Hot for the Holidays (21 Holiday Short Stories): A Collection of Naughty and Nice Holiday Romances

by Anthology

  "You hop out. I’ll park and let the car service know where they can find it." Max and I had been engaged for more than a year, but I still wasn’t used to all the perks that came with the kind of money he had.

  "Always such a gentleman." I leaned in and he met me halfway, placing a chaste kiss on my mouth. I resisted the urge to turn the kiss into more and leaned back to place my hand on the door handle. "I’ll see you in a few."

  The warm sensation swirling in my belly didn’t last long once I opened the car door. I yelped as the cutting wind bit into me through my ski jacket. My boot-clad feet disappeared in the snow drifts as I trudged toward the entrance of the airport. Once I’d reached the door, I pulled on the handle…but it wouldn’t budge. I tried again and was able to move the door an inch or so before I really gave it my all. It wouldn’t open up all the way, though I did manage to squeeze my body through the opening.

  I heaved a sigh of relief as the warm air hit my wind-burned skin and turned to see if I could spot Max. There was only swirling snow to be seen in the parking lot. I bit my lip. I didn’t hate flying per se, but there was a world of difference—in my mind anyway—between being in the air when it was sunny without a cloud in the sky and in the middle of a raging storm. We’d just wait it out and leave when it was safe.

  At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

  A minute later I was able to make out a dark figure ambling toward the building. When the individual was only a few feet from the door, I knew it was Max. He carried our two bags and had one arm held up in front of his face, trying in vain to keep the snow from hitting it, but there was no mistaking the commanding way he walked—even if he was in the middle of a snowstorm.

  He ripped open the door, a feat that appeared to take him as much effort as it had taken me. He gave a small smile when he saw me and brushed the snow off his hair and his jacket, then removed his gloves and shoved them in his coat pocket.

  Max was dressed casually in worn jeans and snow boots with a black ski jacket over a blue and red plaid shirt. It was rare to see him out of an expensive designer suit—unless we were in bed—and I secretly got a little thrill whenever he had the opportunity to dress down. He looked less like the sleek and powerful executive and more like a rough and tumble man.

  If it were my choice, Max would be naked all the time because the man had a body that put most male models to shame. My mind wandered to his hard pecs, the way his abs indented one after the other, the prominence of the ‘V’ near his hips and how it led to—

  "Chloe? Babe?" Max’s deep timber cut into my imaginings.

  "Sorry, what did you say?" I asked while I removed my hat, scarf, and mittens. Was it getting hot in here?

  "I said, it’s really coming down out there now." An amused glint shone in his eyes, almost as if he were able to tell what I’d been thinking about.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. "It was snowing like that the entire time we were driving here. Why do you think I was so nervous?"

  "No way." Max bent down to pick up the two pieces of luggage we’d brought with us. "Let’s get through security and let Rodney know we’re here."

  Rodney was the Richfield’s pilot and had been employed by the family most of Max’s life, from how he described it. I’d had the chance to meet him more than a few times now. He was a very sweet man in his early sixties and had a grandfatherly vibe about him.

  "Relax, beautiful. It’ll be fine." Max leaned in and kissed the top of my head. He must’ve been able to tell how anxious I was. I gave him a warm smile and then followed behind him as he headed further into the airport.

  Christmas boughs hung from the ceiling with pine cones and holiday ornaments nestled inside, and glittering garland was strung around every pillar in the place. I inhaled the scent of cinnamon and pine as we walked. Christmas Day had already passed, but my guess was that they didn’t remove the décor until after New Year’s Day, which wasn’t until the day after next.

  The Aspen airport wasn’t huge and only had about five gates in total, servicing both passengers travelling on commercial and private flights. I glanced around after we’d passed through security. There were very few people waiting at the gates. I mean very few. The odd person sat in some of the chairs in the waiting areas, but beyond that, the airport almost looked deserted.

