by Claire Adams
"Just be careful. You and Chloe’s dad are more alike than you realize." Brian slipped his hands into his pockets and began to shiver.
"Because he sleeps around? My dad said he was a bit of a man whore, but my days of that are over. I'm tired of finding my worth in fleeting moments." I took a drink of the soda Brian had brought me.
"Yeah. I'm glad to hear that. It's cool from the outside looking in, but you don't want everyone thinking poorly of you, like you can't commit to anything. The guys at the office made fun of Mr. Burke when he left because he has a different date daily while he's here. I think he's boned most of the women in our office."
"I'd have thought that was awesome a month ago, but now...not so much."
"Same. Just tread carefully, Finn. She's planning to leave soon and I-"
I lifted my hand to stop him. "It's all good. Grown-ass man, remember?"
"Yeah. Sorry. Call me later."
"Will do. Thanks for lunch."
"Anytime." Brian watched me for a minute more, but I ignored him.
I swear he was born to be the sister I never had instead of a best friend.
* * * *
I wrapped up and headed back to the shop. There was no one there, including Milly, which was odd.
After hanging up my shovels and refueling the plow, I decided to ride over to Chloe's to see if she wanted to go out for pizza or something. If her dad was there, it probably wouldn't be pretty, but I needed to talk with him. Talking to my dad was most likely the smarter bet first, but after searching the shop and finding no one, I gave up and headed to the Burke residence.
The drive over was quick, and I decided to use the front door to show respect should her father or brother answer the door. I slipped my hands in my pockets while I waited for someone to answer and cursed myself for not checking to see if her SUV was in the garage.
A good-looking older guy in his early fifties opened the door, and gave me a scowl. "I didn't order a service today. Tell your dad that this strike two."
He started to shut the door, but I stuck out my hand and stopped him. "I'm not here to clear your driveway, Sir."
"Then, why are you here?" He took a step forward, forcing me back a little to keep our personal space intact. "Because I see no reason at all for you to be on my property."
"I realize that you and my father have some old score to settle, but that's between you and him. I've done nothing wrong." I kept his gaze, not willing to give up on pleading my case.
He chuckled. "Let me get this straight. You're here because you want to give Parker snowboarding lessons, and you think by convincing me that you're nothing like your piece-of-shit father, that I'll allow you to do so. Is that it?"
Heat ran from the top of my head to my toes. My father was everything to me. I spoke through clenched teeth, not liking this bastard at all.
"My father is a good man. You guys fucking each other over in your younger years doesn't change that."
"You don't have a clue what you're talking about, boy." He crossed his arms over his chest, and glared down at me. "Is this about Parker or Chloe?"
"Both." I stepped closer to him. "You have no room to judge me, seeing that you're as much of a whore as I've been the last ten years."
He stiffened, and I knew I'd hit him square in the chest without having to touch him. I continued, though I shouldn't have. Attacking Chloe's dad wasn't at all the plan. I'd only wanted to see her.
"From what I hear, you have a different woman across the table from you every day." I shrugged and brushed my fingers by my lips, wishing I could just shut the fuck up. "Oh yeah, everyone knows."
"Did your dad tell you that? Is he spreading lies about me?" He moved toward me aggressively, and I held up my hands.
"No. Like I said, my father's a good man. He doesn't want me involved with Chloe because he assumes she's a greedy asshole like you, but she's not. She's a great woman with huge dreams and an even bigger heart."
He grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me against him, his nose pressing to mine as anger burned through his expression. "You stay the fuck away from my little girl. She deserves better than you could ever give her. Do you hear me? You're a piece of shit who will rot in this town, boning any available woman and dreaming about a life that will never ever be yours. Do yourself a favor and don't bring down Chloe to your level. You'll hate yourself for it later. Ask your father about that."
He pushed me, and I stumbled backward. His words burned down my veins painfully. Did the situation between them have to do with my mother?
"Fuck you, old man. You don't know anything."
"Right. That's why I live in this house and drive these cars, Finn. You're right. I'm ignorant." He snorted as if it were funny and turned back to the house, disappearing inside it and leaving me feeling like absolute shit.
He was right. Chloe did deserve better. Much better than me.
Chapter 23
Chloe
I laid around Finn's for most of the morning and then decided to clean the place up for him. Having figured it would only take an hour or two, I was shocked when I looked up to see it was already after noon. I cleaned myself up and grabbed my keys, deciding to treat myself to a muffin, coffee, and a fabric store. The type of material I needed to work on my ski jacket design wouldn't be easy to find, but seeing that it was a common fabric for Colorado, I had high hopes.
The snow had piled up so high around my tires the night before that I had to find a stick and force most of it away. I would need to get my father to show me how to put the chains around the tires later that day, but it could wait. Most of the main roads were salted, and I could take it slow until I came to them.
Moments later, Christmas music blared from the radio and heat from the vents. My mood was high and my heart full. I would have loved to have called Jessie and told her the good news, but I couldn't bring myself to talk to her just yet. The situation with her and Seth was still a little too raw.
