Bad Professor (An Alpha Male Bad Boy Romance) (80 page)

"Nice to see you again. Stay in
touch." I moved toward the opening Chloe had disappeared into.

"How, Finn? I don't have your
number."

I called out some random digits and sucked
in, forcing my legs to move faster. She'd be half way down the hill by now, and
she was.

I let out a long sigh and cupped my hands
around my mouth. "Chloe, wait for me at the bottom and I'll explain."

She stopped expertly and turned to face
me, skiing backwards as she lifted her hands to her mouth. "Not a chance,
handsome, and call me baby. Seems a popular go-to for guys like you. Thanks for
the lesson."

"Son of a bitch." I shook my
head and let out a chuckle. The little tart knew how to ski all along.
Was she just playing with me?
Somehow I
didn't mind one bit. Now to figure out who she was and how to find her.

Chapter
7

Chloe

Unbelievable.

I finished the run and moved toward the
lodge as fast as I could, not wanting Finn to catch up to me. He was a player
and a half, and while I didn't want to be interested in him, I was.

It was as if fate pulled together every
descriptor I'd given Jessie in the car for my perfect boyfriend and created
this sexy hunk who looked like sin, was good to the town’s people, and knew how
to take care of a woman in the sheets. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't
date anyone who wasn't classified as a man whore. Bad sex was the hardest thing
to get over in a relationship. Jessie called me shallow on more than one
occasion over it – until it happened to her. Then she saw the light.

Finn.
What an interesting name.

The man was sexy as hell, incredibly
sweet, and funny to boot. His sense of fashion might not be spot on, but did I
really want a man correcting my drawings and trying to butt into my designs?
No.

His dark brown hair and warm chestnut eyes
were my favorite combination. The almond color of his skin combined with the
small spray of freckles across his nose left me wanting to pant. he had strong
shoulders and chest muscles, which I
accidentally
got to feel when he tugged me back toward him.

"And, his cologne. Fuck me, his
smell." I groaned and moved into the ski lodge as an elderly couple gave
me a look due to my choice of words, no doubt. "I'm sorry."

I walked to the ski rental and turned my
gear in, grabbed my keys, and walked quickly to the parking lot. My father had
several vehicles available for me to choose from, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee
was the winner every time. It was spacious and luxurious, but left me feeling
safe.

The drive home was a bit tumultuous, but I
made it without much more than my nerves being on edge.

"You guys home?" I called out as
I walked into the house.

"I'm in my room. You have fun?"
Parker walked out of his bedroom, still in his pjs and a t-shirt.

"Yeah, actually I did." I
shrugged and put my stuff on the counter. "I forgot that I actually
enjoyed skiing."

"See? I told you there was things
about this place to love."

"Yeah? Like you." I reached out
and ruffled his hair.

"Speaking of your adoration for your
one and only brother..." He reached out and tugged on one of the ropes to
my hoodie.

"You want food?" I asked.

"God, yes, but no vegetables. I
already had mine for the day." He moved to sit at one of the stools by the
breakfast nook.

"Oh, yeah? What veggies did you
eat?" I walked to the fridge and pulled out various cold cuts and cheeses.

"I had Cheetos and green gummy worms.
I'm thinking that's pretty damn close to carrots and celery." He snorted.

"You're an idiot." I rolled my
eyes and worked on getting him something better to eat. "So, I met this
guy in town today. He seems to be a local."

"Yeah? What's his name?"

"Finn. I didn't get his last
name." I shrugged and handed him the plate.

"Oh, yeah. He's the town slut. My
friends are always talking about wanting to be like him."

"How do you have friends here?"

I made myself half a sandwich and glanced
at the clock. I had twenty minutes before I had to put it in high gear. I was
surprised that Cindy wasn't at the house already.

"You know Dad and I spend the fall
here." My brother lifted his eyebrow and I nodded, not willing to admit
that I'd gotten so wrapped up in my own stuff that I hadn't realized that they
were in Colorado all fall. When I called them, I dialed their cell, which was
an Arizona area code.

