Vacation (39 page)

Chapter 12

Finn

The look on her beautiful face was
priceless, but I kept my emotions locked away. She was angry and I was at
fault. She had played a part in it, but ultimately, I'd been a dick. I had gone
over my apology at least thirty times by the time she walked out with the hot
chocolate.

Her face was so pretty all snuggled into
her jacket and furry hat. She was feminine and petite, yet feisty as hell. I
closed my eyes and continued to shovel faster as the remembrance of having my
hands on her while we dance filled my mind. She fit against me in a way that
made me want to keep her there, pressed to me and in my arms forever.

I was falling for her in a way that made
little to no sense, but I couldn't help it. It wasn't about sex, though some
part of me wanted to push it there. It was safe to think that I was physically
attracted to her and nothing else. I was beyond attracted to her, but there was
so much more bubbling up inside of me.

The last shovel full of snow was the
hardest, but it always was. I finished up and put the shovels up and dusted the
snow from my hands and jacket before walking up to the house. I knocked twice
on the door and moved back.

Chloe opened the door, her jacket gone and
a pretty cream-colored sweater in its place. Her hair was down and a little
messy, which drew me in fast.

I extended the invoice to her and smiled.
"I'll get something to drink at home. Thanks for the thought,
though."

"Did you know this was my house?"
She lifted her eyebrow and opened the door a little farther. "And, get in
here. I'm not letting you drive home without knowing that you've warmed up a
little. I hope your dad has good worker's comp insurance. You're lucky you
didn't get frostbite out there."

I chuckled and walked in, working to take
my jacket off before leaning over and getting my shoes off. Everything was
soaked in sweat and I started to shiver, which seemed to piss her off even
more.

"Get over here." She tugged at
my arm and pulled me toward the fireplace before turning it on. "Let me
heat up your drink. Take off your shirt and I'll throw it in the dryer."

"This your way to see me
half-naked?" I teased her, unable to help myself.

"I could have done that ten times
already, playboy. Do what I told you to do." She disappeared into the
kitchen as I worked to get my socks and t-shirt off. My jeans were soaked, too,
but I didn't think she would appreciate me being naked in her living room.

"Do your dad or brother have a pair
of sweats I can use?" I called out to her and followed her path into the
kitchen, stopping at the edge of it and taking time to simply watch her.

She turned and let her eyes move across me
before turning back toward the microwave and grumbling something.

"Sorry?" I took a step into the
kitchen as she pulled a mug from the microwave and handed it to me.

"Yes. I'll grab them and you can
change in the bathroom."

"I'm good changing here. It's not
like you've never seen a man naked before...right?"

She put her hand on her hip and closed her
eyes. "Don't make this hard on me or I'll kick you out of here so fast it
will make your head spin."

"Hard on you?" I laughed and
moved closer to her. "You went home with my best friend last night and
left me with eight drunks."

She opened her eyes and pushed at my
chest, hard. "You wanted to go home with Cindy and I dropped Brian off at
his house. You're crazy if you think anything happened between us."

"He's a damn idiot if he didn't
try." I dropped my clothes and reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling
her toward me. "Nothing happened with Cindy. You know why?"

"Why, Finn? Because of your month off
from women?"

I smiled and released her before walking
toward the small room by the kitchen that held the washer and dryer. I slipped
out of my pants and tossed everything in the dryer. After finding an oven mitt,
I walked back in the kitchen holding it in front of my crotch and laughed at
the look she gave me.

"I didn't do anything with her
because she's not you. Go get me some damn pants or I'm going to resort to
other means of warming up." I moved toward her and she turned, walking
back down the hall quickly.

"Don't touch me. I'm not interested
in anything you have to offer." She disappeared into a dark room and I
forced myself not to follow her. Our relationship couldn't be built on sex. It
needed a solid friendship. I needed one. Hell, she seemed to, as well.

I moved to the fireplace and moved the
mitten, warming my body fully and relaxing as the chill finally began to leave
me.

The sound of her gasp caused me to look
over my shoulder. "Like what you see?"

"It's an ass. Everyone has one."
She walked over to me and laid the pants over my shoulder. "I'll wait for
you at the table."

