Claire jumped out of her sleep with a smile on her face and a glow deep inside her. She remembered how that used to feel so many years ago; she felt especially blissful this morning.
She threw the covers back and leapt from the bed. She checked the clock on the bedside table and saw that it read a quarter to seven. Her alarm had been set for nine. She sighed and went to the bathroom; she might as well wash up. She wouldn’t go back to sleep. As a matter of fact, she couldn't remember the last time she’d felt more awake. Her mind snagged on Chance, and she remembered how his lips felt on hers. She touched them in lieu of the actual kiss she would have preferred.
It was too early for breakfast, so she pulled the robe tighter around her and ventured onto the balcony. She slid the lattice doors back and saw Chance doing the same. The sight of him left her breathless, and she gripped the door, watching him watch her. His lips curled upwards, and her heart skipped several beats.
She eventually found her voice and mobility and moved to the rail as well. "I find it a strange coincidence," she told him and folded her arms.
"What?" he asked her.
"That you just happen to be in the room directly across from mine," she replied, laughing.
“I needed to keep an eye on you," he said nonchalantly. “Besides, it’s a nice view from here.”
Claire blushed at his insinuation. "I bet," she giggled.
"So, what are your plans for today?" he asked her.
"I'm doing it," she said and waved her hands around.
"You have got to be kidding me," he said. "You want to stay in on a day like this? Come on!"
"Well, Amy is busy, or I think she will be, and so is my mom. I think I’m on my own,” Claire said, hoping he’d take the bait and offer her company.
“Not with me around,” he beamed. “I can find something for us to do.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yes,” he told her. “Right after breakfast?”
“Why not?” Claire shrugged. Not like she had anything better to do. She hadn’t seen Amy for a while, and the last time she had, she had been with some guy. Chance wasn’t a bad way to spend the day, so she waved and went back inside.
She had just finished dressing and was heading downstairs when she ran into Willow in the hallway. “Mom?”
“Why does that sound as if you aren’t certain?” Willow asked.
“Because I haven’t seen you much since we got here,” Claire said. “That mystery guy has made you wild.”
Willow blushed and fluffed her hair. “Perhaps.”
“And I take it you are off to see him now?”
“As a matter of fact, I am,” Willow said. “You should probably do the same. I’ve seen a lot of good looking men out here.”
“Mom!” Claire exclaimed with a laugh. It was embarrassing talking about men with her mom.
“Just have some fun, Claire. Please? For me.” Willow kissed her on the cheek. “See you later.”
“Bye, Mom,” Claire replied. She turned to Amy’s door and knocked. There was no answer. “Amy!” She could hear shuffling inside, so she placed her ears at the door to discern what was happening. “Amy!” she called again and pounded on the door.
“Hold on,” she heard a muffled voice say from the inside before the lock clicked and Amy stuck her head out the crack.
“Yep!” she said, clearing her throat. “What?”
Claire narrowed her eyes and tried to look around Amy. She shifted to her right to prevent Claire from seeing inside. Realization hit Claire and her mouth fell open. “Is there a man in there?” she asked in shock.
“Uh-huh,” Amy giggled.
“Oh, my God.” Claire tried to look again.
“Get back,” Amy said and gave her a little shove into the hallway. “So, I need to…um…get back,” she whispered.
“Okay,” Claire laughed. When Amy went back inside, pangs of loneliness hit her, and she was suddenly eager to see Chance. It seemed as if her mom and Amy had deliberately set her up with Chance, but she knew that wasn’t possible. She headed downstairs to get breakfast.
“Ready?” she heard a voice say on her left. When she looked, he dodged her and came up on her right.
“Chance, you can be such a kid,” she smiled to ease the sting of her words. “Have you already eaten breakfast?”
“We can do that elsewhere,” he told her and took her hand.
“Where are we going?” she asked him.
“You’ll see,” he told her with a wink.
He led her to a limo waiting for them and ushered her into the back. He followed after and told the driver to take them to the marina. Her eyes widened when she saw the boats and yachts lined up there, and she looked at Chance expectantly.
He helped her from the car. “Let’s go see St. Lucia in style.” Claire gripped his hand nervously as she followed him.