She looked up with seriousness on her pretty face. "And, no more listening to what my father thinks. It's me you’re dating. Not him."
"Are we dating?" I chuckled as she narrowed her eyes on me. "Right. Dating."
"Unless you don't want to."
I slid my hand into her hair and pulled at the back of her head, needing to taste her again. I kissed her long and hard, probing deep into her mouth and echoing her groans with a few of my own.
"I'm here to stay, girl. If you want to get rid of me, you're going to have to try hard."
"Or just piss you off and you'll throw yourself off a snowy mountain." She nipped at my lips and laughed. "Too soon? Too much?"
"Yes, you wicked bitch."
She laughed and sat up. "So, I figure you spend Christmas with your father, but I want a night with you right before or right after. I got you a few things and I want to watch you open them."
"Chloe. I told you that I didn't want anything."
She turned and pressed her fingers to my lips. "I know that, but I'm a woman. We do what we want to, when we wanna do it."
"Why is that hot all of a sudden?"
"Because you're turned on." She brushed the back of her fingers over my arousal and pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. "I wonder if they would bother us if I got under the covers."
I growled and shook my head. "No. I'd never hear the end of it. This town is too damn small."
She chuckled and stood up. "I'm glad you're awake. I knew you were going to be okay, but there's always that part inside that feeds the doubt and fear, you know?"
"I do." I reached out and took her hand into mine. "Hey, there's an incredible festival of lights in downtown during the week of Christmas. Do you remember it from when you were a kid?"
"I do." Her eyes lit up. "Man, it's been so long since I've seen it, though."
"Let me take you?"
She glanced down at my cast before giving me a cocky smile. "How about I take you?"
"Either way. As long as I'm with you, I don't care."
"I feel the same way." She leaned over and tucked herself against me, right where she belonged.
Chapter 27
Chloe
I left the hospital later that night and slept for twelve straight hours in my bed. Brian wanted some time with Finn and I was beyond exhausted. I made sure to text him most of Thursday, but we decided that he would spend some time with his dad and then we would get together on Friday, so I could help him settle back into his house. Brian was staying Friday night, but I wasn't missing the opportunity to go over and spend a few minutes with him. I'd had all the patience I could with not seeing him. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in my feelings.
He was grumpy from us not seeing each other, too, but his family wanted his time, and I really needed to work out a few things with my dad.
After taking a quick shower, I braided my hair, put on some comfy clothes, and walked out into the living room. Parker was playing video games on the big screen, which was out of the ordinary.
"Morning," I mumbled as I walked toward the kitchen. "Where's Dad?"
"Hey, Sis. He's in the garage."
I didn't waste any time finding him, though I could think of a million other things that I'd rather have done. The tension between us had only grown worse, and I had to hope that some of it was due to the fact that he knew that he was responsible for Finn going up on Bear Creek Mountain. If it wasn't, then I didn't know my father at all, nor did I want to.
I poked my head in the garage to find him putting chains on the gray Lexus he loved to drive.
"Dad, you got a minute?"