One Night with a Fantasy: Unforgettable Nights, #2

By Linda Steinberg

Sweethearts since high school, Jessica and Josh have stayed faithful through college, law school and establishing their careers. Now, twelve years into the relationship, they’re finally engaged. Jessica feels like she should be deliriously happy. She loves Josh with all her heart. But he’s the only lover she’s ever known. As the wedding looms, she wonders what it would be like to be with someone else, even if just for one night. When a sexy Frenchman friends her on social media, Jessica is tempted to experience what she might have missed. Should she risk her solid relationship for One Night with a Fantasy?

Josh Hadley has always been sure of what he wanted:  Jessica Pena. Now that they’re finally engaged, he can’t wait to make her his wife. When Jess expresses last-minute doubts, Josh is devastated. Terrified that he might lose her, desperate to make her happy, he concocts a scheme for a virtual relationship designed to give her the illusion of what she thinks she wants. But as he gets deeper into the fantasy, Josh finds himself enmeshed in his own web of deceit, and realizes his pina colada plan could backfire and lose him the love of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Steinberg
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519968128

Book preview

Dear Readers,

What happens  if, on the eve of your long-awaited wedding, you start having doubts for no reason? Well, not exactly no reason.

Sweethearts since high school, Jessica and Josh have stayed faithful through college, then law school and establishing their careers. Now, twelve years into the relationship, they’re finally engaged.  Jessica feels like she should be deliriously happy. She loves Josh with all her heart. But he’s the only lover she’s ever known.  As the wedding looms, she wonders what it would be like to be with someone else, even if just for one night.

The second in a four book series title Unforgettable  Nights,  the one night in One Night with a Fantasy involves a crazy Pina Colada scheme, a Halloween costume ball, and a lot of champagne. Also the continuing story of Lisa and Matt,  begun in One Night with a Stranger. I enjoyed writing the twists and turns of Jessica’s fantasy romance and hope you will enjoy reading it as much.

Thanks to my critique partners, Pamela Stone and Juliet Burns, for the plotting sessions and critiques, and to my beta reader, Chris Keniston.

Linda Steinberg

Chapter One

"I didn’t say I was unhappy. Jessica Pena shoved her cheeseburger away and stared at her friend Courtney across their usual booth at Rico’s Deli. I just said I was not feeling happy."

What’s the difference? Tish speared a cucumber slice from her salad and eased it slowly into her mouth. A fitness instructor and aspiring actress, Tish was always watching her diet.

I get what she means. Lisa narrowed one eye. Being unhappy implies a semi-permanent state, or a personality trait. ‘Not feeling happy’ could mean a short phase, or a passing emotional sensation.

Thank you, Ms. Oxford English Dictionary. Jessica smiled at her friend. An editor for an online magazine and now an assistant screenwriter, Lisa was the wordsmith of their group. Since Lisa and Courtney had moved to Los Angeles two years ago, and all three had taken Tish’s yoga class, the foursome had become a supportive ‘posse.’ Jessica chuckled, wondering how Lisa would define that.

What’s the matter, Jess? Courtney wiggled a French fry in a puddle of ketchup. Having second thoughts?

No. Not about Josh. He was definitely the man she loved. Jessica stretched out her left arm and admired her week old, one carat diamond engagement ring. I love Josh. Always have. Always will. I’ve been waiting to marry him for years. Since the moment she’d first seen him in high school biology class. But now that it’s finally going to happen... She sighed. She knew she wasn’t making sense. And as a second year associate in a prestigious law firm, her arguments always had to make sense.

Maybe you’re waiting too long, Tish suggested. "You don’t have to have a spring wedding. Why don’t you guys get married now? You can still have it outside, just with autumn leaves falling instead of flowers blooming."

Jessica rolled her eyes. Twenty-two and happily single, Tish had no idea of all the planning required for a wedding celebration.

Or you could elope. This from Courtney. Just do it, get the legal part over with, and then you’ll be free to enjoy the rest of your life.

With Josh. Only Josh. Day after day after day... What’s wrong with me? She glanced again at her ring, the symbol of forever. Why am I not ecstatic?

Your feelings are normal, Lisa declared. Every bride gets the jitters. It shows you’re not just rushing into things in the heat of the moment. You’re serious and thinking it through.

Is that why you and Matt haven’t gotten engaged yet? Jessica leaned across the table. You’re still ‘thinking things through?’

They do a lot of thinking, Courtney giggled. In bed.

We do some of our best thinking in bed. Lisa smiled impishly, then sobered. We have his son to consider. We want to be sure of not making a mistake. She clapped her hand to her mouth. Not that I think you and Josh are a mistake. You two are the strongest couple I know.

Everybody said that. And it was true. Together since high school, Jessica and Josh had remained a couple all through college and law school. Including three years of long distance, with her up at Stanford and him here at UCLA. They were magical together. All their friends said so. ‘Jess and Josh.’ ‘Josh and Jess.’ The couple everyone expected to stay together.

Josh is the best man I know, she said. And the only man she’d ever loved, ever been with. Ever.

