"Well, damn, Jerry. I didn't need you to go that far." I smiled and moved up to the lift, taking Chloe's hand and making sure she was safe as the back of the chairs hit our legs.

"You're helping your father here?" She glanced over at me, her attitude seeming to have dulled a little.

"Yeah, but it's nothing like Jerry made it seem." I shrugged and pulled my goggles off. "He's worked his whole life to build up his snow removal business, and I plan to open a lodge one day up here, so leaving wouldn't work anyway."

"So you're helping him with his business?"

"Yeah." I looked over at her and smiled.

"What?" Her eyes narrowed a little and I shook my head.

"Nothing." I leaned back and let out a long sigh. "So you're staying through Christmas?"

"Yep, and not a minute longer." She turned and looked out at the horizon. "It's beautiful here, but my home is in California now."

"Your family there too?" I couldn't help but dig a little.

"My mother passed away eight years ago, but my father and brother are in Arizona most of the year, and here for the winter." She looked back over at me. "We've been doing the back and forth thing since I was little. Used to be fun. No so much anymore."

"Skiing in the winter isn't fun anymore? Why not? Seems absurd to me." I extended my hand as we got closer.

"Thank you," she mumbled and took it before hopping off with me. "My Dad's an asshole and quite the manwhore himself."

Is she still referring to me as a manwhore?

"Finn! Oh my goodness. It's my lucky day." A pretty brunette moved toward me as we got off the lift. She glanced toward Chloe and smirked in a less than kind fashion.

"Hey, girl. How are you?" I smiled and returned the awkward hug. I mouthed, 'I don't know her' to Chloe as she rolled her eyes and turned, moving toward the narrow passage we used to get to the back of the mountain.

"Oh my gosh. I've missed you so much!" The nameless girl puffed out her lip. "Why didn't you call me? You said you would."

"I was going to, but my damn phone ended up in the washing machine." I glanced up to see Chloe gone, and knew I had a few minutes to catch up with her.

Any chances of snuggling up to her were lost, no doubt. Knowing that her father used woman like I did made it apparent that she wasn't calling me out by mistake, but because she knew how to spot us.

My heart ached at the thought of not having a chance with her, and I carefully unwound myself from the girl and smiled down at her.

"Nice to see you again. Stay in touch." I moved toward the opening Chloe had disappeared into.

"How, Finn? I don't have your number."

I called out some random digits and sucked in, forcing my legs to move faster. She'd be half way down the hill by now, and she was.

I let out a long sigh and cupped my hands over my mouth. "Chloe, wait for me at the bottom and I'll explain."

She stopped expertly and turned to face me, skiing backwards as she lifted her hands to her mouth. "Not a chance, handsome, and call me baby. Seems a popular go-to for guys like you. Thanks for the lesson."

"Son of a bitch." I shook my head and let out a chuckle. The little tart knew how to ski all along. Was she just playing with me? Somehow I didn't mind one bit. Now to figure out who she was and how to find her.

Chapter 7

Chloe

Unbelievable.

I finished the run and moved toward the lodge as fast as I could, not wanting Finn to catch up to me. He was a player and a half, and while I didn't want to be interested, I was.

It was as if fate pulled together every descriptor I'd given Jessie in the car for my perfect boyfriend and created this sexy hunk who looked like sin, was good to the town’s people, and knew how to take care of a woman in the sheets. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't date anyone who wasn't classified as a manwhore. Bad sex was the hardest thing to get over in a relationship. Jessie called me shallow on more than one occasion over it, until it happened to her. Then she saw the light.

Finn. What an interesting name.

The man was sexy as hell, incredibly sweet, and funny to boot. His sense of fashion might not be spot on, but did I really want a man correcting my drawings and trying to butt into my designs? No.

His dark brown hair and warm chestnut eyes were my favorite combination. The almond color of his skin combined with the small spray of freckles across his nose let me wanting to pant.

Strong shoulders and chest muscles, which I accidentally got to feel when he tugged me back toward him.

"And his cologne. Fuck me, his smell." I groaned and moved into the ski lodge as an elderly couple gave me a look due to my choice of words no doubt. "I'm sorry."

I walked to the ski rental and turned my gear in, grabbed my keys and walked quickly to the parking lot. My father had several vehicles available for me to choose from, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the winner every time. It was spacious and luxurious, but left me feeling safe.

The drive home was a bit tumultuous, but I made it without much more than my nerves being on edge.

"You guys home?" I called out as I walked into the house.

"I'm in my room. You have fun?" Parker walked out of his bedroom, still in his pjs and a t-shirt.

"Yeah, actually I did." I shrugged and put my stuff on the counter. "I forgot that I actually enjoyed skiing."

"See? I told you there was things about this place to love."

"Yeah? Like you." I reached out and ruffled his hair.

"Speaking of your adoration for your one and only brother..." He reached out and tugged on one of the ropes to my hoodie.

"You want food?" I asked.

"God yes, but no vegetables. I already had mine for the day." He moved to sit at one of the stools by the breakfast nook.

"Oh yeah? What veggies did you eat?" I walked to the fridge and pulled out various cold cuts and cheeses.

"I had Cheetos and green gummy worms. I'm thinking that's pretty damn close to carrots and celery." He snorted.

"You're an idiot." I rolled my eyes and worked on getting him something better to eat. "So I met this guy in town today. He seems to be a local."

"Yeah? What's his name?"

"Finn. I didn't get his last name." I shrugged and handed him the plate.

"Oh yeah. He's the town slut. My friends are always talking about wanting to be like him."

"How do you have friends here?"

I made myself half a sandwich and glanced at the clock. I had twenty minutes before I had to put it in high gear. I was surprised that Cindy wasn't there already.

"You know Dad and I spend the fall here." My brother lifted his eyebrow and I nodded, not willing to admit that I'd gotten so wrapped up in my own stuff that I hadn't realized that they were in Colorado all fall. When I called, I dialed their cell, which was an Arizona area code.

"So, this Finn guy is a big fat no?"

"Um, yeah. Unless you like being used for the night and tossed away."

I picked up my lunch and walked away, not ready to have any kind of sexual discussions with my teenage brother. A shiver ran through me and I made a sound of disgust at the thought.

"Yep. He's gross. Stay away."

"Done," I called over my shoulder and walked into my room to start sorting through what I would be wearing for the evening.