Billionaire's Holiday (An Alpha Billionaire Christmas Romance Love Story) (Billionaires - Book #17)

by Claire Adams

  "Your point?" I didn't want to be rude, but I couldn't help myself seeing that this bitch was unbelievably rude to me only a few nights back.

  "No point. Just an apology. I was jealous and acted like a jerk. I'm sorry."

  "It happens." I glanced around to see if he was somewhere behind us. Seemed like him to start sending flowers and people to help me see the good in him. It was ingenious, which was right up his alley. "Did he put you up to this?"

  "Finn? Heavens, no. I haven't seen him since the other night. He's working his ass off, no doubt. He wants to build his own lodge, but money has always been so tight for him and his dad." She smiled. "Anyway, I'm sorry, and I hope things work out with you guys. He deserves a good woman."

  "And you think that's me? That I'm a good woman?"

  "I don't know, but I think he believes that, which is enough for me." She nodded and turned, walking back into the crowd.

  I reached for my phone and dialed his number.

  He answered on the first ring, breathless. "Chloe."

  "Hey. Sorry it took so long; I was just..."

  He cut me off. "No apologies. I told you to take your time."

  "You working?" I looked around at all of the people milling about. Most of them were couples, holding hands and having a good time together. It made me long for him all the more.

  "Yeah, but I get off around two. You want to get together and talk?"

  "No. I want you to join me and Parker on the slopes. He's going to teach me to snowboard."

  Finn snorted, and my lip raised in a smile. "Confession time."

  "What?” I asked.

  "Parker already invited me. The kid's been texting me for the last three days with what to do and what not to do. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I wasn't getting involved until you were ready for me, too." The sound of his voice caused my heart to swell in my chest.

  "So, you're his friend for this afternoon?"

  "I am, but I was going to text you just after lunch to make sure you were okay with it."

  "Too funny. That little shit." I turned as the attendant walked up. I pushed the cologne toward her and gave her my card. Finn would be upset over my getting him something, but I didn't care. I wanted to buy him the world now that I'd decided to give us a try. I had no idea what that really meant, but the thought of even taking a first step left a peace settled on me that affirmed that I was headed in the right direction.

  "He's a good kid." Finn cleared his throat. "Where are you?"

  "At the mall. Getting gifts."

  "For your dad and Parker?"

  "And you." I smiled.

  "Chloe, I don't want anything but you. Don't buy me anything. Just tell me we can go on a second date, and I'll be the happiest man in the world. I don't need things. I need you."

  "Wow. From friends to an instant romance. Almost like that crazy love you read about in romance novels."

  "We were never friends. That was your dumb rule, and it didn't work." He chuckled, and I did, too.

  "True. Come with us today and let's get one over on Parker. Help me pull a prank on him."

  "Only if you'll agree to a second date with me."

  "Deal."

  "What are we doing?"

  "Show up like he wants you to and when I see you, I'll throw a fit and shove you backwards. Lose your balance and slide down that small hill by the lift. Drag me with you, and let's roll down and play dead until he gets there. Then, we'll pull him down and bury his ass in the snow." I was smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt.

  "Damn. That's a little much. Is that what sisters do to their baby brothers?"

  "You bet your ass it is. Help me, or I'll get you back, too." I took the bag from the lady and thanked her before moving to the next store.

  "I'm in. You're too scary to cross, just don't really hit me, please."

  I laughed. "Never. See you later today."

  "Chloe."

  My breath caught in my chest. I prayed that he wasn't about to say that he loved me. I knew it was starting to build to that, but it would have been too much, too early.

  "I've missed you. I haven't stopped thinking about you." His voice was gravelly and sensual.

  Chills ran down my back, and I groaned under my breath. "Stop it. You're making me all hot and bothered in the middle of the shopping mall."

  "You gave me a damn fever the first time we went out. I think payback should be hell."

  "I'll see you around three, handsome."