But? Tish prompted.

Jessica took in a deep breath. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t met the right man quite so soon. Maybe I should have had some...experience first.

Ohhhhh. All three women puckered their faces in the same way.

Tish voiced the thought. Josh was your first, wasn’t he? Your only. And now you’re wondering what you missed.

That’s not it. But it was way too close to ‘it’ for Jessica’s comfort. I’ve never had a desire to be with another man. But just in case I ever did, marriage sort of seals off that road, doesn’t it?

Courtney raised a teasing brow. Depends on the marriage.

No. Jessica leveled a glare at her friend. I believe in the vows. Once we’re married I would never dream of— Damn, why was she even going down this road?

But the wedding is seven months away, Tish said with a wicked grin. So if you’re ever going to see what else is out there...

This was ridiculous. I’m not interested in doing another man. Josh is everything I ever wanted.

Even perfection gets old after a while, Tish insisted.

But how did she even know if she’d achieved perfection if she had nothing to compare it with? It’s easy for you to talk, Tish. You have your choice of men. In the twenty minutes since they’d been in the restaurant, three guys had found excuses to pass by their table, casting hopeful glances at the femme fatale of their group. But Tish had ignored them, as she always did.

You don’t think I envy you sometimes? Tish turned to face her. To have a solid, dependable guy you can trust? Somebody who loves you and wants to be with you even when you’re not wearing makeup or if you have a zit on your nose?

Wow, what had brought that on? I’m sorry, Tish. I had no idea. I thought you loved the single life.

I do. It has its drawbacks. But I don’t sit around whining about them or complain about my life every time it’s not perfect.

Whining? Guilty as charged. Jessica reminded herself how lucky she was. Not that her life was perfect but pretty damn close. Maybe so much so that any little wrinkle in the smooth canvas bent her world out of shape.

Look, we’re all in different situations, Lisa said, and we all whine from time to time. Me especially, she added.

Courtney chuckled an ‘Amen,’ then looked across the table at Tish. Feel free to whine whenever you like, Girlfriend.

This is a safe place, Lisa continued, drawing an imaginary circle around the women at the table.

I don’t like to talk about myself, Tish mumbled. Then she smiled. But thanks, it’s good to have friends.

All for one and one for all, Jessica said, raising her hand to the center of the table for a four-way High Five. Until last year, she’d never had a close circle of female friends. It was good to be with women who had your back.

Their usual waitress, a tall, dirty blond woman in her fifties, refilled their drinks and took away the half-empty plates. Jessica glanced up at Cassie’s tired eyes. Would that be her sister Nora after thirty years of waitressing?

Jessica pursed her lips. From early childhood, her working class Hispanic parents had dubbed her the ‘smart one.’ The first in her family to go to college. And have a white collar career. Grateful for their sacrifices, Jessica had followed the script laid out for her, determined to make them proud.

It hadn’t always been easy. Struggling to be the best, she’d had to push herself harder, study longer, up her game with every assignment. There were times she might have given up, but for the encouragement of a loyal, supportive boyfriend who’d never doubted her abilities. Or her love.

Jessica? Tish waved an attention-getting hand in front of her face. We’re talking about doing a girls’ weekend up at Pismo beach sometime next month. Are you in?

What? Yes, sure. I mean maybe. When?

Exuberantly, they hashed out the details. As if everything was back to normal. The gang assumed she’d had a temporary Bridezilla attack and that they’d soothed away all her anxieties. Hoping they were right, Jessica took in a deep breath and let it out, attempting to purge the poisons from her system.

If only it were that simple.

*   *   *

Hey man, have you seen that new paralegal in Sherman’s department?

Josh Hadley looked up from his computer, scanned his surroundings, then turned to his office mate Alec Boyd. Not yet.

Alec whistled. "That woman has some assets."

And by that I assume you mean a flawless resume with a degree from a top tier college, and some experience working in environmental law? Josh deadpanned.

You know what he means, Hadley. Sam Tillman strode up carrying a Styrofoam cup of steaming coffee. That woman is a ten and a half.

With no water cooler in the vicinity, Josh’s desk had apparently become the center for wishful thinking by his sex-starved colleagues. He glanced back at his computer, verified that his program had not errored out, then narrowed his eyes at his friends. She’s not my type.

You haven’t even seen her yet, Alec said, resting his hip on the corner of the desk.

Doesn’t matter. I know she’s not my type. Jessica Pena was. Since high school, Jess had been totally and unequivocally the center of Josh’s world. As Paul Newman had famously said about Joanne Woodward, ‘Why go out for hamburger when you’ve got steak at home?’

Sam elbowed Alec. He doesn’t even have the ring on his finger yet but his fiancée’s got one hooked through his nose.

You haven’t met his fiancée. Alec spared Josh the necessity of defending a woman who needed no defending. Jessica is not only smart and successful, she’s—well, I wouldn’t kick her out of bed. His eyes twinkled.

As if you’d ever have that chance, Josh snorted. He sent a glare Alec’s way. Don’t you guys have work to do? His friend’s remark was probably just