Текст книги "25 Days"
Автор книги: Claire Adams
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 16 страниц)
Chapter 3
Chloe
My alarm decided not to go off the next morning, which had me running around our small dorm room like my butt was on fire. Jessie worked to help me get things together, but between the two of us, I was still going to barely make my flight.
"I'll take you. You can't take the car, anyway." She opened the door and pulled the largest of my suitcases out into the hall.
I manhandled the other three somehow and growled under my breath as hip hop music filled the hall.
"Why did we have a whole bottle of wine last night? Who thought that was a good idea?"
I moved behind her as fast as I could, luckily only stumbling over my luggage three times, but never actually hitting the ground.
"Chloe! Where are you going?" Three girls from the cheerleading squad moved out into the hall behind me.
"Home for the holidays. You guys have fun."
"We will!" They yelled in unison and I had to force myself to return their enthusiasm with a big smile.
"Wine is good for the heart," Jessie mumbled and moved out of the building, holding the door for me. "Maybe it was just supposed to be a glass, but just think, we're all good now for at least a few weeks."
I smirked and flinched thanks to the sharp pain that laced my skull. "I'm praying I get a seat next to a businessman who reads the paper the entire time."
"You in coach, or flying with the wealthy today?"
"First class. You know how my father is."
I loaded my stuff in the trunk and got in the car as quickly as I was able. Wine had never been a good choice for me, but it was Jessie's favorite, so I relented the night before. The queasiness that sat in the center of my stomach reminded me why I should have denied her.
"Are you excited about seeing your brother?" She got in the car and pulled out of the driveway before punching the gas.
I buckled quickly and gave her a wide-eyed look only to get a laugh in response.
"Yeah. He's a total gamer, but I was when I was younger, too. I still play with him, but no one knows that."
"Your secret is safe with me." She winked and nodded to the Starbucks. "Want a coffee?"
"No, my stomach is killing me. We're never going to make it in time, are we?"
"Nope. Might want to let your Dad know." She pulled into the Starbucks anyway. "I need something if we're not in a huge rush."
"Get me a peppermint hot chocolate and I'll pay." I handed her my card. She knew better than to combat me on it. My father had enough money to go around and the majority of my monthly budget went untouched. I paid – a lot.
She ordered while I dug my phone out of my purse and took a deep breath. Calling my father for something good was hard, but having to tell him I hadn't met his expectations in any way, shape or form sucked horribly.
"Chloe. What's wrong?" His voice was deep and filled with parental sternness.
"Missed my flight."
"How is that possible seeing that it leaves in forty minutes?"
"My alarm didn't go off, Dad. I set it and of course on the only day this week that it mattered, it didn't work." I pressed my fingers to my forehead and closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was start an argument with my Dad over the damn alarm clock, but no doubt we were quickly headed that way.
"Then you should have set two alarms. The flight won't wait on you. It's called being responsible. These things cost money." His tone darkened, leaving me feeling like a child again.
"I'll pay for the flight change," I spoke through clenched teeth.
Jessie reached over and squeezed my hand, mouthing, 'It’s okay. Just breathe'.
"With what money, Chloe? Your card is linked to my account. You're not working, remember?"
"I'll see you when I get to Aspen, Dad. I'll text Parker just before I get on whatever flight I end up on. Thanks for understanding. Hugs and kisses." I hung up and turned my phone on silent as anger burst through me and tears filled my eyes. "Why the fuck am I even going there?"
"Because you need to see your brother and this is going to be a great way to get starter money for your company."
"I don't want his money. He's going to be up the crack of my ass the entire holiday and then he'll tell me why I have something else to prove before he cuts me the check." I took my drink as Jessie extended it to me. "And you know what else?"
"Tell me."
"Him investing in my company is a horrible idea. That means he has some kind of control over it. Over me!" I was being overly dramatic, but I couldn't help it. The bastard had been nothing but a thorn in my side and a constant whisper over my shoulder that I wasn't good enough.
"Take a deep breath and drink your hot chocolate. This is a win-win situation and your Dad will always be the kind of guy he is."
"He didn't use to be." I reached up and wiped at my tears, thankful that I had no makeup on due to my lack of time to apply it. "When my mom was alive he was..." My throat tightened and I shook my head. "Never mind. I don't want to talk about this."
