THE MAN I DIDN'T ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

NAILA'S POV

This felt like something straight out of a cheesy movie— Where both characters stared at each other with shock, while snow gently fell in the background, painting the scenery into something dreamy.

Absolutely not.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I took a step back to make sure I was looking at the right person.

This couldn't be Remy. This had to be some cruel joke or something.

The look on his face morphed into something more neutral. “What do you mean? You're in my cabin.”

My stomach twisted violently and my vision seemed to swim. “Your cabin? Mr Sterling, this is my cabin. I paid for this. I'll show you my papers.”

Before he could muster a response, I dashed insideㅡ heart racing and skin paleㅡ as I grabbed a few documents off the bed where I had dumped them and hurried back to the door.

And he was still there. A part of me had hoped that he would be gone with the wind by the time I got back. But alas, he was still very much real.

Shit.

He looked down at the paper in my hand then those warm eyes locked on mine, making my heart jump.

Fuck this. I wasn't over him. Clearly.

“Are you gonna let me freeze while we argue about this or…” He looked behind me. “Can I come in so we settle this?”

My mouth opened. Then closed. Then fell open again.

“Right. Uhㅡ Yes, come in. Don'tㅡ Don't freeze to death on my porch. I don't wanna go to jail in Colorado. I'm not built for prison.”

I stepped aside and he walked in, towering over me as he brushed snow off his hair. Snowflakes melted onto his jacket, dripping to the floor.

I watched his gaze rake over the cozy cabin. Then, he stopped.

Dead froze.

Because his eyes landed on…Oh god. Oh fucking no.

My bra. The red lacy one. It was sitting lazily on the arm of the couch like a proud Christmas decoration.

And right next to it? Three pairs of panties scattered around like confetti.

His eyes widened a fraction and he looked away politely, clenching his jaw.

Kill me.

Kill me now. A bear should really just come through the window and maul me. I swear, I wouldn't even resist or use the bear horn. I would fucking take that line of death over…this.

“Oh my god—shit! Fuck—don’t look!” I yelped, lunging forward and grabbing everything in a frantic sweep of my arm. One flew out of my hand in my haste, and I had to chase it. “This is—this is not—I wasn’t—these are not—FUCK.”

He didn’t laugh. He didn’t even smile. He just looked at the ceiling like he was talking to God.

Of course he was calm. Remy Sterling had always been unshakable. Meanwhile, I was tripping over a lace thong.

I shoved the entire pile into a drawer and slammed it.

“Okay,” I breathed, looking at me with flushed cheeks. “We will never speak of this again.”

“I didn’t see anything,” he said dryly.

Liar.

Get your shit together, Naila.

I cleared my throat and pushed my hair back, my pulse thrumming under my skin. “So….uh…You said this was your cabin but my reservation is right here…” I nodded to the document that I had dropped back on the table.

Remy didn't even look at it, he simply pulled out a neat laminated piece of paper from his small suitcase before he handed it to me.

The same address. The same dates. The same booking.

Someone fucked up.

“One moment.” I forced a polite smile before dashing to the telephone. Please tell me there was still signal.

The phone rang for a while before I heard a voice. “Hello?”

“Yes, I'm the lady in Cabin four. You were here a few minutes ago. I…uhㅡ” My gaze darted to Remy who was tracing the table with a finger, his bottom lip tucked between his teeth.

Absolutely not.

“Yes? You said there was no problem.”

There was a big problem!

“Yeah, there wasn't! But there's a man here. Mr Remy Sterling and his ID are the same. I think there's a problem or something, we're not supposed to share a cabin. Think you can come sort this out?”

The man paused, sighing heavily. “Roberto. I knew the lad would mess up something in the booking. Third time this week, I tell you.”

“And you still kept handing him reservations to handle?!” I hissed.

“I'm very sorry, ma'am. I can't get any cabins this night. The blizzard is already hitting. No one should be out until it's over. I think you both can share for tonight and I'll sort something out in the morning. I'm very sorry. Stay warm!”

The phone clicked and I just stared into space.

Share. As in… with Remy. My ex. The reason I left this state.

I hung up and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Fuck.”

Remy cleared his throat. “Look, you’re clearly not happy about this.” Understatement of the century. “So I’ll take the couch. I’m not here to make you uncomfortable.”

I gave him a tight smile. "It’s fine. Whatever. Make yourself comfortable.”

Slowly, I turned on my heels, walking to my bedroom while not trying not to trip over my own feet under the weight of his gaze. I slammed the door and grabbed my phone, typing out a message to Nadia, my fingers blurring with how fast it moved.

“NADYA! REMY IS IN THE SAME CABIN WITH ME! SCREW THIS WHOLE THING! I'M COMING HOME TOMORROW! WHAT THE FUCK?! WHAT DO I DO?!”

I hit send. Failed. Hit it again. No signal.

Great, I had offended someone in a previous life or something.

I flung my phone to the bed and collapsed heavily on it, groaning.

Shit.

The storm raged outside, wind whooshing and snow piling outside the window.

I hadn't moved for hours. I was very much aware of the soft sound of his boots padding across the cabin. Maybe…I should…talk to him? I mean, it's not everyday that you meet your ex again.

Okay, Naila. Let's not make this weird.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I trotted into the living room, my heart in my throat.

Where was he?

Then I heard a grunt from the side of the cabin and I turned, my cheeks flushing at the sight of him.

Because Remy was on the rug, shirtless. And doing push-ups.

Muscles that definitely did not exist when I knew him as the lanky shy kid, rippled throughout his back, an unfamiliar spread of ink over his skin glistening with sweat.

Holy fuck.

As the stupid hormonal woman who wasn't still over her ex, I stared.

“Oh, for fucks sake…” I muttered under my breath.

He paused mid-rep and he slowly looked up, our gazes locking.

For a second, time seemed to freeze and we just stared at each other. Then, he stood up, flexing his muscles subconsciously while making his way towards me.

Each step closer only weakened my resolve and by the time he was standing right in front of me, I was a mess.

“Couldn't sleep?” He rasped, his voice feeling like a cold pail of water over me. “Would imagine so. The weather is harsh…”

I laughed but it sounded forced. “Well… I guess… nice tattoo.” I changed the topic, trying to escape the heavy tension that weighed heavily on us both.

Like the ghosts of the past were creeping in again.

“Right?” He looked down at the raven tattoo engraved on his chest. “I got it a year after you left. You always liked ravens.”

Oh.

I followed his gaze, gulping as my gaze traced over the hard planes of his stomach, his chiseled abs, the light trail of hair that led down toㅡ Oh fuck.

“Naila…?” His voice snapped me out of my daze and I looked up to see him staring down at me, his gaze turning dark. “You're staring.”

“Iㅡ” My heart suddenly seemed to slam against my ribcage and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

He stepped closer, his finger reaching up to brush against my cheek. Soft. Reverent. I shuddered as the pad of his fingers traced my skin like the ghost of a prayer. “I missed you, you know? I can't tell you how…happy I am seeing you after all these years… I still think of you.”

My words were caught in my throat. “Remy…” I whispered.

His gaze dropped to my lips for a second. Then, he leaned in.

My brain seemed to short-circuit.

I should have stopped him. I should have told him to go to hell.

But when his lips met mine, my mind went completely blank and I melted.

There were no thoughts.

Only him. Only the heat. Only the stupid, reckless, aching part of me that had never really let go.

So, I kissed him back. Because I was weak. Because he felt like home. Because I was stupid.

And because it was Remy.