Just One Night Read online

  Just One Night

  Pandora Spocks

  Published by Bratty Ginger Books, 2016.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  JUST ONE NIGHT

  First edition. June 7, 2016.

  Copyright © 2016 Pandora Spocks.

  Written by Pandora Spocks.

  Also by Pandora Spocks

  Rannigan's Redemption

  Rannigan's Redemption Part 1: Resisting Risk

  Rannigan's Redemption Part 2: Running Rogue

  Rannigan's Redemption Part 3: Ransoming Redemption

  Standalone

  Luke & Bella: Two Streets Over

  Just One Night

  Watch for more at Pandora Spocks’s site.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By Pandora Spocks

  Dedication

  Day 1

  Day 2

  Day 3

  Day 4

  Day 5

  Day 6

  Day 7

  Day 8

  Day 9

  Day 10

  Sign up for Pandora Spocks's Mailing List

  Further Reading: Rannigan's Redemption Part 1: Resisting Risk

  Also By Pandora Spocks

  About the Author

  To my Sir, my love, who's given me many beautiful nights. And days, too, for that matter. I love you more than you can know!

  Mad appreciation to the fabulous writers of the Alliance of Self Published Authors (ASPA). You inspire me everyday and I couldn't do what I do without your support and encouragement.

  Day 1

  Katie Parker inhaled deeply as she glanced up at the cloudless cerulean sky, squinting against the brilliant sun that had peaked overhead about an hour previously, and was just beginning its long descent toward the western horizon. By the time it disappeared, she’d be out to sea along with her merry band of girls on their annual summer excursion.

  Every summer, Katie and three of her best girlfriends from high school got together, leaving behind their work, lives, and significant others for a week-long girls-only retreat. This year they’d decided on a cruise and Katie couldn’t be happier. She needed this vacation, oh, yes, she did.

  As a teacher, she counted the days until summer vacation. This year had been particularly rough. First graders typically haven’t been in school long enough for various special needs to be documented, identified, and accommodated. For Katie, in addition to the normal lesson plans and preparations every teacher has to do, that meant mounds of paperwork documenting interventions, hours of conferences and meetings, and long days in the classroom that many times felt like coming in to take a beating.

  Thinking back on her year, she couldn’t decide which had been the cherry on top: the day she confiscated a six-inch serrated kitchen knife from a seven-year old, or the day another kid had attacked the other students with a chair.

  And that was just her work life. Her personal life was shit as well. Katie found it next to impossible to meet potential dates on the job. With whom did she come into contact? Other teachers, precious few of whom were men. Parents of students? No, thank you.

  So emboldened by some encouraging stories she’d heard from a colleague, she’d ventured into the brave new world of internet dating. Online, she’d met Jeff, a handsome blond entrepreneur with his own company. They’d dated for a few months and had had a great time. The sex had been great as well. He seemed to know exactly how to bring her to orgasm.

  On her first week of summer vacation, Katie had decided to surprise him one day by bringing lunch to his office. And she’d walked in to find a woman giving him a blowjob. Turns out that in addition to her, he was dating three other women he’d met online.

  That had been six weeks ago and Katie was still livid. She glanced around at the people milling about in the cruise terminal. Most of them seemed to be couples and families. But there had to be some single men, she just knew it. And one objective she had for this week was to get well and truly laid before the ship made its way back to Tampa. Yep, that was going to happen.

  “When are they going to let us board?” asked Jayma, her best friend from their high school days. Jayma still lived in Nashville, only now with her husband and two small children in their suburban three/two/two on a quiet cul-de-sac. She’d gotten married in college, finished her degree in marketing, and promptly settled down to domestic life, giving birth to their first child nine months after college graduation. Now she did freelance marketing from home.

  “I don’t know. I thought the brochure said one o’clock,” Katie answered, glancing at her watch.

  “Chicks, this is going to be a blast!” Michelle and Chelsea had completed their check-in and joined the other two.

  Katie smiled and nodded, tamping down the irritation she felt creeping up her spine. There were times when Michelle got on her ever-loving last nerve. Maybe it was the way she always needed to call the group something. Back in high school it had been ‘kids.’ Now, apparently, it was ‘chicks’. Katie shook her head. I need a drink and I need to get laid. That’s all there is to it.

  It had been Michelle who’d suggested a cruise, Michelle who’d insisted that they leave from Tampa. Even though Ft. Lauderdale was just an hour south of where Katie lived in West Palm Beach, Miami only an hour beyond that. No, let me drive four hours across the state to Tampa because it’s convenient for you. Katie shook her head again and picked up her carry-on bag to follow the others toward the gangplank. Let it go. We’re on vacation. Enjoy it.

  The foursome was stopped halfway up the gangplank, just behind a life preserver bearing the name of the ship, and a photographer snapped their photo. Katie gave a genuine smile as she felt the light breeze rustle her shoulder-length naturally curly red hair. The July day was warm and she could feel a pony-tail coming on if they spent much more time outside.

  Once onboard, she and Jayma spent a few minutes unpacking and settling into their ocean-view cabin before meeting the others in their stateroom at the other end of the passageway. Of course, Michelle and Chelsea had sprung for a suite complete with a balcony.