"Thank you," I mumbled and put
them on, grateful that someone in her family was tall. Too bad they had
SpongeBob and Patrick dancing across them in various motions. "You did
this on purpose."

"I did." She pressed her fingers
to her lips and laughed. "You look great, though."

"Right?" I flexed my pecs and
sat down, reaching for the drink. "Thanks for this."

"Did you know this was my father's
place?" She sat back and drew her legs up to her chest.

I wanted to lie, but couldn't force myself
to do it. "I did. I heard Cindy say your last name at the club and realized
that my father had a client by the same name. I had to pull a few strings, and
it's creepy, I know, but I couldn't not see you again. I shouldn't want to, but
I do." I shrugged and lifted the mug to my mouth.

"You're right. I've done nothing but
judge you." She rubbed her fingers over her lips and watched me closely,
leaving my need to reach out for her rising by the minute. "Forgive
me."

"Already done." I shrugged.
"So, tell me why you were the designated driver last night?"

"Because I'm a light weight and
alcohol usually leads to horrible decisions for me."

"Note to self, get her drunk." I
winked and set the mug down. "Let me take you on the slopes again?"

"You don't give up, do you?"

"Not sure. I've never had to try,
honestly." I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a content sigh.
Things were going far better than I'd imagined.

"You've never had to work hard to get
a woman's attention." She snorted and dropped her legs down before leaning
in. The sweet smell of her perfume rushed in to greet me, and I jerked back to
keep myself from accosting her.

"Nope. I'm not saying I'm all that,
Chloe. Just telling you the life I've lived."

"Why don't you have a girlfriend or a
wife then? Surely, one of the women would have meant something to you over all
these years." She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.
"I'm struggling with this a lot."

"I understand that. I struggle with
it, too." I sucked my bottom lip in my mouth, trying to figure out how to
explain it to her. "So, the last girl I took out took me back to her
place..."

She cut me off as her hand flew in the
air. "Hold up. I do not under any circumstances want to hear any of your
sex stories."

"Why? You jealous?" I chuckled,
expecting her to swat at me or flip me off.

"Yes. Actually, I am, and I'm
struggling with that, too." She kept my gaze, not at all uncomfortable
with admitting that she was feeling something for me.

Something loosened inside of me and I
relaxed.

Good.
It's not just me.

"I'm not telling you any of my
stories, Chloe. I was just going to explain how ninety-nine percent of women
aren't looking for a second date, but just another fuck. I'm just a fuck."
I shrugged and glanced outside, not realizing how much it would hurt to say it
out loud.

"What happened with the girl?"
Her voice was soft as she moved closer, her knees brushing mine.

"She invited me back to her place and
showed me off in front of her two friends, basically inviting them to join
us." I turned my attention back to her.

"Did they join you?"

"No. I'm not like that." I
shrugged again. "I guess most guys would be, but I can't be with more than
one woman at a time. I left after her friend told me that the girl had
herpes."

"Oh my God." She lifted her hand
to her face as she visibly paled.

Probably not the best thing to tell a girl
that I wanted to take to bed for the rest of my life, but she needed to
understand my side of the story.

"Right? My fucked up life." I
let out a chuckle, but it fell flat.

"I'm sorry for being so cruel. I'm
just not interested in a one-night stand. I just got out of a long relationship
and honestly, falling for someone that's not going to be in my life in the
future isn't something I'm willing to do."

"I understand that. I'm not asking
you to sleep with me, nor am I offering you a ring."

"Then what are you asking,
Finn?"

"A friendship? A ski buddy? Do you
like horror movies?" I smiled and moved closer. "We can be friends
from a distance, right? And when you come back, if you do, we'll hit the slopes
again together. I'd love a new friend, someone who didn't prance me around
town."

She shook her head. "I'd like a
friendship, but understand that I'm leaving in two weeks. My father is helping
me start a clothing line and that's the only reason I'm in this house."

I looked around and nodded. "Where is
your mother?"

"She died eight years ago." She
lifted her free hand up to wipe at her face. "It's been different since
then. Everything has."

I wanted to pull her in my arms and promise
her the world so damn bad, but she didn't want that. Hell, she barely wanted
the friendship I offered so freely.

