by Claire Adams
"What, Moby Dick? Naw...that's about growing your penis to massive proportions. Silly girl. A classic?" He rolled his eyes, and the laugh that came out of me was deep and far warmer than anything I remembered feeling lately.
I wanted to ask him to not wake me up. Something inside of me was warming again, and the apathy that had settled over me years before was cracking. It was frightening and exhilarating all at the same time.
"Show me this pond, and then I need to get home." I moved toward him with a smile on my face.
"Anything you want." He moved back and opened the door, letting me go through first.
"Looks like the sun's going to set soon." I wrapped my arms around my middle and looked back at him. "It gets so cold when the sun goes down."
"Agreed. That's why you need a friend to go out and play with you. Otherwise, you'd freeze your ass off, and they'd never find you in this wasteland." He put his arm over my shoulders, and I snuggled into him as we walked into the woods.
"Have you really lived here your whole life?" I asked, enjoying his comfort far more than I should.
"I sure have. I'll die here, too."
"Yeah? Not interested in being anywhere else? Just love the snow too much or what?" I couldn't imagine living in a cold climate my whole life.
"Well, for starters, it's all I know. My dad's here, which is a big deal, too. I don't have brothers or sisters, and though he's an ass most days of the week, he's my ass." He chuckled. "Well, he's not my ass, per se."
I laughed. "I've seen your ass, and your dad looks nothing like it."
He blushed and took a deep breath. "I want to build a lodge where families can come. Dad's worked so hard his whole life, but we've never gotten to go anywhere. Seems like every time we tried, it was too expensive or he had too much work to do. So I want to have a ski resort that's reasonably priced and welcomes large families. Just loads of activities for the kids and then some for the couples, you know...to reconnect."
"I love it. I think it's brilliant." I wrapped my arm around his back and rubbed softly, not realizing what I was doing, but simply going with the desire to be closer to him.
"It's not going to happen, but it's all good."
"Why not?" I pulled him to a stop, confused at his reasoning.
"Dreams take money to build. I have a lot of heart and loads of passion, but money has never been something we've had." He smiled so authentically that I was stunned into silence. I'd judged him all wrong. He was nothing like I thought him to be. "It's okay, though. If it's meant to happen, it will."
I stepped back and lost my footing, wanting to respond, but rolling down the small hill behind me instead. I landed on my back and laughed so hard that tears sprung to my eyes.
"Chloe!" He ran after me, skidding to his knees as he bent over me with fear in his face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Can you move?"
I swatted at him. "Yes. I'm just stupid levels of clumsy."
"I'm aware." He smiled and offered me a hand.
I took it and turned, pulling him down with me and rolling us until he was on his back, and I was laid out across the top of him. He reached up and pushed my hair back before consuming my mouth with another hot kiss.
I moaned deeply in my chest and gave myself over to him. I opened my mouth and sucked gently at his tongue as it darted in and out of my mouth. He rolled it against mine, and I groaned again at how good of a kisser he was; the slow sensual way he moved left me with no doubt that one night in his arms would never be enough.
He broke the kiss and brushed his nose against mine. "Such a bad girl."
"You've no idea," I whispered, kissed him quickly, and got up.
"Well, damn you for making me want to know."
I offered him a hand, and he took it, pulling hard and causing me to fall back down. We rolled around in the snow playfully, laughing and tossing small handfuls of the soft powder at each other.
"How can you not love it here?" he asked as he sat up and brushed his hair.
"I guess it reminds me too much of my mother." I shrugged and sat up. I worked to brush his back and shoulders off, and then he returned the favor. It was fine until he ran his hands over my hair slowly, gripping lightly and tugging a little.
"You're so fucking beautiful. I honestly haven't ever seen a woman more intriguing, more naturally stunning than you." He touched the side of my face as his eyes moved along my face, leaving me to feel treasured.
"You're just being sweet." I forced a chuckle and got up, using his shoulder.
