Chapter Text
24 December, 12:01am: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
"What do you mean my flight is cancelled?" Kiara asked the girl at the check-in counter desperately. "It's bad enough we had to make a stopover."
When the captain announced over the intercom they had to land in Washington DC between New York City and Norfolk, Virginia, due to inclement weather she wasn't happy. After waiting impatiently for a couple of hours she'd gone to the airport staff hoping they could help.
"Exactly what I said. The snowstorm has grounded all flights in and out of DC tonight."
"Mmmmm," she murmured, thinking through her options. "So does that mean you can get me on a flight to Norfolk in the morning then?"
"I can't make any promises," she said noting Kiara’s frustrated expression. "Even if the snowstorm has passed there are other issues to consider, not only are we behind in the flight schedule there are several safety hazards, including ice on the runway."
"Great, so if I can't leave how exactly am I supposed to get home for Christmas?"
"Excuse me?" A voice interrupted pushing his way to the front and standing beside her. His aftershave was a heady mix of sandalwood and spices and not altogether unwelcome even if his presence in the line was."I need to get to Norfolk, when’s the next flight out?"
"Who do you think she is the weather woman?" Kiara asked, annoyed by his interruption even though she’d asked the same thing a moment earlier. "You see there's this thing called a line and you're pushing in right now and," she rambled finally looking at him properly for the first time.
She faltered slightly, his unruly, blonde hair curling over his ears teasingly and blue eyes distracting Kiara from her point.
"Well, excuse me if you were taking your sweet time,” he replied gruffly as she stood there open-mouthed. "So, are you done?” He asked, not bothering to wait for a reply. “Good. Now about my flight."
"No way, wait your turn," Kiara shot back his arrogant attitude only adding to her bad mood. "Is there a bus or train service to Norfolk tonight?"
"Not tonight due to the bad weather," she replied batting her eyelashes at the annoying stranger to her left.
"Now, if you've finished talking let's get back to me," he interrupted, sending the girl behind the counter his most dazzling smile.
"Is there somewhere I can hire a car at least?" Kiara interjected figuring that was her only option at this stage, even if it was still about a six-hour drive to the Outer Banks.
At least then she might just make it for Christmas and her mother would get off her case. The girl, whose patience was wearing thin, gestured towards the hire car counters across the other side of the airport her eyes firmly trained on the blonde, line-jumping buffoon.
"Gee thanks," she snapped shooting her neighbor at the counter a glare before stalking off in search of a car.
In the process of storming over to the counter, Kiara lost her balance momentarily, her black heel falling off and sliding across the airport floor. She cursed aloud thinking what a bad couple of days she'd been having. Who was she kidding? It had been a whole year at least.
"Wow, you're just a ball of rage." A recognisable voice chuckled from behind. She closed her eyes momentarily trying to block him out. "Oh come on, sweetheart, no need to be like that."
He was now bent down on the floor holding her shoe upwards, the scene reminding her of something out of a fairy tale. But this was definitely no fairytale.
"Don't call me that."
"Why not, sweetheart?" He replied cheekily.
"Give me my shoe,” she managed to bite out.
"I can put it back on if you like?" He grinned. "Wasn't there a story that ended like this once with a handsome prince who looked just like yours truly?”
"I'm perfectly capable of putting on my own shoe, Prince Not-So-Charming," she growled, grabbing it from his outstretched hand.
Kiara turned away busying herself with replacing her shoe and trying to get rid of the poorly-timed, healthy, blush on her face that this idiot had caused. He was annoying but there was no denying he was gorgeous especially when that rogue dimple appeared on his left cheek without warning.
She turned around noticing he was suddenly nowhere to be seen. She shrugged her shoulders and continued towards the hire car counters hoping she could get out of this nightmare sooner rather than later.
"Hello?" She asked before noticing that the counters were all empty, a sign was perched on the top which she began to silently read.
"All hire cars are unavailable until further notice due to inclement weather," a loud and familiar voice read his breath tickling her ear he was that close.
She turned around attempting to swat him out of her personal space. "I can read you know," she drawled.
"So how about a drink, given we're stuck here for the night? I might even buy you one if you're lucky."
"Way to make a girl feel special," she muttered stalking away in desperate need of a hot shower and clean sheets.
She spied the airport hotel sign across the street thinking that was her best bet tonight.
"I'll have you know I’m very popular with women, men too I’ve been told," he said following Kiara outside as the cold air and snow hit her with blunt force. She shivered thinking how unsuitable her attire was for the weather. She had rushed straight from work in her black skirt suit and only had a white overcoat to fend off the cold air.
“You tell yourself if that makes you feel better,” she growled.
"Well, we do have all night. Come on if you don't want a drink I'm sure there are other ways we could occupy ourselves," he said and she could tell by his tone he was probably wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Don't you ever give up?" She shouted over the wind while wheeling her suitcase into the entrance of the Airport Hilton, a layer of warmth from the heating providing some much-needed comfort.
