Christmas Cowboy

by Claire Adams

  "Thank you," I mumbled and put them on, grateful that someone in her family was tall. Too bad they had SpongeBob and Patrick dancing across them in various motions. "You did this on purpose."

  "I did." She pressed her fingers to her lips and laughed. "You look great, though."

  "Right?" I flexed my pecs and sat down, reaching for the drink. "Thanks for this."

  "Did you know this was my father's place?" She sat back and drew her legs up to her chest.

  I wanted to lie, but couldn't force myself to do it. "I did. I heard Cindy say your last name at the club and realized that my father had a client by the same name. I had to pull a few strings, and it's creepy, I know, but I couldn't not see you again. I shouldn't want to, but I do." I shrugged and lifted the mug to my mouth.

  "You're right. I've done nothing but judge you." She rubbed her fingers over her lips and watched me closely, leaving my need to reach out for her rising by the minute. "Forgive me."

  "Already done." I shrugged. "So, tell me why you were the designated driver last night?"

  "Because I'm a light weight, and alcohol usually leads to horrible decisions for me."

  "Note to self, get her drunk." I winked and set the mug down. "Let me take you on the slopes again?"

  "You don't give up, do you?"

  "Not sure. I've never had to try, honestly." I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a content sigh. Things were going far better than I'd imagined.

  "You've never had to work hard to get a woman's attention." She snorted and dropped her legs down before leaning in. The sweet smell of her perfume rushed in to greet me, and I jerked back to keep myself from accosting her.

  "Nope. I'm not saying I'm all that, Chloe. Just telling you the life I've lived."

  "Why don't you have a girlfriend or a wife then? Surely, one of the women would have meant something to you over all these years." She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "I'm struggling with this a lot."

  "I understand that. I struggle with it, too." I sucked my bottom lip in my mouth, trying to figure out how to explain it to her. "So, the last girl I took out took me back to her place..."

  She cut me off as her hand flew in the air. "Hold up. I do not under any circumstances want to hear any of your sex stories."

  "Why? You jealous?" I chuckled, expecting her to swat at me or flip me off.

  "Yes. Actually, I am, and I'm struggling with that, too." She kept my gaze, not at all uncomfortable with admitting that she was feeling something for me.

  Something loosened inside of me, and I relaxed.

  Good. It's not just me.

  "I'm not telling you any of my stories, Chloe. I was just going to explain how ninety-nine percent of women aren't looking for a second date, but just another fuck. I'm just a fuck." I shrugged and glanced outside, not realizing how much it would hurt to say it out loud.

  "What happened with the girl?" Her voice was soft as she moved closer, her knees brushing mine.

  "She invited me back to her place and showed me off in front of her two friends, basically inviting them to join us." I turned my attention back to her.

  "Did they join you?"

  "No. I'm not like that." I shrugged again. "I guess most guys would be, but I can't be with more than one woman at a time. I left after her friend told me that the girl had herpes."

  "Oh my God." She lifted her hand to her face as she visibly paled.

  Probably not the best thing to tell a girl that I wanted to take to bed for the rest of my life, but she needed to understand my side of the story.

  "Right? My fucked up life." I let out a chuckle, but it fell flat.

  "I'm sorry for being so cruel. I'm just not interested in a one-night stand. I just got out of a long relationship and honestly, falling for someone that's not going to be in my life in the future isn't something I'm willing to do."

  "I understand that. I'm not asking you to sleep with me, nor am I offering you a ring."

  "Then what are you asking, Finn?"

  "A friendship? A ski buddy? Do you like horror movies?" I smiled and moved closer. "We can be friends from a distance, right? And when you come back, if you do, we'll hit the slopes again together. I'd love a new friend, someone who didn't prance me around town."

  She shook her head. "I'd like a friendship, but understand that I'm leaving in two weeks. My father is helping me start a clothing line, and that's the only reason I'm in this house."

  I looked around and nodded. "Where is your mother?"

  "She died eight years ago." She lifted her free hand up to wipe at her face. "It's been different since then. Everything has."

