"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 the giggle that burned inside my chest back down.
"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."
His eyes widened a little and his expression changed, but I could see him forcing himself not to respond.
"Dad? Where are you? Shit. I need access to a cl..." Finn stopped in his tracks as I looked over my shoulder at him.
"Nope. You don't. All client files are confidential." I stood and laughed as the two men around me did as well.
"She's right boy, and she gave you up on calling in. You're lucky I like her." Clark pressed his hands to the desk and looked up at me. "Have fun. Be good to my boy."
"Yes, Sir." I smiled and moved toward Finn, taking the hand he offered me.
I didn't know what happened between our Dads, but maybe Finn did. One thing was for sure, I was determined to find out.
Chapter 14
Finn
Finding her in my father's office almost caused my heart to stop, and yet something was so right about her being there. I watched the way my old man interacted with her and my heart melted. Never in my life had I been in love. To think I was with Chloe was ridiculous, and yet I wanted her to stay in Aspen. She would fit into my life and me in hers. I needed to get to know her better before coming to that conclusion, but something deep inside of me told me that it was already a given.
I winked at my Dad and walked out with the pretty blond, my hand tightly wrapped around hers. She tried to tug out of my grasp and I shook my head at her.
"Heck no. You trip on nothingness. There are tools and wires everywhere in here. You should come with your own warning sign." I smiled and ducked as her other hand swung at my chest.
"Hey. Maybe I meant to trip to see if any hot guy would step in and save me." Her cheeks colored and I opened the door to the truck on her side. We could get her SUV later. I wanted to spend as much time in her presence as she would allow.
"Nobody accidentally trips as much as you." I smiled and helped her into the car. "You want to get a cup of coffee at the shop by the slopes?"
"Yeah, but I don't want to ski today. Kills my legs and I promised my little brother I would take him out tomorrow. He's going to teach me to snow board."
I narrowed my eyes playfully and shut the door on her side before jogging over to my side and getting in.
"What was the look for?" She turned on the heater after I started the truck.
"I want to teach you to snowboard." I tugged off my hat and breathed warm air against my hands.
"Come with us. He's supposedly good at it, but I know he's looking to get better."
"I have to work tomorrow, but if you guys can wait until I get off, I'm all for it." I pulled out of the parking lot and glanced back to see my father and Milly standing in the open door, his arm around her shoulders as they watched us leave.
I prayed something would become of them. The old man needed a woman as bad as I did.
"We'll wait for you." She leaned in and pressed her hands to the heaters. "My brother is going to a sleep over tomorrow night and my father's going out of town. You want to maybe snowboard with us and then come over? I'll make dinner and we can watch a movie or something."
Damn things were changing fast.
I glanced over at her as my heart swelled in my chest. She was a vision of beauty, and so much more than I deserved to be around, even as just a friend.
"I'd love to, but that sure sounds like a date. Friends don't date." I chuckled at the look she gave me.
"I said snowboarding, dinner and a movie, not skinny dipping and an all-night fuck-fest."
I growled low in my chest as my body woke up and lust rolled through me. "Watch it."
"What?" She gave me an innocent look and I thought to threaten her with a spanking, but kept it to myself. Just the vision of spanking her caused my mind to wonder down one dark alley after another.
By the time we arrived at the coffee shop I was having trouble breathing.
"You okay?" Chloe reached over and touched my arm.
"Yeah. Just getting a cold, I think. Ignore me." I got out of the truck and pulled my scarf and gloves off. It was freezing outside and yet I was burning up.
She walked around the truck and lifted her hand to press the back of her fingers against my head. "You're sweating, Finn. I think you have a fever for real. We don't have to hang out today. Seriously."
Telling her that I thought I was having withdrawals from sex would sound insanely creepy, which wasn't happening. I pulled her hand down, and intertwined mine with hers.
"It's nothing. Just hot for you."
She chuckled. "Friends don't get hot for each other."
"Tell that to my fever." I walked to the coffee shop and held the door open for her.
She moved past me and I breathed in subtly, wanting to smell the scent that was uniquely hers. Remaining friends was going to be a fun exercise in restraint. As long as we weren't alone, snuggled up and watching a movie - like she wanted to do tomorrow night - we'd be fine.
I rolled my eyes and moved up to the counter, letting out a long breath and glancing up at the menu.