"Because it does." I stood to my full height and looked down at him.

"Yeah, she does. They've been dating forever. He's headed to the NFL next year." He shrugged, took his board and headed for the door. "She's just a friend to you, right?"

"Yep. Just skiing buddies. She's not interested in anything else. I just didn't know why. Now I do." I smiled as my heart broke in my chest.

She had lied to me, but why?

"Cool." He walked out and put his arm around Chloe's shoulders.

I finished up and walked out behind them, slipping on a tight facade. I would have fun with them as friends and then I was done. My heart was already too wrapped up and it was my own fucking fault. Chloe wasn't to blame. I was. She had been clear with her intentions.

"You guys ready?" I glanced toward Chloe and smiled. "You sure you don't want to try one of these babies? They're so much fun."

She gave me a tight smile, still upset about our conversation. "No, but thanks."

Parker helped her up onto the lift and took the seat next to her, which was fine with me.

I waved at them and winked at her.

"I'll catch you at the top." I waited until the next one came, and sunk down into it.

The wind and snow blew around me as I tried hard to pull myself out of the slump I was diving into. This was a good thing. It was the caution tape being resurrected. She was off limits and even though she was starting to open up to me, it would only lead to her cheating on her boy and hating herself.

She wasn't the type of woman who wanted to cheat, she'd made that clear. I could respect that and would just back off. Besides... I was a manwhore. All the lovey-dovey shit I was starting to feel was incredibly uncomfortable if I really thought about it.

I dropped off the lift and moved beside them before glancing around. "There's two hard slopes and an easy one."

"I'm going to focus on the easy one for a little while to see if I remember how to do this." Chloe turned and walked toward it.

"I'll go with you, Sis." Parker called after her, but I caught his arm.

"No. I'll go. I need to talk to her for a minute anyway. You get on the hard one and show me some shit. Seriously. I'll be watching from the side." I smiled and Parker looked at Chloe, then back to the new hill.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Get to it." I pushed at his shoulder and he turned, moving quickly to the starting line.

I jogged toward Chloe and stopped beside her. "Hey."

"Hey." She glanced over at me and moved to a bench to tighten her skis.

"Sorry about earlier. I'm just tired. Forgive me?" I smiled and touched her shoulder, not wanting the nasty energy between us to keep up. I could have fun for a few weeks off and on with her. I'd just treat her like Brian.

"Already done." She gave me a sad smile and I knew it was a lie.

"Chloe." I reached for her, but she moved, getting up and heading toward the mountain.

She paused and looked back, as if she knew things were ending between us before they even began. "Are you still coming over tonight?"

"I can't." I lied. "Something has come up with my Dad. Rain check?"

"Absolutely." She nodded, her beautiful face expressionless.

If I thought my heart shattered over finding out that she was still with her man, I had no clue. It hurt so much worse standing there, watching her hurt.

Why did she want me in her life if someone already had the spot I wanted so badly?

She didn't seem like the kind of woman to play around with someone’s emotions, so what the fuck was happening?

Chapter 17

Chloe

"That was a blast!" Parker yelled after we'd been on the slopes for more than two hours. We all met back up at the bottom, the guys breathless from trying to outdo each other.

Something was bothering Finn, but instead of talking to me about it, he slammed a door in my face. It hurt way more than it should and I was at a loss as to what to do about us. The friendship thing was a rouse and we both knew it. I wanted more and he did to, or used to. After our afternoon avoiding each other, I wasn't so sure anymore.

"I have to get to the front of the lodge." Parker glanced down at his watch. "My friend's Dad is supposed to pick me up here in twenty minutes."

"Well, go and I'll see you tomorrow." I reached out and ruffled his hair.

He jerked back and glanced around. "Sis...shit."

I laughed and Finn joined me.

"Be lucky you have a sister that loves you." Finn turned to me and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Speaking of..." Parker took my attention for a minute more. "You going to be okay at home alone tonight?"

"Yeah. I'm good." I crossed my arms over my chest as he gave me a look. "Honestly. I'm a grown-ass woman."

Finn laughed again. "I'll be at her beck and call should something happen."

"Alright. Call if you need me." Parker looked around and gave me a quick hug.

I watched him go. Finn had been a dick most of the day, and after the night before I was considering giving up my life just to see where our love affair might go. There was no reason to dream about it now. I was like every other girl... a one night stand. Our date just didn't include sex.

I slipped my hands in my back pockets. "Thanks for the afternoon. Take care."

"Chloe." He reached for me, but I didn’t let him touch me.

I turned and walked quickly toward the car, losing my balance, but catching myself thankfully. I piled my stuff in the trunk and turned in time to see him running toward me.

"Wait. Wait." He moved up as I closed the trunk and the first tear dripped onto my cheek.

"No. I don't want to wait. I want to go home. Obviously whatever was happening between us was something I made up. Call me an idiot and let's be done with this." More tears. Fucking embarrassing.

"Baby." He reached out and grabbed my shoulder, not giving me much room to pull back. "Look, I just...I..."

"You nothing. That's what. We had our one-night stand. Thanks for it. It was fun. I almost thought something was happening inside of me, but I was wrong. Just the excitement of the chase. Once that's over there's really no point in anything else." I pulled from him and walked to my side of the car, getting in.

"Chloe."

I let out a slow breath and rolled the window down. "What?"

"I'm sorry. It's not what you think." He reached into the car and brushed his fingers over my arms.

"It's not you being a total jerk to me?" I tilted my head and let my confusion bleed across my face.

"Come to dinner with me and I'll explain. Please." His handsome face was filled with sadness and I couldn't say no. As much as I hated it, I was falling in love with him.

"Fine, but drive your own car. I don't want to be stranded somewhere with you when this conversation blows up. I've done nothing to deserve your attitude, but I'm willing to hear you out simply because of how great yesterday was." I looked back at the snowy parking lot in front of me, not wanting to look at him anymore. "Where are we going?"

"You know where Jerry's is?"

"Yep. See you there." I rolled up the window and he jerked back, cursing at me for catching his arm. He had some explaining to do, not that it would matter to much what his excuses were. I could feel the protective wall already starting to come back up. It was icy cold and I hated it, but since my mother died, it was the only thing that left me able to cope.