Naughty or Nice?

5. Nicholas

CHAPTER 5

Nicholas

Tiny flakes of snow dust the ground outside my bedroom window. It’s still early morning, which means most of town is fast asleep.

But I’ve hardly caught a wink all night.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what happened with Kendall, my daughter-in-law.

Ex-daughter-in-law.

Nate’s ex-girlfriend is more like it. They were never going to make it down the aisle. As of thirty-six hours ago, they’re not even together anymore.

Nate didn’t realize what he was giving up.

I knew from the first moment I ever laid eyes on Kendall Greene that she was the kind of woman any sane man would be lucky to have. She was a gorgeous woman with sultry eyes and full lips and had a figure that looked phenomenal in anything. But she was more than beauty—she was classy and bright, with wit and a sense of humor.

I was proud of Nate when he brought her home. I’m not above admitting he’s in the wrong. He’s made a grave mistake breaking her heart.

Frankly, it’s become clear he didn’t deserve her in the first place.

My hand comes up to scratch at my thick beard.

Some would say it’s abhorrent what I’ve done. I’ve not only overstepped my role as a father, but I’ve betrayed my son. All for a woman that was his up until a few hours ago.

I’m aware of how it looks. The optics aren’t the best. But I’m also self-assured enough to know myself. Last night might’ve happened in a less-than-ideal way considering everybody involved, but that doesn’t mean I regret a second of it.

Kendall needed to feel good; she needed some sort of release.

I was able to give that to her in the moment. I was more than happy to make her feel desired and taken care of after what Nate had put her through.

The truth is, I’d do it again in a heartbeat… if we were able to hash out all the inconvenient details.

One of these details meets me in the kitchen downstairs when I get up to make coffee. Nate’s already beat me to the punch, standing at the counter in a robe and his hair a cow-licked mess. He yawns his good morning before pouring several dollops of cream into his mug.

“You’re up early.”

“I was thinking about going into the office,” he says, stirring his coffee. “I didn’t get selected for the promotion, but maybe if I talk up Mr. Johansson some more, another opportunity might come.”

I clench my jaw opening one of the cabinets to grab a mug of my own. “You never mentioned you were up for a promotion.”

He shrugs. “I tried to keep it under the radar. Didn’t want to get your hopes up. I found out on Tuesday I didn’t get it.”

“The same day you broke up with Kendall.”

…it’s all coming together.

“It felt like I was moving in the wrong direction,” Nate says between sips of his coffee. He moves out of the kitchen and takes a seat at the breakfast table. “But I’ve had some time to think about it, and maybe Kendall and I need to talk.”

“Talk,” I repeat in a deep grunt. “Talk about what?”

“Our relationship. Maybe we can take a break and then work things out.”

“What about Rosa?”

Nate pauses after taking a long sip of his coffee. “What about her? She’s an office fling. You know how those things go, Dad. They’re never for the long haul.”

No. I don’t know. Never had ’em.

“You cheated on Kendall with Rosa.”

“Whose side are you on?” he asks in a chuckle. “Rosa doesn’t care. And if I can explain it to Kendall, she’ll get over it too. She’s hit that stage where her biological clock’s ticking and she’s… well, kind of desperate.”

I’m not a violent man, and I’ve certainly never hit any of my kids beyond some light spanks when they were young, but my hand balls up into a fist that would be thrown were Nate any other man. If he were not my son, I’d be decking him in the jaw for what he’s saying about Kendall.

It takes a deep, ragged breath and flare of my nostrils to calm myself down. I uncurl my fist and pluck my mug of coffee off the counter instead.

“What is it? Why do you look like you’re pissed? Dad, c’mon,” Nate groans. “You’re supposed to be on my side. Look, it wasn’t great, alright? I know I should’ve told her before she came down here for Christmas. I shouldn’t have asked her to marry me. But what else do you want me to say? Mistakes were made. Life goes on.”

“Life does go on,” I grit out. “But you’ve hurt her enough. You broke her heart and humiliated her.”

“She’s not perfect. She nags all the time. You have no idea how annoying it gets.”

I’ve heard enough. I’m not going to stand idly by as my son demonstrates how out of touch he is with his behavior.

“You do what you want,” I say tensely. “Just recognize you don’t get to play with people’s emotions. I’ve got to go. I’ve got some errands to run.”

Nate’s puzzled, staring after me as I storm out of the kitchen.

What the hell am I about to do?

It’s the only thought on my mind as I sit behind the wheel of my Range Rover. I’m showered, dressed, and about to embark on the so-called errands I told Nate about.

Except they weren’t really errands at all.

The one trip I’m about to make is to my Airbnb property. I’ve got to see Kendall and find out where she’s at after what happened last night.

She didn’t let me drive her home. She wasn’t able to speak or meet my eyes at all. I didn’t push her much on it. I was in shock myself.

But maybe she’s been able to clear her head like I have. It’s possible she’s ready to talk about what transpired.

More snow falls on my drive over.

The weather forecasts are predicting several inches by the end of the night.

It’s a good thing Kendall’s flight is later this afternoon. She’ll get out of Morrow just in time, and it’ll give us time to clear the air before she does. If for no other reason than to make sure she understands last night isn’t something I regret. I’ll be here for her whenever she needs it.

I pull up outside the house and get out to try the door.

No one answers after a few knocks. I have a key, but I’d like her to answer on her own. Letting myself in wouldn’t be appropriate.

Stepping to the side, I peek into the front window. From what I can see of the living room, no one’s inside. Is it possible Kendall’s in the bedroom or some other part of the house?

I shoot off a text.

Hey, thought I’d check in on you. Can we talk?

Three dot bubbles appear as she sees the message instantly and types back a response.

I’m sorry, I can’t. On my way to the airport. I left early.