  I wanted to pull her in my arms and promise her the world so damn bad, but she didn't want that. Hell, she barely wanted the friendship I offered so freely.

  "I understand that completely." I smiled. "I need to go, but let me take you around town tomorrow. Nothing but good times and great treats. I know some killer dessert shops."

  "You don't have to work?"

  "I'll be calling in sick if you're free." I smiled wickedly.

  "I think I can swing it, but no telling anyone that it was my fault." She got up and walked back to the laundry room, coming back out with my clothes folded.

  I finished the drink and took them from her. "Thanks for this. I can't tell you how much better I feel. I was a dick last night and have been hating myself since. So, forgive me."

  "Already done." She smiled and nodded to the back of the house. "You can change back there."

  "I'm good, unless your dad will miss his favorite pants." I glanced down at them and laughed as she did, too.

  "No. Keep them, but get your shoes on. You'll freeze out there."

  "Yes, ma'am." I worked to get my boots on and pulled my coat over my shoulders before opening the door and turning to tell her goodbye. Her nearness surprised me.

  "Promise me that we can be friends and nothing more." Her gaze moved down toward my mouth. She wanted a kiss as bad as I did. Well, so I hoped.

  "I'll try my best, Chloe." I leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'm only a man, though. Remember that."

  "It's hard to forget." She moved back and smiled. "Get out of here before I make a bad decision."

  "Sounds like I might be a bad influence on you."

  "Or me on you." She winked and closed the door behind me, leaving my heart pounding in my chest and body completely on fire for her.

  Friends...right.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chloe

  Getting a chance to talk to Finn and clear the air left me with a new perspective on things. I set my alarm and woke up early the next morning, wanting to get a fresh start on the week and hoping to figure out a way to impress my father beyond what he thought me capable of. He wanted a new jacket that was incredibly functional. I wanted something cute and modern that left women feeling attractive. Why not combine the two? I was buzzing with ideas as I danced toward the kitchen, singing my favorite Adele song off-tune.

  "What are you doing up so early?" My father glanced up from the kitchen table. He was dressed in a black suit and a blue button down shirt.

  "Just decided to gain new perspective on all of these changes in my life. It feels good. I want to get the day started." I shrugged and stopped behind him to brush a string from his back. "I'm making me an omelet. You want something?"

  "I'd love two eggs over easy, but I usually have to get up early enough to stop by Jerry's to get them. I never did get your mother to teach me how she made them." He smiled, and my heart broke over his loss. He still wasn't over her. Jessie was right about his angst most likely being tied to losing her. Where Parker and I had another life ahead of us, my dad was still trying to push past the one he'd expected to last forever.

  "Well, she taught me, so I'll make you some. Ham or bacon for you?" I moved to the fridge and started to pull the various items out that we would need.

  "Whatever is easiest." He went back to his paper as I cut up items for my omelet. I figur
ed I'd make one for Parker seeing that he would eat anything I put in front of him.

  "So, why did you and Parker decide to stay here for the full semester? His idea or yours?" I poured me a cup of coffee and checked my phone, realizing that I hadn't given Finn my number.

  Damn. Wait...the invoice.

  "He likes it here, and I really didn't mind working remotely to let him try it out. He's been taking snowboarding lessons, but I don't like the guy he's been training with. He's just not as good as Parker needs him to be. The pupil has already become the master."

  "Really? I met a guy the other day that supposedly has insane snowboarding skills. I could ask him to help Parker in his spare time." I shrugged as my Dad glanced up from his paper.

  "That would be great. Let me know his fee, and I'll want to meet him." He pulled out his phone and turned from me, which gave me a minute to snoop around the house for the invoice as the oven heated.

  I had no luck, and the smell of butter burning on the stove had me jogging back to my place in the kitchen.

  My father stood and walked to the coffee pot as he ended his call. "That was one of my clients. I might have to fly to Texas tomorrow night, and Parker has a sleepover with some friends. Are you going to be okay alone here?"