"So, this Finn guy is a big fat
no?"

"Um, yeah. Unless you like being used
for the night and tossed away."

I picked up my lunch and walked away, not
ready to have any kind of sexual discussions with my teenage brother. A shiver
ran through me and I made a sound of disgust at the thought.

"Yep. He's gross. Stay away."

"Done," I called over my
shoulder and walked into my room to start sorting through what I would be
wearing for the evening.

I texted my friends to see where everyone
was. The twins were an hour out of the city and Cindy was headed my way.

It was decided that it would be easier to
meet at a nice little Italian place in the center of town rather than all the
way out at my father's house. I dropped the phone on the bed and lamented over
the fact that Finn wouldn't be able to find me. If I wanted to see him again,
I'd have to find him or
bump
into
him.
Why do things always have to be so
damn difficult?

I dressed in a cute skirt and tight top
before choosing a pair of heels and fixing my hair and makeup in order to
impress my friends properly. We all came from wealthy families, and it seemed
like the first thirty minutes of any get together was catching each other up on
what we did or didn't have, as well as eying each other's clothes and jewelry.
Some part of me wanted to cancel for the evening, but it would look bad and I'd
never hear the end of it.

"Besides, getting out will be good
for me."

I leaned in toward the bathroom mirror and
put a second coating of dark pink lipstick on my lips. I looked like a Barbie
doll, which was annoying. No man treated a woman who looked like me seriously,
especially when I dolled myself up.

"What are you doing in there?"
My brother beat at the door and I yanked it open.

"Oh, great. You're going out with
this guy, anyway?"

"No. Some old friends are coming into
town. We're going to dinner and maybe a movie."

"Go dancing. There's a new club my
friend's sister was raving about the other day. It's one block from Dad's
store, though I can't remember the name of it to save my life."

I nodded and turned around. "Do I
look alright?"

"Like my undercover gamer
sister." He shrugged and walked back down the hall as I laughed.

"Gee, thanks, buddy."

"Anytime."

* * * *

I walked into the restaurant and handed
the guy my coat at the front, worrying a little at first about being
overdressed until the host showed me to our table.

My three friends were already there and
let out loud squeals as I approached.

Momentary warmth flooded me and it was
good to see old familiar faces. I hugged each of them and took my seat beside
Cindy.

"You look incredible. The sun has
done so much for your complexion. I love it." Janet reached for her wine
and smiled.

"I agree. Do you dye your hair or is
that natural?" Her twin sister, Kinsey, ran her fingers through her long
brown strands as she tilted her head and studied me.

Lovely.
The microscope light has been turned on.

"All natural, girls." I smiled
and turned to Cindy. "How was the flight? The traveling? The family?"

We each took turns going around the table
throughout dinner to update everyone on the happenings in each of our lives.
Cindy had seen the world, Kinsey had her own million-dollar on-line business,
and Janet had published her fifth book.

"How about you?" Cindy sat back
and rubbed at her stomach. "Tell us everything."

"Well, I just graduated from UCLA
with my design degree, so now I'm working on starting my own company, which
should launch next spring." I glanced down at my top. "I designed
this bad-boy."

"Oh, nice!" Kinsey reached
across the table and ran her fingers over the fabric at my shoulder.
"Feels so good. I'm impressed."

"Is your dad supplying the seed
funding?" Cindy asked and lifted her hand to take the check from the
waiter.

"Yes, but you know him and his rules.
I'm stuck here for the next few weeks, and if I can stick it out for the
holidays, he'll help me." I tried to overemphasize how put out I was by
the demand,
 
since they expected me to be
bratty and catty like we all were in high school.

"That’s dumb." Kinsey rolled her
eyes. "So...what's up next? Shopping? Movie? Dancing?"

"I wouldn't mind checking out the new
dance club that opened in the center of town." I shrugged. "Some of
the guys here are incredibly hot."

