Vacation (33 page)

The house was only a half a mile from
where I lived, but it was insanely cold. The sound of a door slamming caused me
to duck. I peeked over the edge of the window to see Katie and one of her
friends walking toward me. They were yelling at each other.

I tugged the keys from the car and moved
along the floorboard to the other side. I opened the door and slipped out,
barely shutting the door and being thankful for the lack of light thanks to the
moon hiding somewhere.

I jogged down into the woods beside me and
didn't stop until my legs gave out just before reaching my house. Pressing my
back to a large pine tree, I looked up at the starless sky, wondering what the
fuck I was doing.

There was so little I loved about my life,
and yet I was the only one able to change it.

"That's it. No more whoring around
until after Christmas. Twenty-five days. No sex unless I find the girl I want
in my life and not just my bed."

I pressed my hands to my face and let out
a long breath. I'd been with four to five different girls a week. Not sleeping
with someone for twenty-five days was a little harsh, but something had to
give. I couldn't keep living the way I was. I needed a change. Something to
shake up my world and set me on the right course.

I needed a good woman. The right woman.

"Easier to find the abominable
snowman out here," I grumbled and jogged across the street toward the
house.

Chapter 5

Chloe

There were several things I'd learned
while staying in Aspen over the last week. Firstly, my father seemed to be a
complete man whore that had a new date every night of the week. I was surprised
more by his nonchalant attitude about it when I finally brought it up on a
morning at the breakfast table.

"So, you're dating."

He glanced up from the paper and sat his
coffee down. "I am. Why?"

"I don't know. Just seems
weird." I shrugged.

"Am I supposed to be alone
forever?" His eyebrow lifted sharply. He was a handsome man, his salt and
pepper hair leaving him looking distinguished and important. He was built like
a basketball player, strong and tall with taunt muscles and a healthy
complexion.

"No, Dad. I've just seen you with
five women over this last week. I'm just a little surprised."

"I'm not willing to commit to anyone
until I find the right woman. It's simple, really." He picked his paper
back up.

"Right, but are you just taking them
to dinner?"

"None of your business." He
ignored me and turned a little, making sure I knew that the conversation was
officially over.

I picked up my plate and walked to the
sink, unable to help myself from making one final remark.

"I'm just saying that if some guy was
trying me on for size with a one night stand, you'd be pissed." I walked
back to my brother's room, hoping to find him awake, but willing to raise the
dead if not.

The second thing I learned was that my
little brother was capable of growing tall and muscular on nothing more than
Cheez
-Its and gummy worms. He hated me for it, but I'd been
cooking over the last week and had forced him to eat a square meal for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
 

Other than hanging out and playing video
games, the week had been spent drawing new designs and Skyping with Jessie.
After ignoring Seth for a few days, he got the hint and stopped trying to
communicate with me. Part of me missed having someone who wanted to spend time
with me and seemed genuinely interested in my day, but it was all a ruse. Seth
wanted a blonde robot that moaned when he said moan and sat quietly most of the
rest of the time.

We'd been in more fights about his caveman
mannerisms than I had time to analyze.

I knocked on Parker's door and smiled at
the deep grunt I got.

"I'll assume that's a 'come on in,'"
I said as I walked in and pressed my fingers to my nose. "It smells like
sweaty balls in here."

He chuckled and snorted before throwing a
pillow at me. "Then, get the fuck out! It's like ten in the morning. The
sun's not even out."

"That's because we're in the middle
of a winter vortex. This sucky-ass place you and Dad stay at every Christmas
has to go. Let's start a new tradition. We could go to the Bahamas or Miami.
Somewhere warm." I plopped down in a chair next to Parker's bed and tugged
a remote from underneath me.

"Christmas isn't supposed to be warm.
What's the matter with you?" He sat up, his brown hair a wild mess.
"You grow up and all the fun gets sucked right out of you. Tell me what
age it happens at, so I can be on the lookout. I refuse to give up on being a
kid."