"No, I'm really not." He got up and pointed just behind us. "There's the pond. Looks like we had a sense of direction that worked in our favor today."
I looked back at the pond and smiled. It looked like something out of a Hallmark movie. "Can you ice skate on it?"
"I'm sure you can, but I've never tried. We should try sometime. The damn thing is frozen like that most of the year." He moved in behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
I relaxed against him and asked a question that kept bouncing around in my mind. "Do you know what's up with our dads?"
"They're anal-retentive?"
I chuckled. "No. My dad can't seem to stand your dad, which is so weird. They have a lot in common. Know the story behind it?"
"Not a clue. I had no idea there was an issue."
The wind picked up, and I shivered, getting cold all of a sudden. I turned in his arms and looked up at him. "Let's go back to your place. Do you have anything to eat?"
"We can whip up a stew or something. I have potatoes and meat."
"You can cook?" I asked, moving up beside him as he wrapped me in a side hug and kissed my cheek.
"Yep. Way better than any of the men in my family."
"I thought it was just you and your dad?" I looked up at him as my heart fluttered in my chest.
"I have a grandfather and uncles, silly girl." He shook his head and snorted.
"Then, you're cooking. I've been cooking since I got here. My brother was living on Cheez-Its and gummy worms."
"That actually sounds delicious." He released me as we got back to his place.
"Boys," I mumbled and walked in as I started to pull off my coat, gloves, and scarf.
"Men, actually. I'm not a boy anymore. My father calls me a grown-ass man." Finn moved to the fireplace and worked to start a fire as he continued to talk. "I'm not just a common man, but I get the designation of being a grown-ass man."
I plopped down on the couch and leaned back. "You and I are one and the same, then. My dad tells me that I'm a grown-ass woman."
He glanced over his shoulder and stole my heart. "I knew we were supposed to be together."
His brown hair was disheveled and curled on the edges from being a little long. The warmth in his golden brown eyes spoke volumes of the man underneath and the sexy curve of his lips left me wanting to taste them again. How easy it would be to stretch out on his couch and offer him all of me, but it really would be all.
To spend a night with him wouldn't just be an offering of my body, but my heart would be involved, too. It scared me to think it might already be.
Finn got up and walked to the kitchen as he tugged his jacket over his head. It pulled at his shirt, and I turned to watch him with the hopes of seeing some of his tanned skin.
"So, let's talk as I cook dinner. Wanna?" He glanced over at me and lifted his eyebrow. "You should be cooking, and I should be laying on the couch watching you like a sex-starved man."
"Do I look sex-starved?" I moved to get my shoes off and decided not to tell him just how close to the truth his descriptor was.
"If I say yes, can I be the one to help you change your status?"
"You're relentless." I popped the first boot off and groaned before starting to work on the next one.
"Only when I want something I feel like I can't live without." He turned back to the stove.
I needed to get us away from the topic of us, especially with sex being part of the discussion. I was too c
lose to giving in to the desire to get sweaty with the handsome devil.
"Tell me your most embarrassing date." I worked on my other boot and ignored the stare I received over his shoulder.
"Right. You sure you want to hear this?"
I got up and walked to stand behind him, sliding my hands up his back and pressing my fingers into the tension in his shoulders. "Yeah. I do."
"Her name was baby, but you knew that."
I snorted and laughed loudly, pinching him and whispering, "Terrible."
"Anyway, I was probably nineteen, and she was way out of my league, but I met her at one of the ice cream shops in town. Why we have ice cream in Aspen is beyond me."
"Tell the story." I pinched again, and he groaned, the sound of it starting a fire deep inside of me.
"Right. So she sits down at the table in Brian's seat and tells me I'm cute."
"You are."
"Are you going to let me tell the story?" He laughed as I slid my hands down his sides and squeezed tightly.
