Vacation (32 page)

Her smile was filled with warmth as she
nodded. "Will do. Merry Christmas."

"You, too." I walked back over
and reached out, patting the stranger on the hand. "It's all fixed. You're
in my seat and the drinks are free. If you look as young as you are, no asking
for one."

He sat up as tears filled his eyes.
"Are you shitting me?"

"No. Merry Christmas." I smiled
and turned back to my drawing, letting out a yelp as he pulled me into an
awkward side hug.

He had thanked me ten times by the time
the flight was called. I didn't think it was appropriate to tell him that his
story echoed mine, but it was a good reminder that the world didn't revolve
around me. It was a lesson I wished my Dad would learn.

* * * *

"Tell me why the hell we're picking
you up twelve hours later than we should have been," My father barked at
me as he loaded up the back of the SUV with me beside him. Parker was already
in the backseat, obviously not wanting to hear the fight that was sure to
happen.

"Some guy's mom was dying. I gave him
my seat." I turned and walked to the passenger side door and got in.

"Everyone dies, Chloe." My dad
got in and gave me a stern look as he buckled up, letting out a huff.

"Yep, but it's nice to get to hold
their hand as they go. The airport waived the fee, so that's one less thing for
you to pop a vein over." I dug in my purse, hoping to avoid the daggers he
was throwing my way.

"Time is money. We've been waiting
around all day."

"Sorry." I shrugged, looking
like the apathetic teenager he expected me to be.

"Right. Thanks." His tone let me
know that the conversation was over, and I was relieved to have it as such.

The ride home was tense, but the minute we
arrived at my father's large log cabin, excitement sprouted in my belly and I
couldn't wait to check out the rooms and snuggle up with my brother.

"I'll help Sis get the bags out of
the car. You're going to be late if you don't get going." Parker leaned up
between our seats and patted our father on his arm.

"Right. You guys order take-out and
have it delivered. I'll be back late tonight." He put the car in park and
glanced over at me. "We're glad you're here."

"
I’m
glad I am, too, Dad. Thanks for the ride."

I got out of the car and moved to the
back, helping Parker with my stuff as 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 brother’s 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
 
as 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 redhead 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 filled 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.
There was a 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?"

"Awe." 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, enjoying the smell of her perfume in combination with the
taste of peppermint on her tongue.

She was a little breathless when she moved
back 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. Redheads
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?"

"I do, but this job keeps me in shape,
too." I reached up and turned on the heater before taking her hand and
entwining my fingers with hers. It was going to be damn hard to keep my
concentration on the road if she moved from petting my arm to my leg, which
seemed to be where her line of sight was resting.

"I'm really surprised you're not with
someone. Don't you live here?"

"I do." I focused on the road,
figuring that she would start talking about herself or her friends sooner or
later. Women seemed to need to fill the silence around them, like giving anyone
time to think was a bad thing.

"I'm just surprised. My friend
Krissy...she has this guy friend who's wicked hot like you, and he..."

I tuned her out, nodding where it seemed
appropriate and throwing in a “really” from time to time. By the time we pulled
into my dad's warehouse, I was getting a slight headache.

"Stay here, pretty girl. I'll keep
the truck running. I'm just going to clock out and grab a different
shirt."

"Sure, but change in here. I
wanna
see you." She bit her lip and smiled as I
released her hand.

"Naughty. I like you already." I
got out of the truck and slammed the door before jogging up to the open bay
door. I rolled my eyes at the silly situations I got myself involved in and
moved to clock out.

"It go okay today?" My dad's
voice was gruff behind me.

"Yeah. Got a date out of the deal and
got done early. I'd say it was a good day." I clocked out and pulled the
checks and receipts from my back pocket. "Here's this stuff."

He gave me a look as he took it from me.
"Why can't you use the damn bank bag I gave you? You're a mess, boy. You
gotta
grow up."

"Really? I like the thought of never
growing up. Like Peter Pan and shit."

My dad rolled his eyes and turned, walking
back into his office without another word.

"Right," I mumbled. "Love
you, too, Dad. Great talk? Yeah, great talk."