  Michelle was a market analyst, whatever that meant, currently living in Texas, and Chelsea worked in television news in Omaha. Neither was married but Michelle lived with her lawyer boyfriend in a penthouse apartment in downtown Dallas. They’d heard all about it.

  “Wow, this is a great cabin,” Jayma commented when they entered the luxury suite.

  “I figured, we’re here for the week, what the hell,” Michelle answered.

  “Yeah, what the hell,” Katie murmured. Jayma gave her a swift elbow to the ribs.

  Satisfied that they were settled in, the women made their way to the Lido Deck for the departure celebration. “We’ll take four,” Chelsea said to a passing waiter carrying a tray full of the designated drink of the day. It was a frozen pink concoction in a hurricane glass, complete with a tiny paper umbrella.

  Katie didn’t care what it was, it was time for a drink. She held up her glass. “Cheers, ladies! Here’s to us on vacation!”

  ***

  One deck below the women and on the opposite side of the ship, Mac Coleman checked out the digs in his balcony stateroom. He had it all to himself, though he wouldn’t have spent the money on such a luxurious room. He had his younger brother Tommy to thank for the upgrade.

  In just a couple of days Tommy was getting married in Mexico. He’d decided that he wanted to spend his last days as a single man in the company of his best friends in the world, his two older brothers. Tommy was next door, and their older brother Danny was in the room next to that.

  Mac smiled as h
e thought of his little brother Tommy, all grown up and getting married. It was a step he himself hadn’t found the courage, or the right woman, to take. No, not even close to the right woman. The wrong woman? He was all over that.

  He shuddered slightly and sank onto the edge of the bed, running a restless hand through his dark brown hair. This cruise was a godsend, really. As soon as he returned to Tampa after the wedding, he’d be retrieving his belongings from the rented storage unit and moving to a new city and a new job. One where maybe he wouldn’t need a restraining order anymore.

  A rap on the door interrupted his thoughts. “Hey, bro, let’s go find some adult beverages!”

  Mac opened the door to find both of his brothers waiting in the passageway. “Sounds like a plan, gentlemen. Let’s go!”

  ***

  Hours later, Michelle led the foursome as they made their way toward the main dining room. “I’m starved,” commented Jayma. “Who decided that we wouldn’t eat until the 9:00 seating?”

  Michelle rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so Nashville. Civilized society doesn’t eat until late.”

  “You live in Dallas, not Paris,” Katie quipped.

  “Anyway, most of the families with little kids eat earlier,” Chelsea added. “We should have a nice serene dining experience.”

  “I just want some grub,” Jayma giggled.

  Immediately before they reached their destination, they passed a small alcove where photos taken during the day were displayed for purchase. “Hey, you guys go on ahead to our table. I want to look at the pictures,” Katie said.

  In the ten years since they’d graduated from high school and gone their separate ways into college and life, Katie had been the self-appointed documentarian of their annual outings, taking photos and gathering mementos, sending them off to be made into a photo scrapbook.

  The one of us on the gangplank would be just right for the cover of this year’s album. She scanned the hundreds of pictures already hanging on the racks, looking for the one of the four of them.

  Finally, she saw it and reached for it, smiling. As she did, her hand collided with a large masculine one reaching across in front of her. Startled, she looked up. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

  Soulful brown eyes gazed down at her. “No, it’s my fault. I was rudely reaching in front of you. I was paying attention to the photos and not to what’s going on around me.”

  Katie laughed lightly. “That’s exactly what I was doing. Again, I’m sorry.” She felt her face redden as she reached again, snapped up the photo, and hurriedly turned away. Quickly, she charged the picture to her cabin and left the alcove, glancing back over her shoulder as she did. The man was still watching her.

  I’m going to get laid, she says, Katie thought miserably. Not like that I’m not. What the hell just happened? That was a perfect opportunity. But she knew why she’d blown the chance meeting. Casual sex was not who Katie Parker was, it wasn’t how she operated. Flustered, she entered the dining room and found the others already seated at their table.

  Jayma smiled as she sat down. “Did you find it?”

  “I did. It came out great.”

  “What’s wrong with you? You seem all out of breath,” Michelle observed.

  “I’m just starved,” Katie replied in mock seriousness. “We’re eating in the middle of the night.”

  Conversation around the table was about their respective years since the last time they’d been together. Of course, they kept up on everyone’s latest via email, text messages, and social media so there was little news. It wasn’t until halfway through dessert that Katie looked across to see the man she’d run into in the photo alcove. He was seated about three tables away facing her direction. And he was looking right at her.

  She felt her eyes widen before she moved her gaze back to her plate. A flush crept up her neck and across her cheeks as she tried to casually look across the room again, only to find him still watching her. As their eyes met, he smiled.

  Holy heaven. If you looked up ‘tall, dark, and handsome’ in the dictionary, his picture would be there. Topping the soulful brown eyes were expressive dark eyebrows. Framing a gorgeous face was tousled dark brown hair. There was a shadow of stubble over a strong, square jaw and lips that looked imminently kissable. Katie reached for her wine and slugged back the remainder.

