by Claire Adams
I cut him off. "Daddy, I love it."
He pushed the other card toward me, but I was breathless over the first gift. I hadn't seen the place, but if my father thought we could build a lodge out of it, then Finn would probably feel the same way. I couldn't wait to tell him.
"Open this one now."
I opened it and found a check for half a million dollars. I handed it back to him. "I don't want this. It's ridiculous."
He slid it across the table back toward me. "It is not. I told you that if you did what I asked you to do that I would give you the money to start you own clothing line. That's it."
"It can't cost that much." I picked up the check and balked at it.
My father had been wealthy for most of my life, which meant that I hadn't ever really wanted for much, but it was his money, not mine. This was a check made out to me. It seemed like it was way too much.
"It does and sometimes more." He reached out and touched my hand. "I love you so much. Forgive me for all the years of being bitter. I didn't even realize how bad I'd gotten until you ripped my heart back open this last week. I'm so sorry."
"Me, too." My vision blurred, and I figured it was as good a time as any to ask for a few more favors. Seemed my father was in the giving mood. "Dad..."
"What, pumpkin?"
"Can I use this money to help renovate the property?"
"Of course. It's yours. Do with it what you like."
"Are you okay with me still designing under your line?"
"Yes. I'll start buying the designs I like off of you, and that can be a way to help support your spending habits, too. You might want to eventually get your own place, so we'll work out a deal between us, and I'll introduce you to a few of the other guys in our line of work. You might find yourself with more business than you can handle. But, it's a good place to be."
"One more thing." I smiled, already so insanely overwhelmed by how generous my dad had been.
"What?"
"I know you don't like Finn, but he's been wanting to build a lodge for families his whole life, too."
He smiled. "He gets that from his old man. It was our dream as boys."
"Can I split this with him? It will still be mine, but can we draw up papers to give him half of it?"
My father stiffened, and I realized I was asking a lot of him, but I loved Finn and knew that this would light his world on fire.
"You really believe this boy is going to become your husband? The father of your children?"
"I have no doubt at all." I picked up the deed. "Can you help me with it?"
"Well, it is yours to do with it what you want, and you're a grown-ass woman."
I laughed, and he joined me before we got up and finished getting breakfast together. After we shared one of our favorite meals that my mother use to make, Dad and Parker went to his room to work on a new robot that Dad got him and I packed a bag.
I stopped by Parker’s room and leaned against the door. "I'm going over to Mr. Warner's."
"Have fun, Sis. Merry Christmas." Parker looked up and then back toward his pile of screws and metal parts.
"Be safe. Take the old jeep until I can get chains around the tires of the new one." Dad stood, walking toward me and pulling me into a warm hug. "Tell them I said hi, and make sure Clark knows that I'll be coming over this week. Okay?"
"Thanks, Dad." I lifted on my toes and kissed the side of his face.
"No. Thank you, baby. For giving me parts of my life back."
I nodded and walked from the house, wishing that I would have expressed my heart like I should have. It was me who should be thanking him. His bossy, overbearing nature brought me to Colorado and because of it...my whole life was changed, and I couldn't be more thrilled to see where it was headed.
Chapter 32
Finn
We wrapped up opening gifts, and I hugged my father and Milly before piddling around the kitchen for something to eat. The doorbell rang and I grabbed my crutches as nervousness rose up the center of my chest. Chloe and I left things wide open the day before, me giving her the reigns in making a decision on whether we had a future and what it would look like in the near-term.
"Chloe. Good to see you, dear." My father's voice boomed with warmth as I rounded the corner.
Chloe was dressed in a pretty white sweater with red leggings and boots. Her hair was in a ponytail, and I swear she looked nineteen.
"Hey, baby. Merry Christmas." I hobbled toward her and had to steady myself from falling over as she hugged me hard.
"Merry Christmas. I missed you last night." She pressed her hands to the side of my face and kissed me several times.
"We were just about to make pancakes." Milly walked up and pulled Chloe into a hug. "You hungry?"
"No, ma'am. Dad found my mother's old casserole recipe. He and my brother had it ready for me this morning. Miracles do happen." I laughed.
"Jonathan Burke cooked something? That's not a miracle, hell's freezing over and the apocalypse must be coming." Clark laughed.
"Watch it, mister." Milly slapped his butt and pulled him in the kitchen with her.
Chloe's eyes went wide and she turned to me. "What's that all about? Are they dating?"
"I'd say yes, but you couldn't get either of them to admit it if you tried. They're worse than junior high kids." I reached out and brushed my hand over her hip. "I got you something."
"What? When?" She took my hand and lifted it to her mouth, kissing my fingers softly as I watched her.
"Brian took me to get it. Come over here, and let me give it to you." I tugged my hand from her and moved over to my father's chair by the fire. I slumped down in it and pulled out the little red bag that had her necklace.