My mother's death changed us all, but having happened so long ago, I would have thought we could all move past it enough to reconnect as a family. Parker and I had, but my father was an island to himself.
"Maybe it's time to forgive each other and help him start dating again. It's been eight years since you lost your mom?"
"Yeah. I was sixteen." I wiped the back of my long-sleeve t-shirt across my face. "I don't even know if he's dated anyone."
"Maybe he's bitter, Chloe." She offered me a kind smile and I nodded, hating the painful emotions that raged through me.
"Maybe. I'm grateful for his money, but I think I'm just so pissed that he has nothing else to offer." I sniffled and leaned back in my seat, unsure of what to think about the upcoming events that had the power to change my life. "He's all I have, you know?"
"I don't know, but I'm here for you. Find the fun and the good in this trip, okay? I know you and if nothing else, you're a positive person."
I nodded again and closed my eyes, laying my hand on top of hers and trying to steel my resolve to be the bigger person no matter what.
* * * *
"I'm sorry about your situation this morning, Miss Burke." The pretty flight attendant glanced up from her computer to me and back down again.
"It's my fault. I should have set two alarms, I guess." I shrugged and offered the woman a warm smile.
"No. These things happen to us all." She pressed her finger to her lips and clicked a few buttons on her keypad. "We have two more flights today. One leaves in three hours and the next around five tonight. It's a late flight, which you might not want, but it's up to you."
"A three hour wait or a nine hour wait? I'm going three hour."
I pulled out my phone to text my father, but decided against it. If something happened, God-forbid, and I had to text him again, he would blow a gasket that was likely to hit me all the way in California.
"Sounds good. I'll change your ticket and we'll see you at gate B-25 in two hours or so. Let’s get your bags checked in for the new flight, then you can go grab you a good book and try and relax."
She handed me the new boarding pass. Getting my luggage checked in was a nightmare and a half, but everything had to get out of the dorms. They closed down during the week of Christmas for cleaning. Besides, I was done at UCLA anyway. My time was over and now I was on the road full speed ahead to growing up.
The thought was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.
I took her suggestion after getting through security. A romance novel and a snickers bar would be more than enough fun to get me through the short wait. My father would be angry, but he would get over it. Besides, there would certainly be something else to stoke his angst over before too long. Nothing we ever did was right. How anyone worked for him was beyond me.
I checked my phone again as I slumped down in a cold plastic chair and had a few texts from Jessie and one from Seth, but nothing from my Dad. That I expected him to start caring any minute about how it might feel for me to be stuck at the airport alone was stupid. I was a grown-ass woman, as he had reminded me many times over the last few years, and honestly he was right. I was twenty-three and had a masters degree. I'd say that was pretty much grown.
After spending the first hour trying to get into the romance novel, and not getting anywhere, I pulled out my small sketch pad and let out a long breath. I needed to work on a few new designs for my spring line that I wanted to kick off my new venture with. I let my eyes wander around, taking in the styles and color palates of the better dressed females walking through the airport and let my mind explode with options.
My fingers scribbled furiously as I sketched out three new tops and a short summer dress that would only do well in warm weather states.
"Attention all United passengers on Flight 2543. We're looking for anyone who might take a two hundred dollar voucher to move to the five o'clock flight. We're a packed flight today and we have a standby passenger who's in need of getting home. If you're willing, please come visit us at the desk."
"Nope," I muttered and turned my attention back to my drawing.
Someone dropped down in the seat next to me with a loud sigh and I glanced over, the young guy appearing to be nineteen or twenty.
He looked my way and nodded. "Hi."
"Hi." I returned to my project, not at all wanting to start a conversation with a stranger. I didn't like half my friends and most of my family. Strangers were definitely out.
"That's pretty." He leaned a little closer as his dark grey eyes moved across my sketch pad. He was attractive, but in a rock star sort of way. The tats on his arms were done in various colors, some of them beautiful and some not so much. He had to have let a drunken friend do a few of them.
"Oh. Thanks." I set the pad down in my lap and turned to him, resigning myself to a short conversation. "You heading home for the holidays?"
