2

~NORA

"No." My voice came out sharper than I intended, trembling slightly. "Absolutely not. This is a mistake, and I'm not staying here."

The man from the plane didn't even flinch. Reclined in his chair, he swirled his wine lazily, looking like someone who hadn't a care in the world. His casual indifference only fanned the flames of my frustration.

Grabbing my suitcase, I spun on my heel and stormed out of the lounge, making my way to the front desk. The receptionist's wary expression told me she had already braced herself for the storm that was coming.

"Miss Parker—"

"I can't do this!" I cut her off, planting my suitcase beside me with a thud. "I cannot share a suite with that man! Do you have any idea how much I paid to come here? This was supposed to be my escape—Sips and Pines! What part of that name screams 'shared space' to you?"

The receptionist's composed smile faltered, but her tone remained calm. "I completely understand your frustration, Miss Parker—"

"No, you don't," I snapped, leaning forward. "I came here to relax, not to—" I waved my hand toward the direction of the suite. "Not to be thrown into a room with a complete stranger!"

She clasped her hands together, her professionalism irritatingly intact. "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, due to the storm, all our private suites are occupied. We're working to accommodate everyone as best we can under the circumstances."

"This isn't accommodation," I said bitterly. "It's chaos. I refuse to stay here. I'll find somewhere else."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I must inform you that all nearby accommodations are also fully booked, and with the storm shutting down most transportation, it may not be possible to leave tonight."

Her words sent a jolt of panic through me. I shoved my phone out of my pocket, determined to prove her wrong.

The cold slapped me in the face as I stepped outside. Snow swirled thickly in the air, blanketing the ground in white. I tapped furiously at my airline app, searching for a flight—any flight—back to Atlanta.

"CANCELED" blinked across the screen, mocking me.

"No flights available," I read aloud, as if saying it might change the outcome. I refreshed the page again, and again, but the answer was the same. A quick check for buses and rental cars yielded equally hopeless results.

"Perfect. Just perfect," I muttered under my breath, kicking at a lump of snow. The storm was officially trapping me here.

For a long moment, I stood in the freezing air, staring up at the gray sky as snowflakes danced in chaotic spirals around me. The resort behind me, the man in the suite, Jake's betrayal—everything felt like a cruel cosmic joke.

I sighed heavily, dragging my suitcase back inside. Avoiding the receptionist's gaze, I walked past the desk with as much dignity as I could muster.

"I'll stay," I muttered under my breath.

"Thank you, Miss Parker," she replied, full of relief. "We appreciate your understanding."

I didn't bother to respond. Understanding was the last thing I felt.

Back in the shared suite, I pushed open the door to find him exactly as I'd left him—lounging in that same chair, sipping his wine. He glanced up at me, his deep blue eyes glinting with unmistakable amusement.

"Back so soon?" he mocked.

I ignored him entirely, walking to the far end of the suite and dropping my suitcase onto the nearest chair. "I'm setting some ground rules," I announced, spinning to face him.

"Oh, this should be good," he said, leaning back with an infuriating grin.

"This half of the suite is mine. Yours is over there. Don't cross it." I drew an imaginary line with my finger.

"Noted," he said, his grin widening. "Anything else, Miss Rules?"

"Yes," I said sharply. "We don't talk. We don't look at each other. And we absolutely do not interact. Ever."

His chuckle was low and lazy, the sound making my blood boil. He stood, stretching like he had all the time in the world.

"Whatever you say," he drawled, glancing at his phone as it buzzed. "You've got the suite to yourself for now."

Without another word, he walked to the door, phone in hand.

"Where are you going?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

He turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Taking a call. Not that it's any of your business, but thanks for the concern."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone in the room with my bubbling frustration.

I slumped onto the couch, tossing my head back and staring up at the ceiling.

"Great," I muttered to myself. "Stuck spending Christmas with Mr. Arrogant. Just my luck."

As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I groaned, fishing it out. Sam's name flashed on the screen.

"Hey," I said, exhaustion evident in my voice.

"Nora!" Sam's cheerful tone hit me like a bucket of cold water. "How's the trip? Are you sipping fancy cocktails and lounging by a roaring fire yet?"

"More like sipping on rage and plotting my escape," I replied dryly.

"Oh no. Spill."

I didn't need much prompting. I launched into the full story, from the disastrous flight to the shared lounge debacle, sparing no detail about the insufferable man I was now forced to tolerate.

When I finally paused to catch my breath, Sam asked, "Okay, but... is he hot?"

"Sam!"

"What? I'm just saying, if you're stuck in a snowstorm with a guy, it helps if he's easy on the eyes."

I hesitated, which was all the confirmation she needed.

"Oh my God, he is!" she squealed. "Nora, come on! You've been moping over Jake for days. Maybe this is exactly what you need to get your mind off him."

"This is not what I need," I said firmly. "I need solitude. Peace. Not some arrogant stranger invading my space."

"Or maybe you need a distraction," she countered. "Worst-case scenario, you get a funny story out of it. Best-case scenario…"

"Don't even go there," I warned.

Sam laughed, the warmth in her words carrying a teasing edge. "Fine. But seriously, maybe this is fate."

"If fate wanted to help me, it would've canceled his flight," I muttered.

Sam's laughter was loud and unrestrained, and despite my irritation, I found myself smiling.

"Alright, I'll let you go," she said eventually. "But Nora? Try to enjoy yourself, okay? You deserve it."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered.

After we hung up, the quiet of the suite felt heavier. I stretched out on the couch, staring up at the flickering shadows cast by the fire. I was too tired to unpack, too drained to change out of my clothes.

Closing my eyes, I let the warmth of the room and the rhythmic crackle of the fire lull me to sleep, the day's frustrations melting away—at least for now.