossing all caution to the wind and behaving badly. “She’s your sister,” Tess said. “And I don’t mind.”

He reached out and ran his hands up and down her arms, causing a tremor to race through her. They’d known each other for only four hours, yet she’d already begun to crave his touch. His hands were strong, his caress sure, as if he was used to taking what he wanted when he wanted it.

Tess swayed a bit, her knees slowly turning to jelly. As if sensing her thoughts, he pulled her into his arms, letting her body mold to his. Derek’s mouth came down on hers in a long, delicious kiss.

No, this wasn’t supposed to happen again, she thought to herself as she frantically tried to find a way to stop him. But as the kiss grew more intense, Tess knew that denying their attraction was an exercise in futility. How could she ever have been satisfied with Jeffrey, she wondered. This was real passion.

When he finally drew back, she looked up at him. “We shouldn’t do that,” Tess murmured.

He blinked as if surprised by her statement. “But I thought you enjoyed—”

“That’s not the point,” Tess explained. “I’m … engaged. Or almost engaged.”

“But you did enjoy it,” he said, leaning close to whisper the words into her ear.

“Yes,” she replied in a strangled voice. “But I don’t want you to think that there will be more.” Oh, who was she kidding? She couldn’t deny the desire that welled up inside of her every time their mouths met. Alison was right. She’d been crazy to accept his invitation. Every minute she spent in Derek Nolan’s arms just made it more impossible for her to consider marriage to Jeffrey.

“All right,” he said, smoothing his hand along her hip. “No more kissing.”

“No more touching,” Tess said.

He pulled his hand away. “All right. But if you kiss me, I can’t be held responsible for enjoying it.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along into the house, already ignoring her request. “I promised you sand between your toes. Come on. I’ll show you your room and then we’ll go down to the beach.”

As they hurried through the house, Tess took in the luxurious surroundings. This evening was becoming more and more surreal. She was just an ordinary girl, used to spending her nights with her nose buried in paperwork and her days with her feet buried in straw. She knew people lived like this and had even witnessed it from the sidelines, but she’d never realized how alluring it all was.

The house was like something out of a travel magazine. It was built in a French plantation style, a U-shaped structure with a courtyard garden in the middle, complete with fountain. All of the rooms opened onto the courtyard with tall French doors replacing windows, which were thrown open to catch the ocean breeze. Tess could smell the sea in the air and hear the distant waves.

They walked along a wide verandah, chairs and tables scattered between huge potted palms. She passed a hanging basket, draped with some type of exotic flower and the scent was like perfume. Tess drew another deep breath, trying to memorize every aspect of this night. She half expected to open her eyes and find out she was dreaming.

When they reached the end of the verandah, they climbed the stairs to the second story and Derek led her through a set of French doors into a dimly lit room. It was dominated by a huge four-poster bed, which had been draped in mosquito netting and covered in expensive bed linens.

“I hope this is all right,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it over the arm of an overstuffed chair. He pulled his loosened tie over his head and yanked his shirttails out of his pants. “The bathroom is over there. If you need anything, you can dial ‘seven’ and the concierge at the resort will take care of you. I’ll make sure that Chloe finds you something to wear before she leaves.”

Tess watched him as he unbuttoned the front of his shirt, revealing deeply tanned and muscular chest. This was going to be so much more difficult than she ever expected. Her fingers twitched and she imagined the feel of his skin beneath her fingers. What she was contemplating could be considered infidelity. Could? It was