"That's not my style, sweetheart," he grinned joining her at the front desk.
She shook her head in his direction but she had to admit she found his wind-swept hair and rosy complexion from the cold air slightly adorable. Kiara was wondering if this guy could ever look bad.
"No, I'm getting that," she said dismissively then greeted the receptionist with the biggest smile she could muster. "I'm here for the night and was wondering if you had a room available?"
"We are pretty full given the airport shutdown." She typed away on her keyboard and consulted the computer screen. "Looks like we have a standard, queen room left."
"Great I'll take it." Kiara and her stalker said at the same time. She turned around and looked at him curiously.
"What is it with you and pushing into lines?"
"Oh, so you're together?"
"No."
"Yes." They both said in unison.
"Um." She looked between them her confusion evident.
"No we're not together," Kiara explained. "And I would love to take that room." She rummaged through her handbag for her purse hoping he would disappear as quickly as he arrived.
"So, do you have anything else available?" He asked peering over Kiara’s shoulder.
"I'm sorry, sir, that was our last room, we're now fully booked," she explained sympathetically.
"So what am I supposed to do then?"
"Well, it is Christmas maybe they can find you a stable and a manger out the back somewhere," she shot back, grabbing her key from the receptionist.
"Oh come on where's your Christmas spirit, Scrooge?"
"I think I lost it somewhere between New York and DC. Or maybe it was when you appeared like an unwanted bug needing to be squashed."
"Has anyone ever told you how abrasive you are, sweetheart?" He asked raising his eyebrows.
"Has anyone ever told you how arrogant you are?"
"All the time and I wear it like a badge of honor. Oh come on let me buy you one drink? It's not like we're going anywhere and it is Christmas after all."
Kiara could feel her resolve slowly fading and had to at least give him credit for his persistence and after the day she'd had a drink was much needed.
"One drink," she reiterated, leaving her bags with the receptionist and following him into the hotel bar.
For Christmas Eve it was fairly busy no doubt due to all the flight cancellations. The room was dimly lit, its dark wood paneling adding to the ambiance as well as the sole pianist whose music was twinkling softly. They sat by the window, Kiara with her arms firmly folded and him with a triumphant grin on his face.
"So, now you've got me to agree to a drink, what exactly do you want?"
"Well, that was a very loaded question," he smirked. "I could tell you but it might not be very G-rated."
"You don't even know me."
"No I guess I don't but that's the point of the drink so I can get to know you," he insisted, gesturing to the barman.
"So, we have one drink and a five-minute conversation then you don't have to feel bad for sleeping with a stranger?"
"Hey, I never said anything about sleeping together, that's all you. Unless of course, you're willing to share seeing as I'm homeless for the night."
"I don't even know your name."
"Exactly why we're having a drink," he said looking at the approaching waiter. "What would you like?"
"Grey Goose martini. Dirty"
"A grey goose martini, dirty, for the lady," he smiled at her choice of words. "And I'll have a whiskey neat. So now I know what you like to drink how about a name, your age, or perhaps your bra size?" He teased.
"You are unbelievable!" She scoffed.
"And you are extremely wound up. It was only a joke I promise." She went to get up before he touched her arm lightly looking at her apologetically. "I'm sorry," he murmured gazing up at her with his unfortunately pretty, blue eyes. She faltered wondering just what this arrogant asshat was doing to her.
"Sure you're sorry," she relented, sitting down again.
“Take the win, sweetheart, I don’t say it often because I’m rarely at fault.”
He winked teasingly as the waiter placed their drinks and a bowl full of peanuts in front of them. He grabbed one shelling it quickly and placing it in his mouth. Kiara could feel the blush starting to creep up her neck again, how did this guy even make eating a peanut sexy?
"So, I'm assuming you have a name?"
"Yes, actually I do have one of those."
"I asked for that, didn't I? Let's try that again. I'm JJ Maybank and you are?"
"Kiara," she replied taking a sip of her martini, the strong alcohol burning her throat momentarily.
"Just Kiara, like Rihanna or Beyonce?" JJ teased.
"It's Carrera, Kiara Carrera."
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it? It's okay you can talk to me, I don't bite."
"I think that's debatable."
"Has anyone ever told you how highly strung you are?" JJ asked holding the glass up to his pink lips that were curved into a knowing smile. Kiara shook her head trying to get the untoward thoughts out of her head.
"Even if they had told me, why do you think I would choose to discuss it with a complete stranger?"
"Hey, we've known each other for almost an hour now; I think that definitely takes us from strangers to acquaintances at least. Give it another hour and who knows where we'll be?"
"Do you ever give up?"
"No, not easily anyway. Oh, come on I'm trying to get you to loosen up, sweetheart."
"You know my name now," she hissed.
