Tess pulled a white business card for the women's shelter from the top drawer of the escritoire in the small study attached to her suite of rooms.

As she turned to head back downstairs, she realized it was less than ten minutes before midnight. The party would be over soon. She stopped and stared at the ornamental desk clock, biting her lip. 

She had to admit she was enjoying this little time with Dash Black. She had always admired him... From a distance of course. Like everyone else, Dash hardly took any notice of her, and she had been very surprised when he had spoken to her and even asked...