  "Of course. I'm a grown-ass woman, remember?"

  He gave me a smirk and stole a pinch of the shredded cheese from the pile I'd grated. I lightly slapped his hand away, and he chuckled.

  "You're so much like your mother." He lifted his mug to his lips and got a faraway look in his eye.

  "You still miss her, Dad?"

  He looked at me and smiled sadly. "So much. I never imagined a day in my life would be without her. I feel like she took my warmth with her."

  Tears filled my eyes, and I turned back to the stove, not responding so that he wouldn't hear how deeply I hurt for him. He wouldn't appreciate it.

  "I'm going to wake your lazy-ass brother up. I want him to see about getting a job in town. He needs to learn responsibility." As he walked down the hall, I pulled a paper-towel from the roll, dabbing at my eyes and promising myself that no matter what, I was going to work on my relationship with my dad. It would take every bit of patience I possibly had, but my mother would have wanted us closer, and here I was helping to fuel the fire that forced us apart.

  I finished my father's breakfast and handed him the plate as he walked back into the kitchen.

  "Two eggs over easy and bacon. Toast should pop up any minute." I walked to the table and pushed his papers around. "Dad. Where is the invoice from the snow shoveling company?"

  "It's in the den on my desk. I'll pay it today, but I'm going to call Clark and give him a piece of my mind."

  "Who's Clark?" I glanced up as my brother walked up, his eyes wide as if warning me to tread lightly.

  "He's the bastard that owns the company."

  Finn's dad. Not good.

  "Why is he a bastard?" I flipped Parker's omelet onto a plate and sprinkled it with cheese before handling it to him and ruffling his hair.

  He moved to the refrigerator and brought out a jug of orange juice, drinking straight from it.

  "Parker. Son, that's disgusting. Just mark that one as yours and don't do it again." My dad grimaced at my brother before turning his attention back to me. "He and I have had issues in the past."

  "Why are you upset this time? The driveway looks great, and the poor guy that did it had to have frozen his butt off."

  "That poor guy was his son. He knows that I don't want that boy over here." He glanced up and pinned me with a hard stare. "He sleeps around, is going nowhere in life, and looks like the angel that he's not. I don't like him or his father."

  "Dad..." I moved to sit down at the table as Parker joined us and snorted.

  "Don't even try, sis. I wanted to take snowboard lessons from Finn, and Dad had a fit. He's not going to let you reason with him."

  "Is that the friend that you wanted to talk to me about lessons for Parker with?" My dad lifted his eyebrow sharply.

  "What? No. I don't even know this guy. All I was going to say is that everyone has a story. I'm not the same person I was before Mom died. Part of my pain and anger bleeds into how I act, but if you didn't know that I lost my mom, you would judge me unfairly."

  "I'm not interested in talking about this. I don't want the boy over here. Period. Clark knows that. He probably realized you were home and sent the boy over to steal your heart. He's a vicious bastard like that." He shrugged and went back to his paper.

  I turned to Parker and mouthed, 'What the fuck?’

  He snorted and laughed as Dad glanced up and looked between us. "What?"

  "Nothing, but there is a story there. Inquiring minds want to know what."

  "None of your business," my father barked. "Don't forget to clean up the kitchen when you're done."

  "I always do, Dad." I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to my brother as I got up and walking back into the kitchen to finally make my breakfast. "What's your plan today?"

  "I'm in a gamer contest." He smiled and wagged his eyebrows. "Wanna take the reins and win a few rounds of Resident Evil for me?"

  "Your sister doesn't play video games. She's an adult." My father never looked up from his paper.

  Chuckling, I turned back to the stove. "I can't today, buddy. I'm doing some research for this new investor with deep pockets and a stiff personality. I gotta win him over."

  I glanced over my shoulder as my father's lip lifted in a subtle smirk, but he tried to hide it.

  "How about tomorrow we do something?" Parker finished his breakfast and brought the plate in the kitchen.

  "I thought Dad said you had a sleepover tomorrow." I took his plate and wiped it off, willing to use it for my breakfast, too. Less to clean.

