by Claire Adams
I lifted my hand to my face and closed my eye. "I knew it was something fucked up like that."
"Yeah. We started dating, and Jon was so pissed because he'd told me that he had feelings for her. It was my fault. I wanted her over him, and it ruined everything."
"I knew he was bitter the other day when he got in my face, but I honestly thought it was him that was the bastard in the story."
"Oh, he got me back. He got her drunk one night, and I came to her dorm room to find them making love." My father closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "I deserved it, but I beat his ass that night until he couldn't walk. We haven't spoken since. It's been thirty-two years and not a word."
"Damn," I mumbled and dropped my hands back on the bed. "Do you miss him?"
"Every day." He stood up and stretched. "Jon and I should have fixed this thing between us a long time ago. He's lost his wife, and I've lost mine. Whatever hate that built up between us is so past over that we're just spiteful to have someone to hate, I guess. I'll go talk to him."
"I think that would be smart." I turned and let out a slow breath. "I'm in love with Chloe. I don't know if she feels anything I do, but I need you to know that I have to work this stuff out with her dad. I can't not try to fix it."
"I know you do, son. She's been here every minute of every day and night since you got hurt." He smiled, and reached for my hand, squeezing it hard.
I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath, trying to hold back tears that I wasn't supposed to have. "I was scared she didn't come."
"Are you kidding? I forced her to go home and take a shower about an hour ago."
"You forced her?" I opened my eyes, and smirked at him.
"Yeah, you need to learn how to make a woman do what you want them to do."
"Teach me, oh wise one." I chuckled, and groaned as pain shot down the back of my head.
"Take it easy, okay?" He moved to sit in the chair beside the bed. "I told her she stunk. Like really bad."
"Dad. Shit."
"Right?" He laughed and slapped his knee. "She didn't, of course, but she high-tailed it out of here fast."
A knock at the door had my attention shifting. I expected the doctor, but it was my beautiful California girl instead.
"Do I hear two voices in here?" She stuck her head in the door and let out a soft cry before moving up beside me quickly.
I reached for her and pulled her down with my free arm, kissing her hard and holding her as close to me as I could manage.
"Don't you ever do that shit again! Do you hear me?" She pressed her forehead to mine as tears filled her beautiful eyes.
"Never, baby. I promise."
My father huffed, and Chloe moved back, sitting down beside me and taking my hand into hers.
"All you gotta do is bring a beautiful woman around, and this boy will do anything." He stood, and picked up his jacket. "I'll be back after a while. I know you guys need some time together."
"Thanks, Dad." I scooted over in the bed and patted the empty space beside me. "Get up here."
"You sure?" She glanced around, but started to work on getting her boots off. "Fuck, you scared me to death, Finn."
"Did I?" I wrapped my arms around her as she snuggled against my chest.
"Yes. I thought I was going to die if something happened to you." She glanced up at me before lifting up and kissing me softly a few more times.
"Don't do that. I've got long-term plans for you." I brushed her hair off her shoulders and glanced down at the covers below my waist. "Put a pillow over that. I don't want the doctor thinking a bone's protruding from my stomach."
She chuckled, and slid her hand down my erection before leaning in and kissing me again. I groaned against her warm mouth, my headache dissipating fast.
Someone clearing their throat behind her caused us both to jump. She got off the bed and ran her hands down the front of her shirt as the doctor laughed and moved up to the other side of me.
"Well, good to see certain parts of your anatomy are working." He pulled out my chart as heat rose up my chest and coated my cheeks.
"The important parts, or so my girl thinks." I glanced over at Chloe as her mouth dropped open.
"I do not."
"You don't?" I tilted my head to the side, somewhat saddened by her not sticking up for the important parts of me working.
"I mean I do, but..."
The doctor turned and smiled at her. "He's just messing with you. It's the concussion."
"Yeah. What he said." I laughed and turned my attention back to the doctor. "When can I get out of here?"
"Friday morning." He put the chart down and moved closer to me.
"What day is it now?"
"It's Wednesday." His fingers moved along my neck and around to the base of my skull. "This hurt?"
"No. It tickles." I turned my head a little so that I could see Chloe better. Her white wool dress fit her nicely, the belt in the middle accentuating her small waist and drawing my eyes to her breasts. I wanted to kick the doctor out and bring her back into the bed with me. My body might not be ready for another wild night, but my mind was—as were the important parts.
"You want me to come back later?" she asked and moved to the door.
"No. Fuck, no. Stay right there. He's almost done." I glanced over at the doctor and gave him a look.
"Yeah, I'm done. You look great." He patted my chest. "You're a lucky man. No snowboarding for six to eight weeks and promise that you'll never go up there after a fresh snow again. It's dangerous. You're proof of that for all of us."
I nodded. "Lesson learned. I promise."
He left, and I motioned for Chloe to come back.
"You need to rest," she whispered and crawled back up into my arms.
I slid my hand down her back and cupped her butt as I pressed my lips just under her ear. "I don't wanna rest."
"Well, you're going to." She kissed me softly all around my face and moved to tuck her head under my chin as she relaxed against me. "Don't ever scare me like this again."
