Loved By My Best Friend’s Dad Available Now

It’s finally here, and I’m so excited!

Prince and Finn are finally yours to read. Here are the first three chapters. Enjoy!

Blurb

It's a love that should have been forbidden. It just didn't feel that way.

Finn Turner booked an all-inclusive stay at Valemont ski resort. While most of his friends would find someone to warm their beds on those cold days and nights, Finn's only thoughts were solitude, skiing, and centering himself before finishing his internship and graduating from university.

Love was nowhere on his list of things to do, or so he thought, but things might change when a man he shouldn't be having lustful thoughts about comes to his aid.

Prince Sullivan took a sabbatical from teaching to focus on himself and the family company. With his son spending the winter break in Jamaica with his friends, Prince never thought he'd bump into his son's friend Finn, or find himself coming to Finn's rescue over a resort mix-up.

Staying in close quarters, both men are drawn to each other, and the more they try to pretend what they’re feeling isn't real, the deeper their emotions grow.

Prince cannot allow himself to fall for his son's best friend. And Finn must not succumb to his attraction for his best friend's father.

Chapter One

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Bevin, Finn's best friend and roommate, asked. "We're talking white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and did I mention all the hot bodies your eyes can handle?" he added giddily, his gaze going dreamy as if he were already stretched out on the beach.

Bevin was one of those guys who lived in the moment, while Finn admittedly took life a bit more seriously. Then again, Bevin could afford to be as carefree as he wanted. He was born into money, while Finn grew up with his grandmother, who worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads, even if it was a one-bedroom apartment where his bed was a couch that had seen better days. Despite their different backgrounds, they’d clicked instantly. Finn and Bevin had met during their freshman orientation.

Bevin did not act like a trust-fund baby. Although he could have gained admission to the school because of his prestigious name and family connections, Finn was impressed by Bevin's intelligence. Finn, on the other hand, received an academic scholarship that thankfully covered everything.

During their sophomore year, Bevin had told his grandfather that they wanted to move off campus in their junior year, but were holding off because Finn couldn’t move with them or he would lose his stipend. So the elder Sullivan quickly donated a shit ton of money to have a new apartment complex built on campus. The individual apartments were spacious enough for two people, with a desk and a study area. 

They also had separate bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and a combined living and dining room. The apartments were open to juniors, seniors, graduate, and fellowship students, which was great because it was a pivotal time when they were learning to balance work and life as they neared the end of their educational journey. Finn would not complain about Bevin's privileges because he selfishly reaped the benefits.

Like him, Bevin was an only child to divorced parents, but there was one difference his friend had two parents who loved him. Finn had never met his own parents. He had only seen pictures of them. His mother died after giving birth to him, and soon after, his father took off for parts unknown, leaving him in the care of his grandmother, who loved him to her last breath.

His grandmother died just shy of his first year of college from late-stage cancer that was discovered only a month before she passed. Finn missed his sweet mama. She had been his sounding board, his defender, and before Bevin, the only person who believed in his dreams. Finn had always joked that one day he would be so rich he would buy them a mansion, and she would never have to lift a finger if she didn’t want to. He was just sad that she wouldn’t be by his side when he succeeded. He was grateful she had been there when he got his acceptance letter, and he had promised not to disappoint her.

Finn knew from a young age what he wanted to do when he grew up. He hated seeing his grandmother struggle and suffer, and his goal had always been to give them both a better life. Even though she was no longer with him, he was still working toward that goal, carrying her memory with him every step of the way. Now that he was in his last year of graduate school, he was working extremely hard to secure a permanent position at Hamilton Conglomerate's Shoreline Providence division. Finn was an intern for Lucas Hamilton, one of the CEOs.

Lucas was married to a sexy-as-fuck FBI director who oozed badassery. Tucker Stevens was so Finn’s type. The kind of man with strong arms and a sturdy chest to comfort him whenever he needed it. Although they both seemed too good to be true, Finn learned a lot from Lucas. He admired Lucas's work ethic. Even with family obligations, the man was committed to his job and didn’t mind going the distance for his clients.

The other CEO was Tyler, Lucas's twin brother. Both men took over running the company after their father stepped down, who was also happily married. Although the company was large in name and stature, it felt like a well-oiled mom-and-pop operation that genuinely cared about its employees. It was a welcoming and supportive environment that made Finn happy to go to work every day, especially since Lucas and Tyler encouraged employee recognition and advancement. He enjoyed a healthy work-life balance, good health benefits, a culture built on trust, and a steady paycheck. There was nothing he could complain about.

He was grateful for the company's two-week holiday break. Even as an intern, he had earned personal time off and saved every hour, which would give him a full three weeks away, returning just in time to start work the next day. It was exactly what he needed. While Bevin set off for the sandy beaches of Jamaica, Finn headed north to Vermont, ready to ski to his heart's content.

Before meeting Bevin, Finn had never skied, but after going once with his friend, he became hooked. Finn had been looking forward to this vacation. He had saved and paid for his trip in advance and booked his cabin months ago, opting for the all-inclusive experience. The resort offered privacy, which was exactly what Finn wanted.

From the pictures in the brochure, the cabins were spread out across vast, snow-capped mountains. Finn could have stayed at the hotel, but the cabins seemed more inviting. They sat along a narrow, tree-lined path not far from the main lodge, each spaced just far enough apart to ensure privacy.

Finn had requested a cabin within walking distance of the best slope. He didn’t need to rent gear; he had his own. The cabins included a full kitchen, so Finn paid extra to have a staff member purchase a few groceries and stock the refrigerator and cupboards for his stay. He was making sure he wouldn’t have to interact with anyone if he didn’t want to. Most would find that odd, but Finn didn’t mind his own company.

