"What pumpkin?"

"Can I use this money to help renovate the property?"

"Of course. It's yours. Do with it what you like."

"Are you good with me still designing under your line?"

"Yes. I'll start buying the designs I like off of you, and that can be a way to help support your spending habits too. You might want to eventually get your own place, so we'll work out a deal between us, and I'll introduce you to a few of the other guys in our line of work. You might find yourself with more business than you can handle. But...it's a good place to be."

"One more thing." I smiled, already so insanely overwhelmed by how generous my Dad had been.

"What?"

"I know you don't like Finn, but he's been wanting to build a lodge for families his whole life too."

He smiled. "He gets that from his old man. It was our dream as boys."

"Can I split this with him? It will still be mine, but can we draw up papers to give him half of it?"

My father stiffened, and I realized I was asking a lot of him, but I loved Finn and knew that this would light his world on fire.

"You really believe this boy is going to become your husband? The father of your children?"

"I have no doubt at all." I picked up the deed. "Can you help me with it?"

"Well. It is yours to do with it what you want, and you're a grown-ass woman."

I laughed and he joined me before we got up and finished getting breakfast together. After we shared one of our favorite meals that my mother use to make, my Dad and Parker went to his room to work on a new robot that Dad got him and I packed a bag.

I stopped by my brother's room and leaned against the door. "I'm going over to Mr. Warner's."

"Have fun, Sis. Merry Christmas." Parker looked up and then back toward his pile of screws and metal parts.

"Be safe. Take the old jeep until I can get chains around the tires of the new one." My Dad stood, walking toward me and pulling me into a warm hug. "Tell them I said hi, and make sure Clark knows that I'll be coming over this week. Okay?"

"Thanks, Dad." I lifted on my toes and kissed the side of his face.

"No. Thank you, baby. For giving me parts of my life back."

I nodded and walked from the house, wishing that I would have expressed my heart like I should have. It was me who should be thanking him. His bossy, overbearing nature brought me to Colorado and because of it...my whole life was changed, and I couldn't be more thrilled to see where it was headed.

Chapter 32

Finn

We wrapped up opening gifts, and I hugged my father and Milly before piddling around the kitchen for something to eat. The doorbell rang and I grabbed my crutches as nervousness rose up the center of my chest. Chloe and I left things wide open the day before, me giving her the reigns in making a decision on whether we had a future, and what it would look like in the near-term.

"Chloe. Good to see you, dear." My father's voice boom with warmth as I rounded the corner.

Chloe was dressed in a pretty white sweater with red leggings and boots. Her hair was in a ponytail, and I swear she looked nineteen.

"Hey, baby. Merry Christmas." I hobbled toward her and had to steady myself from falling over as she hugged me hard.

"Merry Christmas. I missed you last night." She pressed her hands to the side of my face and kissed me several times.

"We were just about to make pancakes." Milly walked up and pulled Chloe into a hug. "You hungry?"

"No, ma'am. My Dad found my mother's old casserole recipe. He and my brother had it ready for me this morning. Miracles do happen." I laughed.

"Jonathan Burke cooked something? That's not a miracle, hell's freezing over and the apocalypse must be coming." Clark laughed.

"Watch it, mister." Milly popped his butt and pulled him in the kitchen with her.

Chloe's eyes went wide and she turned to me. "What's that all about? Are they dating?"

"I'd say yes, but you couldn't get either of them to admit it if you tried. They're worse than junior high kids." I reached out and brushed my hand over her hip. "I got you something."

"What? When?" She took my hand and lifted it to her mouth, kissing my fingers softly as I watched her.

"Brian took me to get it. Come over here, and let me give it to you." I tugged my hand from her and moved over to my father's chair by the fire. I slumped down in it and pulled out the little red bag that had her necklace.

She got down on her knees in front of me and snuggled up close. "I like this position. Reminds me of the other day on your couch."

I shook my head and handed her the bag. "You're just trying to get me in trouble with my father, aren't you?"

"Would he be mad?"

"If I was sporting a boner around a pretty girl on Christmas? Yes." I laughed, unable to help myself.

She started to open the bag, and I reached out and stopped her. "What?"

I cleared my throat. "I just want you to know that whatever decision you came to last night, I'll fully support it. The gift goes wherever you do. Promise me?"

"I promise." She smiled and pulled out the box, opening it and letting out a short gasp. "Oh my God. It's beautiful, Finn. I love it."

"It's an infinity heart. It says that I'll love you forever... no matter what."

Tears filled her eyes and I knew I'd done good.

"Put it on me?" She moved up into my lap and I worked to get it on her, taking more time than necessarily to keep her where she was.

"It looks beautiful one you, but anything you wear does." I pulled her to me and kissed her mouth softly several times. "Can you stay with me tonight?"

"Of course." She move back down on the floor and handed me a box. "This one is just a practical gift. I found it and it reminded me of you."

I opened it and found a box of my favorite cologne. Lifting it to my nose, I breathed in deeply. "I love this stuff. You like it too?"

"I like you." She smiled and handed me an envelope. "Open it and I'll explain once you do."

"Okay." I took a shaky breath, not caring about the gifts, but the conversation to come. I was getting mixed signals left and right and honestly didn't know what to think about whether she planned to stay in Aspen or not. She hadn't mentioned getting back to any friends or a new apartment or anything, but she hadn't mentioned staying either.

I unfolded a white sheet of paper and let my eyes scan over it, trying to focus on the gift and not the different points in my head that I planned to give her to convince her to stay with me.

"It's the old Vanning Place. I don't know if you know where it is, but my father said..."

"Wait. What?" I pulled the page up to my face and scanned it, realizing that it was a deed to half the property. "Oh my God, Chloe...who's is this?"

She moved up to hover in front of me and pointed to the owner’s name.

Finn J. Warner.

"What? I don't understand." I tugged the paper down as my heart sped up. "You're giving me half of the Vanning Mansion?"

"Yes." She sat back on her heels looking quite satisfied with herself.

"Who has the other half?" I moved down to my knees in front of her, trying to be careful of my cast, but not really giving a shit about it.