"I just like to rile you up, Kiara, it's way too easy," he said, emphasising her name. "No offence, but ever since I met you it's like you've had this giant stick up your ass."
Kiara didn't like where this conversation going. It seemed to be getting too personal and given she had just met JJ it didn't seem right. Although, for some reason, she cared what this arrogant stranger thought of her. Kiara wasn't this high-strung, the last few days had been trying to say the least and she was fairly certain the reason behind her increasingly bad mood.
“Well, offence taken, jackass.”
"What's their name?" JJ prodded. "What did they do to you?"
“Which one? There’s Kelce and Rafe but this guy called JJ, he’s the worst of the worst.” She snorted finishing her drink in one go.
“Cute,” he muttered. “There's more than one? This deserves another drink." He held up two fingers to order another round.
"If you're going to tease me..."
"Oh come on, I didn't mean to upset you," JJ said almost sweetly making Kiara look at him curiously. Who knew this guy could be kind of sincere? "It's okay, if you want we can just talk about me instead."
"God, no. Okay fine, it's not like we'll ever see each other again," She grabbed her second martini and took an extra big sip. "Kelce was the guy I was going out with for three months until a couple of days ago when he kindly broke it off to go skiing for the holidays."
"So, this Kelce, who sounds like a loser, by the way, broke up with you and you're upset because you thought you loved him?"
"After three months, hell no, I couldn't care less about him," she said knowing her feelings were never that strong towards him, he'd been nothing more than a temporary and much-needed distraction. "He was supposed to be coming home for Christmas with me."
"And you're upset because you have no boyfriend to show off to your family?"
"No, I'm upset because…" she paused, realising she might not want to share anymore.
"Because?' He asked sitting on the edge of his seat. "You're going to have to help me, I'm not good at guessing games."
"My ex-boyfriend Rafe will be there with his girlfriend," she groaned. "The girl he cheated on me with to be specific."
"Why would you choose to hang out with him at Christmas if he cheated on you?"
"Because he's now with my cousin," Kiara admitted, realising just how tragic her life sounded so finished the rest of her drink in one go.
"Gotta love small towns," he murmured, shaking his head. "So family get-togethers must be fun at the Carrera household."
"That's an understatement," she mumbled gesturing to the barman for another drink.
"So, why does your mom let them come to Christmas if they did that to you?"
"Her and my uncle are very close so it makes things difficult, I'm planning on spending a lot of time on the other side of the room this year. Trust me if I could skip it I would but my mom is still pissed I didn’t come home last year."
"He's an asshole, they both are."
"Yeah but if I still had the second asshole then I could at least make the first asshole jealous if you know what I mean?" JJ laughed despite everything.
"Sorry,” he apologised.
"Wow, is that a second apology from the guy who is rarely at fault?" He raised his eyebrows by way of a response.
“Look, you don't need some guy to make another one jealous. From what I can see by looking at you he's already going to regret that decision before Christmas dinner is served."
"Wow, do you actually have a heart buried deep down in there?" She asked taken aback by his reaction.
"Not at all, I just think you're hot," he replied deadpan, making her slap him playfully. "No, I'll admit it's been known to come out every now and again on special occasions, just don't get used to it."
"I may have misjudged you slightly even if you do tend to push into lines and speak your mind all too often," she shared, sipping her third drink. "Either that or I've just had too many martinis to tell the difference."
"Yeah, I think it's the second one," he joked.
"So how about you?"
"How about me what?"
"What's your story JJ Maybank?"
"Not as exciting as yours that's for sure."
"So, why are you going to Norfolk? Do you have family there?"
"No, just work."
"You're working on Christmas?" She asked incredulously.
"Guilty."
"Wow, that's either really dedicated or just really stupid."
"Tell me what you really think, Carrera."
"Well, if you have to work on Christmas then I might consider letting you share my room, on the floor of course," she clarified. "I'm just not that kind of girl."
"Oh really?" He asked cocking his left eyebrow. "Well, given I have nowhere to go I'll take what I can get."
"Excuse me, sir?" He looked around faced with the girl from the front desk. "We've had a vacancy come up if you're still interested in a room."
Kiara felt almost disappointed they wouldn't be rooming together even though she had no intention of crossing the line after knowing him for such a short time. He looked at her and she swore she saw the same disappointment flashing in his eyes.
"Uh yeah, that would be great, thanks."
"I guess I should get to bed given it will be an early start," Kiara said reluctantly. "Thanks for the drinks and for listening though, I appreciate it."
"Well, what else was I going to do while I was stranded in Washington DC?"
"Gee thanks," she quipped, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I'm going to get going, but good luck with work and everything."
Kiara took one last look in his direction and walked towards the lift realising it would probably be the last time she saw him. She’d been so angry for the past few days and all it took was one impromptu conversation with a stranger to make her feel half-human again.
"Merry Christmas, Kiara." She turned around taking one last look at him.
"Merry Christmas, JJ.”