Into the Night

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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