* * * *

"So what happened?" Brian sat on the extra snowplow I'd brought with me to the job site. He was on a late lunch break, and I was finishing a large job by hand to make sure it looked nice for our client.

"She took a few days to think things through and I guess since it was just a big misunderstanding, she's willing to give us a try." I reached up and readjusted my hat.

"So no boyfriend?"

"Nope. They broke up before she came here for the holidays." I shrugged and went back to shoveling. My back and legs were burning like crazy, but I figured it had more to do with making love to Chloe half the night and little to do with my everyday movements.

"So where are you guys going from here?" Brian took a bite of the burger in his hands, and leaned back in the plow's captain chair.

"No clue." I stopped and sat the shovel down. "Give me the burger you brought me."

He tossed it to me, and wiped his mouth before responding. "Don't you think you should have a clue? This doesn't feel like anything you've been involved in before. I mean, we're talking like second or third date at this point. This could be serious, Finn."

The look on his face caused me to laugh. We'd been friends since we were kids, and he was always worried about me, always looking out for me.

"It is serious, buddy." I took a bite of the burger and looked around. "She and I will figure things out. It's only the fifteenth. I still have ten more days or so with her."

"Ten days with someone you're obviously falling in love with? Why am I the only one panicking here? It would be good for you to panic with me." Brian sat his burger down, and shook his head. "I'm scared, and this shit isn't even mine to deal with."

"It's all good. When you fall in love, I think part of what keeps you sane is believing that all things will work out for good." I took another bite of my burger, not really feeling the insane worry that Brian seemed to be experiencing.

"So that's it? Just let the shit fall where it may?"

"What else is there to do besides have fun with her, make memories and then hope they're enough to keep her here?" I finished the meal in three bites, and chunked him the balled up wrapper.

"I guess you’re right." He shrugged, and went back to eating.

"The only real issue I see is her father." I checked my work, finding it just the way my father would want. "I need to have a real sit down with my Dad, and see what the fuck happened between him and Chloe's Dad."

"Any clue what it could be?" Brian hopped down, and pulled out his keys.

"Nope. I just know there is some bad blood there. With me and Chloe finally getting over all these silly little things, I don't want anything big to pop up in our way."

"Would she choose her Dad over you if he put his foot down?" Brian wiped his mouth once more, and balled up the bag he was holding.

"No clue. She's known me for two weeks and him for her whole life. I would assume she would, but I'm not willing to consider that he'll give her an ultimatum."

Brian pinned me with a stare that said I was a dumb ass dreamer. "He would."

"So I'll take care of it. If I can figure out what happened between our Dads, then maybe there is a way to clean it up and not have it become mine and Chloe's problem." I tucked my shovels on the back of the plow and climbed up.

"Just be careful. You guys are more alike than you know." Brian slipped his hands into his pockets and began to shiver.

"Because he sleeps around? My Dad said he was a bit of a manwhore too, 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 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, finding 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, 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 moved out, 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 you 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 - ever be yours. Do yourself a favor and don't bring down Chloe to your level. You'll hate yourself for it later. Ask you father about that."