"You said that already, baby." I kissed the top of her head. "I promised you that I wouldn't, and I won't."
She looked up with seriousness on her pretty face. "And, no more listening to what my father thinks. It's me you’re dating. Not him."
"Are we dating?" I chuckled as she narrowed her eyes on me. "Right. Dating."
"Unless you don't want to."
I slid my hand into her hair and pulled at the back of her head, needing to taste her again. I kissed her long and hard, probing deep into her mouth and echoing her groans with a few of my own.
"I'm here to stay, girl. If you want to get rid of me, you're going to have to try hard."
"Or just piss you off, and you'll throw yourself off a snowy mountain." She nipped at my lips and laughed. "Too soon? Too much?"
"Yes, you wicked bitch."
She laughed and sat up. "So, I figure you spend Christmas with your father, but I want a night with you right before or right after. I got you a few things, and I want to watch you open them."
"Chloe, I told you that I didn't want anything."
She turned and pressed her fingers to my lips. "I know that, but I'm a woman. We do what we want to, when we wanna do it."
"Why is that hot all of a sudden?"
"Because you're turned on." She brushed the back of her fingers over my arousal and pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. "I wonder if they would bother us if I got under the covers."
I growled and shook my head. "No. I'd never hear the end of it. This town is too damn small."
She chuckled and stood up. "I'm glad you're awake. I knew you were going to be okay, but there's always that part inside that feeds the doubt and fear, you know?"
"I do." I reached out and took her hand into mine. "Hey, there's an incredible festival of lights in downtown during the week of Christmas. Do you remember it from when you were a kid?"
"I do." Her eyes lit up. "Man, it's been so long since I've seen
it, though."
"Let me take you?"
She glanced down at my cast before giving me a cocky smile. "How about I take you?"
"Either way. As long as I'm with you, I don't care."
"I feel the same way." She leaned over and tucked herself against me, right where she belonged.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chloe
I left the hospital later that night and slept for twelve straight hours in my bed. Brian wanted some time with Finn, and I was beyond exhausted. I made sure to text him most of Thursday, but we decided that he would spend some time with his dad and then we would get together on Friday, so I could help him settle back into his house. Brian was staying Friday night, but I wasn't missing the opportunity to go over and spend a few minutes with him. I'd had all the patience I could with not seeing him. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings.
He was grumpy from us not seeing each other, too, but his family wanted his time, and I really needed to work out a few things with my dad.
After taking a quick shower, I braided my hair, put on some comfy clothes, and walked out into the living room. Parker was playing video games on the big screen, which was out of the ordinary.
"Morning," I mumbled as I walked toward the kitchen. "Where's Dad?"
"Hey, sis. He's in the garage."
I didn't waste any time finding him, though I could think of a million other things that I'd rather have done. The tension between us had only grown worse, and I had to hope that some of it was due to the fact that he knew that he was responsible for Finn going up on Bear Creek Mountain. If it wasn't, then I didn't know my father at all, nor did I want to.
I poked my head in the garage to find him putting chains on the gray Lexus he loved to drive.
"Dad, you got a minute?"
He glanced up, covered in sweat and grease, but nodded, sitting back on his heels. "Yeah. This going to be a short talk or a long one?"
"Long." I moved out into the garage as he stood up and cleaned off his hands.
"Okay. First let me say this..." He reached up and wiped his forehead with the back of his forearm. "Had I known that Clark's boy was going to get hurt, I never would have said anything to him. I can't imagine having to go through almost losing you or Parker, so I'm sorry for that. I still don't like the kid, but wishing him harm isn't at all who I am."
Letting out a long breath, I nodded. I was beyond grateful to hear that he wasn't a total monster. Now to see how far his benevolence could go.
"I'm sorry about attacking the other day."
"Don't be. You were right." He leaned against the car and sucked his bottom lip in his mouth before patting the hood next to him. "Come here and sit beside me."
I walked out without hesitation and sat down next to him, pulling my legs up and wrapping my arms around them.
"I grew up not too far from here, the mountains behind the old house was my favorite place to play. One of the reasons I love bringing you guys up here during the winter is because I honestly wanted you to experience some of the fun that I did as a kid." He paused and wiped his head again. "My best friend lived next door, and we did everything together. I mean from the time we could walk to slapping each other in the face with our diplomas. He meant everything to me."
Sickness rolled through me. I'd come out to talk about Finn, but something told me that we were talking about his father.
"So things went on as they always did until we got to college. We both went to the University of Colorado because we loved to snowboard, and there was no damn way we were splitting up." A smile brushed across my father's face as he got a faraway look in his eyes. "We were there three years before I fell in love with this beautiful brunette in my history class. She was so damn funny and left me feeling alive, like really alive."
"Dad. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." I reached out and touched his arm, not sure why I was giving him grace, but I was.
"No, it's good. I need to get it out." He glanced over at me and continued. "The problem was, my best friend decided to snatch her up before I could get to her, even though he knew that I'd had my eye on her for the last year. I was just waiting for the right time."
I didn't want to hear anymore. My father hadn't been at fault from what I could tell, yet I had pinned him as the villain without even considering that Clark might have started the whole thing.