"Trying to." He lifted a can of sprite to his lips and took a long drink. "My parents are in Maine and for some damn reason I'm supposed to stop through Colorado to get there. I've been bumped from the flight, so it looks like a long afternoon."
"Sorry to hear that." I crossed my legs and glanced down at my sketch pad, not really sorry at all.
"Yeah. That call they put over the intercom was for me."
That got my attention. "Why are you so desperate to get on this next flight? The connector flights all booked up if you don't make this one?"
"There's that, and the fact that my mother is going into emergency surgery at seven tonight." He shrugged, turning his gaze away from me.
"Oh. That's not good." I didn't want to dive into her personal business, but he was leaving me little choice in the matter.
"She's been battling cancer for the last two years, but I guess it's metastasized. She's not doing well." He reached up and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as my heart ran cold.
His story was a little too similar to mine.
"I'm so sorry. Maybe this surgery will be exactly what she needs." My phone buzzed and I lifted it to my face, grateful for the momentary break.
Dad: The change in flight was $200. I'll add that to your ever-expanding tab.
"How much was the voucher for someone willing to go later?" I moved to the edge of my seat as the desire to do something good left me overwhelmed.
"$200, but it’s okay. I'm sure it will all get worked out."
"Watch my stuff." I got up and walked up to the podium, sliding my ticket across to the flight attendant. "I'd like to give up my seat to that guy over there and I'll take the later flight."
"Are you sure, Miss Burke? You were scheduled on the earlier flight and are already going to be arriving late."
"I'm sure."
"It's first class and the next flight only has coach."
"That's okay. I don't mind at all. Just apply the voucher to the fee you charged my father for me missing the first flight. Less for me to hear about later." I laughed, feeling good about my decision.
"The fee has been waived, and we'll just give you the voucher for your kindness."
"Oh no, I don't want it. Apply it to the guy over there. Give him a break. I'm blessed as it is."
Her smile was filled with warmth as she nodded. "Will do. Merry Christmas."
"You too." I walked back over and reached out, patting the stranger on the hand. "It's all fixed. You're in my seat and the drinks are free. If you look as young as you are, no asking for one."
He sat up as tears filled his eyes. "Are you shitting me?"
"No. Merry Christmas." I smiled and turned back to my drawing, letting out a yelp as he pulled me into an awkward side hug.
He thanked me ten times by the time the flight was called. I didn't think it was appropriate to tell him that his story echoed mine, but it was a good reminder that the world didn't revolve around me. It was a lesson I wished my Dad would learn.
* * * *
"Tell me why the hell we're picking you up twelve hours later than we should have been." My father barked at me as he loaded up the back of the SUV with me beside him. Parker was already in the backseat, obviously not wanting to hear the fight that was sure to happen.
"Some guy's mom was dying. I gave him my seat." I turned and walked to the passenger's side door and got in.
"Everyone dies, Chloe." My Dad got in and gave me a stern look as he buckled up, letting out a huff.
"Yep, but it's nice to get to hold their hand as they go. The airport waived the fee, so that's one less thing for you to pop a vein over." I dug in my purse, hoping to avoid the daggers he was throwing my way.
"Time is money. We've been waiting around all day."
"Sorry." I shrugged, looking like the apathetic teenager he expected me to be.
"Right. Thanks." His tone let me know that the conversation was over, and I was relieved to have it as such.
The ride home was tense, but the minute we arrived at my father's large log cabin, excitement sprouted in my belly and I couldn't wait to check out the rooms and snuggle up with my brother.
"I'll help Sis get the bags out of the car. You're going to be late if you don't get going." Parker leaned up between our seats and patted our father on his arm.
"Right. You guys order take-out and have it delivered. I'll be back late tonight." He put the car in park and glanced over at me. "We're glad you're here."
"We're glad I am too, Dad. Thanks for the ride."
I got out of the car and moved to the back, helping Parker with my stuff as my Dad stayed in the comfortable warmth of the car. It was freezing outside and the winter wind blew violently, forcing my teeth to start chattering.
"Why do you have to always egg him on?" Parker grabbed two of the bags and hauled them to the large ornate house.
"Me?" I grabbed the rest and walked to the house, knowing my father would close the hatch.