"I understand that completely."
I smiled. "I need to go, but let me take you around town tomorrow. Nothing
but good times and great treats. I know some killer dessert shops."

"You don't have to work?"

"I'll be calling in sick if you're
free." I smiled wickedly.

"I think I can swing it, but no
telling anyone that it was my fault." She got up and walked back to the
laundry room, coming back out with my clothes folded.

I finished the drink and took them from
her. "Thanks for this. I can't tell you how much better I feel. I was a
dick last night and have been hating myself since. So, forgive me."

"Already done." She smiled and
nodded to the back of the house. "You can change back there."

"I'm good, unless your dad will miss
his favorite pants." I glanced down at them and laughed as she did, too.

"No. Keep them, but get your shoes
on. You'll freeze out there."

"Yes, ma'am." I worked to get my
boots on and pulled my coat over my shoulders before opening the door and
turning to tell her goodbye. Her nearness surprised me.

"Promise me that we can be friends
and nothing more." Her gaze moved down toward my mouth. She wanted a kiss
as bad as I did. Well, so I hoped.

"I'll try my best, Chloe." I
leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'm only a man, though. Remember
that."

"It's hard to forget." She moved
back and smiled. "Get out of here before I make a bad decision."

"Sounds like I might be a bad
influence on you."

"Or me on you." She winked and
closed the door behind me, leaving my heart pounding in my chest and body
completely on fire for her.

Friends...right.

Chapter 13

Chloe

Getting a chance to talk to Finn and clear
the air left me with a new perspective on things. I set my alarm and woke up
early the next morning, wanting to get a fresh start on the week and hoping to
figure out a way to impress my father beyond what he thought me capable of. He
wanted a new jacket that was incredibly functional. I wanted something cute and
modern that left women feeling attractive. Why not combine the two? I was
buzzing with ideas as I danced toward the kitchen, singing my favorite Adele
song off-tune.

"What are you doing up so
early?" My father glanced up from the kitchen table. He was dressed in a
black suit and a blue button down shirt.

"Just decided to gain new perspective
on all of these changes in my life. It feels good. I want to get the day
started." I shrugged and stopped behind him to brush a string from his
back. "I'm making me an omelet. You want something?"

"I'd love two eggs over easy, but I
usually have to get up early enough to stop by Jerry's to get them. I never did
get your mother to teach me how she made them." He smiled and my heart
broke over his loss. He still wasn't over her. Jessie was right about his angst
most likely being tied to losing her. Where Parker and I had another life ahead
of us, my dad was still trying to push past the one he'd expected to last
forever.

"Well, she taught me, so I'll make
you some. Ham or bacon for you?" I moved to the fridge and started to pull
the various items out that we would need.

"Whatever is
easiest.
"
He went back to his paper as I cut up items for my omelet. I figured I'd make
one for Parker seeing that he would eat anything I put in front of him.

"So, why did you and Parker decide to
stay here for the full semester? His idea or yours?" I poured me a cup of
coffee and checked my phone, realizing that I hadn't given Finn my number.

Damn.
Wait...the invoice.

"He likes it here, and I really
didn't mind working remotely to let him try it out. He's been taking
snowboarding lessons, but I don't like the guy he's been training with. He's
just not as good as Parker needs him to be. The pupil has already become the
master."

"Really? I met a guy the other day
that supposedly has insane snowboarding skills. I could ask him to help Parker
in his spare time." I shrugged as my Dad glanced up from his paper.

"That would be great. Let me know his
fee, and I'll want to meet him." He pulled out his phone and turned from
me, which gave me a minute to snoop around the house for the invoice as the
oven heated.

I had no luck and the smell of butter
burning on the stove had me jogging back to my place in the kitchen.

My father stood and walked to the coffee
pot as he ended his call. "That was one of my clients. I might have to fly
to Texas tomorrow night, and Parker has a sleepover with some friends. Are you
going to be okay alone here?"

"Of course. I'm a grown-ass woman,
remember?"

He gave me a smirk and stole a pinch of
the shredded cheese from the pile I'd grated. I lightly slapped his hand away, and
he chuckled.

