“No chance,” Claire mumbled as she started walking away from Amy. “Have fun. I don’t want to distract you.”
“Hold on, Claire,” Amy ran after her and wrapped her hand around her wrist. “I’m sorry. It must seem selfish of me to consider myself when you just had a crappy night. I’ll find him later.”
“No,” Claire said and removed her hand. “Go out and have some fun; don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Amy asked. “I mean, I don’t want you to say that just because…”
“Amy, just go,” Claire urged. Her mother was across the room waving, and she waved at her too.
“Okay,” she grinned and kissed Claire on the cheeks. “I will check in on you later.”
Claire shook her head and headed for the elevator. They could have all the fun they wanted; she was content in her world now. The elevator bell dinged, and she walked ahead and ran straight into the hard chest of a man as he was exiting. “Sorry,” she mumbled as she fell back and strong arms reached out and caught her. She looked up once she regained her balance. Chance and his blue eyes were burning holes thorough her.
“Hello again,” he said with smile. “You could have told me you like aggression.”
Claire stepped back, the elevator all but forgotten now, and folded her arms across her chest. “Fancy seeing you here,” she said, eyebrow arched.
“Don’t get it twisted,” he said, winking at her. “My father had to make a stop.”
“Your father had to make a stop? That’s the best you can do?”
She felt Chance bore down on her until her heart pumped hard beneath the flimsy dress she wore. She felt his eyes find the rise on her chest, and he followed the trail downwards before he brought his eyes back to hers. “I don’t need an excuse, Claire; I always get what I want.”
Claire swallowed; her throat had gone dry. She tried to get around him. “I’m glad to hear that.”
He put his hand out to stop her. “What are you so afraid of?”
His hold on her made her throb in places she shouldn’t. She couldn’t be near Chance any longer. “I’m not afraid. I’m just not interested.”
But just as Chance was about to reply, they both heard Amy calling him. “I didn’t know you were here,” Amy said.
“I think she was looking for you,” Claire whispered as she slipped from his grasp and hopped into the elevator before it closed. As it did, she saw him looking after her, and once the metal doors closed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Alone in the room, Claire was forced to order room service; the other two women had not emerged for dinner. The room had been swept and there was no reminder of the honeymoon that should have been happening. She was able to enjoy her braised tilapia in peace. Her balcony, which was just above the courtyard, overlooked the ocean, so she sat on the wicker chair with her wine in hand as she watched the other guests having fun. Her mind was at ease, and she felt relaxed.
Rather than Trent’s face, another face filled her mind, one with blue eyes and golden hair. She could hardly deny his irresistibility, and she remembered how easily he had imprisoned her with his stare. Chance was not someone to mess with, and she assumed women threw themselves at him constantly, something she never planned to do. But it would be almost impossible to control the impulses that raced through her when he was around. Chance was a force to be reckoned with, and she wasn’t sure her sails were sufficient to weather the storm brewing. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion as she sipped her wine and stared into the dark rolling waves.
A pebble flew past her face, startling her and hitting the door behind her. She jumped, sloshing her wine. A second pebble hit her leg. “What the hell?” she whispered. Confusion wracked her as she looked down into the courtyard, trying to determine the source.
“Must we do this until the glass breaks?” he asked from below.
“Chance?” She recognized his voice.
“Who did you think it was?” he asked.
She rested the glass on the table and stood. She gripped the railing separating her from him by a few feet and looked over. “What?”
“I didn’t see you at dinner,” he said.
“I ordered in.”
“Are you really that much of an introvert, or do I repel you?” he asked.
Claire smiled. “A little bit of both.”
“Ouch!” he cried. “That hurt.”
“You’ll be fine,” she said. “What do you need?”
“Would you mind coming down?”
“I have to pass. I’ve had a long day. I’m not in the mood for company.”
Chance heaved an exasperated sigh. “Why would you come to all the way to the island to spend all your time inside? There’s plenty going on down here. Even my dad is having more fun than me.”
“Why aren’t you having fun?” she asked him.
“Because I’m here trying to get you to come down,” he said.
“I’m sorry, Chance. It’s just a bad time. Maybe tomorrow?”
“Fine.” With a wave, he walked away.
CHAPTER 8