  "There he is," Max said. I whipped my head around to see Rodney walking toward us, his lips pressed into a thin line, his pilot’s hat in hand.

  "Hi, Rodney," I said when he’d reached us.

  He smiled and nodded at me. "Miss Chambers."

  "Chloe, remember?" No matter how many times I told him to call me Chloe, he insisted on the formality.

  "Better listen to her," Max said in an amused tone and stuck his hand out to shake the older man’s. "So…how’s our departure looking?"

  A pained expression crossed over Rodney’s wrinkled face. "I tried calling your cell, but the call wouldn’t go through." He gestured at the large glass window to the side of us. "Likely because of this weather. More bad news…we’ve got some mechanical issues. I’ve pulled the plane into the nearest hangar, and the airport mechanic is taking a look at it now. But unless he can get it going in the next hour or two…well, depending on what this storm does, we won’t be leaving any time today."

  "Damn it," Max cursed.

  I rubbed up and down his muscled arm. A small part of me was relieved that we might not have to take off while it was snowing at all. The other part of me was disappointed that the plans I’d made for New Year’s Eve would be all for nothing.

  Max turned his apologetic eyes to mine. "I’m so sorry, Chlo. If it weren’t for me insisting we stay another day to ski, we would’ve already been in California."

  "Maybe we’ll be able to fly out early tomorrow morning." I glanced over to Rodney, my expression hopeful.

  "It’ll all depend on how long this weather decides to stick around."

  Max and I had come to Aspen the day after Christmas in order to finalize some details for our wedding and to get in some skiing. Two birds, one stone, he’d said. We’d debated getting married in either Bar Harbor or New York, but couldn’t get past the feeling that choosing either one of those places would put one of us on our home turf.

  The year before, we’d visited Max’s family home in Aspen and I’d fallen in love with the majestic and sweeping views of the snow-capped mountains. When he’d suggested it as the setting for our wedding, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. We were to be married in May, looking out over the mountain range from the back of his property. As far as I was concerned, that day couldn’t come nearly fast enough. All I wanted was to marry the man standing beside me.

  "I feel like an ass," Max grumbled.

  "There was no way you could’ve known. Besides…I agreed to stick around one more day." And I’d been happy to. I loved the time we spent here together, away from the daily grind. How were either of us to know the storm of the century was going to pop up and more than likely keep us here?

  "I know, but you went to all that trouble to organize the perfect New Year’s Eve tomorrow night."

  If I were being honest, I’d tell Max that I was disappointed. He was always doing such sweet and romantic things for me that I’d made him promise to let me plan our New Year’s Eve.

  Eventually, he’d relented. Negotiations may or may not have involved me using my tongue on a certain part of his anatomy.

  I’d made arrangements for the two of us to have a mini-vacation at a winery in Napa Valley. We were to stay in one of the private guest houses located amongst the grape vines.

  "If it’s meant to be, we’ll make it to California. As long as I’m with you, that’s all that matters." And I meant it…no matter how disappointed I was that we wouldn’t be spending New Year’s Eve how I thought we would.

  A slow smile spread across Max’s face and his eyes glittered. "Come here, you." He pulled me into an embrace and kissed me. And not the kind of kiss one should give someone when another
man was a few feet away and watching. As uncomfortable as I was with Max’s blatant display of affection, I couldn’t stop myself from falling into the kiss. Chalk it up to the power this man had over me. If he tried to rev my engine, I responded, and I didn’t need any time to warm up—even in a snowstorm.

  Rodney cleared this throat and I remembered that we were in public. I pulled away, much to Max’s displeasure. He finally released me when I pushed at his chest again.

  "How long before the plane is ready?" Max asked.

  "Hard to say, sir."

  "Rodney, why are there so few people here?" I looked behind me at the handful of people scattered throughout the small airport, realizing for the first time that no one seemed to be manning the café counter and that the lights were off.

  "The commercial airlines cancelled their flights earlier this morning, ma’am. Since we’re private, we have a few more liberties, but Mother Nature may very well win this one."