I wrapped him in a hug and pressed my cheek to his back, unable to help myself. I wanted warmth, but only from him, all of a sudden. I was grateful he didn't call me out for it. Every move that was made during the day was me doing it. He was intentionally not coming on to me, which was great and frustrating all at the same time. It was my fault, either way.
"So she licks at her ice cream in front of me and promises me a good time if I come back to her place with her. I ditch Brian-"
I cut him off, rubbing my hands over his chest. "Poor Brian."
"Hush, woman. Jeez." He laughed and turned toward me, lifting an eyebrow. "Stop rubbing all over me, or I'm returning the favor."
I rubbed my hands on his chest in a frantic fashion, and he rolled his eyes. "Women, I swear. So anyway, I got over there, and this was in my skinny jeans phase."
"No, you weren't wearing skinny jeans." I laughed and moved back to the couch.
He joined me and pulled my legs into his lap, starting to massage my feet as I melted into the side of the couch.
"I did, but you'll never find evidence of them. I burned all of those fuckers."
"As you should." I moved the other foot in his way, wanting a turn for it.
"So, she attacks me the minute we get in the door, and to make a long story short, I can't get the fucking pants off without her help. The zipper catches my crotch hair, and yanks a patch of it out, which causes me to lose my erection because I'm now bleeding everywhere and... Yeah."
I was laughing so hard that I'd pulled my legs from him and was curled up on my side in pain.
He swatted my butt and got up, walking back to the stove.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out as I wiped tears from my eyes. It was my brother, and he was tired of being alone. Dad wasn't there, and he was starving.
I looked over at Finn and sighed. "That's my little brother. I need to go."
"Sure. No problem. This is almost done. Let me just package some of it up for you guys, and I'll drop you off."
"I hate for you to go out. Just let me take your truck, and I'll pick you up for work in the morning."
"What? No. I want to take you home. Get your shoes on, and we'll get going."
I did just as he said and walked languidly to the door. "It's a good thing he called, right?"
Finn smiled wickedly as he handed me the stew and leaned over, kissing me softly. "Would you want to spend the night with me? To let me fuck you? Are you ready for that?"
I leaned in and pressed a long, hot kiss against his perfect mouth. "Yes. That's part of the problem."
"Well, when it stops being a problem, you let me know, and we’ll make it happen."
Chapter Sixteen
Finn
My sleep was filled with dreams of what would have happened if Chloe hadn't left. After our day together, I drove her back to the shop to get her SUV in a comfortable silence and let her go without another kiss. I wanted one, but figured she'd given more than enough of herself for the day.
I worked my ass off, trying to push through my jobs as quickly as possible so I would be available by the early afternoon. She wanted to take her brother snowboarding, and there was a new hill that had opened the previous weekend on the east side of the city. I was dying to get over there and knew that if I could impress her brother, maybe I could wiggle my way into her heart a little deeper. I was running out of time with her, and I'd just met her.
My phoned buzzed several times during the day, but after checking it and seeing it was Brian, I figured I’d hit him up later on my way home to shower and change. I wrapped up my last job and stopped by the shop, only to have my dad pull me in his office for a few minutes.
"What's up?" I dropped down in the chair in front of his desk.
"That girl from yesterday...you need to be careful with her."
"Chloe? Why?" I pulled off my knit cap and scratched my hair frantically.
Dad's lip curled in a snarl, as if I cared what he thought of my hygiene. I'd worked hard and sweated like an ape all day. I needed a shower and clean clothes badly.
"She's a Burke, son. She doesn't seem like her old man, but I'm just warning you. Jonathan is a stealing, lying bastard."
"Chloe's leaving in two weeks, Dad. The only thing she's taking with her is likely my heart."
"That's what I'm worried about. You need to be smart about this. You're too damn giving." He leaned back in his chair and pinned me with a knowing glare.
"I don't really have a choice. I'm falling in love with her. She's smart and sweet, beautiful and probably the most authentic person I've met in ages." I slipped my hands in my pockets. "She makes me want to be a good man."