Some people would encourage him to fall in love on vacation, but Finn was not looking for a fling or love right away. He knew that the day he gave himself to someone would be the only time. So he planned to let loose and enjoy his time skiing. Just thinking about swooshing down the crisp snow made him giddy.

"Nah, I'm good, dude," Finn said, turning to his friend. "You go have fun your way, and I'll do my thing." He tilted his head, studying him with quiet curiosity. "How come you're not spending it with your dad?"

After his parents' divorce, Bevin lived with his mom but spent every Christmas holiday with his father. Even after starting university, he’d made a point of going home for the holidays. But this year, things seemed different.

Bevin shrugged. "My dad and I wanted to do things differently this year. He wanted to hang out with his friends, and I wanted to hang out with mine." He paused. "I think he's seeing someone and isn't ready for me to meet them yet."

"Ah," Finn said. "What makes you say that?"

Bevin shrugged. "I don't know. He's acting weird. He's not as uptight as usual."

"That doesn't mean he's seeing anyone."

Bevin shook his head. "I know my dad. If he's just fucking someone, he wouldn't make time for them. But now he's taking vacations and shit."

Finn sighed inwardly, still not convinced by what Bevin was saying, but he no longer contradicted his friend. He had met Bevin's father, Princeton Sullivan, a few times over the years. Honestly, the man had always seemed intimidating, even though he barely acknowledged Finn, offering maybe one or two words at most. Still, Princeton Sullivan left a lasting impression. He was tall, powerful, and solidly built, nothing like a typical university professor. With broad shoulders and a strong, sculpted chest, he looked more like a professional wrestler.

Princeton Sullivan taught at one of New York's top-ranked universities. He also ran a multi-billion-dollar company, which he had taken over from his father. Finn thought Princeton Sullivan was amazing, but kept that to himself. He had always wondered, though never asked, why Bevin didn’t attend the university where his father taught.

A knock on their apartment door pulled Finn from his thoughts.

"That must be Shane. We're on the same flight," Bevin said, grabbing his suitcase and heading to the door.

"Alright, go on. Get out of here. Have fun, and call me when you land," Finn told him, waving him off.

"Yes, Mom," Bevin joked, rolling his eyes. "Are you sure you won't change your mind and come with me? It's not too late for me to get you a ticket."

"I've been planning this trip for months, so that's a big fat no for me," Finn told him.

Bevin sighed. "I feel strange not going on a trip with my mom. Since our first year, we've been side by side."

Bevin had been calling him Mom for so long that it was a waste of breath to tell him to stop.

"You'll be fine. We have to cut the umbilical cord sometime. After we graduate, you'll be heading back to New York to work for your family's company, and I'll still be here."

"Don't remind me," Bevin whined. "I'm not looking forward to being apart from you."

"Stop acting like a spoiled child," Finn said, though there was no real bite behind it.

Bevin went to speak again but was interrupted by another knock at the door.

"Get going before he bangs the door down," Finn urged.

"Okay, okay," Bevin said, pulling him into a quick one-armed hug. "Have fun, but don't fall in love on your trip."

"Shouldn't I be telling you that?" Finn said, rolling his eyes. "Better yet, don't get anyone pregnant."

Bevin was the love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy. Finn was glad his friend used protection, because he was sure there would otherwise be some girl or guy knocking on his door one day, claiming they were pregnant with his friend's child.

"Yes, Mom," Bevin said, then rushed out the door, calling back over his shoulder and yelling at Shane for his impatience.

Finn shook his head, then returned to his room to start packing. He remembered when Bevin first started calling him Mom. Bevin had to be wheeled back to their dorm room on a luggage cart because he was so wasted. The first thing he did when he saw Finn was scream, "Mom," and fling himself at him. Finn had stood there in shock while their friends laughed and walked away, leaving the drunken baby with him.

And what a baby he was. Bevin was happy one minute, and the next, he was crying and apologizing, refusing to shower after throwing up on himself and Finn. After Finn finally got them both showered and dressed for bed, he had to rock Bevin to sleep, and Bevin called him "Mom." Finn was so exhausted from caring for him that he simply passed out next to him.

The next morning, Bevin was not repentant about his behavior. Finn brushed it off as a one-time thing, but after the fourth time Bevin came back wasted and Finn had to clean him up, he started nagging him like a mother every time he stumbled into the room drunk. Finn didn’t stop there. He would get on Bevin for slacking off in his classes. It became a running gag among their friends that Bevin needed to ask his "mom's" permission to do anything.

Finn zipped up his suitcase and set it next to the front door. Checking the time and seeing it wasn’t too late, he went to grab a quick bite, then returned to his room, showered, and happily climbed into bed. The last thought that crossed his mind was Bevin's warning that he couldn’t fall in love while he was on his trip. Finn scoffed at the notion because there was no way that was happening.

One, he was not looking for love, and two, how could a sane person fall in love in three weeks? The only time he’d had heard of things like that happening was in romance novels or movies that made it all seem too unreal. Over the next three weeks, he planned to have fun and live his best life.

*

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't find your reservation," Sandra, the flustered front desk attendant, told him.

Finn took a deep breath, trying to calm the surge of anger threatening to spill over. "Please check again. I made these reservations six months ago and received a confirmation email." He held his phone up so Sandra could see the email with all the details, especially the confirmation number. "I even called the resort and was told everything was set. So how did you lose my information in a week?"

Sandra took his cellphone and quickly read the message. She set the phone down, then began typing on the keyboard, pausing every few seconds to glance at the screen and then back at him.

"Sir, do you remember who you spoke to last week?"