She got down on her knees in front of me and snuggled up close. "I like this position. Reminds me of the other day on your couch."
I shook my head and handed her the bag. "You're just trying to get me in trouble with my father, aren't you?"
"Would he be mad?"
"If I was sporting a boner around a pretty girl on Christmas? Yes." I laughed, unable to help myself.
She started to open the bag, and I reached out and stopped her. "What?"
I cleared my throat. "I just want you to know that whatever decision you came to last night, I'll fully support it. The gift goes wherever you do. Promise me?"
"I promise." She smiled and pulled out the box, opening it and letting out a short gasp. "Oh my God. It's beautiful, Finn. I love it."
"It's an infinity heart. It says that I'll love you forever, no matter what."
Tears filled her eyes and I knew I'd done good.
"Put it on me?" She moved up into my lap and I worked to get it on her, taking more time than necessary to keep her where she was.
"It looks beautiful on you, but anything you wear does." I pulled her to me and kissed her mouth softly several times. "Can you stay with me tonight?"
"Of course." She move back down on the floor and handed me a box. "This one is just a practical gift. I found it and it reminded me of you."
I opened it and found a box of my favorite cologne. Lifting it to my nose, I breathed in deeply. "I love this stuff. You like it, too?"
"I like you." She smiled and handed me an envelope. "Open it and I'll explain once you do."
"Okay." I took a shaky breath, not caring about the gifts, but the conversation to come. I was getting mixed signals left and right and honestly didn't know what to think about whether she planned to stay in Aspen or not. She hadn't mentioned getting back to any friends or a new apartment or anything, but she hadn't mentioned staying, either.
I unfolded a white sheet of paper and let my eyes scan over it, trying to focus on the gift and not the different points in my head that I planned to give her to convince her to stay with me.
"It's the old Vanning Place. I don't know if you know where it is, but my father said..."
"Wait. What?" I pulled the page up to my face and scanned it, realizing that it was a deed
to half the property. "Oh my God, Chloe...whose is this?"
She moved up to hover in front of me and pointed to the owner’s name.
Finn J. Warner.
"What? I don't understand." I tugged the paper down as my heart sped up. "You're giving me half of the Vanning Mansion?"
"Yes." She sat back on her heels looking quite satisfied with herself.
"Who has the other half?" I moved down to my knees in front of her, trying to be careful of my cast, but not really giving a shit about it.
She slid her hands over my chest and clasped them behind my head. "I do."
My heart almost stopped in my chest. I had to look like an idiot, but I was shocked into silence. She had half of the mansion and I had half, too...
"So, you're staying here with me?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.
"Yes, baby. If you'll have me."
I leaned in and kissed her with every ounce of fear and worry, every drop of love and desire I had for her. We tumbled over, and I rolled on top of her, pinning her to the ground and making love to her mouth as the realization over what she'd given me rolled through me in consuming waves.
She was staying, she wanted to be mine, and she had purchased the mansion I wanted to build my dreams on since I was a boy.
I broke the kiss and closed my eyes, panting softly above her lips. "This can't be happening."
"It is, baby. My father gave me the money for my clothing line, but I'm going to invest it in refurbishing the mansion. Let's build the lodge you want and open a new resort here together."
"Chloe." I stared into her eyes. "Baby, that money is for you, and you have dreams that aren't here in Colorado."
"Things change. I realized when you rolled your damn self down that mountain that all I wanted was a chance at something great with you. If that's here, then it's here. My dreams have shifted. I just need you to say yes. To me. To us. To this."
"Hell yes to all of it. I'm blown away." I moved back down to kiss her again and didn't stop until my father pushed at my butt with his foot.
"Breakfast is ready, and I'm pretty sure I taught you better than to drag some pretty girl to the floor and make out with her." My dad pushed at my butt again, and I grinned up at him.
"She likes it. Ask her." I moved back a little.
"I love it. I love him." Chloe smiled and pulled me back down, showing my old man a thing or two.
He was never going to believe what this woman had done for me. Hell, I couldn't believe it.
I was ready to give up every dream I'd had for the last twenty-seven years to see hers come true, and she turned the tables on me. She worked magic deep inside of me and repaired parts of me that I didn't think would heal. There would be a day not too far in the future that I would ask her to be my bride, and then we'd start a family together.
"I love you so crazy much, you incredible woman." I ran my hand through her hair and smiled down at her.
"How about you show me just how much tonight in that big comfy bed of yours."
"Oh, I plan to. Let's eat these pancakes and get out of here. I ain't had nearly enough of you."
She smirked, and I growled.
"Don't even say it," I mumbled against her perfect mouth.