"You're so much like your
mother." He lifted his mug to his lips and got a faraway look in his eye.

"You still miss her, Dad?"

He looked at me and smiled sadly. "So
much. I never imagined a day in my life would be without her. I feel like she
took my warmth with her."

Tears filled my eyes and I turned back to
the stove, not responding so that he wouldn't hear how deeply I hurt for him.
He wouldn't appreciate it.

"I'm going to wake your lazy-ass
brother up. I want him to see about getting a job in town. He needs to learn
responsibility." As he walked down the hall, I pulled a paper-towel from
the roll, dabbing at my eyes and promising myself that no matter what, I was
going to work on my relationship with my dad. It would take every bit of
patience I possibly had, but my mother would have wanted us closer, and here I
was helping to fuel the fire that forced us apart.

I finished my father's breakfast and
handed him the plate as he walked back into the kitchen.

"Two eggs over easy and bacon. Toast
should pop up any minute." I walked to the table and pushed his papers
around. "Dad. Where is the invoice from the snow shoveling company?"

"It's in the den on my desk. I'll pay
it today, but I'm going to call Clark and give him a piece of my mind."

"Who's Clark?" I glanced up as
my brother walked up, his eyes wide as if warning me to tread lightly.

"He's the bastard that owns the
company."

Finn's
dad. Not good.

"Why is he a bastard?" I flipped
Parker's omelet onto a plate and sprinkled it with cheese before handling it to
him and ruffling his hair.

He moved to the refrigerator and brought
out a jug of orange juice, drinking straight from it.

"Parker. Son, that's disgusting. Just
mark that one as yours and don't do it again." My dad grimaced at my
brother before turning his attention back to me. "He and I have had issues
in the past."

"Why are you upset this time? The
driveway looks great and the poor guy that did it had to have frozen his butt
off."

"That poor guy was his son. He knows
that I don't want that boy over here." He glanced up and pinned me with a
hard stare. "He sleeps around, is going nowhere in life, and looks like
the angel that he's not. I don't like him or his father."

"Dad..." I moved to sit down at
the table as Parker joined us and snorted.

"Don't even try, Sis. I wanted to
take snowboard lessons from Finn and Dad had a fit. He's not going to let you
reason with him."

"Is that the
friend
that you wanted to talk to me about lessons for Parker
with?" My dad lifted his eyebrow sharply.

"What? No. I don't even know this
guy. All I was going to say is that everyone has a story. I'm not the same
person I was before Mom died. Part of my pain and anger bleeds into how I act,
but if you didn't know that I lost my mom, you would judge me unfairly."

"I'm not interested in talking about
this. I don't want the boy over here. Period. Clark knows that. He probably
realized you were home and sent the boy over to steal your heart. He's a
vicious bastard like that." He shrugged and went back to his paper.

I turned to Parker and mouthed, '
What
the fuck?’

He snorted and laughed as Dad glanced up
and looked between us. "What?"

"Nothing, but there is a story there.
Inquiring minds want to know what."

"None of your business," my
father barked. "Don't forget to clean up the kitchen when you're
done."

"I always do, Dad." I rolled my
eyes and turned my attention back to my brother as I got up and walking back
into the kitchen to finally make my breakfast. "What's your plan
today?"

"I'm in a gamer contest." He
smiled and wagged his eyebrows. "
Wanna
take the
reins and win a few rounds of Resident Evil for me?"

"Your sister doesn't play video
games. She's an adult." My father never looked up from his paper.

Chuckling, I turned back to the stove.
"I can't today, buddy. I'm doing some research for this new investor with
deep pockets and a stiff personality. I
gotta
win him
over."

I glanced over my shoulder as my father's
lip lifted in a subtle smirk, but he tried to hide it.

"How about tomorrow we do
something?" Parker finished his breakfast and brought the plate in the
kitchen.

"I thought Dad said you had a
sleepover tomorrow." I took his plate and wiped it off, willing to use it
for my breakfast, too. Less to clean.

"I do, but we can spend the day
together." He squeezed my shoulders from behind. "I'll teach you to
snowboard."

