LOVE AND HATE (A Billionaire Romance) (28 page)

CHAPTER 4

“What was that all about?” Amy asked as Claire tugged on her like a rag doll.

“Nothing. I just felt like I was intruding.” Her excuse didn’t even fool herself.

“Sure,” Amy said and folded her arms across her chest.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Claire said, blushing.

“I could see him just as easily as you,” Amy said, her eyes lighting up. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. He is hot!”

“Well, maybe you could go back and find out if he thinks the same about you, but I want nothing to do with men, no matter how hot they are,” Claire commented defensively.

“Oh, so you do admit he is hot, huh?” Amy said as she nudged her playfully on the shoulder.

“He is kinda cute, but that’s it,” Claire blushed and walked back to the plane. “Let’s go back and see if there have been any updates.”

The entire time it took them to get back to the plane, Amy messed with Claire, but she refused to entertain her.

“Why don’t you go after him? But then, that doesn’t make any sense. We are leaving by morning,” Claire said. She put her hands over her eyes as she squinted against the afternoon sun and looked further into the distance. “Do you see Mom?”

Amy also put a hand up to shield her eyes as they looked around, but there was no sign of Willow. “I thought she wanted to stay here.”

“That’s Mom for you. Changes her mind on a whim,” Claire responded. “Let’s look over there.”

Amy followed her to the other side of the aircraft, but Willow was nowhere to be found.

“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.

Claire was left on the beach with her thoughts for company. She glanced back towards the house. Chance didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Besides, he couldn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to. But then, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, if she really wanted to do anything.

She removed her shoes and walked down to the edge of the water. The wind was picking up, and her black hair swirled around her face, a welcome feeling. A tangled mess that fell beyond her shoulders, her hair was both her best and worst asset. As she stood there, eyes closed, her toes in the sand and the water tickling her feet each time the waves brought it closer, she felt at peace. She was so caught up in her own world she didn’t see or hear the pilot until he had approached her and cleared his throat to get her attention.

“Oh, sorry,” she said when she opened her eyes and saw him standing there. “I didn’t see you.”

“So I see,” he said and smiled. “The Caribbean is my favorite place to be at any time of the year. It never gets old standing here and looking at the water. I think in another life, I’d be the captain of a ship instead.”

“It’s really nice,” she said and turned to him, “so peaceful.”

“It is,” the captain said.

A few seconds of comfortable silence passed, and Claire looked up to the captain. “So what’s going on with the plane?”

“The good news is the plane is in great condition to get us to St. Lucia. The bad news is the weather is really bad. There’s heavy rainfall blocking our path. We are going to have to sit it out and hope it clears by morning. The Caribbean is very romantic and peaceful but can be unpredictable. At least we have somewhere to sleep.”

“Will all of us fit in that house?” she asked him, gesturing toward the mansion. “I know it’s big, but…”

“No, some of us will stay in the plane, but the owner is allowing the use of his amenities for those who would like to freshen up. There are several bedrooms for those who choose to sleep there, but it won’t fit us all. I’ll remain on the plane with other passengers who prefer staying there.”

“I think I’ll stay on the plane as well,” she told him. She looked up at the house and turned back to the sea. “I don’t want to get too comfortable. I might not want to leave.”

The captain laughed. “I understand what you mean. It is a hell of a house. I bet being inside would compare to a five-star hotel.”

“More like a seven-star hotel,” she laughed. “Were you on your way to the house?”

“No, on my way back to the plane and saw you. Wanted to let you know what our sleeping options are. Have a good night,” he said as he smiled at her.

“Thank you,” Claire said as she smiled at the man. She hadn’t seen her mother return yet. She turned in the direction she had last seen her and started out to find her. Surely she wouldn’t be in the company of the man still. As she rounded the bend, she ran into her.

“Mom, I have been looking for you,” she said sternly, as if their roles had been reversed. “Where have you been, and who was that man?”

“I’m a grown woman, Claire. I can take care of myself,” Willow told her as she pushed past her daughter. She looked light and free and walked with a bounce that unnerved Claire.

“Mom, who was that man?

“Too many questions,” Willow said as she turned to her and grinned. “Now, what shall we have for dinner? I’m starving.”

Claire followed her, and suddenly she felt silly that her mother seemed to be having more fun than she was. She passed the house and looked up. She could see a string of people lining up to go into the house. She looked at the balcony, and her heart stopped when she spotted him standing there like before, looking directly at her.

CHAPTER 5

Chance was unfamiliar with rejection. As a matter of fact, until a few moments ago, he hadn’t known what it felt like. He stood on his balcony looking down at her as she walked along the beach. There was a simple innocence and beauty about her that attracted him. He had been with many women, but as a precautionary measure, he never got too close to anyone. It was easier to remain emotionally unavailable in relationships. And as he got older, he had earned quite the reputation for it, and he cherished being a bad boy. He felt powerful because he could get anything he wanted easily. He grew up a privileged child, and money commanded respect and attention throughout the world.

But this new game of chasing after a woman who didn’t care about him was not the sort he was familiar with, and it rattled him.

He had been waiting on his balcony all evening, hoping she’d come around to the house or at least get close by for him to see her again. He had seen her when she had looked up, but he wasn’t sure she had seen him. Her friend was already here, so he doubted she would come up alone. Maybe she would choose to stay on the plane overnight. A scowl moved over his face as he lifted the bottle of beer he was holding to his lips. He needed to know more about her, even if it meant asking her friend about her.

“Amy, right?”

She was filling a plate with some warm appetizers his cook had just served. “Hey,” she said as she brushed crumbs from the corners of her mouth. “These are delicious.”

“I’m glad you like them,” he told her. “How would you like to see something more interesting?”

Her eyes flew open as he said the words, and he did his best to stifle a chuckle. He was used to women swooning all over him.

“Where?” she asked.

He held her hand and led her out of the room, doing his best to avoid the pairs of eyes that stared at him as he walked with Amy. He knew most of the women in that room would easily jump into bed with him. Why was her friend immune to his charms?

“What is so interesting about this room?” Amy asked as they stood in front of a door. He had taken her to a small room off the side of the enormous house.

“You’ll see,” he said as he opened the door.

“Nice,” Amy said as she saw his game room. It held a pool table, and Amy could see herself mounted there and Chance sending her to places…

He touched her on the shoulder, and she jumped. “You alright?”

“I’m good,” she replied.

Chance walked over to the mini bar in the corner and took out a beer. “Would you like anything?” he asked her.

“Probably just a soda,” she replied. “Unless you have something more interesting.”

“You’re not a drinker?” he asked and pulled a soda from the fridge.

“Not usually. Claire…” she began.

Chance’s ears pricked when he heard Claire’s name. “Claire?” he asked. “Is that your friend?”

“Yeah,” Amy sighed.

“So what’s her story?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Amy asked.

“She didn’t want to come with you?”

“No, Claire’s got her own mind,” Amy said and walked over to the pool table. “How do you play?”

“It is complicated; you won’t learn overnight,” he told her. He wanted to get back to the subject of Claire, but he didn’t want it to look too obvious.

“Well, is there anything else we can do that I can be taught overnight?” she asked. She ran her tongue across her lips.

“That depends,” Chance said and set his beer down on the counter. “What would you like to learn?” He leaned against the wall, maintaining his distance.