“Well, she couldn’t have gone far,” Amy commented. “It is a small island, after all.”
Claire was listening to her friend, but she had her eyes peeled for her mother. “I think that’s her,” she finally said. “But why is she that far away from…” Her words caught in her throat when she saw her mother was in the company of a man. She was laughing and blushing, and his hand was resting on her shoulder in a most comfortable way.
“Well, well, well,” Amy said. “Seems your mom has more nerve than you!”
“Shut up, Amy,” Claire said. “She didn’t just get jilted before her wedding. I’m out of here.”
“I’m sorry, Claire. That was insensitive of me. Wait for me.”
As Claire turned around to walk away from Amy, she noticed someone approaching them. The same man they had seen on the balcony.
“And the day keeps getting more and more interesting,” Amy murmured as she caught up to Claire and fluffed her brown hair. It caught on her shoulders and had a nice bounce to it, especially when she flicked her neck ever so lightly. Like she was doing now.
There was no denying the man was devastatingly handsome; his hands were still in his pockets, and as he neared them, she could make out eyes as blue as the ocean. When he was a few feet away, he smiled, boasting two rows of perfectly shaped teeth smack dab between two of the cutest dimples she had ever seen.
“Hi,” he said. His right hand left his pocket as he extended it to the girls.
Claire looked at it like it was a strange thing to do, but Amy quickly took it. “Amy,” she said as she batted her lashes at him.
“And you are?” he asked, looking at Claire.
“Do you personally meet and greet everyone who stops on your island?” Claire asked him.
“It’s the polite thing to do, wouldn’t you say?” he asked her as he held out his hand again. “I’ve already met almost everyone. My name’s Chance.”
“Claire,” she told him, taking his hand. She flinched like she had been burned by his touch and retracted her hand quickly. “So, do you live here?”
“Here and there,” he said casually, like it was a commonplace thing to do.
“Where’s there?” Amy asked him. “Where are we, by the way?”
“In the Caribbean, just below the Bahamas,” he told her. “Like I said, here and there.”
“It seems you have quite a few admirers,” Claire said, gesturing to the girls hanging further back, staring at him.
“I usually do. What can I say? I’m irresistible,” he joked as he turned and waved to the girls staring at him. As he turned to look at her again, he caught her eyes and held her gaze until she felt naked. She lowered her head and blinked several times as she tried to block his hypnosis.
“Well, it was nice of you to let us land on your island,” she told him. “I was looking for my mom, and I found her. I think we should go back.”
“Go back to what? There is nothing to do there. If you like, I could show you around. Play pool or other games?”
It sounded suggestive the way he said it, and though Amy was pushing her to go, she had reservations.
“I’ll pass,” she told him. “I’m not in the mood for dice and cards.”
“Come on, take a chance,” he cajoled. “I noticed you when you took a walk by the house, and I know you’re the kind of girl that likes games.”
Amy laughed, but Claire was trying hard not to be amused or taken with this man. He had a pompous air about him as if he were used to getting his way. She would not give him the satisfaction of conquering her in any way. She wouldn’t even give him the pleasure of her time. Men like him had a wall of fame where they probably kept score of their conquests. She didn’t want to be on that wall.
“I think you have more than enough company,” she commented, nodding her head towards the group. It was evident they were waiting on him to pass.
“Just because they want my company doesn’t mean I want theirs. I am picky,” he said and winked. “You can join me if you like. You know the way.”
Amy rolled her eyes at Claire and shouted after Chance. “Hey, wait up!” She walked backwards, beseeching Claire to go with them. Claire waved her off, and she was forced to go alone. Chance stopped by the group of three girls waiting for him and said something to them. Claire heard them giggling and watched as they followed him. Claire had no feeling of remorse. Chance would get someone tonight, but it wouldn’t be her.