I made it to one of the large shopping centers in town and parked by a row of trucks before getting out and walking into the fabric store. I paused at the front and breathed in deeply, finding myself at home in the midst of all the different textures and colors.
"No. It's too girlie, woman. I told you to get brown." A man's voice rose up from an aisle over, and it was too familiar not to check it out.
"It is not. Blue is a man's color, too." A pretty blonde pushed at a guy's chest and smiled like the world revolved around him.
He turned to look up at me as I walked down the aisle, having planned to skirt by them.
Finn's dad. A smile lifted his lips, and he extended his hand to me.
"Chloe. What a nice surprise." He shook my hand as I offered it, and nodded toward his friend. "This is my secretary, Milly."
The woman flinched, and I had to assume it was the title he used with her.
"Nice to meet you. I'm a friend of Finn's." I shook the woman's hand before turning my attention back to Clark. "You finally get a day off? That wayward boy of yours working in your absence?"
He chuckled as he released my hand. "I'm sure he's out working hard after all this snow we got."
"No doubt he is." Milly moved in closer to Clark, who didn't seem to mind. "That snow we got last night was horrible. We were worried to get out into it today."
"Yeah, me, too. I'm from California, so this has been an adventure and a half." I nodded to the fabric. "You making something?"
Clark butted in. "Make sure you have chains on your tires, Chloe. If your dad doesn't put them on, bring them over and I'll have one of the boys do it for you."
I smiled at him. "Thanks, but I'll have my dad do it. He won't mind."
Milly pushed at Clark's chest and smiled. "Get out of here. I'll bother Chloe to help me look for colors. You go get us a coffee next door."
"Bossy-ass women," he mumbled and walked to the door before pausing and glancing over his shoulder. "Chloe, you want something, honey?"
"No, Sir, but t
hank you." I chuckled at him using my and Finn's latest joke, and of course not knowing it.
"So, look at these two fabrics." Milly held them up. "Which do you think would better suit Finn?"
"Oh, the blue. Definitely." I reached out and brushed my hand down the front of it. "What are you making?"
"A vest to wear under his jacket." She beamed, and I could tell that she cared for Finn tremendously.
"Have you considered flannel or fleece?" I moved to the racks of materials and found the same shade of blue in the other two fabrics. "Here, run your hand over these."
She gave a sound of appreciation as she did. "These are both great."
"I'd use fleece as cold as it is out here." I stopped and pressed my fingers to my lips. That was it. I needed to use fleece in the paneling for my own jacket I was designing.
"So, you sew?" Milly asked, taking my attention again.
"Oh, yeah. I just got my degree in design." I beamed, unable to help myself. "My mother taught me to sew when I was nine. My dad had a fit because of the moving needles and such, but I loved every minute of it."
"Do you still sew together when you come home to visit? I assume you're visiting." She took the roll of flannel and snuggled it to her chest.
"She died eight years ago around this time." I searched for a light pink in the same fabric.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." She brushed her hand over my back.
"It's okay, but thank you for your kindness." I turned and decided to ask Milly about the burning question inside of me that just wouldn't leave me alone. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. After you've helped me find this great material for Finn's Christmas gift, you can do anything you like. I've been looking for forever, and as you can see, Clark's been no help at all."
"How long have you known Clark?"
"Since we were kids. His first wife was a friend of mine." She tilted her head. "Why?"
"Then, I guess you know my dad, too?"
"What's his name, dear?"
"Jonathan Burke."
She stiffened, and I didn't need a response. I already had it.
"I know Jon." She smiled, relaxing.
"Something happened between them, but I can't figure out what." I glanced around to see Clark coming back in the store. "Never mind."
She reached out and squeezed my arm. "Ask your dad about it, then help him heal. It's been a long feud, and it's long overdue that they stop acting like jealous boys over a girl."
Did she mean literally or figuratively? I was more confused, which was frustrating.
"What are you to girls whispering about over here?" Clark handed Milly a cup and smiled at both of us.
"Sharing secrets about how to score a good man," I chuckled.
"Yeah, but first we gotta find a few of them." Milly elbowed Clark in the stomach, and he gave her a look.
"I'm going to wrap up some shopping today, and I got Finn some cologne, but what else would he like? Does he need anything for his snowboarding stuff or some new shirts or..." I let my words trail off as they both turned to stare at me.
"He's a pretty simple guy." Clark’s expression softened a little.
"He hates gifts, too." Milly turned to look up at him.
"That's because he's always too broke to return the favor." Clark took a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, I don't want anything from him. I just wanted to get him something nice to open on Christmas morning."
"Are you two seeing each other or just friends?" Milly's cheeks colored, like she'd asked something inappropriate.
"I think we're somewhere in between the two." I shrugged.
She glanced back at Clark and lifted her eyebrow. "Looks like you and Jon better get your shit cleaned up. No need to let it fall on these kids. They haven't done anything to deserve it."
Clark turned his gaze to me, and I tried to read whatever he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"I thought you were headed back to the west coast. You're from L.A., right?"
"Yes, Sir, but I've graduated." I shifted from one foot to the other, wishing I hadn't gotten myself cornered into such an odd conversation. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do anymore."
