Christmas Honeymoon For One (Paperback)

Chapter 1

"Ma’am, I need you to step aside." The customer service agent spoke as if she were talking to a child instead of a twenty-eight-year-old.
Kate shot the woman an apologetic smile as she continued digging through her purse. Crumpled receipts, a roll of mints, keys, and various other items she’d pulled out lay on the ticket counter for everyone to see. The chorus of sighs and grunts from behind her had become more noticeable, and her face burned with embarrassment.
"If you'll just give me another second," Kate muttered. She’d already spent several minutes holding up the line, but her ID had to be in her purse somewhere. She’d used it at the security checkpoint, for heaven’s sake. "I know it's here."
A quick look over her shoulder confirmed that the line had doubled. Her eyes landed on the shoe tapping behind her and lifted until she stared into an unfamiliar face. With dark eyes and nostrils flaring, the man behind her released an exaggerated sigh. Blush deepening, she spun around to face the agent again. She didn’t have time to worry about that egotistical jerk.
She literally couldn't afford to miss the flight. There was no such thing as a revenge vacation without taking the actual vacation. She had to check in to Sweet Paradise Resort by three in the afternoon, or she risked losing all the money she'd used to prepay for what should have been her snow-filled honeymoon. She still had hopes of getting a partial refund if she could just show up and explain to management what had happened.
Kate's heartbeat pounded in her ears as she mentally retraced her steps. Long-term parking. Bathroom. Coffee shop. That was it! She’d pulled it out when she bought her peppermint mocha. They were probably waiting for her to come back to claim it.
"Ma’am, I need you to move your belongings so I can help the next passenger—now." She lifted a perfectly arched brow and pursed her lips until more lines formed.
So much for friendly skies.
Kate swiped the items off the counter and into her purse then slipped the strap over her shoulder. She snatched her phone and gripped it tightly in her hands. Please work. Holding her thumb over the power button, she held her breath until it lit up and turned on. But just like earlier, the screen darkened before she could even open the airline app. What a malfunctioning piece of junk.
She hit the phone on her palm and groaned. Retrieving her e-boarding pass wouldn’t do her any good anyway. She still needed her government-issued ID to board the plane. Her phone slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor next to a pair of dress shoes. She let out another garbled groan then dropped to retrieve the phone. Feeling Mr. Tapper’s eyes on her, she lifted her gaze only to find his full of pity.
Kate scowled at him before glancing at her watch. Shoot. They would be boarding any minute. She slipped between the man and the counter to retrieve her suitcase and turned the way she’d come to head for the coffee shop. The wheels of her luggage bumped against something, but she had more important things to worry about. If she hurried, she’d make it back before the gates to the plane closed.
Beads of sweat dotted her brow, turning cold as she passed through the security checkpoint. All three lanes extended around the corner. How was she going to get through it again in time?
The cashier at the coffee shop must have seen her coming. She held up Kate's ID and smiled. “Looking for this?”
Kate snatched the ID. "Thanks,” she said breathlessly. Her face was probably bright red, and she looked awful, but she didn’t have time to say much more. She gave a little wave and sprinted back toward the checkpoint.
Hot tears of humiliation threatened to escape. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Just because her ex-fiancé had left her for his coworker and today was going horribly and ridiculously wrong didn’t mean she’d give in. She’d shed enough tears over that miserable excuse for a human being.
Kate took a deep breath and pushed forward. She’d get a printed ticket then attempt to get through security as quickly as possible. If she was lucky, she’d make it. She just needed one good thing to happen today.
She sprinted back to the other side of the airport, only to find the ticket counter line twice as long as the other one. The heavens opened and smiled on her when she saw two more agents open their counters, and the line moved forward.
"Looks like you're having a rough morning." The perky blonde grinned at her.
"You don't know the half of it," Kate puffed with a faint smile. “I just hope I make it to my gate before it’s too late.” She leaned on the counter, her breathing still heavy. "Is there any way I can request an aisle seat?"
The agent offered a sympathetic "Sorry, hon. This flight is fully booked, and the rest of the seats are first come, first serve." The agent handed her a printed boarding pass and returned her ID. “You better hurry. They’ve just started boarding.”
Kate’s shoulders fell so low that her purse slid down her arm. “There’s no way I’m going to make it through security,” she mumbled.
The agent leaned forward and tapped Kate’s ticket. “You were approved for TSA precheck.”
Kate’s eyes dropped to her ticket then bounced up to meet the agent’s.
"Gate 5 is that way." She pointed to the left. "Better get going. And I hope your day gets better!"
Kate mouthed, “Thank you,” then she scrambled for the TSA checkpoint. She was two gates away when the final call for her flight echoed over the loudspeaker.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Kate thrust the ticket at the uniformed woman standing near the gate. "Please. I have to make this flight," Kate wheezed between sucking in deep breaths.
The airline employee scanned the ticket before returning it to her. "Hurry up and find your seat."
Kate's carry-on luggage bounced off a few elbows before she stopped cold.
No. Not him.
When she’d finally thought things were looking up, she was proven wrong once again. Mr. Tapper sat in the seat beside the only empty one left on the plane. He'd taken the aisle seat, and now he had the nerve to pretend to be asleep. Didn't the flight crew announce that this would be a full flight? He had to know someone would be claiming the middle seat and he'd have to stand to let the person in.
Kate cleared her throat. "Excuse me.”
His eyes flew open and met hers.
“I believe that's my seat." She pointed to the seat beside him.
His piercing jade-green eyes met her scowl. He stared at her blankly as if he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Then the corners of his lips twitched, rising into a crooked grin. His long lashes fluttered as he blinked at her, and the irritation in her chest eased. This was going to be an interesting flight.

(Prequel) Saving Paradise Resort
1. Christmas Honeymoon For One
2. Merry Mistletoe Wedding
3. Christmas Cookies and Coworkers
4. Made for Mistletoe Mix-up
5. A Sweet Paradise Holiday Reunion