"Yes, his name was Perry."

She took a deep breath. "I see. Sir, give me a few minutes. I need to speak with my manager."

"Why? Is there another problem?" Finn asked, no longer bothering to soften his tone. Sandra didn’t respond and left to get her manager.

Finn growled in frustration. He was hungry and in desperate need of a shower. He had gotten up early to catch his flight, which ended up leaving three hours late. He missed his connecting flight and had to pay extra to get on the next plane to Vermont. He could have driven, but he didn’t want to. He also could have taken a direct flight, but aside from splurging on the resort, he was money-conscious.

His friends, on the other hand, called him a cheapskate. But who could blame him for keeping track of every dime he spent? He hadn’t grown up with a diamond binky in his mouth, so every time he had to spend money, he counted it carefully.

After a couple of minutes, Sandra returned with a dapper-looking man in a hotel uniform.

"Hello, Mr. Turner. I'm Monroe Ford, the manager here," he said professionally. "Sandra has explained everything to me. First, I need to apologize to you. There has been a mishap. Last week, Perry was arrested for scamming some of our guests, and it seems you were one of them. He was using the hotel as a cover by taking reservations and sending out fake confirmation numbers. You were one of his victims."

"Why the fuck wasn't I informed of this?" Finn roared.

He was usually calm, and most things didn’t faze him. Growing up, he had been bullied for many reasons, but he never once cried or yelled for help. He only grew angry when he felt his money had been wasted. Right now, it felt as if everyone was trying to push his buttons.

"Isn't anyone going to answer my question?" he asked again, his tone quieter but no less firm, when no one responded.

"Sir," Monroe started cautiously.

"Cut the shit," Finn snapped, no longer hiding his anger. "Look, how are you going to fix this?"

"Normally, we would compensate you with a room in the hotel. However, we're all booked up."

"The fuck?" he growled. "So what am I supposed to do now?"

"What seems to be the problem?"

Finn froze when he heard the voice behind him. He hadn’t been in the man's presence many times, but for some reason, he had memorized Princeton Sullivan's voice.

"Ah, um, sir, Mr. Sullivan, there's nothing for you to worry about. We…" Monroe faltered.

"I wasn't talking to you," Princeton said, cutting Monroe off with quiet authority. "I was talking to him. Finn, turn around and look at me."

Finn closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his body moved instinctively. Princeton's voice was deep and smooth, like aged whiskey, and it seemed to pierce straight through him. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself face to face with a man who was even more handsome than his silent crush, Tucker Stevens.

Princeton Sullivan's smooth, flawless bronze skin perfectly complemented the platinum waves cascading past his shoulders. He was dressed in a cobalt-blue wool V-neck sweater and dark jeans, looking relaxed, nothing like the well-fitted business suits Finn normally saw him in. Finn tried to look away but couldn't; he was caught checking out the other man.

"Mr. Sullivan, what are you doing here?" Finn asked, swallowing hard.

"The same thing I suppose you're here for," Princeton Sullivan said evenly. "Now tell me what happened."

Chapter Two

Princeton, or Prince to his friends, quirked a brow as he waited for the young man to answer his question. He had been sitting in the restaurant with Roderick Ashford, a friend, discussing business when he noticed the commotion at the front desk. Prince instantly recognized the kid's straight back and the leather jacket he had worn the first time they met, when his son Bevin brought him home for the holidays.

Prince guessed he could no longer call Finn Turner a kid, especially since he was about to graduate. He also had not expected to see Finn in Vermont. He knew Bevin was going to Jamaica, and since they were thick as thieves, it would have been natural for Finn to tag along as well, which sometimes worried him, given his son's laissez-faire attitude toward certain things and people.

But Prince also remembered Bevin saying that Finn sometimes enjoyed doing things on his own. Bevin talked about him with so much adoration that Prince had wondered once or twice if his son was in love with his best friend. But the way Bevin loved to play the field, Prince was certain there was no other relationship between them than friendship. Prince liked the kid a lot. Bevin liked to brag about how studious Finn was, how he kept him on track, or he wouldn’t have been  graduating anytime soon. So Prince was always thankful that his son had a friend like Finn.

Prince observed Finn at the front desk. When he heard Finn raise his voice, Prince became concerned. According to Bevin, it took a lot for his best friend to get angry. Without hesitation, Prince left Roderick's side and approached Finn to understand what was going on.

Prince didn’t miss the slight tension in Finn's shoulders, as if he were afraid of him, even though they had spent very little time together. It became even more apparent when Finn's voice trembled as he asked his question.

"Are you going to answer me or not?" Prince asked.

"It's really noth…" Finn started, the words catching as if he were about to brush it off.

"Don't lie to me," Prince cut in before he could continue.

"Apparently, I was scammed," Finn blurted out.

"How?” Prince said. “You seem like a levelheaded kid. I doubt anyone could pull the wool over your eyes."

"It wasn't my fault," Finn snapped. "I booked my stay here, and apparently, they had some guy scamming customers."

Prince felt irritation rise as he turned his gaze to Monroe, the manager. "Explain," he demanded, his voice dropping into a tone that left little room for excuses.

Monroe quickly and nervously explained what had happened, which only made Prince angrier. He had purchased the resort and was in the slow process of making changes to the staff and the facilities. It was one of the many reasons he was staying at the resort and didn’t mind Bevin going off for the holidays.

"Find him a cabin, now," Prince demanded.

"Well, sir, see, we have another problem," Monroe stuttered. "Despite what happened, we're completely sold out for the entire month."

As pleased as Prince was to hear that, it didn’t help Finn. "Give him the extra key to my cabin. He'll stay with me," he told Monroe.

