A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection by Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Josi S. Kilpack, Heather Justesen, Aubrey Mace

second before Mark or Brylee could. “I never said that’s what this weekend was about. I thought we were going to hang out and get to know each other.” She almost added that she’d planned to tell him about Rose—but had she?
    “Yeah, right.” Clint took another drink of his beer. “’Cause getting to know each other is totally what people go to beach resort vacations for. Finding out you’ve got a kid puts everything into perspective. If I’d known that you were a … a mom , I’d have never invited you. If I’d know your daughter was—”
    “Clint,” Mark said this time, cutting him off. Clint shrugged and went back to his meal.
    Sarah stared at her plate, but only for a few seconds before her hurt and anger changed to pity. No wonder there’d been no chemistry—they were polar opposites. She forced a smile that seemed to confuse him. “I accepted your invitation because I took you at your word about this being a fun weekend together. I’m sure you can hit the clubs and find a hot hook-up, but I never had any intention of filling that role. Not for an instant. As for why I didn’t tell you about Rose, well, I guess I have to figure that out for myself but I guess I’m glad I didn’t. Then I’d have never extended this trip and had such a great time.” She turned to Mark and Brylee, using all her ability to remain calm. “Thanks for making this a wonderful weekend, you two.”
    She turned and took her purse off of the back of the chair. Without looking back, she headed for the exit, her heart thundering in her chest. Brylee caught up with her a few steps later. “Oh. My. Gosh. Can you believe he said that?”
    “Actually,” Sarah said, feeling more … herself than she had all weekend. “I can. You don’t need to come with me.”
    “I’m not staying here. Are you going back to the room? Are you all right?”
    “I think I’d like a little time to myself, if you don’t mind, but really, I’m okay.”
    Brylee tilted her head. “You’re sure?”
    Sarah smiled and gave Brylee a quick hug. “I’ll see you back at the room in a little bit. Do you mind taking my purse with you? I’d hate to get it wet.”
        
        

Chapter Eleven
     
    Sarah adjusted her glasses and looked out across the Caribbean Sea, knowing that the hem of her dress was getting wet but not caring. It was a beautiful night, just like last night had been, yet different. Her anger towards Clint had gone out with the tide. Good or bad, he’d facilitated her learning some important things about herself, which helped keep this weekend in perspective. It hadn’t been a waste, just a very different experience than she’d expected and it was a relief to know that Clint wouldn’t invite her to his room or slobber all over her after too many beers. As embarrassing as the final moments had been, at least she was done trying to protect parts of her life, or pretend to be someone she wasn’t—or whatever it was she’d been doing. They could all move on with their lives now. Clint wasn’t the kind of guy a girl like her could pin her hopes and dreams on.
    Mark was the one who was harder to walk away from. As long as she was connected to Clint, there was a chance she could have found a chance to explain herself to Mark. Of everything that had happened, he was her biggest regret. How different could things have been if it had been Mark, not Clint, she’d come to spend time with this weekend? She couldn’t begin to imagine.
    She looked at the foam swirling around her ankles as her feet sank a little lower into the sand. The what-ifs would doubtlessly haunt her for a very long time.
    “Hey.”
    Sarah looked over her shoulder then dropped her arms to her sides as she turned to see Mark standing farther up the beach, wearing the shorts he’d had on at dinner. No shoes to spark a tantrum should they get wet, but then Mark didn’t strike her as the tantrum-throwing type. A wave hit the backs of her ankles, splashing up