Into the Night

“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.”