I got out of the car and moved to the back, helping Parker with my stuff as my Dad stayed in the comfortable warmth of the car. It was freezing outside and the winter wind blew violently, forcing my teeth to start chattering.
"Why do you have to always egg him on?" Parker grabbed two of the bags and hauled them to the large ornate house.
"Me?" I grabbed the rest and walked to the house, knowing my father would close the hatch.
"Yes. He's trying." Parker stopped and typed in a code at the side door before opening it and struggling through with my stuff.
"Trying? Is that a fucking joke?" I muscled the rest of the stuff in and closed the door, pausing to breathe in the vanilla and cinnamon scent that reminded me of home.
"You know he has a hard time around Christmas." Parker turned and pinned me with a stare, which lasted two seconds. His lips turned up in a smile and he moved around the bags, pulling me into a tight hug. His lanky arms were finally taking shape and his voice was much deeper than it was the last time I'd seen him.
"We all do," I whispered and buried my face against my brothers chest. He had to be a foot taller than me, his last growth spurt astounding.
"Forget about Dad and everything else. Order something from Jerry's and meet me in my room. I'll get everything set up. You're up for a night of ultimate gamer, right?"
"Hell yes." I kicked off my shoes and pulled my hair down before moving toward the phone. "Where is Dad going anyway?"
"A date..." my brother called behind him.
He disappeared down the long hallway that lead to far too many childhood memories for me to forget anything, least of all the need for my father's attention.
Chapter 4
Finn
The day moved by faster than I imagined possible, and I arrived at my last location an hour early. I'd have to call Brian back and take him up on the beer. Spending too much time alone left me with my thoughts, which was never a good thing. That or call Terri to see if she were up for a long night of passion.
"You deleted her number, dumb ass,” I growled and walked to the door, knocking loudly three times and moving back.
The pretty red-head that came to the door smiled seductively. "Wow. What are you selling? Cause I'm pretty sure I'm buying."
I chuckled and shook my head. "You or someone you live with already purchased it, so no selling happening here. I'm Finn, from Warner Removal Services. Just wanted to let you know who I was so you didn't worry over some random dude shoveling your front yard."
"Well, thank you Finn from Warner Removal Services. I'm Katie and we're just renting the house for the upcoming weekend. I'm from Florida." She glanced out past me and shivered. "I thought this would be far more fun, but it's hellaciously cold."
"That's winter in Colorado, ma'am. Well, don't let me bother you. I'll get this done and come back for payment later." I winked at her and figured with a little bit of flirting my night would be taken up quite nicely.
"What forms of payment do you take?" She bit at her lip in a way that would have made me blush as a younger man. Women were a dime a dozen and it seemed vacation left them horny and far more willing to sleep with some random local than the might otherwise be inclined to do. It was good for me, so I wasn't complaining.
"Well, the invoice is payable by cash, check, or card." I licked at my lips and let my eyes run down her curvy frame. "If you’re wanting to help a poor guy like myself warm up, then a cup of coffee and dinner at Killingers in town would be perfect."
She beamed and I couldn't help but smile. Her thick red hair was silky looking and her blue eyes accented her heart-shaped face beautifully. Even as cute as she was, she wasn't at all my type, but truth be told, I wasn't sure there was a woman who was. I'd never run into anyone that I'd fallen over myself for. I could appreciate the beauty found in each woman I encountered, but in the twelve years of slutting around in Aspen, I'd never made the first move. I hadn't had to.
"I'd love that." She clapped her hands together and moved back into the house. Her tank top and sweats didn't seem to be thick enough to withstand the cold air blowing in from around me.
"Good. I'll see you shortly." I started to go, but stopped and pressed my hand to the door. "How old are you, Katie?"
"Twenty-three. You?"
"Same." I winked and turned, walking back out into the yard and shoving my hands in my pockets. I could pull off anything down to twenty-one, but sleeping with a girl under twenty was out. Hard lesson learned a few years back that most girls seemed less needy as they aged. I was far happier sleeping with women in their late twenties and thirties, but it was rare to find one that wasn't already taken.
She's out there... I just need to find her.
* * * *
I wrapped up the job and stopped by to let Katie know that I was going to run back by the warehouse and clean up, then I'd come pick her up. She wouldn't have any of it.
"I'll just go with you." She grabbed her purse and worked to button her white jacket. The fur hanging from the top of it let me know quickly that she was rich or her family was. Strike one.
"If you insist." I took the check she offered and scanned the place, looking for other family members. "Your folks out?"
"I'm here with friends this weekend. They're skiing this afternoon, but I wasn't at all interested." She slipped her arm into mine and smiled up at me. "You ready, handsome? I have some memories to make."
I smirked and held the door open for her. "Well, if you put it that way, then of course I'm ready. What better way to live forever than in the memories of a beautiful woman."
"Ahhh..." she glanced back as we walked to the truck. “That was crazy sweet. Why aren't you taken?"
"Haven't found the right woman yet." I opened the door for her and helped her get in.
She tugged me toward her and leaned in, brushing her lips against mine and giving me a sexy smile. "Maybe you just did."
"Maybe so." I pulled her down for a longer kiss, liking the smell of her perfume in combination with the taste of peppermint on her tongue.
She moved back a little breathless and pushed at me. "Let's go or I'll cancel our dinner plans and just eat you."
"Yeah, because that makes me want to leave your side of the truck." I shut her door and walked around the truck, worried that this girl might be a little too much. She wanted to make memories and be someone's someone.
Strike two. One more and I'd be ditching her, though she was a good kisser. I bet she'd had plenty of practice. Red-heads always were the wilder ones in the bedroom. I hadn't had one in a while, either. Maybe letting her slide by on some of the silly shit I was keeping up with in my head would make for a better evening.
I let out a breath I'd been holding and got into the truck.
"So tell me about this place you're taking me to for dinner."
"Killingers? It's home-cooking. So you have beef, chicken or fish, and a few southern style dishes like they would serve in Texas or someplace like that, I guess." I shrugged and pulled the truck into her cleared driveway before backing out and heading back to the shop.
"You're incredibly handsome, Finn." She reached out and brushed her fingers down my arm. "You work out?"