"I ain't." She pulled me back down and stifled my laughter with her soft tongue and long, hot kiss.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Chloe
The last year had been magical. Living with Finn in his small cabin was perfect for us starting out. It forced us close when we got tense with each other and left little room for anything but hot make-up sex. Our fathers had finally had their long sit-down talk and worked through the madness from their younger years. Over the course of the year, they became friends again and started meeting for coffee every Friday morning.
Finn and I saved up some money and bought Milly and Clark a trip to Florida for a week during the summer – the hope was that they would find something in each other that could turn into romance. It worked. They were married a month ago in a small family wedding, and my dad was Clark's groomsman.
Parker started taking free lessons from Finn on his snowboard, and I finally let the two of them goad me into learning how to do it, too. I snuck away for an hour each afternoon for two months to figure out how to get really good at the sport. They figured I was looking at new patterns for the designs my father and I were working on. When we got our first full snow, I pulled out my tricks and memorized the shocked looks on their faces at seeing just how good I'd gotten.
Finn make love to me that night so passionately that I thought I might never recover from it. Where my wish list included a man who had a knack for fashion, I'm thinking his was finding a woman that could snowboard. I worked harder to get even better at it after that.
My father met someone at Clark and Milly's wedding that they all went to school with and he'd been dating her for the last three weeks. She's sweet and reminds me a little too much of Mom, but I've kept my thoughts to myself on it.
The lodge that my father purchased for me to fix up is fully functional, the doors having opened in late October. Parker works in the ski shop and I spend most of my days working on various designs for the clothing store that's nestled into the side of it. Finn's in love with the place and spends more time there than he does with me. I'm not jealous – well, maybe a little.
It was Christmas once again, but unlike last year, this year, we were all healthy and happy. At Finn’s request, we invited everyone to the lodge for a big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. We had to wait until after the seven o'clock church service, which his father dragged us all to, but afterward, we piled up in various vehicles and drove back to the lodge.
"Everyone around the table together? It's going to be great. I’m excited." I squeezed Finn’s thigh and pressed my lips against his arm.
"Me, too, baby." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and tugged me in tighter.
We still had the old truck, namely because he wouldn't part with it. I think he enjoyed the fact that I could sit right against him and not more than one person could fit on the other side of me.
"I had the kitchen prepare a bunch of different stuff, just in case everyone had different traditions." I moved to my side of the truck as we pulled up to the lodge.
"It's going to be great, Chloe. Go on up there, and I'll meet you shortly. I want to see if anyone needs help with bags or anything."
I nodded and got out of the car, jogging up the stairs and letting the beauty of the Christmas lights against the large snowy mountains take my breath away. I'd learned to love Colorado – not the cold, but the serenity and beauty it offered. I had loads of jackets and various sweaters that I'd designed with functionality in mind, but not forgetting about fashion. They sold like crazy, but the best part was wearing them myself and enjoying a ride down the slopes with my man in them, too.
The smell of pumpkin pie and roasted meat filled my senses when I walked into the main hall, and I paused to look around. It was odd to see the place empty, but Finn was quite serious about not booking anyone for the days right around Christmas. He wanted it to be all about us. He promised that next year we could open it up to the public, but for this first year he wanted just family and friends.
I agreed readily and I was glad I did. Warmth enveloped me and strong emotions washed over me. My life was nothing like I'd expected and yet so much better than I could ever imagine.
"Chloe..." Finn called to me, and I turned as he walked through the large ornate doors I'd just come through. Everyone piled in behind him, and my heart skipped a beat.
"What, baby?" I stood in stony silence, feeling like something was upon me, but not knowing what.
"I wanted our family and friends to be here tonight for a special reason." He smiled and moved to stand in front of me, taking my hands and leaning down to brush his lips past mine.
"What reason is that?"
"When we first met I was a different man. A man I didn't at all want t
o be, but I didn't know how to move past it. I had such big dreams, and yet I left them tucked behind a reality that tore me down and left me barren. When you showed up...the first day I met you..." he paused as his eyes filled with tears.
Mine did, too. "When I almost busted my head on the ski lift?"
He laughed with thick emotion in his throat. "Yes. You changed everything. You helped me find myself, making me want to be a better man, if nothing else, then for you. I owe you everything, Chloe. I want to build our house together and make it a home with babies that drive you nuts and rule the place. I want to hold you as we grow older and continue to make plans together that go as far out as we can see."
I pressed my hands to my mouth, pushing back the soft cry that beat against my teeth as he dropped to one knee in front of me and lifted a beautiful diamond ring up toward me.
"Will you be mine forever, baby? Will you marry me?"
"Of course, I will. Yes." I got on my knees with him and knocked him over with a hug that turned into a long kiss.
"Oh, God. Get a room!" Parker yelled, and everyone erupted in laughter, reminding me that life was so much bigger than we sometimes let it be. It was about friends and family, dreams and love.
It was about me and Finn.
The waves and the snow.
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