  "Yeah, you will. Be careful, baby."

  There was no need to pretend I wasn't interested or to play hard to get, anymore. We didn't have time for that drama. My days were running short, and I needed to make some hard decisions.

  I dropped the call and dropped the phone back in my purse, feeling good about the afternoon and evening to come. After we snowboarded with my brother, I was going to find a way to get Finn to cook for me. He had mentioned his cooking skills several times, but I'd missed out on trying his stew, seeing that Parker ate the whole bowl of it.

  Letting my thoughts go, I ducked into another store and started my search for the two most difficult people in the world to buy for: my father and my brother.

  What do you buy for guys who have everything already?

  * * * *

  Parker was bouncing on the balls of his feet as we purchased our tickets for the lift, the nervousness running through him was almost humorous.

  "You excited or what?" I glanced over at him while handing my card to the guy at the front counter.

  "It's the hot chocolate. Should have stuck to your guns on it." He turned around as if looking for someone.

  "Your friend here yet?" I asked and took our tickets. "I got him one, too, just to be nice."

  "Oh, cool. Yeah, I see him." Parker smiled like a tomcat.

  "Great. I'll be outside, by the lift. You guys just come out there and bring my board with you, okay?"

  "Yeah, whatever you want, sis." He chuckled as I turned and walked outside.

  Nervousness swelled in my stomach over seeing Finn again. The last time I'd laid eyes on him, I was half dressed in my bedroom, and things got hot quick. I'd fantasized over him taking me against the wall of my bedroom twenty times since it almost happened.

  His aggressiveness combined with his soft fingers and warm mouth left me needing him in ways I wasn't used to. I wanted to explore every inch of him and have him return the favor. Hopefully, he would be up for it sooner rather than later. Something told me I had nothing to worry about.

  "Chloe. This is my buddy." Parker's voice had a lightness to it that said he was on the verge of laughter.

  I had my back to them, but I'd moved over near a small embankment that wouldn't be too far of a fall for me and Finn. Turning, I let my eyes grow wide and my brow crease.

  "What are you doing here?" I demanded, then looked at Parker.

  His face dropped and concerned filled his features. "I thought you would love this."

  "You thought wrong." I turned my angry stare on Finn, and damn if he didn't have a sexy smirk on his face. I was doing all I could to keep our rouse under-wraps, and he was smirking.

  "Come on, Chloe. The kid was just trying to help." He stood with his back to the small cliff and put his hands on his hips. "Don't be like that."

  "Like that?" I moved toward him as Parker moved toward me. I pushed at my brother's chest, which surprised him.

  "Chloe. Stop," Parker yelled at me, but I was already in motion.

  "Don't tell me anything, you sorry bastard." I pushed my hands into Finn’s chest, and he put on a good show, grabbing me at the last minute and pulling me with him. We slid down the hill with me on top of Finn, both of us laughing.

  When we stopped, I could hear Parker yelling as he ran after us.

  "I am not pretending like I'm dead." Finn gave me a look.

  "For a long hot kiss?"

  "R.I.P." He closed his eyes and sunk into the snow.

  I did the same until I could hear Par
ker getting closer. "Ready?"

  "On your queue, you mean ass witch."

  I giggled. "Now."

  Parker dropped beside us and we bolted up, attacking him and laughing as he fell back.

  "You assholes! That scared the crap out of me." He rolled, and balled up, a snowball, throwing the first at me and the next at Finn.

  An older guy in a uniform called down to us. "Hey! No playing around down there, guys. It's off limits."

  We all made our way to our feet and Finn pointed to me. "It was all her, buddy. I'm sorry."

  "Last time I help you, Finn." Parker winked and walked back up the hill in front of us.

  "I'm praying it's the last time I need help." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and glanced down the length of me. "Did I tell you that I'm missed you like crazy?"

  "Yeah, but you can say it again."

  "I've missed you like crazy." He pulled me close and smiled. "Where's my hot kiss?"