"I'm still a kid, too." I threw
a dirty sock at him, smacking him in the face with it.

He chucked it back and flopped back down.
"Not even close. You fixed broccoli and Brussel sprouts this week.
Definitely adult food."

I laughed, unable to help myself. "I
need to get out of here today. It's Saturday. What's there to do?"

"Lots, but it would require you to
get out into the snow." He rolled over and I got up, pushing at his back
until I shoved him from the bed. He hit the floor with a loud thud before
jumping up and running after me.

I hauled ass into the kitchen and ran
around my father, shoving him in between us as Parker attacked the other side
of him.

"Hey! You guys are too old for this.
Cut it out."

I turned my dad with a tight hold on his
pockets, forcing him to become a shield to fend off my brother. "Not
happening, Dad. He's after me and you're my only hope."

"Luke...I am your father." My
brother gave his best Darth Vader voice, which only opened me up to the worst morning
breath in the universe.

"Go brush your teeth, Parker. That's
disgusting." My father jerked from us and walked to the sink, turning once
to give us a disgusted stare.

"That breath could melt wax,
dude." I pushed at his head, and he walked back down the hall grumbling.

"What are your plans today,
Chloe?" my father asked with his back to me.

"I'm going into town to look around.
I wanted to check out your clothing line and see what other shops in the area
are up to. I thought maybe I could make a few suggestions seeing that you paid
big bucks for this degree I now have."

"You will have. You don't have it
yet. Grades haven't come in for this final semester. I checked." He turned
toward me and crossed his arms over his chest. "And, I don't need anyone analyzing
my products. The line is selling well. Spend your time figuring out which
products
you
plan to sell. Before you
get a penny, all of them will have to go through me. I'm not investing in
anything I don't think will sell."

"You're investing in me, remember?"

"I'm still reviewing the designs.
Conversation over."

"No, it's not. That wasn't part of
the deal. Staying here for twenty-five days was all that you required of me.
You're not reviewing my designs because you're a winter wear guy. These designs
are for warm-weather climates and beach vacations."

"And, there are a million of those
companies already doing well. Find a niche and become the businesswoman you're
capable of being. You’re limiting yourself, and I'm not okay with that."

I lifted my hand and walked back toward my
room. "I'm packing up and leaving. You lied, which shouldn't surprise me
at all."

"Chloe Ann Burke. Stop right there,
young lady."

I paused out of what little bit of respect
I had left for him.

My brother slipped his head out of his
room, his eyes wide. "You're in for it, now. Is your middle name even
Ann?"

I rolled my eyes and turned to face my dad.
"What?"

"You're not going anywhere, but part
of this deal is us agreeing on what products you're going to sell. I'm not
going to lay down an iron hammer, but you are going to have to share them with
me. Stop being a child."

"Right." I turned and walked to
my room, slamming the door and working quickly to get dressed. A pair of jeans
and a cute sweater, and I was out the door.

My father's SUV was gone and Parker was
busy playing video games from what I could tell. I texted him that I was
heading into town and would be back later.

My dad was an ass and would change the
rules any way he needed to in order to fit his own agenda. I knew that coming.
Now I just needed to figure out how to deal with it.

Proving my worth and talent was at the top
of the list. He saw me as a child. Jessie was right – I needed to show him the
talented designer I'd become. Then, he would listen to me.

"First stop, Burke's Outdoor
Wear."

* * * *

I was milling through the large ski and
sportswear store that my dad owned when my phone buzzed. It was a number I
hadn't seen in a long time.

"Cindy?" I picked up and smiled
as I moved toward the snowboards and paused in the middle aisle.

"Hey, Chloe! I was praying this was
still your number. How are you?"

"Wow. I'm great. My God, it's been
like six years, right?"

"Since before college, but yeah. I've
been traveling the world with my family, but we're finally back. I wanted to
see where you were. I know your dad usually made you guys go to Aspen during
this time of the year, but wasn't sure."

"I'm here, girl. Hating every minute
of it."

