Naughty or Nice?

6. Kendall

CHAPTER 6

Kendall

“I’m sorry, ma’am. But this flight has been canceled.”

A disbelieving smile inches onto my face. “Canceled? What do you mean canceled?”

“Ma’am, I mean exactly what I just said. Your flight out of Charlotte into Greenville has been canceled due to inclement weather.”

“Have you looked outside?” I ask, gesturing to the glass walls that make up the airport atrium. “It’s a little snow flurries. You cancel flights for that?”

“What you see on the ground may not reflect the conditions in flight. Or the conditions of your destination. Departing flights have been canceled or delayed for the time being. We apologize for the inconvenience, but it’s Christmas Eve so we suggest you hunker down and arrange local accommodations. Next in line!”

I’m still digesting what he’s told me when I’m elbowed out of the way by a little biddy of an older woman, dawning several scarves and larger glasses that magnify her eyes. I can’t even protest, because the rest of the line shuffles forward as if in solidarity with her.

My time at the counter is over.

The long throngs of people move like we’re in a factory assembly line. Everybody’s as desperate as the next person to complete their holiday travel itinerary.

“This is unbelievable,” I mutter under my breath.

Another Blue Sky Airways employee loiters by the self-check-in stations. I rush over to get to him before anyone else can.

“Hello, I’m Kendall Greene. I work for Blue Sky too… as a flight attendant. Can you help me to the employee lounge? I wanted to find out if there are any last-minute call outs. I can backfill for any domestic flight.”

The guy, who barely looks old enough to be out of college, gives a hapless shrug. “Sorry, lady. Can’t help you much. As far as I’ve heard, pretty much all flights are either canceled or on hold. Some bad weather’s about to come through.”

I can’t keep from growling in frustration as I spin away from him and stalk off.

It would be my luck that I’d book a flight out of Morrow after discovering my fiancé wanted nothing to do with me days before Christmas…

…and then that exact flight would be canceled.

Did I mention this is after I fucked said ex-fiancé’s father the night before?

I cover my face with my hands and release a breath that shakes my lungs. My head’s pounding and flashes of last night still play in my mind’s eye. A constant reminder of what I was doing just twelve hours before.

I had sex with Nate’s dad.

The man who was supposed to become my father-in-law!

He fucked me against the bar counter and I came. Twice.

The moment was spontaneous and raw. It was bursting with passion, even through the haze of alcohol.

I hadn’t had sex like that… in a very, very long time. If not maybe ever.

Definitely not with Nate.

Who would’ve guessed it’d be his father who really made me feel things? His dad who made my pussy spasm and tingle like never before?

I couldn’t even look him in the eye once it was all said and done. My entire face heated up, and I fled the scene as fast as I could.

He’d texted me earlier, on the way to the airport, and I’d told him I was leaving. Back when I was certain nothing else could possibly go wrong.

Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about him.

I chastise myself all the way out the automatic sliding doors of the airport. It’s not until I’m standing outside with my luggage that it sinks in what I have to do.

It looks like I’m going to have to spend Christmas in Morrow after all.

“Damn it,” I sigh. “Could this holiday get any worse?”

The Uber pulls up to the Airbnb, and I discover the recent snowfall isn’t the only thing waiting for me—Nicholas stands by the door with his arms folded as if the house isn’t in his name and he can’t walk in at any time.

I’m getting out of the Uber as he approaches to help me with my luggage.

“It’s okay. No, seriously. I’ve got—do you have to help every time?” I interrupt myself.

He’s skipped over my protests and grabbed hold of both large suitcases, one in each hand. I hurry ahead of him to unlock the front door.

He heaves my things up the front steps and past the threshold, dusting his hands off once he’s done.

“I have to help because what kind of man stands around and watches a woman struggle with her things?”

My gaze diverts from his, focusing on my pieces of luggage. “Why are you here, Nicholas? It’s Christmas Eve.”

“I wanted to check on you.”

“I had my flight today.”

“Which is why I came by this morning.”

“I left early.”

“So I noticed,” he says, following me deeper into the living room. “I also notice you’re back. Flight didn’t go as planned?”

Releasing a disappointed breath, I fold my arms. “It was canceled. Inclement weather.”

He grunts. “We are supposed to be getting a couple inches later tonight.”

“If you don’t mind… if I can stay… just a couple more days…”

“I told you, darling, stay as long as you like.” His eyes twinkle, full of warmth and understanding.

Two things I could use a lot of right about now.

After the last two days I’ve had, I should be grateful. Yet I find myself turning away from him, cloaked by the unshakable guilt that plagues me.

I fucked Nate’s dad.

I. Fucked. His. Dad.

IFUCKEDHISDAD!

It’s the kind of thing you’d hear on Maury or Jerry Springer or some other crazy talk show before they went off the air.

Nicholas seems to carry no shame at all. He seems to sense I’m avoiding him and takes a couple steps closer. “Kendall,” he says gently. “Look at me.”

“Nicholas…”

“Kendall.” He tips my face up by the chin, forcing my gaze along with it. “Say the word. If I’m making you uncomfortable, I’ll leave. You can still stay here as long as you like. But I thought we could talk about what happened last night.”

“You mean what shouldn’t’ve happened last night?”

His lips slant into a slight frown. “It was probably the wrong time and place, but I don’t regret any of it.”

“I do,” I snap. “You’re my fiancé’s father , Nicholas. It’s wrong.”

“Ex. Ex-fiancé.”

I scoff and turn my back on him. “He and I were broken up for twenty-four hours when we… did that. Do you know how betrayed Nate would feel if he found out? What am I supposed to say the next time I see him?”

“You’re a lot more concerned with his feelings than he is with yours. He’s my son, and I love that kid more than life itself… but it’s the truth. My son’s a selfish SOB sometimes.”

“So because Nate can be a little selfish it means I shouldn’t feel guilty?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose and husks out a deep breath. “That’s not what I meant.”

“It was good. Real good. Amazing. But it was a one-time thing,” I say, firming up my tone. Making sure I sound more certain than I feel. “We can’t ever do anything like that again. And… and Nate can’t ever find out about it.”

“I’m not a liar. I don’t keep things from my loved ones.”

“You’ll have to keep this. He can’t know, Nicholas. Swear to me you won’t say anything.”

He regards me for a moment in deep consideration. “Alright, darling. I won’t say a word on one condition.”

“Which is?”

He takes a step closer, hooking his arm around my waist to draw me toward him. “You owe me a round two. I’m not finished with you yet.”