"Yes. He's trying." Parker stopped and typed in a code at the side door before opening it and struggling through with my stuff.
"Trying? Is that a fucking joke?" I muscled the rest of the stuff in and closed the door, pausing to breathe in the vanilla and cinnamon scent that reminded me of home.
"You know he has a hard time around Christmas." Parker turned and pinned me with a stare, which lasted two seconds. His lips turned up in a smile and he moved around the bags, pulling me into a tight hug. His lanky arms were finally taking shape and his voice was much deeper than it was the last time I'd seen him.
"We all do," I whispered and buried my face against my brothers chest. He had to be a foot taller than me, his last growth spurt astounding.
"Forget about Dad and everything else. Order something from Jerry's and meet me in my room. I'll get everything set up. You're up for a night of ultimate gamer, right?"
"Hell yes." I kicked off my shoes and pulled my hair down before moving toward the phone. "Where is Dad going anyway?"
"A date..." my brother called behind him.
He disappeared down the long hallway that lead to far too many childhood memories for me to forget anything, least of all the need for my father's attention.
Chapter 4
Finn
The day moved by faster than I imagined possible, and I arrived at my last location an hour early. I'd have to call Brian back and take him up on the beer. Spending too much time alone left me with my thoughts, which was never a good thing. That or call Terri to see if she were up for a long night of passion.
"You deleted her number, dumb ass,” I growled and walked to the door, knocking loudly three times and moving back.
The pretty red-head that came to the door smiled seductively. "Wow. What are you selling? Cause I'm pretty sure I'm buying."
I chuckled and shook my head. "You or someone you live with already purchased it, so no selling happening here. I'm Finn, from Warner Removal Services. Just wanted to let you know who I was so you didn't worry over some random dude shoveling your front yard."
"Well, thank you Finn from Warner Removal Services. I'm Katie and we're just renting the house for the upcoming weekend. I'm from Florida." She glanced out past me and shivered. "I thought this would be far more fun, but it's hellaciously cold."
"That's winter in Colorado, ma'am. Well, don't let me bother you. I'll get this done and come back for payment later." I winked at her and figured with a little bit of flirting my night would be taken up quite nicely.
"What forms of payment do you take?" She bit at her lip in a way that would have made me blush as a younger man. Women were a dime a dozen and it seemed vacation left them horny and far more willing to sleep with some random local than the might otherwise be inclined to do. It was good for me, so I wasn't complaining.
"Well, the invoice is payable by cash, check, or card." I licked at my lips and let my eyes run down her curvy frame. "If you’re wanting to help a poor guy like myself warm up, then a cup of coffee and dinner at Killingers in town would be perfect."
She beamed and I couldn't help but smile. Her thick red hair was silky looking and her blue eyes accented her heart-shaped face beautifully. Even as cute as she was, she wasn't at all my type, but truth be told, I wasn't sure there was a woman who was. I'd never run into anyone that I'd fallen over myself for. I could appreciate the beauty found in each woman I encountered, but in the twelve years of slutting around in Aspen, I'd never made the first move. I hadn't had to.
"I'd love that." She clapped her hands together and moved back into the house. Her tank top and sweats didn't seem to be thick enough to withstand the cold air blowing in from around me.
"Good. I'll see you shortly." I started to go, but stopped and pressed my hand to the door. "How old are you, Katie?"
"Twenty-three. You?"
"Same." I winked and turned, walking back out into the yard and shoving my hands in my pockets. I could pull off anything down to twenty-one, but sleeping with a girl under twenty was out. Hard lesson learned a few years back that most girls seemed less needy as they aged. I was far happier sleeping with women in their late twenties and thirties, but it was rare to find one that wasn't already taken.
She's out there... I just need to find her.
* * * *
I wrapped up the job and stopped by to let Katie know that I was going to run back by the warehouse and clean up, then I'd come pick her up. She wouldn't have any of it.
"I'll just go with you." She grabbed her purse and worked to button her white jacket. The fur hanging from the top of it let me know quickly that she was rich or her family was. Strike one.
"If you insist." I took the check she offered and scanned the place, looking for other family members. "Your folks out?"
