6.
Finn bought them beer after beer and each time they chinked them together in celebration. Their conversation flowed easily and he told her that he had been at the resort staying in a friend’s lodge for the past couple of weeks and was on leave from the military. Chloe listened with intrigue as he told her about his experiences in the town, but when she tried to ask him more about his life at work, he clammed up and seemed to veer off the subject.
“I’m originally from Alaska,” he said as he swigged his beer. “But I’ve been away from there for a long time.”
“Well I’m glad you’re here tonight,” she said bravely, the alcohol helping her to loosen up. “Otherwise I’d be sat here alone.”
“I’m glad too,” he smiled warmly as their eyes locked together again.
The bell rang behind the bar for last orders and he motioned to the bartender to bring them another. Since Finn had walked in, time had gone crazily fast and she couldn’t believe it was almost midnight. Each time she looked into his eyes, she felt herself being pulled more into his world, as if they had known each other a lot longer than a couple of hours. Each time he opened his mouth to laugh and flashed his glistening white teeth she found her heart racing just a little bit more and her pulse thumped through her veins with excitement.
“So,” he smiled, “Let me walk you home?” he got to his feet and held out his arm like a gentleman.
Chloe felt like she was blushing crimson, and although she wanted him to, she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
“Let him,” the bartender said sensing her hesitation. “The woods aren’t safe at this time of night.”
Chloe’s heart rate quickened.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“There’s been a bear seen around here recently, a big bear… some people say its white,” the bartender snorted at the end of his sentence.
“A big, white… bear?” Chloe asked with amusement.
“Yep,” the bartender nodded. “Don’t shoot the messenger, but that’s what I’ve been told… people have to be careful out there walking back… who knows what may wander out and…you know…” he made a claw with his hand and ripped at the air.
Chloe stepped back and wrinkled her nose and Finn shifted uneasily next to her.
“Come on,” he said, dismissing the barman’s story. “Let me walk you back.”
As they approached her lodge Finn looked into her eyes and smiled.
“It was lovely to meet you Chloe,” he said as he brushed the stray strand of hair behind her ear.
She looked up at him and felt the world around them begin to blur. As she leaned forward and wrapped her arm around his waist and he pulled her against him, her whole body felt on fire. Their kiss was electric and as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and their lips brushed softly together, she felt like she could have been jelly in his arms.
Chloe had never felt like this before… and she had only known him a couple of hours. Finn had the kind of personality that made it seem as if they had been friends for years, and he was so sexy, so confident and comfortable in his own skin, that it was a huge turn-on.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked as he stared into her eyes.
“Going out with you,” she smiled.
Finn nodded with a huge grin on his face and leant in and kissed her once more.
“Meet me at the bar at eight,” he said as he turned on his heel and stepped back into the snow.
He waited as Chloe climbed the steps to the lodge and opened the door. As she stepped inside she waved to him and smiled.
“Tomorrow at eight,” he repeated.
“Tomorrow at eight,” she nodded and waved.
As she closed the door behind her she breathed a huge sigh and couldn’t help her grin from reaching ear to ear.
I have a date, she thought. I’ve been here for less than a day… and already I’ve met someone and I have a date… this is shaping up to be the best Christmas ever!
She locked the door and turned out the lights in the lodge before she crept up the stairs so as to not wake her mom and brother. As she slipped into her warm bed and pulled the covers around her she felt genuinely happy for the first time in a long time. She would never be able to thank her dad enough. This vacation was exactly what she needed.