I jogged down the long hall and walked
into the men's locker room, stripping my sweaty clothes from my body and
jumping in the shower for a quick scrub. I dressed as fast as possible, almost
losing my footing and slamming into the lockers with my ass hanging out of my
jeans. That would have been enough to have the other guys tease me for the rest
of the year and all of the following one.

Checking myself in the mirror, I nodded.
"Good enough."

My jeans, t-shirt, and leather bomber
would work for the date I had planned, and if things went off without a hitch,
I'd be out of them before too much longer. Katie seemed like a girl who wanted
to eat fast and then move onto the main course: me.

* * * *

"Dinner was good, hm?" I took
Katie's hand as we left the restaurant, ready to get the rest of the night
started and leave. The girl had bitched through the entire meal, unsatisfied
with everything they brought out, and making the poor girl waiting on us miserable.

"It was okay." She shrugged and
snuggled in closer to me. "You want to go back to my place or yours?"

"Yours, if that's okay." I
smiled down at her.

"Yeah. I'd love to show you off,
anyway." She giggled, and I kept my comments to myself. It was girls like
her that left me wanting to write women off completely. I wasn't a piece of
meat to swing around like some fucked up accomplishment, though my dad would
tell me that I set myself up perfectly to be just that.

What man turns away sex? One with more class
than me.

"Are we sharing me tonight?" I
opened her door and she jerked back as if I'd slapped her.

It was almost comical. Almost.

"No." She moved to get in the
truck and stopped. "Are you hoping that's going to happen? Because it's
not. If I'm not enough woman for you, then just drop me off and we can end the
date now."

Her mood turned from friendly and
energetic into cold and unyielding.

"I'm a one woman, man, baby. Besides,
I was just teasing you, silly girl." I popped her ass and helped her into
the truck.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She fussed with
her hair and turned her attention to the small mirror hanging above her head.
"Silly me."

I closed the door and walked languidly in
the snow back to my side of the truck. Some part of me wanted to keep walking,
find a park bench, and just rest, but it was the same part of me that hoped for
love. Seemed like no one in our town really fell in love. Plenty of people came
to visit with loved ones, but finding love in a transient town? Not likely.

I got in the truck and turned the music up,
only to have her change the station. I started to tell her not to touch my
shit, but decided it wasn't worth the fight. It was five minutes back to her
place and the song wasn't too bad.

When we pulled up, she got out of the car
without waiting on me. Her energy seemed to have spiked again and she was
practically bouncing on her toes.

I got out and followed to the door as she
said, "I want you so bad."

"Oh yeah?" I glanced down at her
and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she fumbled with her keys and opened
the door.

"Fuck, yes. You're like every girl's
wet dream." She turned and pulled me into the house before kissing me
hard.

The sound of giggles caused me to untangle
myself from her. "Let me grab a glass of water, and I'll meet you in your
room. Which one?"

"Third one on the left." She
turned her attention to the two girls in the kitchen, who were sharing a bottle
of wine. "Look what I found shoveling snow in the yard. Can I keep
him?"

They laughed, and I smiled as if their
taunting didn't bother me. I stopped by the sink and picked up a glass from the
rack as I glanced at the other two.

"Ladies."

"Sexy snow
shoveler
."
The blonde one smiled and popped my butt before running down the hall toward
her friend.

"Hey, I don't know you, but you look
too much like my older brother not to say something."

I filled the glass with water and turned
to the third girl. "What's that?"

"Katie has herpes, so make sure you
have a condom. She doesn't tell guys and that shit gets on my nerves. There's
no cure for the disease." She shrugged and turned from me. "Don't
tell her I told you. Just consider it a warning. Most guys don't care."

I sat the glass down and pursed my lips.
Herpes? Fuck.

"Yeah, I'm out. Tell her my
grandmother called while I was standing here. Thanks for the head's up." I
jogged to the door as the girl called after me.

I didn't stop until I made it to the
truck, which of course wouldn't start. I hit my hands on the steering wheel and
closed my eyes for a moment, trying to think through what to do. Calling my dad
seemed the easiest and most efficient way to get out of the shit storm that was
headed my way if Katie came out of the front door. I hated lying, yet it was
part of the deal. A true whore knew how to lie and do it well.