  Max turned his guilt-ridden eyes to me. "I told you…it’s fine," I assured him.

  "I’m going to head to the hangar and check on how things are going. As soon as I have something more concrete, I’ll let you know."

  Max nodded, and Rodney turned and headed back the way he came.

  "This is all my fault." Max took my hand in his and squeezed it.

  "I meant what I said. As long as we’re safe and together, that’s all that really matters."

  Max leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. "Why don’t we go have a seat while we wait to hear back from Rodney?"

  "Sounds good."

  He picked up the bags and we walked over to the closest gate to grab a seat. Once we were settled, I rested my head on Max’s shoulder and inhaled the scent of his cologne. I had the man I loved beside me, and we’d been through enough—together and apart—for me to know that was all that mattered.

  Chapter Two

  Max

  The small number of people that had been in the airport had dwindled down to almost nothing…and still no word from Rodney. It wasn’t looking good for us getting out of Aspen today.

  I hadn’t seen any planes take off and, one by one, people had been leaving the airport to head back to wherever they’d come from. Of course, it was difficult to see what was going on outside with the sheer amount of fucking snow coming down.

  Damn it. This was all my fault.

  I’d talked Chloe into staying an extra day so I could enjoy the slopes. She didn’t even ski and spent most of her time on the bunny hill, in the spa, or back at the house. What a selfish shit I’d been.

  Guilt ate at my insides for more than likely messing up all of her New Year’s Eve plans. She’d been so damn excited when she told me what was in store, and I’d screwed the pooch.

  I leaned my head back to stare at the ceiling and blew out a frustrated breath.

  "Mr. Richfield?"

  I brought my chin down so he was in my sights. "Rodney. What’s the word?" His hair was disheveled and his face bright red, I assumed from making his way from the hangar to the building.

  "Not good, sir. I’m afraid the storm has slowed and is supposed to hang over us for at least the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours." He spared a glance outside.

  Chloe stood from her seat beside me. "No problem. We’ll head back to the house then and wait it out."

  Rodney pressed his lips together, which I didn’t take as a good sign.

  "What is it?" I asked, knowing in my gut what it was.

  "They’ve closed all the roads. They’re too dangerous to navigate with all this snow blowing everywhere and freezing rain is expected for the next several hours, followed by even more snowfall."

  "Are you telling me we’re trapped here?" I asked, my voice rising.

  Chloe sat back down dejectedly.

  "I’m afraid so. Everyone that’s still here isn’t going anywhere until this beast passes and the roads have been cleared."

  "Well, that’s just fucking great," I ground out.

  "Max. It’s not Rodney’s fault," Chloe chastised.

  I pushed my hand through my hair. "I know. I’m sorry."

  Rodney blew it off with a wave of his hand. "Nothing to apologize for. I didn’t expect you’d be happy. Truth be told…I’m not thrilled to be spending New Year’s Eve here either. But, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years as a pilot, it’s that no one controls Mother Nature."

  "Must be a woman thing," I muttered under my breath. Chloe playfully swatted my arm. "I’m kidding," I said and put my hands up in a placating gesture.

  "I’m going to go back into the hangar until the plane is fixed so that when this storm does clear, we can get out of here straightaway."

  I reached forward and shook Rodney’s hand. "Thanks for trying."

  He nodded before leaving. I sat beside Chloe, silent for a beat, then shifted to face her. "Chlo, I’m so—"

  "Max Richfield, if you say you’re sorry once more, I’m not going to talk to you the entire time we’re stuck here." She crossed her arms over her chest.

  I smiled and tucked her hair behind one ear. "Thank you," I said tenderly while emotion filled my chest.

  "For what?" she asked, dropping her hands and scrunching up her face in that adorable way she did.

  "For being you." I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips, wishing like hell we weren’t in public.

  Chloe was the most understanding and selfless person I’d ever met. I needed to make up for this debacle. Somehow I was going to make this was a New Year’s Eve she wouldn’t forget.