"I'm here with friends this weekend. They're skiing this afternoon, but I wasn't at all interested." She slipped her arm into mine and smiled up at me. "You ready, handsome? I have some memories to make."
I smirked and held the door open for her. "Well, if you put it that way, then of course I'm ready. What better way to live forever than in the memories of a beautiful woman."
"Ahhh..." she glanced back as we walked to the truck. “That was crazy sweet. Why aren't you taken?"
"Haven't found the right woman yet." I opened the door for her and helped her get in.
She tugged me toward her and leaned in, brushing her lips against mine and giving me a sexy smile. "Maybe you just did."
"Maybe so." I pulled her down for a longer kiss, liking the smell of her perfume in combination with the taste of peppermint on her tongue.
She moved back a little breathless and pushed at me. "Let's go or I'll cancel our dinner plans and just eat you."
"Yeah, because that makes me want to leave your side of the truck." I shut her door and walked around the truck, worried that this girl might be a little too much. She wanted to make memories and be someone's someone.
Strike two. One more and I'd be ditching her, though she was a good kisser. I bet she'd had plenty of practice. Red-heads always were the wilder ones in the bedroom. I hadn't had one in a while, either. Maybe letting her slide by on some of the silly shit I was keeping up with in my head would make for a better evening.
I let out a breath I'd been holding and got into the truck.
"So tell me about this place you're taking me to for dinner."
"Killingers? It's home-cooking. So you have beef, chicken or fish, and a few southern style dishes like they would serve in Texas or someplace like that, I guess." I shrugged and pulled the truck into her cleared driveway before backing out and heading back to the shop.
"You're incredibly handsome, Finn." She reached out and brushed her fingers down my arm. "You work out?"
"I do, but this job keeps me in shape too." I reached up and turned on the heater before taking her hand and entwining my fingers with hers. It was going to be damn hard to keep my concentration on the road if she moved from petting my arm to my leg, which seemed to be where her line of sight was resting.
"I'm really surprised you're not with someone. Don't you live here?"
"I do." I focused on the road, figuring that she would start talking about herself or her friends sooner than later. Women seemed to need to fill the silence around them, like giving anyone time to think was a bad thing.
"I'm just surprised. My friend Krissy...she has this guy friend who's wicked hot like you, and he..."
I tuned her out, nodding where it seemed appropriate and throwing in a 'really' from time to time. By the time we pulled into my Dad's warehouse, I was getting a slight headache.
"Stay here, pretty girl. I'll keep the truck running. I'm just going to clock out and grab a different shirt."
"Sure, but change in here. I wanna see you." She bit her lip and smiled as I released her hand.
"Naughty. I like you already." I got out of the truck and slammed the door before jogging up to the open bay door. I rolled my eyes at the silly situations I got myself involved in and moved to clock out.
"It go okay today?" My Dad's voice was gruff behind me.
"Yeah. Got a date out of the deal and got done early. I'd say it was a good day." I clocked out and pulled the checks and receipts from my back pocket. "Here's this stuff."
He gave me a look as he took it from me. "Why can't you use the damn bank bag I gave you? You're a mess, boy. You gotta grow up."
"Really? I like the thought of never growing up. Like Peter Pan and shit."
My Dad rolled his eyes and turned, walking back into his office without another word.
"Right," I mumbled. "Love you too Dad. Great talk? Yeah, great talk."
I jogged down the long hall and walked into the men's locker room, stripping my sweaty clothes from my body and jumping in the shower for a quick scrub. I dressed as fast as possible, almost losing my footing and slamming into the lockers with my ass hanging out of my jeans. That would have been enough to have the other guys tease me for the rest of the year and all of the following one.
Checking myself in the mirror, I nodded. "Good enough."
My jeans, t-shirt and leather bomber would work for the date I had planned, and if things went off without a hitch, I'd be out of them before too much longer. Katie seemed like a girl who wanted to eat fast and then move onto the main course: me.
* * * *
"Dinner was good, hm?" I took Katie's hand as we left the restaurant, ready to get the rest of the night started and leave. The girl had bitched through the entire meal, unsatisfied with everything they brought out, and making the poor girl waiting on us miserable.
"It was okay." She shrugged and snuggled in closer to me. "You want to go back to my place or yours?"
"Yours if that's okay." I smiled down at her.