"Yes, sir."

"What? Mr. Sullivan, I can't stay with you," Finn said, clearly caught off guard.

"Why not?" Prince asked pointedly, his gaze locking onto Finn.

Finn seemed to hesitate. "Well, it's just that you don't need to do that. We don't, I mean, you're…" He paused, stumbling over his words before trying again. "I could simply go to another hotel and work things out later."

Prince ignored Finn's protest. "The only thing you can do right now is get some rest. Besides, the next hotel is miles away. Now that you know you were scammed, you need to cancel your credit cards and dispute any charges, and we will make sure you are refunded." He glared at Monroe, silently making it clear what needed to be done. "My cabin is big enough to accommodate the both of us. If nothing else, do it for Bevin and my peace of mind. If he finds out I didn't help you, he'll whine for ages, and you're the only one who knows how annoying he can be."

That brought a smile to the kid's lips, and Prince noticed Finn's eyes for the first time. He had always thought they were solely brown, but there were flecks of red, like rubies, that glistened when he smiled. Maybe it was another layer of Leaps serum that had altered human genetics, still making itself known even decades later. The serum had changed everything, rewriting biology in ways the world was still discovering.

"Fine," Finn sighed at last, giving in. "I'll stay with you until I get things figured out. But I must pay for half the cabin."

"That's not necessary," Prince said, brushing him off, then stepped around him to get the key from Monroe. "Have his bags sent to my cabin. We're heading to the dining room to get something to eat."

"Yes, sir," Monroe said, straightening.

Prince turned and noticed Finn staring at him. "What's the problem?"

"I always wondered where Bevin got his bossiness from. Now I know."

"This is bossy?" Prince smiled.

"Wouldn't that explain everything you just did?" Finn asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Nah, this is me taking care of my son's best friend," Prince said lightly.

"I feel like you're going to use that excuse a lot," Finn said.

"If it gets you to do what I want, I'll take all the advantage." Prince chuckled. "Come on, let's get you something to eat. Then I'll show you to our cabin so you can get settled."

"Okay, and if I haven't said it yet, thank you," Finn whispered, his voice softer now.

"It's no problem." Prince guided Finn to the restaurant and was surprised to see Roderick still sitting at the table.

"You're back," Roderick said, standing slowly. "Where did you go?"

"I had to take care of something," Prince replied evenly, then looked at Finn. "Sit and order whatever you want, and charge it to the cabin. It's E-1."

"You don't have to do this. I can go to the cabin and order room service," Finn protested.

"Your room isn't ready," Prince told him calmly. "I wasn't expecting to share my cabin, so I've been using it as storage."

"Storage? How long have you been here?" Finn asked.

Prince smirked. "Since the end of last semester. I took a leave of absence and have been working remotely." His eyes held Finn's for a heartbeat longer than necessary. "Now sit down and eat before I change my mind about being generous."

"Then I'd go complain to Bevin that his big bad dad was being mean to me." Finn pouted, and honestly, Prince found it kind of adorable.

"Prince, what's going on?" Roderick asked. "Who is this?"

"Finn. He's Bevin's best friend," Prince said, picking up the menu and handing it to the kid.

"Bevin is here?" Roderick asked excitedly as he sat back down.

"No, he's in Jamaica," Prince replied. "I told you this year we're spending the holiday apart."

"Oh," Roderick said, disappointed.

Prince glanced at Roderick, wondering about the look on his face. As far as he knew, his son and his friend had only met once during their friendship, and Bevin had not seemed too keen on Roderick. Shaking it off he thought back to his son. Bevin had said he wanted to spend the holidays with his friends this year, and since Prince seriously needed a break from work, he hadn’t seen a problem with it. Although he came from an influential family, Prince chose a different path and became a college professor.

However, he didn’t limit himself and took over running the family company when his father asked him to. After taking over as CEO, Prince expanded the company from a single industry into a conglomerate, competing with the top families from Maine to New York and putting the Sullivan family on equal footing with the Hamilton family.

For Prince, it was nothing new to be in the rat race with the Hamilton brothers. He had been competing against Tyler and Lucas since they were kids, always one-on-two. Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, but it was always in good fun between friends, even in business. His competitive streak turned him into a workaholic, which left him little time for romance. Even in college, while his two friends were playing the field, Prince was busy building his family business and getting married, fulfilling his family obligations.

It wasn’t that he was jaded about love because of his divorce. It was that he hadn’t found the right one. Prince had known Nova was not the one when they got married. Their marriage had been out of obligation to his family, specifically to his grandfather, who wanted to see his only grandson marry his best friend's daughter. He had hoped they would bless him with a grandson, and all of that had come to fruition.

Although Prince and Nova were friends, they were not sexually attracted to each other and relied on IVF to conceive. That decision was kept from everyone, even Bevin, to this day. Nova became pregnant with twins on the first try, but due to complications, one of the fetuses didn’t make it.

For years, Prince and Nova put on a good show for their family, pretending they were deeply in love, until they could no longer keep up the act. It shocked everyone when they announced their divorce when Bevin was eleven. Prince knew the divorce had hurt Bevin and put a slight strain on their father-son relationship, but it was no one's fault. Prince and Nova were ready to live in their truth.

He and Nova shared custody of Bevin, so Prince pushed himself at the company and the university. He enjoyed both jobs, which kept him extremely busy, but his mind sometimes wandered to other things, like love.

He had been in a relationship with his assistant for two years after his divorce. However, when Prince found out his assistant was embezzling funds from the company, he had no problem sending him to prison, which instantly ended the relationship.