  "I do, but we can spend the day together." He squeezed my shoulders from behind. "I'll teach you to snowboard."

  "Yeah. Okay. I'd like that," I agreed. I pulled from him and worked to finish my breakfast. My father kissed the top of my head before leaving, which was a surprise. The last time we'd hugged or kissed had been the day I left for college five years ago.

  * * * *

  I pulled up the address for Warner Removal Services and plugged it in my GPS before changing into a pair of jeans, a cute sweater, and knee-high boots. I fixed my hair and put on a little bit of lip gloss. We were just going to be friends, so I needed to look nice, but not hot.

  I checked my appearance one more time before letting out an angry growl and leaving the house. I would always find a million things wrong with me. It seemed to be one of the criteria for being a woman in her early twenties.

  I made it to Finn's father's shop within twenty minutes and then sat in the parking lot, trying to decide how to go about getting his number. Maybe one of the other guys that worked with him would just give it to me. I didn't think talking to his dad was a good idea seeing that my dad and him had some bad blood between them.

  It was already ten, and the day was moving by quickly. If Finn had asked off to spend it with me, like he said he was going to, I wanted to get it started.

  Getting out of the SUV, I pulled my scarf tighter and walked up to the large hanger doors that were open. No one was standing outside, so I walked in and looked around. The building was like a mechanic's shop, various machines and plows all over the place. I wasn't sure where to go and was quickly losing my nerve.

  "Hello?" I called out and slid my hands into my pockets.

  A stocky older man with a buzz-cut and piercing blue eyes walked out from the back. His flannel shirt and jeans fit him well. He was attractive by anyone’s standards.

  "Morning, ma'am. How can I help you?"

  As he moved closer, I realized from the resemblance that he was Finn's dad. How could he and my father have so much in common and yet hate each other? Both of their wives were deceased, they both loved Aspen, and both owned their own companies. Seemed like they would be the best of friends.

  Od
d.

  I extended my hand and smiled. "I'm Chloe. I'm looking for Finn. I assume he works here."

  The man smiled warmly and took my hand. "I'm Clark, his father. Nice to meet you."

  "The pleasure is all mine." I glanced around and turned back to Clark. "He promised me he would call in sick and spend the day showing me the town, but don't tell his boss."

  He chuckled and released my hand. "Did he now?"

  "He did, but there's a problem with his promise." I lifted an eyebrow, liking the guy in front of me already.

  "There usually is with that boy."

  "He didn't get my number, and I don't have his." I shrugged.

  "Well, come on in here and let's call him together. We'll have him stop by and surprise him. What do you think?" He nodded and walked back toward the open door at the back of the warehouse.

  Pulling one over on Finn was far better than just getting his number. I followed him and forced down the giggle that burned inside my chest.

  "Were you part of the clubbing party Saturday night?" Clark glanced over his shoulder at me.

  "I was, but I took Brian home and then went home myself. I think Finn was a little put off with us leaving him with all the drunks, but he took care of them. I was impressed. I'd have left them there." I took a seat as he motioned for me to inside a cramped office filled with papers and parts.

  "He's a good boy, just needs a good woman to get his ass on track."

  I smirked and turned my attention to the small picture sitting on Clark's desk as he put the call to Finn on speaker phone.

  "Can I?" I asked, reaching for the picture.

  "Of course. That's my Sara. She passed ten years ago. Best woman in the world." His eyes grew misty as I looked up, and sadness rolled over me for his loss.

  The picture was at Christmas. Sara, Clark, and a teenage Finn were all dressed up to go skiing. The smiles on their faces were warm and full of love. Tears burned my eyes, and I set the picture down, trying to not let them fall, but it didn't work.

  Clark hung up the phone and shook his head.

  "He's not up." He looked over at me as his eyes widened. "Oh, honey. You don't need to cry."

  I took the Kleenex he handed me and dabbed my eyes. "I lost my mom eight years ago. Finn and I talked about it a little the other day, but he seemed so closed off to it."