Into the Night. Kate Hoffmann

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,”