Oddly, Prince was not broken up about it. Their relationship had not been known by anyone inside or outside of the company, yet he still felt he had wasted two years on a man who was greedy and not looking for love. He had had lovers and hookups, but nothing meaningful. It had been a while since he had sat, laughed, and talked with someone all night about everything before making love until dawn.

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t jealous of Nova, who had found new love and started another family after their divorce. Then again, she was not the only one in his circle who was married with children or had a couple on the way.

Take his friend Lucas Hamilton, who, years after his wife died and left him a single father, found love again in Tucker Stevens, an FBI agent. Prince didn’t want to think about all his other friends who were living in marital and familial bliss. 

Maybe I’m just lonely, and taking time off from my job was a gut reaction. 

"Prince, are you listening to me?" Roderick asked.

"Sorry," Prince said, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. "I was thinking about something. What did you say?"

"I asked if we're still on for dinner," Roderick repeated.

"Um, let's take a rain check," Prince said, glancing at Finn, who had ordered a burger with fries while his mind drifted elsewhere. "I'm feeling tired."

"Oh," Roderick said, looking down at the table. "I guess I'll call you later."

"Yeah, let's finish our talk tomorrow," Prince said distractedly as he reached for a napkin and was about to dab at the ketchup smudging the corner of Finn's mouth. His hand froze midway when he became aware of what he was about to do. Thankfully, the kid had his head down and didn’t notice Prince's slight movement. Finn was so focused on eating that he licked the red liquid from the corner of his mouth. Prince's gaze latched onto the pink swipe of his tongue, and he looked away when his name was called.

"Prince."

He looked away from Finn and was surprised to see Roderick still standing there, when he had assumed he had already left.

"Is there something else?" Prince asked, his brows drawing together.

Roderick stared at him without speaking, and it made Prince more irritated than he cared to admit.

"No, I guess not," Roderick said softly, then glanced at Finn before walking away.

What the hell is that all about? He watched Roderick walk away.

"If you cancelled your date because of me, you shouldn't have. I’ll be all right on my own."

Prince sighed. "First, it wasn't a date. Second, it had nothing to do with you. I'm exhausted."

"Are you sure about that?" Finn asked, dipping his French fries in ketchup and stuffing them into his mouth.

Prince's brows furrowed. "What are you asking that I'm not getting?"

"Mr. Sullivan, I might not know many things about romance. Well, scratch that, I know nothing about relationships." He shrugged. "I've never been in one. But I've seen Bevin break a lot of hearts since we've been friends, and that guy looked disappointed when you broke off your dinner plans with him."

Prince leaned back in his seat and looked at Finn seriously. "What do you mean, you've never been in a relationship?"

Finn shrugged. "It's just never happened. I've been more focused on my studies."

"What about high school?"

Finn shook his head. "I studied all four years to get a scholarship to college, and when I got to the next step, it was to graduate."

"And now that you're so close?" Prince asked, reaching for a fry and devouring it.

"It's my internship, then maintaining a job," he said thoughtfully.

Finn's focus on his goals was one thing Prince liked about him. However, the kid was young and should enjoy his life. "You know what they say about all work and no play, Finn?"

"I guess many would say I lead a dull life, but I'm good with it. Once I get a stable foundation, I'll think about falling in love."

Prince tilted his head to the side and observed Finn. From what Bevin had mentioned, the kid was shy but self-assured and knew what he wanted. Prince knew that Bevin protected Finn, and he could see why. With his quiet beauty, it was surprising that Prince was only now beginning to notice.

When he was introduced to Finn years ago, Prince had been knee-deep in expanding the company and might have seemed dismissive. Over the years, he had only taken time off from work to spend it with Bevin, mainly around the holidays, when Finn came once or twice. During those times, Prince paid more attention to his son's needs than to his friend's. But now that Bevin wasn’t around, he could see Finn's beauty for the first time.

And gorgeous he was, with a smooth, elegant, almost poetic softness that blurred the lines between masculine and feminine. It added to the calm, steadfast grace in the way he carried himself, giving him a more mature aura, as if he belonged in another era, setting him apart from his peers.

Prince openly admired Finn while he ate, not missing a single detail. From the dark hair that fell around his face, framing eyes that held emotions he might never speak aloud, to his flawless peach complexion, straight nose, and heart-shaped lips that any man or woman would find hard to pull away from.

Fuck, what the hell am I thinking? Prince questioned himself when he realized his thoughts were veering into territory they should not enter. This is Bevin's friend. I can't be thinking of him in that manner.

"Your happiness is all that matters," he said, reaching for his cellphone.

He sent a few instructions to Monroe, expecting them to be completed without fail. He also sent a message to his special assistant. Then he opened his email to distract himself. Prince scanned through his messages. His family's business was mainly hotels and resort properties. Once he took over the company, he’d expanded its reach by investing in airlines, booking and travel agency platforms, cruise lines, theme parks, and entertainment ventures.

To strengthen his personal financial investments, Prince invested in wineries, breweries, and high-end couture fashion. He also held a ten percent share in a technology company that Bevin started a few summers ago. Prince had never forced his son into the family business. However, he knew it was only a matter of time before Bevin took the reins from him.

Unlike his father, Prince wanted Bevin to pursue his own happiness rather than worry about family obligations. So he was surprised when Bevin approached him just after his freshman year with a business proposal for a tech startup. It was a solid proposal, but before Prince agreed to invest, he asked his son why. Bevin said it was something he had to do, and that surprised Prince.

It took the company two years to find its footing, with Bevin dedicating time to it during school and over his summers. Prince had never seen his son work so hard, and he wondered just how much his friend knew about Bevin's endeavors.

"I'm done eating."

