With her jaw unhinged, she stared at the beautifully built timber masterpiece that Grayson Holtz called home.
He watched her, smiling, “You like my house?”
“It's so...” realizing the satisfaction radiating off him, she shut up. “It's alright.”
He cut the engine and exited out his door. Turning and offering her his hand, she took it, letting him pulled her out and slip to the ground against him.
A lump built in her throat as the seconds passed, his hands stopping on her elbows.
He leaned towards her, she guessed to kiss her, but she ducked out of his arms and walked around the front of the vehicle.
He walked to her and grabbed an extension cord from the ground, grumbling.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I'm plugging in my truck,” he attached the cords at the front bumper and took her hand, leading her to the front door.
Chloe glanced at the monstrous vehicle, “Why?”
“Block heater. Keeps it from freezing,” his voice was short and straight to the point as he hauled her across the deep snow and up the timber steps.
“Are your parents home?” she budded with anxiety.
He opened the front door and let her in first, not answering.
The warm, crisp smell of timber overtook her senses. It was a beautiful home and the scent only added to it.
He ripped off his jacket and hung it on the near coat rack, “I'll take your coat.” He came up behind her and she tensed, feeling his hands on her shoulders. Slipping out of it, she spun to face him as the soft voice of a woman called down the hall.
“Grayson, are you back, already?”
Chloe's eyes flew open, she didn't want to meet his parents. That could not happen!
Grayson hung her coat.
“Grayson, take me home!” She snapped.
“You said you'd come over.” he pouted and she wanted to slap him out of it.
A lean woman with the same height and beautiful features of her son, rounded the corner.
“Oh!” Smiling, she came towards them, “I'm Beth.”
Chloe stared at her, “Umm...”
Grayson stepped in, “Mom, this is Chloe. Henry's daughter.”
Beth looked to her son, then back to Chloe, “How nice to meet you, Chloe!” she cooed and hugged her. “Your father has told us so much about you!”
Chloe cringed, it was just her luck that the one boy that liked her knew everything about her, including his family.
“You too.” Chloe squeaked as the hug ended.
Beth, still smiling, invited her in, “I made cookies!”
“Yum.” Grayson smiled as they headed off towards a large kitchen full of cheery oak cabinets and granite counters.
Chloe stopped at his side, “How many people live here?”
Grayson smiled, “My family.”
“Which is?”
“My mom and dad, my youngest sister; Cherry and my younger brother; Ashton. Sometimes my older brother... but he's away.”
Being an only child, the information made her brain wrack, too many people to live with to stay sane in her opinion.
Beth arranged a plate of cookies and placed them on the island that hosted three barstools, “Milk?” she asked them.
Grayson nodded, “Thanks, Mom.”
Chloe stared down at the perfect, delicious looking morsels of food. Snatching one, she crammed it in her mouth. What else was there to do then to fill her mouth and be socially awkward in front of his mother?
“You didn't want to stay at the party?” Beth asked.
Grayson shrugged, “Pretty boring, if you ask me.”
“Ah,” Beth nodded, “Are you taking Chloe home soon?”
“Soon,” he answered.
“Henry was just here. Him and your father got a caribou,” Beth told them.
Grayson nodded, “Cool.”
The woman placed two glasses of ice cold milk in front of them while eyeing her son up with suspicion. Chloe noted the interaction and stuffed her mouth with another cookie.
“You two have fun...” she walked away to what looked to be the living room.
“Good cookies,” Chloe mumbled in between bites.
Grayson smiled, “I know.”
“So...” Chloe swallowed and took a gulp of milk. “Annie hates me.”
Grayson grunted, “So what?”
“All because of you,” she shot.
“No. I think Annie is just desperate.”
“She's basically obsessed with you,” Chloe ate more.
“Are you hungry?” Grayson noted her intake of the food.
Her cheeks heated, “I like food.”
“That's a good thing,” he grabbed a cookie and took a bite. “I like girls who eat.”
“Eat what?” she snapped her eyes to him.
He raised an eyebrow, “You went there, not me.”
She hit his shoulder and he laughed from her angry outburst, “I didn't go anywhere close to there!”
“So, what do you like to do... for fun?”
“Lay on the beach...” she remembered back to California in the sun, in her bikini on the beach with the waves and the ocean.
“The beach?” he scoffed. “What else?”
“I like... shopping,” she smiled, “I love shopping.”
Grayson grinned, “What else?”
She smiled back, not thinking twice, “I like wolves.”
His eyes flashed to her, she saw his hot glare hit a new high. Leaning in before she could register, he kissed her.
She let him, that felt awkward.
His hand wrapped her cheek and he deepened the kiss, bringing her closer.
Her small hands met his burly chest as she flew was warmth and excitement.
His tongue met hers as they tasted and enjoyed one other. Never in her life had she beckoned to a boy and though it frightened her; it left her wanting.
“Grayson,” called a sharp male voice.
They separated like lightening, both starting at Roger in the entrance of the kitchen.
“Hey, Dad.” Grayson crammed a cookie in his mouth.
Chloe's face was on fire as she swore under her breath.
