Tessa Rollins, was out with her girls celebrating her birthday the night before she was driving up to her family's cabin. They were all making time to get together like the old days. But tonight the girls were trying to have an all-nighter and she still hasn't pulled the trigger. “Did you hear the news?” She leans toward her friend Bree whom she met a year ago. Will either give her an update on serious world events or juicy gossip and with her, she can never tell which.
Tessa glanced around their table at her friends Madison and Erin. Together, they made a timeline of her life. Madison was her college roommate, she met Erin at a yoga class few years ago. On girls’ nights, her worlds collided, a blending with a strawberry banana smoothie. “Manhattan’s most beloved playboy just crashed his car into a mailbox again.” Tessa keeps studying the article headlines until they all become blurry—thanks to the late hour and the number of shots she’s had, courtesy of the bartender and her friends.
But hey, she only turns twenty-eight once, so bottoms up. Tessa tries not to pay too much attention to Carter Fields’ trends. The world knows more about him as an arrogant playboy than the next CEO of the reputable Fields Company. “Isn’t this his third wreck in a month?” she asked, handing Bree her phone back. “Tessa should ask him. She’s the one who knows him,” Madison says, hooking her thumb toward Tessa. Tessa glares at Madison. Bree sputters, “You know Carter Fields? The Carter Fields, billionaire, philanthropist, hot as hell? You, Tessa Rollins from Queens, know him and have been holding out on me?” “Hot as hell isn’t a noun like billionaire and philanthropist.” Tessa steels herself and faces Bree again as she says, “I don’t know Carter. My brother does.” “I find it hard to believe that he knows Carter and you don’t. You and Graham are closer than any siblings I know. You have to know the same people.” Bree stares at her like she’s a stranger to her, clearly in shock that she has anything to do with someone of Carter’s caliber.
“I’ve really never met the guy. Carter and Graham have been best friends since college, and every time we’re supposed to get together for an introduction, Graham gets an emergency call from a patient, or Carter’s too drunk or occupied. Usually, both of those things happen.” “Can I actually get a glass of water, please?” She manages, staring up at the bartender. “At this point, I think a bucket would be best.” “Let me know if you change your mind.” He winks again, backing away. “Oh my God.”
Madison’s mouth hangs open. “Please, please, please, Tessa, you have to go home with him.” “I don’t even know his name.” “It’s Harvey.” Tomorrow, I’m driving up to our family cabin to meet my parents and Graham for a week-long celebration. It used to be an annual thing until a couple of years ago. “I’ve hooked up plenty of times,” I say in my defense. “This year?” She narrows her gaze at me skeptically. “Anyway.” Tessa placed both palms on the table and stood. “My new neighbors will surely keep me awake for most of the night, and I have an early morning. I need to go.” “At least someone’s getting laid.” “You took the next week off, Tess. What do you need to get up early for?” “I’m meeting my family at our cabin in Connecticut. I told you this a million times,”
Carter’s dad’s face fills his vision, except this time, it’s on his ringing phone. He reaches his hand out from underneath the coffee table, wincing from his headache. “What the hell happened last night? You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” “It’s so sweet how much you care about me. But I’m fine. Thank you for calling. I’m surprised you’re not at breakfast with Mom yet. It’s the fourth time this week you’ve been seen with that… that… Ginger. It’s the third time this month you’ve damaged your very expensive car.
The media are already speculating, saying you’re having a nervous breakdown and should consider therapy. Or rehab.” “Why did you really call, Dad?” “Because of your behavior,” he bites out. “We’re too close to the board’s decision to screw up now. You want to be CEO of the company, yes? If you’ve changed your mind, please spare me the devastation and tell me now.” “It’s simply not natural to continue being so careless and irresponsible at your age. You’re forty and—” Carter mockingly gasped and corrected him. “I’m thirty-five.” “You should have a respectable wife by now.
A modest, genuine woman on your arm. Maybe even some children. Otherwise, what will become of our empire, Carter? And for the love of God, don’t say Ginger will have any part of it. We think it’s a good idea for you to lie low until the charity dinner in a couple of weeks. You won’t be in the office, but you can take a few business calls as needed. Just nothing that requires you to be in public. And for the love of God, no Ginger.
Or any other girls, for that matter. You cannot give the media any more gossip to make them money.” “Two weeks?” “I’ve already spoken to your assistant and told her to reschedule your meetings and that you’d be—” “I’m going to grab more on my way to a friend’s.” “This is an actual friend. You remember Graham from college, right?” “Oh, yes, Graham is wonderful.” “Now he’s a good friend to have on speed dial.” He slings the bag over his shoulder and steps onto the elevator. On his way down, he dials Graham’s number. He says to Graham, “Remember Trixie from college?
I’m calling in my favor.” On the other end, he groans. “Oh, God…” “Don’t sound so scared.” “Well, with you, I never know if you only need me to remind you of your last date’s name or if you need a kidney. But bringing up Trixie means something even more serious than either of those.” Carter says to Graham, “Remember Trixie from college? I’m calling in my favor. I need a place to stay. Somewhere secluded to hide from prying eyes—aka outside the state of New York—and if memory serves, you have a cabin somewhere in Vermont?”
“Connecticut,” Graham corrects. “You can definitely stay there. Whatever you need, man.” “You good?” “Always am.” “Listen, I’ll send you the address for the cabin, but we’ll all be up there this week to celebrate my little sister’s birthday.” He’s been friends with Carter since college—for fifteen years—and I’ve never met him. For some unholy reason, Graham thinks inviting Carter to the cabin for my birthday celebration would be the best time to introduce us. It’s supposed to be family only, as it has been in the past. “Tessa?” She take a tiny sip of the coffee to test its temperature, but she’s so distracted by her phone that her sip is more of a gulp. Too hot. The liquid burns the roof of her mouth, and she jolts, bumping right into another person. “Ah!” Welcone-to their meet cute.