"Yes, and being here for the night
means only one thing..." Cindy smiled nefariously.

"One night stand!" Kinsey and
Janet yelled in tandem.

I glanced around as several people from
nearby tables looked our way. Heat rose up my chest and coated my cheeks.

"I love them. So much easier than
relationships, don't you think, Chloe?" Cindy turned her dark eyes on me.
She was beautiful, the exotic one out of the four of us. Her mother was Asian
and her father Hispanic. She was never without a boyfriend back in high school.
I had no doubt that not much had changed.

"Love 'em." I turned my
attention to my wine and emptied the glass.

"I want to find a local boy. The town
whore." Kinsey wagged her eyebrows. "You know, every town has one and
this place is so big that I bet there's one for each of us."

I stiffened at the thought of seeing Finn
with any of my friends. Anger rose sharply inside of me and I stood, having to
excuse myself to the bathroom. How people could be such assholes was beyond me.
Not that Finn didn't set himself up to be used, but still.

I walked into the bathroom and moved to
the sink, washing my hands and checking myself out in the mirror. I wasn't
beyond dancing with a few boys, but going home with one of them meant that the
possibility of a second date was highly probable from both sides. Sleeping with
someone only to have them lose my number the next day was too much for me. My
friends...not so much.

I walked back out to find them all waiting
by the front door, giddy with anticipation.

"You ready?" Cindy slipped her
arm into mine and pulled me to the front door. "You drive. I want to get
trashed."

"Absolutely." I pulled the keys
from my purse and glanced at her. “Where is your luggage?”

“I dropped it off at the hotel next door
where Kinsey and Janet are staying before meeting you.” Cindy smiled. “It’s
right next door. Remind me to get it when we get done tonight.”

The twins were giggling furiously about
something and I couldn't help but smile. They were identical, both of them with
brown hair and green eyes. There wasn't anything that made them stand out from
the next girl, but they were wild women and knew how to get attention when they
wanted it.

"Your dad finally dating?" Cindy
asked as we walked through the dark parking lot.

"He's turned into a man whore,
too." I shook my head and unlocked the car.

"That's not good," Cindy said as
she moved around the SUV and got in. "You think he's just still hurt over
your mom?"

"I guess. He and I don't speak much.
I bitch at him about his diet, and he grunts at me and reminds me how unworthy
I am for everything I have." I buckled up and lamented over the fact that
I wouldn't be getting drunk. It seemed like the only way I might find relief.
Seeing that I wasn't going to do it alone and yet had no friends, tonight had
been my only chance.

"I'm sorry to hear that. He's always
been a jerk like that, though. You know you’re beautiful, talented, and
everything you should be." She reached over and squeezed my shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, and I've missed you."

"I’ve missed
 
you, too." I turned on the lights and
pulled the car out into the road as the girls in the backseat started giggling.

The stories they shared left me wondering
where my friends from school where. The hookers in the car with me and Cindy
were a hoot to watch sober. I was almost scared to see them drunk.

* * * *

"I love this place!" Kinsey
danced around, throwing her hands up in the air and sloshing her beer all over
her sister.

"Hey, bitch. Watch your drink,"
Janet laughed and turned to the bartender. "Another round, please."

He looked over at me and I nodded before
shaking my head and smiling.

"You want another Coke, pretty
girl?" He leaned over and tapped the bar between us. He was handsome and
looked like he belonged with me in California.

"Nope. I'm going to float out of here
if I'm not careful."

"One beer won't hurt, unless you're a
lightweight." He lifted his eyebrow and I chuckled.

"I had a glass of wine at dinner;
besides, I'm not used to driving in the snow. I'm from Los Angeles."

"What? Me, too." He chuckled and
extended his hand. "Caleb. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Chloe. What are you doing here
in Aspen?"

"Taking a break for the winter. I
love the sun and the snow, so half a year there, half here." He shrugged.
"Living the life, I guess."