"Yeah. Okay. I'd like that," I
agreed. I pulled from him and worked to finish my breakfast. My father kissed
the top of my head before leaving, which was a surprise. The last time we'd
hugged or kissed had been the day I left for college five years ago.

* * * *

I pulled up the address for Warner Removal
Services and plugged it in my GPS before changing into a pair of jeans, a cute
sweater, and knee-high boots. I fixed my hair and put on a little bit of lip
gloss. We were just going to be friends, so I needed to look nice, but not hot.

I checked my appearance one more time
before letting out an angry growl and leaving the house. I would always find a
million things wrong with me. It seemed to be one of the criteria for being a
woman in my early twenties.

I made it to Finn's father's shop within
twenty minutes and then sat in the parking lot, trying to decide how to go
about getting his number. Maybe one of the other guys that worked with him
would just give it to me. I didn't think talking to his dad was a good idea
seeing that my dad and
him
had some bad blood between
them.

It was already ten, and the day was moving
by quickly. If Finn had asked off to spend it with me, like he said he was
going to, I wanted to get it started.

Getting out of the SUV, I pulled my scarf
tighter and walked up to the large hanger doors that were open. No one was
standing outside, so I walked in and looked around. The building was like a
mechanic's shop, with various machines and plows all over the place. I wasn't
sure where to go and was quickly losing my nerve.

"Hello?" I called out and slid
my hands into my pockets.

A stocky older man with a buzz-cut and
piercing blue eyes walked out from the back. His flannel shirt and jeans fit
him well. He was attractive by anyone’s standards.

"Morning, ma'am. How can I help
you?"

As he moved closer, I realized from the
resemblance that he was Finn's dad. How could he and my father have so much in
common and yet hate each other? Both of their wives were deceased, they both
loved Aspen, and both owned their own companies. Seemed like they would be the
best of friends.

Odd.

I extended my hand and smiled. "I'm
Chloe. I'm looking for Finn. I assume he works here."

The man smiled warmly and took my hand.
"I'm Clark, his father. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine." I
glanced around and turned back to Clark. "He promised me he would call in
sick and spend the day showing me the town, but don't tell his boss."

He chuckled and released my hand.
"Did he now?"

"He did, but there's a problem with
his promise." I lifted an eyebrow, liking the guy in front of me already.

"There usually is with that
boy."

"He didn't get my number and I don't
have his." I shrugged.

"Well, come on in here and let's call
him together. We'll have him stop by and surprise him. What do you think?"
He nodded and walked back toward the open door at the back of the warehouse.

Pulling one over on Finn was far better
than just getting his number. I followed him and forced down the giggle that
burned inside my chest.

"Were you part of the clubbing party
Saturday night?" Clark glanced over his shoulder at me.

"I was, but I took Brian home and
then went home myself. I think Finn was a little put off with us leaving him
with all the drunks, but he took care of them. I was impressed. I'd have left
them there." I took a seat as he motioned for me to inside a cramped
office filled with papers and parts.

"He's a good boy, just needs a good
woman to get his ass on track."

I smirked and turned my attention to the
small picture sitting on Clark's desk as he put the call to Finn on speaker
phone.

"Can I?" I asked, reaching for
the picture.

"Of course. That's my Sara. She
passed ten years ago. Best woman in the world." His eyes grew misty as I
looked up, and sadness rolled over me for his loss.

The picture was at Christmas. Sara, Clark,
and a teenage Finn were all dressed up to go skiing. The smiles on their faces
were warm and full of love. Tears burned my eyes and I set the picture down,
trying to not let them fall, but it didn't work.

Clark hung up the phone and shook his
head.

"He's not up." He looked over at
me as his eyes widened. "Oh, honey. You don't need to cry."

I took the Kleenex he handed me and dabbed
my eyes. "I lost my mom eight years ago. Finn and I talked about it a
little the other day, but he seemed so closed off to it."

Clark crossed his hands over his stomach
and nodded. "I guess you have to be when part of your world
dissipates."

"Yes, Sir. I think me, my brother,
and my daddy are to."

"What did you say your last name was,
sweetie?" He stood as the sound of Finn's voice shocked both of us.

I flinched, not wanting to give it up and
yet not willing to lie. "It's Burke."