Page 5 of Naughty or Nice?
I rush out into the frigid cold, struggling with my two pieces of luggage. It’s not until I reach the curb that I bother to stop, husking out desperate breaths that frost in front of me. My hand trembles as it pulls out my phone and I type in local hotels.
Someone has to have a room available. At least for the night.
I doubt I’ll be able to arrange a flight out tonight. Especially this close to the holiday, and this far away from the airport.
“I’m sorry,” says the receptionist at the third hotel I dial. “We are fully booked until New Years. May I suggest you try the Morrow Inn?”
“I’ve already called them. They have no rooms available.”
“Then I’m sorry, you might need to try the other towns in the surrounding area.”
The receptionist hangs up, the dial tone humming in my ear.
A stiff breath leaves me as I return to the Google search results. What the hell am I going to do tonight?
I can’t go back inside the Whittler home, where Nate will be, where I’ll feel even more foolish and ridiculous than I already feel.
Maybe I can arrange an Uber to the airport and stay there until I’m able to find a flight sometime in the next day or two…
A heavy hand clamps down on my shoulder, sending a shockwave of warmth through me. I glance up, aware I must look a mess—I’ve cried off any makeup I was wearing and I’m sniffling like I’ve caught a cold. The wind has blown through and mussed my once sleek silk press.
As I look up, my gaze meets two hazel eyes I’m familiar with.
But not the hazel eyes of Nate. The hazel eyes ofNicholas.
He’s come out to check on me while the others enjoy the glowing warmth inside the house.
“If you won’t come back in, then let me drive you where you need to go,” he says in his husky voice. “Were you able to find a hotel?”
I sniffle again, tearing my gaze away with a shake of my head. “Everything’s booked. I’m just… I’m going to go to the airport and… I’ll figure something out.”
“Absolutely not,” he replies. “It’s getting late, and you’ll be stuck there through the night. Allow me to offer you my other home.”
“Other… home?”
“It’s the property I use for Airbnb. I normally rent it out but decided not to this Christmas. Looks like that was a good call. It’s only a couple blocks down the road. I’ll drive you.”
“No, I can’t do that. I can’t stay in your home?—”
“From what I’ve heard, my son’s done a number on you.Afterinviting you to our home for Christmas. I’ll be handling him soon enough. I’ve taught him better than that. But in the meantime, allow me to fix what I can. Give you a private place to stay as long as you need.”
I let his offer linger in the air, swallowing against the lump of emotion trapped in my throat. I’ve reached a point where I’ve cried all the tears I can—at least for now—and I’ve exhausted myself. The only thing I want to do is get out of this cold, take a hot shower, collapse in a bed, and bury myself under blankets to wallow in my heartbreak.
Nicholas’s offer is the quickest, most sensible way to have those things.
Slowly, I nod. “Okay… for tonight. If you really don’t mind.”
“Trust me, darling, I don’t one bit. My Range Rover is parked in the drive. Let’s go.”
Just like that, I’m turning to follow Nicholas toward his car. The curtains flutter in the house windows, telling me the rest of the family is peeking out. They’re probably wondering where I’m going.
Is Nate one of them? Does he even care I’m leaving?
Probably not.
You’re not my type. I don’t think we’re compatible.
The words echo inside my head as I strap myself into the passenger seat. Nathan clearly never loved me like I loved him. He used me as some pawn in his game of Climb the Corporate Ladder. I was some means to an end.