  “More wine, madam?”

  “You betcha!”

  “So Katie, what’s new with you? How’s your love life?” Chelsea gazed at her expectantly.

  Katie sipped her wine, stalling for time. “Oh, well, you know...”

  “No, we don’t know, that’s why we ask,” said Michelle.

  Katie sighed. “I dated a guy for a while and he turned out to be a shit. I met him on a dating website and—“

  “A dating site, really?” Chelsea grinned. “I don’t think I’d ever be brave enough to try one of those.”

  “Or desperate enough,” Michelle muttered. She looked up at Katie, wide-eyed. “Not that you’re desperate, that’s not what I meant, I just meant...”

  Refusing to bail her out, Katie sipped her wine and narrowed her eyes, waiting to see how Michelle would untangle the mess she’d created.

  Jayma came to her rescue. “Oh, you know, as a teacher, Katie doesn’t have the opportunity to meet guys at work. Honestly, I think meeting someone online is way better than picking up some guy in a bar.”

  “You know what I think?” Michelle flagged down the waiter for a refill of her wine. “I think that teachers should stay single. You know, like Miss Beadle from Little House on the Prairie.” She grinned before sipping her wine. “Completely dedicated to the kids.”

  Katie was sure she felt actual steam coming out of her ears. “Really?” She nodded sharply. “That’s what you think?” She could hear her voice growing louder. “You think that teachers should just forego a personal life and live like nuns, nobly pouring out their lives for kids who don’t care, and parents and administrators who blame them for everything? And for low salaries and shit benefits to boot? Or maybe they should just work for free.”

  Again, Jayma was the peacemaker. “No, I’m sure that’s not what Michelle meant.”

  Katie stood abruptly. “I need some air.” She turned and left the table heading for the same doors they’d entered.

  ***

  Meeting a woman had been the last thing on Mac’s mind. He was moving across the state just to get away from the last one he’d dated. But the redhead in the photo shop intrigued him. She’d been as startled as he’d been. Truthfully neither of them had been watching what they’d been doing, as occupied with looking at the photos as they’d both been. But when she’d looked up at him with those grey-green eyes, he’d felt a spark.

  So when he’d realized that she was sitting a few tables away he couldn’t resist watching her. She was unbelievably pretty, almost like a fairy or something with her red hair and her fair skin. He wondered briefly how she’d fare for a week in the intense Caribbean sun. She was chatting animatedly with the women at her table. And don’t think he hadn’t noticed. She was traveling with a group of women, not a man.

  “So what’s the deal with this restraining order?”

  Mac pulled his eyes from the gorgeous redhead and focused on his brother. “It’s a long story.” He shook his head.

  “Well, we have a couple of days before we hit Mexico. Will that be enough time?” Danny had always been the sarcastic one.

  Mac sighed, shrugging. “I went out a couple of times with a girl from my apartment complex.”

  “What was her name?” Tommy wondered.

  Mac frowned. “Erin. What difference does it make?”

  “I just wondered, is all.”

  “Anyway, she seemed like a pretty nice girl but after a few dates, I knew she wasn’t the one for me. I just didn’t feel that...I don’t know, spark.” Instantly the redhead popped up in his mind, and he couldn’t resist a glance in her direction before he continued.

  He looked fro
m one brother to the other. “So I very gently suggested that although we’d had a good time going out, I felt that we were not completely compatible and it would be better if we didn’t go out again.”

  “And she didn’t take it well,” Danny summed up.

  Images of his tires slashed to ribbons and a deep, jagged groove keyed down the side of his black Jeep popped into his head. “No. No, she did not.”

  “I can’t believe you had to take out a restraining order.” Tommy’s eyes were wide.

  “Dude, I’m moving to a new city. I have a new job and everything. Do you really think a piece of paper will keep away a psycho?”

  Danny shook his head. “I assume you fucked her.”

  Mac rolled his eyes. “Well, yeah, we slept together. Who knew she was batshit?”

  “Ya see, this is why you need to settle down with a nice girl, get married, and have a family.” Danny had married his college sweetheart and was now raising three little girls. He was forever trying to persuade his brothers to join him.

  “Well, that’s what Tommy-boy is doing.” Mac playfully punched his baby brother’s arm. “I’m happy for you, bro, really I am. Gretchen is a great girl.”

  “Thanks man, I appreciate it.” Tommy grinned ear to ear. “I love her, I truly do.”

  As dessert was served, Mac’s attention was drawn back to the table across the room. The redhead suddenly looked right at him and he felt his automatic smile, which widened as she snapped her eyes away. He continued to watch as she raised her gaze casually as if to see if he was still looking. This time he smiled deliberately.

  At that moment, her head turned and she spoke to someone at her table. Her face changed and she seemed to be speaking passionately, an angry flash in her eyes. He watched as she removed the linen napkin from her lap and dropped it on the table, pushed back from the table, and stalked out of the dining room.

  Impulsively, he knew he needed to follow. “Gents, I can’t eat another bite,” Mac said as he pushed away from the table. “I’m going to walk off a little of this dinner. I’ll meet you two later.”