Prince looked up from his phone and noticed the kid had cleaned his plate. He nodded in approval, then stood, slid his phone into his pocket, and grabbed his coat. "Come on, let's go."

"Mr. Sullivan, you really don't have to show me to the cabin. I'm a big boy. I can find my way. All I need is the room number and the key."

"I'm not going to the room just because of you. I'm old, and it's my nap time." Prince shrugged and walked away, though not before hearing the kid mumble something under his breath.

Chapter Three

Old? Who is he fooling? Finn couldn’t stop thinking about it. How can Prince Sullivan think he's old?

The man was in his forties, and his platinum-blond hair was natural, not dyed, with not a gray hair in sight. It made Finn wonder why there wasn’t a line of men and women begging to spend a second with him. He recalled the disappointed expression on that guy's face when Prince told him their night out was canceled. Finn didn’t know about Prince's relationship with the man, and it wasn’t his business, since Prince never bothered to introduce them. Besides, Finn's only focus was on shedding his strict demeanor and having some fun.

"Oof," Finn groaned softly, his nose suddenly burning as a clean, warm masculine scent surrounded him. It smelled so good that for a moment, he almost wanted to purr and rub his face against it.

"Are you alright?" a soft, sexy voice whispered near his ear, drawing Finn's attention upward until he met a pair of silver eyes ringed in black. The scent from earlier seemed to intensify, and those striking eyes held him captive for a second longer than they should have.

"Huh?" Finn asked, clearly confused.

"Your nose," Prince murmured, his gaze dropping briefly. "It's red."

That startled Finn enough to snap him back to his senses. He quickly glanced around, remembering they were on their way to the car and were now outside, standing almost chest to chest with Prince Sullivan. From this close, Prince seemed even bigger than Finn remembered. Had he always been this tall, with broad shoulders, solid chest, and those sharp silver eyes looking down at him with quiet concern. Finn had to tilt his head back slightly to meet his gaze, which only made him more aware of how close they were standing.

"Um," Finn said, stepping back and lightly touching his nose, which still had a slight sting. He was fairly certain it had nothing to do with the cold or the fact that he had just collided with a very hard human wall. "Mr. Sullivan, I'm…"

"Get in the car," Prince instructed softly.

He stood beside a sleek black SUV, its polished surface reflecting the afternoon light. Even without knowing much about luxury vehicles, Finn was certain the thing cost upward of eight million dollars. The kind of car that looked more at home in a private garage than parked on the side of a public street.

One day I will drive something like this, he thought as he got into the car. Finn had plans to become a millionaire, and nothing was going to stop him.

"Thank you," he said.

The car smelled of rich leather and was just as sexy as the owner. Finn trailed his fingers along the soft material, marveling at the craftsmanship and the clean stitching. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in a car worth millions. He had driven Bevin's custom-made sports car. However, sitting in this luxury car felt different. Finn leaned back in his seat and let out a quiet sigh as he relaxed, barely registering the sound of the driver's door opening and closing.

He gasped when a hand brushed against the right side of his face. Fuck, why do I get so fidgety around this man? Finn snapped his head to the left and immediately locked eyes with Prince Sullivan.

Their faces were unexpectedly close, close enough for Finn to catch the faint scent of Prince's cologne. The warm, clean scent made his heart skip a beat. For a brief, reckless moment, Finn had the sudden urge to lean in and bury his face in the man's neck, to breathe in that scent and surround himself with it.

Finn's eyes widened when he realized where his thoughts had gone, especially since the man he was fantasizing about was his best friend's dad. The realization shocked him. Up until now, his life had been simple. Making loads of money, school, and work had always been his focus.

But he couldn’t help it. Even now, as he tried to think of something else, it was hard to see reason. Not when the other man's face was so close to his and all he had to do was lean forward and press his lips against his. However, he was instantly brought back to reality by a sharp clicking sound and looked down to find Mr. Sullivan had already buckled his seatbelt for him.

Finn jerked back, scooting as far as he could into his seat and putting much-needed space between himself and Mr. Sullivan. A wave of embarrassment washed over him, hot and immediate. He quickly turned his head and stared out the window, hoping the passing view would hide the deep red creeping across his face.

"Thank you," Finn whispered.

"No problem," Prince said as he settled into his seat and buckled his own seat belt. "We're thirty minutes away."

"Why so long?" Finn asked.

"I wanted to be as far away as possible from the hustle and bustle of the crowd," Prince explained.

"Ah, that makes sense," Finn said.

But the truth was, Finn wanted to be closer to the noise. He liked the energy of it, the early mornings waking to the distant sound of skiers carving through fresh snow, the hum of life already moving outside before the sun had fully risen.

Finn continued to gaze out the window, admiring the splendor of the snow-capped mountains as he tried to shake off his earlier embarrassment and the direction his thoughts had almost taken about his best friend's father.

I’m going to blame it on being exhausted, he told himself. There’s no way I’d actually think about kissing or being with a man like Prince Sullivan.

Still, Finn couldn’t help himself. He glanced slyly at the man in the driver's seat and ended up staring a little longer than he should have, noticing where Bevin had inherited his looks. The resemblance was impossible to miss.

Finn had never met Nova Sullivan, now Westmoreland, but he had seen pictures. She was just as gorgeous, intelligent, and successful, even without the weight of her family name. From everything Finn knew, she had every reason to have once been married to Prince Sullivan; too bad they divorced.

Finn had always wondered why they had separated, but he had never wanted to pry too deeply into his friend's family problems.

"Why didn't you go to Jamaica with Bevin?"

"I'm not much of a beach person," Finn said, keeping his gaze on the snowy mountains rolling past the window.