"So, he starts dating her, and as you can imagine, the riff between our friendship, our brotherhood, was deep and wide. I hated his ass, and without thinking too much about it, I got her drunk and made love to her on a night that I knew he would show up." He turned to me. "He stabbed me in the chest, and instead of trying to work it out, or even walking away, I cleaned off the dagger and I drove it deep into his heart."
Tears filled my father's eyes, and I couldn't fight back the ones in mine, too. There was so much hurt in his face. I reached out and wrapped my hands around his thick arm before pressing my cheek to his shoulder.
If I had been in love with Seth, and then Jessie had taken him, I wasn't too sure I wouldn't have stabbed her in the back, too.
"So you see, it's not just about seeing Clark that twists that dagger around in that old womb, but his boy is a product of the relationship that was supposed to be mine." He sniffled and wiped at his nose. "I think the only thing that healed me was finding your mother. All those years we were together, none of this mattered, and honestly, it doesn't now, either, but when she died, it came crashing back in. I don't want him near you, and I don't want Clark near me."
"Dad, it was thirty years ago, and you both hurt each other." I moved from the hood of the car to look at him. "You can't put that one incident on me and Finn. I'm in love with him, and I want my life to be here in Aspen with you, Parker, and Finn, but if you think you're going to disallow that..."
He lifted his hand, and I stopped.
"I don't want you with Finn, Chloe, but I've lost too much in my life already. I don't want to lose you, too." He paused and pursed his lips again. "The night I had to come get Parker from the hospital, I saw Clark for a minute, and the fear and agony on his face left me breathless. I'm still hurt over our old shit, which is ridiculous, I know, but I can't let it affect you and Parker."
I moved closer to him and slid my hands over his shoulders. "Then, stop pushing me away. I'm just like you, and if you would just bend a little, that can be a good thing."
"I know, pumpkin. You just have to give me a little bit of space, though. Okay?" He reached up and touched the side of my face.
I moved into his arms, hugging him tightly and praying that this was a turning point for us. I needed my father back as someone who would be on my side.
"I love you, Dad." I kissed the side of his cheek and moved out of his hold.
"I love you, too, and hey, I got you something pretty nontraditional for Christmas."
"Parker told me." I smiled.
His smile faded as his eyes widened and anger brushed along his features. "What? He wasn't supposed to say anything. It was supposed to be a surprise."
"No, Dad. He just said that you got me something pretty cool, but that he couldn't tell me what it was." I put my hands on my hips.
"Oh, good. I thought he told you what it was."
"No, but you can tell me if you want." I gave him a shit-eating grin.
He chuckled. "I'm not saying anything other than this: it's a gift, but it's a project, too, so if you don't want it when you get it, it will not hurt my feelings if you want to give it back."
"Give it back? Are you crazy? You might be a huge pain in my butt, but you give the best gifts ever." I winked and walked to the house. "I'm helping Finn get settled in tonight, but I'll be in later. You want to watch a movie with me and Parker?"
"A western?" he asked and picked up his hand-towel.
"How about The Grinch?"
"Count me out." He rolled his eyes.
I laughed. "Too close to home?"
"Watch it, missy
, and be careful on the roads."
* * * *
I drove to Finn's with a lightness about me that felt so good. I couldn't wait to tell him the story about our dads, which in all honesty was heartbreaking.
His truck was back out front, as was his father's large pick-up. I parked beside Finn's and got out, pulling out a bag of treats I'd worked on for the last day or so to keep him in a holiday spirit.
I knocked on the door, not wanting to use my key in case his father wasn't aware that I had one.
"Come in!" Finn called out, and I walked in, smiling at both of them as they sat on the couch.
Finn's foot was propped up on several pillows on the coffee table, and he was wrapped in blankets with a glass of water in his hand.
"Hey, guys." I sat the treats on the counter and moved to sit beside Clark on the couch. "Everything go okay with getting out of the hospital?"
"Yeah. He's got to be careful with those crutches in the snow and no getting that cast wet, but other than that, he's doing good." Clark reached over and squeezed my hand gingerly.
"And, the concussion?" I looked over at Finn, chuckling at the look on his face.
"You're not my mother, you're my girlfriend. Get over here and give me a kiss, dammit." Finn leaned forward and took my hand, tugging at me.
I got up and moved to his side of the couch, sitting down and giving him a quick kiss.
"Dad, time for you to go. Nice of you to visit. Don't be a stranger." Finn leaned forward and sat his beer on the coffee-table.
Clark laughed and stood up as I shoved Finn's shoulder.
"Don't be rude. Your dad can stay and watch a movie with us or something." I winked at Clark.
He acted like he was going to sit back down. "Yeah, sure. Why not."
"Get out!" Finn pushed at him, and we both laughed.
"Alright. Call if you need me. I'll see you tomorrow, Finn."
"Thanks for everything, Dad."
I got up and walked to the kitchen with Clark. "I made some cookies and fudge. You want to take some back to the office so you and Milly can try it out?"
"Hey. Is that stuff for me?" Finn called from the living room.
"Hush." I glanced over my shoulder and winked at the sexy guy on the couch.