"You excited or what?" I glanced over at him while handing my card to the guy at the front counter.

"It's the hot chocolate. Should have stuck to your guns on it." He turned around as if looking for someone.

"Your friend here yet?" I asked and took our tickets. "I got him one too, just to be nice."

"Oh cool. Yeah, I see him." Parker smiled like a tom cat.

"Great. I'll be outside, by the lift. You guys just come out there and bring my board with you, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever you want, Sis." He chuckled as I turned and walked outside.

Nervousness swelled in my stomach over seeing Finn again. The last time I'd laid eyes on him, I was half dressed in my bedroom and things got hot quick. I'd fantasized over him taking me against the wall of my bedroom twenty times since it almost happened.

His aggressiveness combined with his soft fingers and warm mouth left me needing him in ways I wasn't used to. I wanted to explore every inch of him, and have him return the favor. Hopefully he would be up for it sooner than later. Something told me I had nothing to worry about.

"Chloe. This is my buddy." Parker's voice had a lightness to it that said he was on the verge of laughter.

I had my back to them, but I'd moved over near a small embankment that wouldn't be too far of a fall for me and Finn. Turning, I let my eyes grow wide and my brow crease.

"What are you doing here?" I looked at Parker.

His face dropped and concerned filled his features. "I thought you would love this."

"You thought wrong." I turned my angry stare on Finn and damn if he didn't have a sexy smirk on his face. I was doing all I could to keep our rouse under-wraps, and he was smirking.

"Come on, Chloe. The kid was just trying to help." He put his back to the small cliff, and put his hands on his hips. "Don't be like that."

"Like that?" I moved toward him as Parker moved toward me. I pushed at my brother's chest, which surprised him.

"Chloe. Stop," Parker yelled at me, but I was already in motion.

"Don't tell me anything, you sorry bastard." I pushed my hands into his chest, and he put on a good show, grabbing me at the last minute and pulling me with him. We slid down the hill with me on top of Finn, and him on his back, both of us laughing.

We stopped, and I could hear Parker yelling as he ran after us.

"I am not pretending like I'm dead." Finn gave me a look.

"For a long hot kiss?"

"R.I.P." He closed his eyes and sunk into the snow.

I did the same until I could hear Parker getting closer. "Ready?"

"On your queue, you mean ass witch."

I giggled. "Now."

Parker dropped beside us and we bolted up, attacking him and laughing a he fell back.

"You assholes! That scared the crap out of me." He rolled, and balled up a snowball, throwing the first at me and the next at Finn.

An older guy in a uniform called down to us. "Hey! No playing around down there, guys. It's off limits."

We all made our way to our feet and Finn pointed to me. "It was all her, buddy. I'm sorry."

"Last time I help you, Finn." Parker winked and walked back up the hill in front of us.

"I'm praying it's the last time I need help." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and glanced down the length of me. "Did I tell you that I'm missed you like crazy?"

"Yeah, but you can say it again."

"I've missed you like crazy." He pulled me close and smiled. "Where's my hot kiss?"

"Coming soon..."

Chapter 20

Finn

Chloe was a nightmare at snowboarding, but we switched her back to skis and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon outside together. Parker found a few friends and ditched us, which was fine by me. I needed to talk with the beautiful girl who'd stolen my heart anyway.

I waited at the bottom of the run for her, my hands over the top of my eyes so I could see her come down. Her long blond hair flapped behind her as her pretty muted pink jacket and wind-pants fit her incredibly well. I let out a long whistle as she stopped beside me.

"You got plans later, pretty girl? If not, I know a great place in town that will cut you a steak fresh from the rack. We can grab a few, and I'll grill them for us." I lifted an eyebrow and waited for her response. Just having her with me lightened the load of concerns I carried around all the time.

"Sounds wonderful. I can't imagine anything better." She moved closer to me, and I popped my feet from my board and stepped in between her skis, wrapping my arm tightly around her middle.

"I can imagine something a lot better, but we'll start with dinner and a long conversation." I leaned forward and brushed my nose along hers, wanting to take things slow, and yet not.

"How about a cup of coffee now at the little shop at the club house, and then we'll have our second date? I don't want to talk about anything heavy tonight. Let's get it all out of the way before we leave here."

She slid her pretty pink mittens along my face, and pulled me in for a sweet kiss.

"Get a room!" Parker yelled as he moved past us.

"I like that idea. There are so many things we could do in a room if given enough time." I nipped at her lips and smiled.

"You act like such a nice guy, but I know there's a bad boy underneath it all. I keep seeing him peek out around the edges of your personality." She pulled from me.

"Actually, I'm always a nice guy. You're just making shit up." I licked at my lips again, and glanced down at her mouth. "I want my kiss."

"I do owe it to you." She slid her arms around my neck and flattened herself against the front of me before lifting up and capturing my lips.

I slid my hand over the curve of her ass and squeezed tightly as I explored her mouth fully. She took every bit of what I was giving, and met me with a hot passion that left me needy. It wasn't something I'd experienced in my past. Desire rolled through me and I pulled her in even closer, deepening the kiss as my body hardened.

She broke the kiss and looked up at me a little starry-eyed. "Damn you're a good kisser."

"Mmmm... you should see what else I can do with this tongue." I smiled as she shook her head and pushed at my chest.

"Not here. Not now. So incredibly bad."

"Not me. You're thinking of someone else, which come to think of it is highly disturbing." I picked up my board, and tucked it under my arm before nodding to the lodge. "Let's go have this talk and finish clearing the air between us."

"Yes. Then we should really test out these promises about your magical tongue." She wagged her eyebrows.

I growled and reached for her hand, hoping the talk would be short and the night long.

* * * *

I carried two cups of hot chocolate over to the table as Chloe played with her nails. She was nervous, and she wasn't the only one.

"Peppermint in yours or no?" I held out both cups toward her.

"Yes. I love it, unless you do."

"Nope. It's all yours." I sat down and pressed my forearms to the table. "I need to apologize."

"You already have, Finn." She took a tentative sip and looked shocked. "This isn't scorching hot."

"I know. You tell them child's temp and they make it to where you can drink it." I wagged my eyebrows. "And here you thought I was just sexy. I'm smart too."