"Awe damn. You're already lost to her, then." He stood up and let out a long sigh. "Stay away from her father. He and I have..."
"Bad blood between you. I know. She asked me why yesterday, but I wasn't sure of the answer." I shrugged, not really caring. I might be falling for Chloe, but it wasn't like we'd be sending out wedding invitations anytime soon. There was the issue of her being a million miles away and not wanting a long distance relationship. Her father was the least of my concerns. Besides, her and I were still very much classified as friends.
"She knows about me and Jonathan?"
"I guess. Who knows how, but she doesn't know why." I walked to the door.
"You're not going to ask for her?"
"Nope. If you wanted me to know, then you'd tell me." I put my hat back on and tapped the doorframe. "You need anything else? There's a large mountain and a snowboard calling my name."
"Must be a nice break from it being a woman. There the only ones who usually call out your name," he laughed.
I rolled my eyes, flipping him off and walking back out into the freezing cold afternoon.
I got in the truck and texted Chloe to meet me at the ski lodge in front of the mountain in an hour or so. We could rent her a board or skis if she preferred. She reminded me that her brother Parker was coming, which I was looking forward to. I didn't have a brother, so I'd be happy to borrow hers for the afternoon, as long as he wasn't a tit.
My phone buzzed again as I drove home, and I growled. Brian again.
"Damn, dude. You'd think we were dating with as many times as you've called me today," I barked.
"Well, if you'd pick up, I wouldn't have to keep trying. I haven't heard from you since the other night at the club. How did things go with Cindy?"
"They didn't. You knew I wanted Chloe, and yet you didn't help at all. You actually stepped on my dick. Is there a reason for that?" I didn't realize how pissed I was until we started talking about it.
"Yeah, because I don't want to see you get hurt. You have enough shit you’re dealing with. Falling in love with a girl who's leaving in two weeks and already has a man isn't going to fly."
"Already has a man?" My heart almost stopped in my chest. Was Chloe playing me?
"Yes. Please tell me that you haven't been hanging out with this girl."
> "Of course, I have. She's everything I want in a woman." I ran my hand over my head and tugged my hat back off, throwing it across the console of the truck.
She didn't have a boyfriend. That would be ridiculous. With as timid as she was, she probably just told Brian that she was dating someone to keep him off of her.
"Well, stop. She's taken, and you don't need your heart broken." Brian was still ranting at me, but I calmed as soon as I realized that he was only trying to protect me.
"I'm seeing her today. I'll talk to her about it, see what's up."
"I think that's a bad idea."
I clenched my jaw and held back a growl. "I appreciate your concern, buddy. But I'm a grown-ass man. I'll figure it out, but thanks."
"Whatever, dude. Don't get pissed when I say I told you so." He hung up and I gripped the steering wheel tight.
Chloe wasn't seeing someone, and Brian being overly sensitive about it was simply his way of watching out for me. I would just clear things up and get on with trying to win the beautiful girl.
* * * *
By the time I met her at the Wolf Lodge on the east side of town, I was pissy and convinced that she was still taken by some guy back home. Why wouldn't a girl as beautiful and talented as her be?
She was obviously an incredible catch, and by the way she kissed and petted at me all night, she knew how to turn a man on. There was no way someone like her was single. That meant she was just getting out of a relationship.
Wait, didn't she tell me that? She was just getting out of a relationship and didn't want to date anyone else right now? Or was that another girl I'd been involved with?
The conversations seemed to run together. I grumbled under my breath and parked the truck before getting out, pulling my board out of the back and walking toward them.
She was in ski pants and a long sleeve shirt that fit her incredibly well. She smiled, and her whole face lit up. She was happy to see me, and here I was, planning to light into her.
Guilty before proven innocent, huh?
I let out a long, slow breath as I approached them and forced a smile.
"Finn, this is my brother, Parker. Parker, my friend Finn."
