“Nice,” Amy said as they walked into a fancy room.
“Not bad,” Claire said, forcing her expression to mimic boredom instead of the excitement she felt.
“Master bath is in there, towels are over there in that cabinet, and you will find other toiletries you might need in the cupboard in the bathroom,” Chance told them, pointing to various locations as he spoke.
“Thank you,” Claire smiled.
“So, how about joining me in the entertainment room when you are settled?” he asked again.
Claire looked at him, then at Amy, then she looked away. “I’ll stay here. I’d love a hot shower,” she smiled. “Thanks for the accommodations. It is a lovely room.”
“Okay. Coming?” he asked Amy.
Amy grinned at Claire and winked. “See you later.”
After they left, Claire remained in the room, admiring the tapestries, art, and woodwork. The bathroom was a delight, and she slipped out of her clothes and stepped into the bath. The warm water flowed over her ivory skin, and she let it massage her tired body. Her head fell back so the water could course through her silken hair. She ran her hand over her face as her mind drifted to a moment not so long ago, when she was in the shower, and Trent had joined her. He had put his arms around her body, lathering soap over her and tickling her.
Her mind changed tactics and drifted to the hallway, where she stood only a few feet away from him as he held another woman in his arms and kissed her.
Were it not for the water cascading down her face, one could have easily seen the trail of tears as they joined the water pool at her feet. She leaned against the bathroom tiles and cried in silence as the pain of her heartbreak overwhelmed her.
CHAPTER 6
When Willow and Amy returned to the room later that night, Claire was curled up on the accent chair with a throw covering her legs. She instantly woke and looked around.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she stretched her legs.
“Have you been crying?” Willow asked her.
Claire pushed the throw aside and set her book on the nightstand. “What have you two been up to?” she asked, wiping the smears from her face.
“I was just out,” Willow said, removing her shoes.
“Out? Out where? In the ocean?” Claire asked.
Amy and Willow laughed. “It is a rather large piece of property, dear,” Willow responded. “Lots of places to be.”
“Mrs. Callahan?” Amy giggled. “Are you secretly meeting that man from the beach?”
Willow blushed and walked to the bathroom. “That’s none of your business, girls,” she tossed back at them as she closed the door.
“Of course it is,” Claire shouted back. “I don’t want to see my mother hooking up with a one-night stand.”
“Well, I’m not in a position to judge,” Amy said, blushing. “Chance is quite the catch.”
“I don’t even want to know what you two were doing,” Claire mumbled and sat back down in her chair. “I just hope the weather changes tomorrow so we can make it to St. Lucia in one piece.”
“I wouldn’t mind a few more days here,” Amy sighed. “I mean, this place is like a resort. Look at this room, and the service is great. And it’s free!”
“That may be the case, but we have already paid to be somewhere else,” Claire countered.
“Don’t you like it here?” Amy asked.
“I thought you didn’t even want to go to St. Lucia,” Willow pointed out as she rejoined the conversation. “We aren’t really losing if we are on a private island getting royal treatment. But…you wouldn’t know because you haven’t done anything.”
“Exactly!” Amy said. “Claire, the purpose of this trip is to get your mind off of…you know…”
“That’s exactly why I am staying away from people, especially men,” she said to Amy. “I can’t seem to do anything without thinking of Trent. Even taking a shower is a reminder, and I am not too keen on being with another man for one night just to get him off my mind. As a matter of fact, if I thought that would work, I would do it, but it won’t so that would be a dumb mistake on my part.”
“I’m not saying you should hook up with some random man, Claire,” Amy said. “We’re saying you can’t stay holed up in your room, and what you are doing now is a perfect indication of what will happen in St. Lucia.”
“I don’t need you two breathing down my neck,” Claire seethed, her temper getting hot. “I will deal with this in my own time and in my own way. You can’t force me.”
“Okay,” Willow grumbled as she threw her hands in the air in defeat. “I’m not trying to force you into anything, Claire.”
“Whatever. And you, Mom, I saw the way that man was touching you.”
“Oh, that’s Bryan. After you girls wandered off, I got bored and decided to stretch my legs. He approached me, and he wasn’t hard on the eyes, either,” she said.
“Bryan, is it?” Amy teased.