  "Coming soon..."

  Chapter Twenty

  Finn

  Chloe was a nightmare at snowboarding, but we switched her back to skis and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon outside together. Parker found a few friends and ditched us, which was fine by me. I needed to talk with the beautiful girl who'd stolen my heart, anyway.

  I waited at the bottom of the run for her, my hands shading the top of my eyes so I could see her come down. Her long, blonde hair flapped behind her, and her muted pink jacket and wind-pants fit her incredibly well. I let out a long whistle as she stopped beside me.

  "You got plans later, pretty girl? If not, I know a great place in town that will cut you a steak fresh from the rack. We can grab a few, and I'll grill them for us." I lifted an eyebrow and waited for her response. Just having her with me lightened the load of concerns I carried around all the time.

  "Sounds wonderful. I can't imagine anything better." She moved closer to me, and I popped my feet from my board and stepped in between her skis, wrapping my arm tightly around her middle.

  "I can imagine something a lot better, but we'll start with dinner and a long conversation." I leaned forward and brushed my nose along hers, wanting to take things slow, and yet not.

  "How about a cup of coffee now at the little shop at the clubhouse, and then we'll have our second date? I don't want to talk about anything heavy tonight. Let's get it all out of the way before we leave here."

  She slid her pink mittens along my face and pulled me in for a sweet kiss.

  "Get a room!" Parker yelled as he moved past us.

  "I like that idea. There are so many things we could do in a room if given enough time." I nipped at her lips and smiled.

  "You act like such a nice guy, but I know there's a bad boy underneath it all. I keep seeing him peek out around the edges of your personality." She pulled from me.

  "Actually, I'm always a nice guy. You're just making shit up." I licked at my lips again and glanced down at her mouth. "I want my kiss."

  "I do owe it to you." She slid her arms around my neck and flattened herself against the front of me before tilting her head up and capturing my lips.

  I slid my hand over the curve of her ass and squeezed tightly as I explored her mouth fully. She took every bit of what I was giving and met me with a hot passion that left me needy. It wasn't something I'd experienced in my past. Desire rolled through me, and I pulled her in even closer, deepening the kiss as my body hardened.

  She broke the kiss and looked up at me a little starry-eyed. "Damn, you're a good kisser."

  "Mmm...you should see what else I can do with this tongue." I smiled as she shook her head and pushed at my chest.

  "Not here. Not now. So incredibly bad."

  "Not me. You're thinking of someone else, which come to think of it is highly disturbing." I picked up my board and tucked it under my arm before nodding to the lodge. "Let's go have this talk and finish clearing the air between us."

  "Yes. Then we should really test out these promises about your magical tongue." She wagged her eyebrows.

  I growled and reached for her hand, hoping the talk would be short and the night long.

  * * * *

  I carried two cups of hot chocolate over to the table as Chloe played with her nails. She was nervous, and she wasn't the only one.

  "Peppermint in yours or no?" I held out both cups toward her.

  "Yes. I love it, unless you don’t."

  "Nope. It's all yours." I sat down and pressed my forearms to the table. "I need to apologize."

  "You already have, Finn." She took a tentative sip and looked shocked. "This isn't scorching hot."

  "I know. You tell them child's temp and they make it to where you can drink it." I wagged my eyebrows. "And here you thought I was just sexy. I'm smart, too."

  She laughed, and the sound of it caused my heart to beat fast. I couldn't even contemplate her leaving in a few weeks. It was too much to consider.

  "I owe the apology," she began. I started to cut her off, but she lifted her hand in protest. "No, let me finish. Please."

  "Okay." I sat back and let my free hand drop into my lap, willing to give her center stage.

  "Coming here was something I did begrudgingly and only because I had to." She shrugged and glanced down at her mug. "I'm glad I did, but I think I wanted to just treat it like a quick stop off in life and move on. I just wrapped up my degree, and my dreams have always been to be on the west coast."

