SCORE (A Stepbrother Sports Romance)(42)

“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


Claire was a hard nut to crack. She was the first woman that had ever said no to him.

“Hello, handsome,” a woman said, interrupting his thoughts.

Chance looked at her, aware that she was obviously trying to flirt with him when she batted her eyelashes and looked at him.

“Hello,” he replied.

“So, are you free tonight?”

“Do you have anything in mind?” he asked her.

“There is a private jacuzzi in my room, and it is awfully big for little old me,” she flirted with him.

Usually Chance asked no questions in these types of situations; he would make her his for the night. And when the morning came, she would be a blubbering mess when she woke up and found him gone. Not only would he be gone, but she wouldn’t be able to get him alone again. Tonight, though, he had another woman on his mind, and the thrill of the hunt was more fascinating than the woman who offered herself whole to him right then.

He smiled and touched her face. “Maybe if we had met two days earlier.”

“Bummer,” she pouted and used her index finger to absent-mindedly pull the lace on her top to reveal firm breasts. “Are you sure?”

Chance could feel the heat rising, and he had to fight to control his urges. “I’m sure.”