"Yeah. I'd love to show you off anyway." She giggled and I kept my comments to myself. It was girls like her that left me wanting to write women off fully. I wasn't a piece of meat to swing around like some fucked up accomplishment, though my Dad would tell me that I set myself up perfectly to be just that.
What man turns away sex? One with more class than me.
"Are we sharing me tonight?" I opened her door and she jerked back as if I'd slapped her.
It was almost comical. Almost.
"No." She moved to get in the truck and stopped. "Are you hoping that's going to happen? Because it's not. If I'm not enough woman for you, then just drop me off and we can end the date now."
Her mood turned from friendly and energetic into cold and unyielding.
"I'm a one woman, man, baby. Besides, I was just teasing you, silly girl." I popped her ass and helped her into the truck.
"Oh. I'm sorry." She fussed with her hair and turned her attention to the small mirror hanging above her head. "Silly me."
I closed the door and walked languidly in the snow back to my side of the truck. Some part of me wanted to keep walking, to find a park bench and just rest, but it was the same part of me that hoped for love. Seemed like no one in our town really fell in love. Plenty of people came to visit with loved ones, but finding love in a transient town? Not likely.
I got in the truck and turned the music up only to have her change the station. I started to tell her not to touch my shit, but decided it wasn't worth the fight. It was five minutes back to her place and the song wasn't too bad.
We pulled up and she got out of the car without waiting on me. Her energy seemed to have spiked again.
I got out and walked to the door with her practically bouncing on her toes. "I want you so bad."
"Oh yeah?" I glanced down at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she fumbled with her keys and opened the door.
"Fuck yes. You're like every girl's wet dream." She turned and pulled me into the house before kissing me hard.
The sound of giggles caused me to untangle myself from her. "Let me grab a glass of water and I'll meet you in your room. Which one?"
"Third one on the left." She turned her attention to the two girls in the kitchen, who were sharing a bottle of wine. "Look what I found shoveling snow in the yard. Can I keep him?"
They laughed and I smiled as if their taunting didn't bother me. I stopped by the sink and picked up a glass from the rack as I glanced at the other two.
"Ladies."
"Sexy snow shoveler." The blond one smiled and popped my butt before running down the hall toward her friend.
"Hey, I don't know you, but you look too much like my older brother not to say something."
I filled the glass with water and turned to the third girl. "What's that?"
"Katie has herpes, so make sure you have a condom. She doesn't tell guys and that shit gets on my nerves. There's no cure for the disease." She shrugged and turned from me. "Don't tell her I told you. Just consider it a warning. Most guys don't care."
I sat the glass down and pursed my lips. Herpes? Fuck.
"Yeah, I'm out. Tell her my grandmother called while I was standing here. Thanks for the head's up." I jogged to the door as the girl called after me.
I didn't stop until I made it to the truck, which of course wouldn't start. I hit my hands on the steering wheel and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to think through what to do. Calling my Dad seemed the easiest and most efficient way to get out of the shit storm that was headed my way if Katie came out of the front door. I hated lying and yet it was part of the deal. A true whore knew how to lie and do it well.
The house was only a half a mile from where I lived, but it was insanely cold. The sound of a door slamming caused me to duck. I peeked over the edge of the window to see Katie and one of her friends walking toward me. They were yelling at each other.
I tugged the keys from the car and moved along the floorboard to the other side. I opened the door and slipped out, barely shutting the door and being thankful for the lack of light thanks to the moon hiding somewhere.
I jogged down into the woods beside me and didn't stop until my legs gave out just before reaching my house. Pressing my back to a large pine tree, I looked up at the starless sky, wondering what the fuck I was doing.
There was so little I loved about my life and yet I was the only one able to change it.
"That's it. No more whoring around until after Christmas. 25 days. No sex unless I find the girl I want in my life and not just my bed."
I pressed my hands to my face and let out a long breath. I'd been with four to five different girls a week. Not sleeping with someone for twenty-five days was a little harsh, but something had to give. I couldn't keep living the way I was. I needed a change. Something to shake up my world and set me on the right course.
I needed a good woman. The right woman.
"Easier to find the abominable snowman out here," I grumbled and jogged across the street toward the house.