“Chloe.” Roger acknowledged her.
Chloe forced herself to look and greet the man, “Hi.”
“What's up, Dad?” Grayson grunted.
Roger gave his son a hard look, “Where were you both tonight?”
“Party, Dad. Mom knew.”
Roger nodded, “Sure.” Giving them both a hard look, “Does Henry know about this?”
“What?” Grayson questioned.
“Grayson.” He shook his head as he walked out of the kitchen, “Have a good night!”
She snapped her head to Grayson immediately, “What was that all about?”
Grayson sighed, “I don't think he thinks Henry will approve.”
“Of what?”
He cocked his head and took another bite of cookie, smirking his stupid smirk.
She looked away, “I should go home.”
The house phone rang, cutting her off.
“It's only nine.” Grayson informed her.
“I should go,” she said, nervous.
Beth walked in, “Grayson, Henry is looking for Chloe.”
Chloe shot off the bar stool and tripped to the ground, grumbling, “Ow.”
Within seconds, she was back on her feet from Grayson's aid.
“Are you alright?”
Chloe brushed him off and looked to Beth, “He's looking for me?”
“Apparently some girls said that you had disappeared, they called the police.”
“Oh my god!” Chloe burst.
Grayson stayed quiet and still.
“Here.” Beth held out the phone and Chloe took it.
“Dad?”
“Chloe! I've been looking everywhere for you! Why did you lie to me?” He roared into the phone.
“I didn't.” she sighed, knowing better, she used to pull it on her mother all the time but this was Henry Pryce.
“You said you'd be at that Dayna girl's house! Her parents don't even know about it!”
“Okay, okay... I'm sorry, Dad.” rolling her eyes.
“Don't you start with your attitude, Chloe! You get one of the Holtz’s to bring you home immediately. You're grounded!” he shouted.
“What!” Chloe shrieked, “You can't do that! I'm almost eighteen!”
“Chloe, get your butt back here, now!”
“Fine!” she snapped and hung up on her father.
Beth and Grayson staring at her.
She swallowed, “I'm in trouble.”
Grayson sighed, “Let's go.” He grabbed another cookie and walked to the front door. Chloe gave the phone to Beth and ran to catch up with him.
“I'm sorry, Chloe if I got you in trouble.” Handing her coat to her.
Chloe smiled, “He grounded me. Henry Pryce... grounded his only daughter.”
Grayson stiffened, “Does this mean you can't go out on a date with me?”
“Seriously!” Chloe stared at him “Grayson!”
He zipped up his jacket. “Come on,” tugging open the front door for her.
She followed him out into the snowy freezer box of a state as they trudged towards the truck. Grayson unplugged the block heater as she got in.
Sitting at the far end, she did up her seat belt.
“I can talk to Henry for you. I can blame it on me.” Grayson offered.
Chloe rolled her eyes, “It was Dayna and Annie. They are obviously mad at me.”
“About what?” he grunted.
“You,” she snapped. “And it's not like I pursued you, you just decided to take up an obsession with me!”
Grayson smirked, “An obsession?”
“Isn't that what it is?” she shot, “Aren’t you obsessed with me!” Her voice was mean, she knew that but she was angry.
He sighed, “It's a pull.”
“Stop saying that!” she snapped.
He grunted and pulled the truck out on the highway, “I'm sorry you're in trouble, but Chloe, you made your bed. You shouldn't have lied to Henry.”
“How'd you know I lied to Henry!” she snapped.
He glanced at her, “I could hear the phone conversation.”
She rolled her eyes, “Thanks for your expert opinion, Grayson. Next time, I'll make sure to tell my dear old Daddy everything.” she felt guilt towards what she'd said to him, “Sorry, Grayson. I was just making friends and now they hate me and...”
“Are Annie and Dayna really worth the headache?”
“They're my only friends.”
“Chloe, I'm your friend,” he pulled the truck into Henry's drive, “I also have friends that would be your friend.”
She sighed as it came to stop, wishing she was still up on that mountain with him.
He looked to her and took off his seat belt, “Chloe, can I... ” he stopped his sentence though.
Watching him in his confusion made her ache. She leaned across the bench towards him, “Grayson?”
The tips of their fingers brushed against each other the old bench seat.
Stopping herself, she took a sharp breath, “Bye, wolf-boy...” her voice was breathy, uncontrolled – wanting to stay with him.
He sighed, “Bye, Chloe.”
She scooted out of the truck, feeling a magnetizing pull towards Grayson Holtz. Ignoring it the best she could, she walked to the house.
Her dad swung the door open to greet her, “Chloe!” he snapped into the night air.
“Coming, Dad.” She grumbled.
He slammed the door behind her, once in the house. “If you're trying to get yourself sent back to California. It's not going to work.”
Chloe looked to him, “Too bad.” She thought about how easy her life had been when her mother's dumb dog had been alive.
“Room,” Henry pointed up the stairs.
“This is so not right.” Chloe rolled her eyes and trudged up them.
“What's not right is you lying!” Henry called up.
“Whatever!” She slammed her door, not wanting to think about the night anymore.