"So you're more of a snow bunny," Prince commented, amusement threading through his voice.

Finn smirked, feeling his cheeks grow warm, and it had nothing to do with the car heater. "You could say that."

"Nothing wrong with that." The other man chuckled.

The car grew quiet, so quiet that the engine barely seemed to make a sound. Yet the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, Finn found himself relaxing as the stillness stretched on. His head tilted slightly to the side as the exhaustion of the day finally caught up with him. His eyelids grew heavy and slowly began to close. Just before they could fully shut, the sharp ring of his cellphone jolted him awake. Finn fumbled into his jacket, pulled the phone out, and smiled when he saw Bevin's name glowing on the screen.

"Bev…" was all he managed to say before Bevin shouted in his ear, making him hiss and pull the phone slightly away.

"Mom, I need you!"

Finn glanced at Prince out of the corner of his eye and mentally breathed a sigh of relief. The man was looking straight ahead and didn’t seem to have heard Bevin's outburst.

"Mom, they're being mean to me," Bevin cried drunkenly.

Finn pinched the bridge of his nose and bit his bottom lip, trying to keep from laughing out loud.

He is such a baby when he’s drunk.

“Bev…” Finn started again, but he was interrupted by a different voice on the other end of the phone.

“Hey, Finn, sorry, man,” Shane said. “Bev got shit-faced while we were at a hotel beach party and kept crying that he wanted to talk to his mom. So we called his mother, and I don’t even want to tell you how embarrassing that conversation was.”

At that, Finn could not hold back his chuckle and shook his head.

No one can handle Bevin when he’s like this.

"I completely forgot he calls you Mom. After that call, we hid his phone, but he found it," Shane continued with a weary sigh. "Finn, how the fuck do you handle him when he's like this?"

Finn laughed even harder, feeling absolutely giddy with the sweet satisfaction of payback. "He's your problem child for the next few days. You'll figure it out." He hung up before Shane could respond and did a little jig in his seat.

"You're happy about something," Prince commented, glancing over at him briefly.

"You could say that." Finn could not stop grinning. "Those guys have their hands full for the next few days."

"Is my son being troublesome?"

"Was I that obvious?"

Prince chuckled. "Not really, but I know my son's voice."

"Oh." Finn glanced out the window. "Bevin gets a little weepy when he's drunk, which isn’t often," he quickly added. "Bevin works and plays hard, but he's always careful."

Finn wasn’t exaggerating. Whenever Bevin buckled down and focused, he became a complete workaholic, and everyone around him usually ended up begging him to take a break.

Prince chuckled warmly. "I believe you. I'm glad to know Bevin has a friend like you."

Finn looked over at the older man. "I think I'm the one who's lucky." He takes care of me like a good son.

"Either way, thanks for having his back," Prince said.

Finn smiled and turned his gaze back to the scenery. He found himself enthralled by the stars sparkling above. They were so bright that even the moon seemed to glow a little stronger. The cabins looked just as they’d been described on the website. There was plenty of space between each one, which Finn suspected was intentional for guest privacy. From his research, he knew the resort was divided into two sections. One was for families, and the other was for couples and singles. The farther they drove, the closer they came to the lake. Its dark surface mirrored the moon and scattered stars, making it look like the sky had been spilled across the water.

"So pretty," Finn whispered, though it seemed he had been heard.

"What is?" Prince asked.

"The sky. I can't recall the last time I saw the moon or even a star so clear and bright."

"Living in the city does have its disadvantages," Prince commented. "Besides the resort being beautiful, I have to admit the night sky was a big draw for me staying here."

They rounded a sharp corner, and in the distance stood a lone two-story cabin that appeared smaller than the others they had passed. Unlike the rest, it was modest in design and sat quietly on the edge of the partly frozen lake. The golden light spilling from the windows reflected softly across the dark, glassy surface of the ice.

As the car drew closer, Finn could see smoke rising from the chimney. The roof was buried beneath a thick, undisturbed layer of snow. The entire scene felt enchanting, almost unreal.

Prince pulled the car up to the cabin. "Your bags should be in your room," he said as he shut off the engine.

"Okay." Finn nodded.

"Let's go."

They got out of the car and walked up to the cabin. Finn waited while the door was unlocked, then stepped inside. The second the door opened, a comforting warmth from the fireplace washed over his chilled face. It was followed by the scent of cedar, clean and slightly sharp, mixed with the light, fresh smell of split wood.

The cabin didn’t feel overly spacious, but it wasn’t cramped either. The dining area, living room, and kitchen were all in view, including the fireplace tucked neatly beneath the stairs that led to the second floor.

"It's small, but we won't crowd each other," Prince said beside him.

"I don't find it small," Finn replied with a smile. In fact, from what little he had seen so far, it felt perfect.

"Come on, I'll give you the penny tour." Prince walked into the kitchen and opened a cabinet filled to the brim with groceries. "I had the staff get some items for your stay. If there's anything you want and don't see, simply ask the concierge and charge it to the cabin."

Finn nodded, then walked over to the wide French doors that led to the snow-covered patio, where he could see a jacuzzi hot tub. He smiled and reached to open the doors, but was startled when he felt something curl around his ankle. Looking down in surprise, he saw the cutest blue-gray kitten rubbing against his leg, purring loudly as if it had already decided he belonged to it.

"Where did you come from?" Finn squealed, forgetting himself as he bent down and scooped the tiny creature into his arms.

The little one purred even louder when Finn scratched gently behind its ear.

"You are so cute," Finn murmured, smiling down at the kitten. "What's your name?"

