“Oh, sure,” Claire said.
“Well, good luck with your new job,” Chance said to Claire and turned to Willow. “I had to stop by and wish her luck. I haven’t seen her in ages.”
“I haven’t seen much of her lately either, and that was before this job,” Willow smiled.
“Well, I better go now,” he said. When he was behind Willow, he blew Claire a kiss and disappeared into the hallway.
“That was nice of him,” Willow said. With a hint of concern in her voice, she added, “Are you okay, baby?”
“Sure.”
“You and Chance…” Her mom’s voice trailed.
“You know it’s over, Mom,” Claire said rather quickly. She hated lying to her mother, but the situation left her no choice. “Don’t worry about it.”
Willow didn’t press it. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, give me a few more minutes and I’ll be down.”
Claire breathed a sigh of relief when she closed the door behind her, grateful Willow hadn’t caught them. They had to be more careful!
CHAPTER 15
Things were more or less the same for Claire and Chance over the next few days. They snuck around and shared stolen moments every chance they got, despite the many close calls.
However, Bryan was busy entertaining more guests so he could introduce his new family to his friends, which forced Claire and Chance into uncomfortable social gatherings.
“Oh, another one of Dad’s holiday gatherings,” Chance said as they sat through yet another party “Boring.”
“It’s not so bad,” Claire shrugged. “I could get used to this.”
“No. This is one too many for me,” he said, setting his glass down on the counter. “I have an idea.”
“I don’t think I want to hear it.”
“I bet you do. Let’s go do something fun.”
“Not now, Chance,” Claire said, turning her head so Willow couldn’t read her lips. “My mother has been looking at us for a solid minute. “
“I don’t think we can fool her no matter how we try,” Chance said, smiling.
“Well, at least I can try,” Claire said. She saw a girl waving at Chance. “I think someone needs you.”
Chance looked in the direction Claire pointed and groaned. “My dad’s friend’s daughter. She’s a pain. Wait right here. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t think I can wait,” she said as she watched Chance walk towards the woman, a pang of jealousy hitting her.
Claire was forced to watch as the girl drooled over him and playfully run her hands over his chest. She also noticed that Chance was trying to get her off him. Finally, Claire had had enough of the show and disappeared upstairs to her room. For the rest of the day, she didn’t seem him.
***
Chance sat as the jet’s engine roared in his ears, drowning all the crazy thoughts he had in his mind. He was on his way to a one-week business conference to represent his dad, who couldn’t make it. His whole mind was focused on Claire. Things had gone too far between them, and he didn’t know what to do about it. At first she was just another pawn on his chessboard, but almost overnight she had become more. He had tried to resist her by staying away, but that hadn’t worked. He even tried to distance himself from her and pretend he was into other women, but when she seemed like she didn’t care, he had panicked and ran back to her. If only he knew what to feel and how to feel about her. All he knew was that his feelings for her were growing, but he didn’t know how to handle it.
When he returned a week later, he found Claire in her room going over colored fabrics and matching textures and tones on a wooden surface.
“Hey,” he said as he leaned against the door jam. “What are you doing?”
“Hey Chance,” she said and returned her attention to her work. “You’re back.”
He walked inside and looked over her shoulder at the fabrics she was arranging. “You’re pretty good at this.”
“Thanks,” Claire said without looking at him.
Chance pulled the chair up next to the bed and twiddled his thumbs. He sighed and looked everywhere but at Claire. “I don’t know…” he began, but nothing followed.
“What?” she asked.
“Claire, I’m sorry, but this…Gosh!” he said. He got up and kicked the chair away from him. He raked his hand through his hair and stood silently, his back to her. “This isn’t going to work.”
“What isn’t going to work?” she asked.
“Us!” he said. “I’m not sure if I’m ready for this…for us! Everything has been different since we got back and my life is…I always have to think about what you want or how it will affect you. I can’t live the life I’m used to, and I can’t be with you how I want to be, either.”
“Are you breaking up with me?” Claire asked gently. “You won’t be the first.”