  Chapter Three

  Chloe

  After we’d been sitting for a few hours, I noticed a small group of passengers hanging out at the gate farthest from us. Rodney had already returned to let us know that the plane was ready to go as soon as the friendly skies returned, and now I was restless.

  "Let’s go meet everyone over there," I said, nodding to the group.

  Max raised a brow. "I thought you only needed me, and that as long as we’re together that’s all that mattered?"

  It was obvious he was kidding. Max could be described in many ways, but insecure wasn’t one of them. I laughed inwardly at the thought.

  Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, I rose from my chair. "You are all that matters. But right now we’re being antisocial, and it’s going to be a long day or two until we get out of here. Might as well make the best of it."

  Max chuckled and stood up. "All right, Miss Social, lead the way." He leaned forward to grab the bags.

  "Just leave them, babe. Who’s going to steal them?" I looked around. The only other people in the airport were a handful of workers at the far side of the terminal. According to Rodney, the people who worked on the private jets had congregated in one of the smaller heated hangars.

  "Good point." He swung his arm over my shoulder and we made our way over to the small group of strangers.

  They were all seated together, chatting and laughing, and they turned as we approached. "Hi, everyone." I gave a small wave. "I’m Chloe, and this is my fiancé, Max."

  "Hey," Max said, raising a hand in greeting.

  The man closest to me was the first to stand and stick his hand out in introduction. "Hey, I’m Mason, and this is my girlfriend, Ellie." Mason was well-built and had the most interesting hazel and green eyes. He looked vaguely familiar to me, but I was unable to place him.

  Ellie smiled as she rose from her seat and came over to shake both our hands. She had long, dark hair and chestnut-colored eyes. She was a pretty girl I’d guess was in her early twenties.

  Someone came up behind her, and when I saw who it was, I almost swallowed my tongue. Since meeting Max, I’d had the opportunity to come in contact with some important and famous people, and I’d always managed to keep my cool. But everybody had their limits.

  Calder Fox and Francesca Leon. Oh my God. My wide-eyed gaze darted over to Max, who looked nonplussed by the entire situation.

  "Hey, I’m Max," he said, reachin
g out his hand in greeting.

  "Calder, and this is my girlfriend, Frankie." He placed his hand on her lower back as she stepped forward to say hello.

  Calder turned his dazzling baby blues to me and I almost lost it. Thankfully, instead of standing there like a drooling idiot, I managed to reach out and shake their hands. "Chloe. So good to meet you. I loved you guys in Collateral Damage. That film was heartbreaking."

  "Oh, thank you," Frankie said, smiling. "We had a good time working on that project." They glanced at each other with knowing smiles.

  "Hey, I’m Chris," said an older man who approached from behind Calder and Frankie. "You folks need anything?" Chris wore a uniform and I think he was the one who’d looked over our bags earlier when we passed through airport security.

  "We’re good, thanks," Max replied as he shook his hand.

  "We figured we’d come over and join you guys. Seems like it’s going to be a long night." I glanced up to the windows and saw only our reflections now that the outside world had been plunged into darkness by the setting sun.

  "Well, you certainly came to the right spot. This motley crew has had me in stiches the entire time." A well-groomed man I’d place in his thirties approached from behind us. He wore a V-neck pink cardigan with a houndstooth dress shirt underneath and dark wash skinny jeans. His gleaming white teeth shone as he introduced himself. "I’m Kirk."

  "Hi, Kirk. Nice to meet you."

  Without warning, he reached for my hair, picking up the blonde strands and examining them. "I can’t even see your roots. Who does your color?"

  "Oh, it’s natural."

  Kirk dropped my hair like it was covered in poison and had a look on his face like I’d struck him. "Oh girl, with those dark eyes? You hit the genetic lottery."

  I laughed and looked over at Max, who had an amused grin on his face.

  "And who is this, may I ask?" Kirk took a step closer to Max, sidling up to him.