"Okay. I'll try it this time, but stay close just in case." She licked her lips and looked back up the mountain. "How do we get back up there?"
"We walk around to the lift. That's why we'll only get a few more times to make the run."
She growled and the sound of it shot an arrow of lust into the center of me. "I want more time. I might actually get this down this year."
"You're already doing good. Tell you what..." I bit my lip and looked out toward the valley below as she turned her attention on me. "Let's do this and then I'll give you my number. If you want to learn the next level up, just call me and if I'm free...I'm your man."
She chuckled and moved toward the lift. "Let's go, playboy. You can give me your number, but whether or not I call it is an entirely different story."
"And why wouldn't you?" I moved up beside her and reached out as she stumbled again, catching her. I tugged her back and she dropped her poles and pressed her hands to my chest as she looked up at me.
"Because you're dangerous." The smirk that lifted her lips did something to my insides and a shot of fear ran through me. I could fall for this girl, which would be bad. Really bad.
"Dangerous? I've saved your ass twice today. I'd say I'm safe." I smiled and released her before bending over and picking up her poles.
"Yes, a gentleman in the devil's disguise." She moved up beside me and took my hand and Jerry's to help her get back up on the platform.
I got up beside her and chuckled as Jerry winked at me again. "Jerry. She thinks I'm trouble. Tell her I ain't."
She turned and pinned me with a stare over using the word ‘ain't’, no doubt. I chuckled again, enjoying the feeling of freedom to just be me and nothing else with her.
"He's a good man and has been far better than most of these boys around here. He's pushed the pause button on his own life to help his Daddy." Jerry patted my chest and smiled with pride. "He's a great boy and I'm glad to know him."
"Well, damn, Jerry. I didn't need you to go that far." I smiled and moved up to the lift, taking Chloe's hand and making sure she was safe as the back of the chairs hit our legs.
"You're helping your father here?" She glanced over at me, her attitude seeming to have dulled a little.
"Yeah, but it's nothing like Jerry made it seem." I shrugged and pulled my goggles off. "He's worked his whole life to build up his snow removal business, and I plan to open a lodge one day up here, so leaving wouldn't work anyway."
"So you're helping him with his business?"
"Yeah." I looked over at her and smiled.
"What?" Her eyes narrowed a little and I shook my head.
"Nothing." I leaned back and let out a long sigh. "So you're staying through Christmas?"
"Yep, and not a minute longer." She turned and looked out at the horizon. "It's beautiful here, but my home is in California now."
"Your family there too?" I couldn't help but dig a little.
"My mother passed away eight years ago, but my father and brother are in Arizona most of the year, and here for the winter." She looked back over at me. "We've been doing the back and forth thing since I was little. Used to be fun. No so much anymore."
"Skiing in the winter isn't fun anymore? Why not? Seems absurd to me." I extended my hand as we got closer.
"Thank you," she mumbled and took it before hopping off with me. "My Dad's an asshole and quite the manwhore himself."
Is she still referring to me as a manwhore?
"Finn! Oh my goodness. It's my lucky day." A pretty brunette moved toward me as we got off the lift. She glanced toward Chloe and smirked in a less than kind fashion.
"Hey, girl. How are you?" I smiled and returned the awkward hug. I mouthed, 'I don't know her' to Chloe as she rolled her eyes and turned, moving toward the narrow passage we used to get to the back of the mountain.
"Oh my gosh. I've missed you so much!" The nameless girl puffed out her lip. "Why didn't you call me? You said you would."
"I was going to, but my damn phone ended up in the washing machine." I glanced up to see Chloe gone, and knew I had a few minutes to catch up with her.
Any chances of snuggling up to her were lost, no doubt. Knowing that her father used woman like I did made it apparent that she wasn't calling me out by mistake, but because she knew how to spot us.
My heart ached at the thought of not having a chance with her, and I carefully unwound myself from the girl and smiled down at her.
"Nice to see you again. Stay in touch." I moved toward the opening Chloe had disappeared into.
"How, Finn? I don't have your number."
I called out some random digits and sucked in, forcing my legs to move faster. She'd be half way down the hill by now, and she was.
I let out a long sigh and cupped my hands over my mouth. "Chloe, wait for me at the bottom and I'll explain."
She stopped expertly and turned to face me, skiing backwards as she lifted her hands to her mouth. "Not a chance, handsome, and call me baby. Seems a popular go-to for guys like you. Thanks for the lesson."
"Son of a bitch." I shook my head and let out a chuckle. The little tart knew how to ski all along. Was she just playing with me? Somehow I didn't mind one bit. Now to figure out who she was and how to find her.
Chapter 7
Chloe
Unbelievable.
I finished the run and moved toward the lodge as fast as I could, not wanting Finn to catch up to me. He was a player and a half, and while I didn't want to be interested, I was.
It was as if fate pulled together every descriptor I'd given Jessie in the car for my perfect boyfriend and created this sexy hunk who looked like sin, was good to the town’s people, and knew how to take care of a woman in the sheets. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't date anyone who wasn't classified as a manwhore. Bad sex was the hardest thing to get over in a relationship. Jessie called me shallow on more than one occasion over it, until it happened to her. Then she saw the light.
Finn. What an interesting name.
The man was sexy as hell, incredibly sweet, and funny to boot. His sense of fashion might not be spot on, but did I really want a man correcting my drawings and trying to butt into my designs? No.
His dark brown hair and warm chestnut eyes were my favorite combination. The almond color of his skin combined with the small spray of freckles across his nose let me wanting to pant.
Strong shoulders and chest muscles, which I accidentally got to feel when he tugged me back toward him.
"And his cologne. Fuck me, his smell." I groaned and moved into the ski lodge as an elderly couple gave me a look due to my choice of words no doubt. "I'm sorry."
I walked to the ski rental and turned my gear in, grabbed my keys and walked quickly to the parking lot. My father had several vehicles available for me to choose from, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the winner every time. It was spacious and luxurious, but left me feeling safe.
The drive home was a bit tumultuous, but I made it without much more than my nerves being on edge.
"You guys home?" I called out as I walked into the house.
"I'm in my room. You have fun?" Parker walked out of his bedroom, still in his pjs and a t-shirt.