  "Which is beautiful." I nodded, hoping to encourage her to forgo thinking about my feelings and just open up to me.

  "Yeah, but meeting you and things spiking so fast between us has me wondering if maybe I was just trying to stay in California because this place has too many memories. I mean... I do seriously hate the cold, but this place really is fun." She tugged her cap off and worked to smooth her long hair. "I'd be near my family if I stayed, which would be great. Parker mentioned wanting me to this morning."

  I leaned in and slid my open hand across the table, wanting her to take it. She did, and I closed my fingers around hers.

  "Listen, you have to do what you think is best, and remember that any decision you make can be undone. You move here and don't like it? Go back to California. You stay there, and it sucks? Come back to us." I smiled, but my words only seemed to hurt her rather than help.

  "My apology is for the way I treated you when I first got here. You didn't deserve it. I pre-judged you. Forgive me."

  "My actions and the way I lived my life had everyone judging me the same, and you were all right." I pursed my lips. "Your apology is accepted, but it wasn't needed. You were the wake-up call that I needed so desperately."

  "Why are you so damn nice?" She tugged her hand away from me.

  "Because I care about you, Chloe. I want your happiness. Wherever that is, go there. Be free to live your life." I forced a smile and picked up my hot chocolate. "You and I will be friends no matter where you are."

  "What if I want more than a friendship?" She sucked her lip into her mouth as her eyebrows pulled together.

  "Then we work on that while you're here, and when it's time to go, nothing changes. If we decide to be together like that, then location shouldn't change anything. It would be hard, but worth it, right?"

  "Yeah. I'm overthinking this. I just can't help myself."

  "Let's finish up here and get on with the rest of the afternoon. We don't need to sit here and figure out the future. I'm sorry for being an ass, and you're sorry for being so fucking hot, and it's all good." I lifted my hands and shrugged.

  She laughed and leaned back in her chair as the worry on her pretty face melted. "Did you find out anything about our dads? Why they can't stand each other?"

  "Nope. I mentioned it to my dad, but he closed up tighter than a clam." I stood and offered her my hand. "That's their problem, not ours. When it becomes ours, I'll deal with it for us."

  She took my hand and lifted her mug. "Let's get these to go. I don't know what I figured we could work through up here, but
I'm over it."

  "Good. Besides, I'd rather snuggle up by the fireplace and work through our shit if anything comes up as it comes up." I pulled her to me and kissed the top of her head. "But, I'm a simple man. I don't need complexity."

  "I like that. A lot." She moved up and kissed me once before taking my drink to have them put into to-go containers. "So, if I didn't want the peppermint hot chocolate, were you going to drink it?"

  "Sure was." I slipped my hands in my pockets and tilted my head as I studied her. Butterflies ripped through the center of me as she narrowed her eyes a little.

  "Even though you don't like it?"

  "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I chuckled, knowing what was coming next, and said it in tandem with her.

  "Ain't isn't a word." She smiled and walked back to the counter, leaving me with my insides on fire and the future opened for anything to happen. It was terrifying, but would be worth every minute that I got to enjoy.

  * * * *

  "How do you want your steak cooked, baby?" I glanced over my shoulder at her. We were on the small porch I'd built at the back of my cabin. Her long legs were stretched out as she lounged in a chair beside me, the top half of her wrapped in three blankets. All I could see was her little red nose and piercing green eyes.

  "Medium." She lifted her mouth out of the covers before slipping it back under quickly.

  I turned the steaks and moved to sit beside her on the lounge chair. "Did you have that meeting with your dad over the jackets?"

  The top of her cheeks lifted above the covers as she nodded.

  "And?" I reached out and tugged the blanket down. "Tell me what happened."

  "It went really well. He's going to let me take one of the designs to market under his line. I guess he wants me to understand the full cycle from idea to an actual product on the shelves."

  "And you're excited?" I pulled the blanket back up.