"What's changed your mind?" Milly smiled with a knowing look on his face.
"Finn is starting to."
"You just met him." Clark leaned against a rack of cotton rolls. "He's not usually one for commitment, either."
"Clark." Milly smacked him, but I smiled, understanding where he was coming from.
"I think that's about to change." I pulled my phone from my pocket as it buzzed. "Excuse me."
"Of course, dear. Good to see you again." Clark turned and put his hand on Milly's back, forcing her to the front with him.
"Chloe?" Finn's voice was tight with tension.
"Hey. Where are you?" I let my eyes scan a few more colors before deciding on the pink for sure.
"Leaving your house." He sounded as if someone had pulled the warmth out of him.
"I'm in town." I paused and waited for a reply but didn't get one. "Finn, What's wrong?"
"Your dad was home and like a dumb ass, I thought maybe I could help him see that I'm not my father, so whatever happened between them..." his voice faded again.
"Oh no. Was he mean to you?"
"No, just truthful." Finn coughed. "It's all good. I just didn't want you to go home and him get upset with you without me warning you."
"I don't give a shit what he thinks."
"You should, baby. He's your dad. He's just trying to protect you and find the right kind of man for you."
"You are the right kind of man for me." I let out a frustrated sigh. "Where are you? I'll just come to you, and we can spend the night together curled up.
"That sounds great, Chloe, but maybe tomorrow night. I'm tired and need to think through some shit."
"What? No. Don't pull back again. We just started to figu-”
He cut me off. "Hey. I'm not pulling back. Go home and talk to him, and if you still want to see me, just text and we'll meet up."
I swallowed down the need to cry, and took a shallow breath. "Okay, but expect a text. Where are you headed?"
"Up to the new run on the east side of town. I'll keep checking my phone, though."
"The storm was really bad last night. Do you think that's safe?"
"Absolutely. It's the best time to snowboard, California girl. You know the waves, but I've got the snow down pat." He laughed, but I could hear it was forced.
"Be careful," I whispered into the phone.
"Always." Worry rolled through me as he hung up.
I put the fleece back on the rack and walked to the front, pissed at my father for whatever he'd done to tear Finn down. Tears dripped onto my cheeks as I hit the door, and of course, it was my luck that Milly and Clark were on the stairs, fussing over something.
They looked back at me, and I froze.
"What's the matter, Chloe?" Clark moved toward me with concern on his face. If he didn't like the idea of me and Finn together, he hid it well. Or maybe he wasn't the judgmental asshole that my father was.
I brushed my tears away and took a shaky breath. "Nothing...just my dad."
"Is he hurt? Do you need our help?" Clark's willingness to offer help only fueled my anger toward my father.
"No, but he's probably going to be when I get a hold of him." I sniffled and forced a smile. "Just check on Finn for me. I guess he went out to try to talk sense into my dad and it didn't go so well."
"Oh, shit." Clark glanced at Milly.
"I told you to deal with this twenty-five years ago." She put her hand on her hip.
"I've gotta go, but it was good to see you both." I gave them a sad smile and jogged to the SUV, ready to fight for the man I was falling in love with.
* * * *
I made sure to slam the door hard as I walked in from the garage. My brother and father looked up from the kitchen table, Parker's eyes wide as I let my anger bleed all over my face.
"Oh, hell. I'm out." Parker stood and turned, escaping to his room.
My father leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, as if expecting me to blow up.
"How dare you," I growled at him, reaching out to hold onto the nearest countertop as my hands shook.
"What? Save you from a mistake? He's a big one. Mark my words."
"I'm twenty-four years old. I will date who I want. You are my father, not my jailer."
"Let's throw in your benefactor, your rent-payer, your degree purchaser-"
I cut him off. "Keep your damn money. I don't want anything from you ever again."
He stood as I started for my bedroom. "We're not done."
"Yes. Actually, we are. My dad died the same day my mother did. We were done the day after the funeral. You made sure of it." I was screaming at that point, and tears burned down the same old tracks in my face that they always had. "You've been nothing but a shell since then."
"Chloe," his voice softened, and I pressed my hands to my face as a sob left me.
"No," I whispered as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I just want what's best for you. Finn is..."
I pulled away and poked my finger in his chest. "Finn is a good man. He's hard working, and he's never once said anything nasty about you. Not once."
"Why should he?"
"Because if I know you at all, then whatever happened between you and Clark was your fault." I poked harder. "Whatever you said to him today has him broken – again."
"I told him the truth." My father swatted my hand from his chest and gave me a stern look.
"The truth." I laughed darkly. "The truth is that I was going to change all my plans. I was going to stay here with you and Parker. I was going to ask if I could work under your wing and learn what you've learned or help you build your business. I was going to move my life and dreams around, and Finn is the main reason why we might have gotten our family back."
"Chloe-"
"No. Fuck all of it. I'm done with you. Finn and I will be together."
"I'm not supporting that."
I let out another angry chuckle. "Good. I'd hate to have to hear you touting your greatness when it works out to be the best love affair of all times."