"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 good 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. What that really meant, I had no idea, 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 sure 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 tom cat.
"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 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 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 put 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 his 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, and him on his back, both of us laughing.
We stopped, and 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 Parker 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 a 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 20