Finn lifted the kitten closer to his face, rubbing his cheek gently against its soft fur. He buried his nose in the kitten's neck and closed his eyes, breathing in its warm, sweet scent. The kitten seemed to approve of the attention, purring louder as it tucked itself comfortably against his chest, its tiny body pressed close in quiet contentment.

"You smell so good," he gushed, then opened his eyes and froze when he noticed Prince watching him.

"Uh…" Finn stuttered, suddenly very aware of how ridiculous he must look, but Prince cut him off before he could say anything else.

"He doesn't have a name," Prince said, stretching out a hand to scratch the kitten behind its ear. The small animal leaned into the touch, purring louder. Prince then looked at Finn, his expression thoughtful. Maybe Finn was reading too much into it, but the look lingered. "Maybe you can give him a name."

"Are you serious?" Finn asked, excitement lighting up his face, momentarily forgetting the strange feeling he had just experienced.

"Yes."

"Oh wow, that is a great responsibility."

Prince smiled and gave him a small wink. "You can handle it."

"Where did you get him? What breed is he?" Finn asked, the questions tumbling out one after another.

"He's a British shorthair, and he's a stray," Prince explained. "I guess he was abandoned. I was on a hike and found him almost buried in the snow."

"Oh, that's so sad," Finn whispered. He leaned down and kissed the kitten gently on the forehead.

"He really seems to like you," Prince added. "Since I got him, he refuses to let others touch him besides me."

"I've always wanted a pet, but we couldn't even afford one. And they aren't allowed on campus," Finn said softly.

"Well, while you're here, he can be yours," Prince said with a smile.

"Really? You don't mind?" Finn asked, cuddling the kitten even closer.

"No," Prince replied with a smirk. "I don't mind. As I said, he likes you."

"Is that true, little Gray?" Finn asked, looking down at the kitten in his arms.

"Gray?"

Finn glanced up at Prince, suddenly worried. "You don't like it?"

"I do. It fits him." Prince smiled, immediately setting Finn's mind at ease. "Come on, let me finish showing you around."

"Okay." Finn continued cuddling Gray as Prince showed him the second-floor bedrooms and the shared bathroom between them.

"We'll come up with a system to alert the other when the bathroom is occupied," Prince said.

"Okay, Mr. Sullivan."

*

"Are you going to do that the entire time you're here?" Prince asked.

Finn blinked, clearly confused by the question.

"You keep calling me Mr. Sullivan?" Prince clarified, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Call me Prince from now on."

"I don't think I can do that," Finn said, holding the newly named Gray against his chest, looking quite cute.

"Why not?" Prince asked.

"Well, you're my elder, and I was always taught to show my elders respect."

"I see." Prince nodded slowly. "Okay then, out of respect for me, call me Prince."

Prince could see that Finn wanted to argue his point, but he was interrupted when his cellphone began to ring. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen, seeing that it was his special assistant, Blair.

"I need to take this," Prince told Finn. "Make yourself at home."

He didn’t wait for Finn to respond before stepping out of the bedroom, leaving him alone to settle in for the night.

He stood at the window with the phone pressed to his ear, one shoulder resting lightly against the frame as he listened to his assistant and commented at the right moments, but his mind was on other things. His company was in the process of a merger for a luxury hotel chain that had been going on for months. Still, his attention kept drifting to the young man in the other room. He found himself wondering if the staff had left Finn enough blankets, since the temperature might drop later tonight. They were in the mountains, not the city, and it got colder. The staff was competent, so he brushed it off and kept his gaze fixed on the slow fall of snow outside, trying not to question why he would suddenly care about his son’s best friend.

Prince was momentarily distracted when he noticed someone outside playing in the snow like a child experiencing it for the first time. A smile crossed his face, and it didn’t go unnoticed that he had been doing that quite often tonight. In the span of a short time, Prince could already see why Bevin was drawn to the young man. He had been so busy watching Finn that he only caught himself when he noticed there was a pause on the line.

"Yeah," he said, clearing his throat. "That works."

He listened again, truly this time, repeating the key points back, focusing on the call. But even then, he couldn’t take his eyes off Finn.

A brief memory of what could have happened in the car came back to him, and Prince wasn’t sure why he had reached over to pull the seat belt instead of simply telling Finn to do it himself. Their faces had been so close, their lips near enough that all he would have had to do was lean down and kiss him.

"Fuck," Prince cursed under his breath, cutting the thought off.

"Sir?" the assistant said on the other end of the line.

"It's nothing. Keep going," Prince instructed.

What the fuck am I thinking? He’s my son’s age. I could be his fucking father, for crying out loud. Not to mention, I think Bevin has feelings for him that go beyond friendship. Maybe it was a mistake asking him to stay with me.

Prince had never second-guessed his decisions before, but watching Finn enjoy himself in the snow, he couldn’t help wondering if this rash choice would cost him something in the long run.

I need to keep my distance.

"Inform the board I will meet with them personally," Prince said.

"Are you sure, sir?" his assistant asked.

With one last look at Finn, Prince stepped away from the window as he made his decision. "Yes."

"I'll make the arrangements."

The call ended.

Prince went to the linen closet in his bedroom and grabbed the extra blankets then walked to Finn’s room laying it neatly across the foot. Gray lifted his head at the movement and let out a soft, offended meow at being disturbed.

Prince crossed the room and scooped up the kitten.

"Take care of him while I'm gone," he told the cat, then headed to his room to pack. Just as he zipped the bag closed, his phone chimed with a text confirming a car would pick him up early in the morning to take him to the airport.

"Good. I'll be gone before the kid wakes up," Prince mumbled.

He didn’t admit, even to himself, that it might look like he was running away. But for the life of him, he didn’t know what else to call it.