Chapter Twelve

As Claire carried her suitcase into the living area of her cabana the next morning, a knock sounded at the door. The bellman, she guessed, coming for her bags. Her plane was scheduled to leave in a couple of hours. She’d been offered a flight yesterday evening at five. Mitch’s flight. So she’d declined, saying she needed more time to pack.

“Come in,” Claire called out. “It’s unlocked.”

She set her suitcase on the sofa, then glanced over her shoulder to find Michael Hawkins at her door.

“Hello, Miss Mulligan.”

“Now, this is what I call personal service. Eden’s executive producer escorting me to my plane.”

Hawkins seemed taken aback by her appearance. He’d noticed the swollen, red-rimmed eyes, she supposed, choking down another wave of emotion. She’d been drowning in tears ever since the clock struck five p.m. yesterday.

He closed the door. “I’m not here as an escort.”

A sense of foreboding sifted through her. Had something happened to Mitch? Or had they decided not to let her out of her contract? “What can I do for you, then?”

“I took your dare and watched Mr. Talbott’s video.”

Her heartbeat sped up. “And?”

Hawkins lifted a hand and for the first time she noticed what he held. “Now I’m daring you to watch this.”

For a moment she didn’t move. What could he possibly have that she needed to see? Footage of James with Darla? With other women? Was he hoping to make her so angry she’d opt to stay and fight, thereby boosting his silly program’s ratings when it aired? “Nothing you can show me that’s happened during my time here will make me change my mind about leaving the island.”

Smiling, he lifted the disc higher. “Watch it. I have a feeling you won’t be sorry.”

For a full minute after Hawkins had gone, Claire stared at the disc. Finally she turned and walked to the armoire in front of the sofa. She opened the doors, exposing the television set inside and the DVD player on top of it. Claire turned on the equipment, popped the disc in, then sat down to watch.

The screen flickered to life, and Mitch’s face appeared. She recognized his surroundings. He sat in the confession booth where she’d sat herself this past week and a half more times than she cared to remember.

“Um…hi,” Mitch said with an awkward laugh. “Bear with me. It’s strange being on the opposite side of the lens.” He cleared his throat. “I came on Eden hoping I’d meet someone who would change my life. That person was Michael Hawkins. As you know, my dream for a long time has been to meet the great Hawkeye president. To have him view my work and find it worthy enough that he’d hire me for his upcoming project in Africa. I never imagined for a second that it wouldn’t be Michael Hawkins who changed my life, but a sea goddess. Aphrodite herself.” He smiled, flashing that dimple she loved so much.

“That’s you, Claire,” he said. “When you emerged from the ocean, everything changed for me.”

Claire pressed a hand to her mouth.

Mitch blinked and cleared his throat again. “Claire…you know I’m not good with romantic stuff. What I’m trying to say is that, in a very short time, you’ve come to mean more than anything else to me. Thanks to you, Hawkins just offered me the chance to go after my dream.” Mitch looked down at his hands, then slowly up again. “You told me recently that you always wished you had the nerve to chase rainbows. Well, here’s your chance, Claire. Go with me. Hawkins is hiring people in all areas to work behind the scenes. You’ve run your own business. He assured me he could use someone with your management skills. The pay may not be great, but you’ll learn a lot. And think of the adventure you’ll have…the adventure we’ll have together. Your heart’s not in the feed and tackle business. Anyone can see that.”

“Oh, my God,” Claire whispered.

He leaned forward. “But I want you to know that if you aren’t willing to go, that I won’t go either. I’ll move to Prairie and hire on at the five-and-dime taking photos of babies, if that’s what it’ll take to have you in my life.” He sat back again. “So…that’s all I wanted to say. Think about it, Claire. Just don’t think too long. If we’re going to Africa, we have to leave in two weeks. Whatever you decide, though, just turn around. I’ll be there.”

The video ended, leaving only a static-filled screen. Claire closed her eyes. “Oh, my God,” she whispered again, ending with a squeak. She took a tissue from the pocket of her slacks and blew her nose.

“Claire—”

At the sound of Mitch’s voice behind her, she twisted and jumped to her feet. He stood in the doorway, a deep, vertical groove between his eyebrows conveying his worry.

“There’s one more important thing I forgot to confess.”

She blew her nose again as he rounded the sofa to meet her. “Oh, really? What’s that?”

“I’m falling in love with you, Claire.” Mitch’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Once. Twice. Again. “What do you have to say about that?”

His arms opened wide. Claire walked into them. “I say, let’s go chase a rainbow.”