"No, you're not, but either way,
that's great news. You remember Janet and Kinsey, right?"

I rolled my eyes and nodded my head.
"Remember by best friends from high school? Of course, I do, silly. I
spoke to Janet around March this last year. Funny how growing up means losing
touch with people that you thought would always be in your life.”

"Well, they're in Vail right now, and
I've got a layover in Aspen tonight. I just realized that I should call you
guys to see if you're up for getting together."

"Tonight?" I glanced at my
watch. It was only ten, which gave me plenty of time to finish my shopping, get
home, and get ready before they showed up.

"Yeah. I know
it’s
short notice, but if I can get the others to make the trip down, you think you
want to meet up? Does your dad have an extra room I can stay in?"

"I'd love to, and of course. I'll get
a room ready for you. Need
me
to get you from the
airport?" I turned and followed a cute guy with shoulder-length hair and a
great ass.

"No, just text me the address. I'll
have the others meet us at a restaurant of your choice. Sound good?"

"Perfect. I'll see you later." I
hung up and texted the address, not realizing the
hottie
I'd been staring down was now standing in front of me.

"
Heya
. How
goes it?" He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, looking
awfully young now that he was closer.

"It goes. Love the hair. It's a good
look for you." I smiled and turned to pull a shirt off the rack.

"So, um...you
new
here?" He moved up beside me as I lifted the shirt up and turned it around
slowly.

"This would be so much better in a
muted blue, right? These bright colors must shine against the white of the snow
and blind the fuck out of everyone."

He laughed and extended his hand.
"Daniel. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Chloe. Nice to meet you, too.
You ski?"

"Snowboard, but I can tear up some
shit on a pair of skis, too. You?"

"Nope. I'm a California girl."

"I should have guessed." He
smiled, and I lifted an eyebrow. "I mean with your tan and pretty blonde
hair. You just look like a typical beach babe."

"Thanks? I think." I laughed and
put the shirt back before walking through the store as the cute guy tagged
along.

"Definitely a compliment. We should
get a burger sometime together." He moved to open the door for me and I
nodded.

"Yeah, sure. Give me your number and
I'll text you."

He extended his hand. "Give me your
phone and I'll put it in there."

I handed it to him and let my eyes scan
the other shops in the area. Something inside of me wanted to be like everyone
else. I was completely out of place in the busy mountain town. My clothes were
a perfect ringer for someone who hit the slopes, but I was a fake at best.

He handed the phone back and smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Chloe. Call me and I'll show you around."

"Okay. Thanks."

I put the phone in my pocket and walked
over to the elaborate hardwood lodge just next door. The skis were half off for
the afternoon on rentals and the bunny slopes showed light traffic. I rented a
pair and put them on before changing my mind.

I was stuck in Aspen for at least two more
weeks and staying in the house would be the death of me. I needed fresh air,
sunsets, and waves, but sun, snow, and wind would have to suffice. The lifts
were located at the back of the lodge and after finally making my way through a
crowd of rowdy teenagers, I moved out into the wintery outdoors.

I walked awkwardly to the next lift and
almost made it to the stop where the lift would swing in and pick me up before
my ski caught on something. I flew forward, letting out a yelp as my head was
projected to smack against the large rock in front of me.

Someone's strong hands reached out and
caught me, pulling me back.

"Whoa. Shit. That was close. You
okay?" He released me and I turned and let out a long sigh.

"Yes. Thank you so much. I haven't
skied in forever. Now, I remember why."

My eyes moved across his handsome face and
butterflies resurrected deep inside of me, the moment almost a little too much
for my practical mind.

He was clean shaven, but his chestnut hair
was a little disheveled and cheeks were red like he'd been out there all day.
His warm brown eyes moved around my face and the sexy smile that lifted his lip
caused my heart to skip a beat.

"Here, let's take this one up
together. If you fall from the lift, you're going to have more trouble than
snow in your pretty blonde hair." He laughed and reached for me.