18. Hailey
18
HAILEY
N ervously, I bite the end of my thumbnail as I watch the woman behind the desk typing. The middle-aged woman with a friendly smile and Jane on her name tag is busy inputting my data into the system. With everything online these days, I had to head two towns over to the nearest bank branch.
“My preliminary application online seemed to be okay,” I mention.
Her tiny smile returns as she clicks and examines the screen. Dread wants to boil inside me, and the moment she turns slightly, she abandons the keyboard, causing me to sit straight in anticipation. “I can see that. The application is from more than thirty days ago, so you will need to complete another one.”
“Of course, I did it before purely to check my possibilities. Now, I seem to be on the road to buying a building. I’ve seen the paperwork, but the process will only continue once I meet with the owner as she was doubting to sell.”
To me in particular or anyone who isn’t married. Some audacity. Now, I have a husband. I’m lucky. Problem solved, and it’s with Oliver, too.
Our high tea got pushed back to next week as Ingrid is sick with a flu.
“Okay, and you mentioned that you recently got married which needs to be clarified on the application next to your social security. It’s a good idea that he co-signs as you will be in a far better position for the mortgage if he does, even though you have the downpayment already. Will he co-sign?”
Hmm, I want to say no. This is why I avoided asking my brother. This isn’t a small favor. It’s a big ask of Oliver, even though he would. He already mentioned it. It’s my last resort though, but the option is on the table. The woman seems to notice that I’m slightly uncomfortable.
“If you’re married then it’s not a requirement, but I can also use his income statements to get you a higher mortgage on the place. It will probably be a must if you want to guarantee the mortgage rate.”
I tuck hair behind my ear. “That makes sense, but it’s for business and I am trying not to mix business with pleasure.”
Really, Hailey? Did that just fly out of my mouth?
She tries not to bubble a laugh, but luckily, she doesn’t seem to mind my slip.
“What does your husband do?”
“You know, we are kind of private people. Keep things on the down low.” As in live in different homes and fuck like crazy when the opportunity arises. “But he’s a lawyer.”
“Let me guess, he will review every document you sign.”
I smile to myself at the thought. He will whether I like it or not. I’m sure he would have done it before all of this transpired, too. It’s a sort of protectiveness, a steel wall unable to break through. He has his mind set.
“Maybe. Next time we sign and dust the documents then he will join me. He’s busy now, as hockey players enjoy their contracts this time of year.”
Her face puzzles, and I realize I shared a tidbit of information about my secret husband. It’s because I’m proud of him. Always have been. His career is one that many who study law dream of.
“He works for the Spinners,” I clarify. Everyone around here knows about hockey.
Her whole face lights up. “Really? I bet you get some great seats and tickets.”
My brow arches, and I contemplate testing the waters. “Is… that something that interests you?” My words stretch.
“My son always asks for season tickets.”
I whirl my finger around. “Would that put me favorably in line for my application?” I smile quickly to pretend I’m joking.
In truth, I have no shame in bribery right now.
She chuckles. “Probably, but you don’t need to sway me. It would be no good. Everything is down to what I put in the computer. I’m not sure I would worry so much, you have you have everything well prepared.”
That’s a relief, and I smile confidently. “Okay. Then I guess I’m done here. I’ll call when we can move on to the next step.” I stand from my chair and slide the strap of my purse over my shoulder.
“Yep. Nice talking with you, Hailey, and we’ll see one another soon.”
“Thanks again.” We shake hands, and I nearly skip out of the bank.
I’m one step closer to my dream.
My dry-cleaning hangs from my finger as I walk out the door onto Main Street. Errands are the theme of the day, and my smile hasn’t wilted one bit since the bank. The sun is out too. If I’m feeling adventurous then I might even grab a tub of ice cream from the store to have later while I work on grading papers.
“Hailey.” I hear a familiar voice call my name to grab my attention.
That smile I have? It now wilts.
My lips roll in, and I slowly pivot on my heel while pasting on a new tight smile. “Nancy.” Oliver’s mother, my husband’s mother, my mother-in-law, except she doesn’t know that.
“It’s good to see you. I haven’t seen you since before the wedding.”
I blink a few times as a small blip flies in my stomach. “Wedding?”
“Your brother’s.” Right. Of course that’s what she means. “I really wish we didn’t miss it. I’m sure Oliver knocked it out of the park with his speech. He sent a video that someone made, and I can’t wait to see the newlywed couple when they’re back. Such a special time.”
Newlyweds are a special sort of species. I’m beginning to feel that.
Nancy gives me a once-over and seems to approve. “You look different. Your hair?”
“No.”
“Did you get a tan?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Been working out more?”
“Definitely not in the gym,” I quip because the reality is that it’s in bed with her son.
She snaps her fingers. “Ah, you just seem… happier. Is there a new man in your life?” She steps forward and nudges my shoulder with her arm. “I’ll keep the gossip down.”
What is with our parents all trying to pretend they’re thirty and part of the crowd?
“Not exactly.” Wrong choice of words but also the truth.
Nancy winks at me. “Fair enough. I’ll wait and listen for any developments.”
A wave of warmth, the kind I sometimes get when dizzy, washes over me. I feel incredibly guilty right now that she doesn’t know that I’m officially her daughter-in-law. I wonder if that would make her happy or if she believes that I’m deserving of her son. Not that her opinion matters.
I inhale a deep breath and remember that marriage aside, I have ideas in my head that involve her. “Since my brother is away, I’ll ask if he needs for help with Oliver’s birthday party. Normally the guys plan birthdays for one another. Maybe something with just family and friends, nothing crazy but not a BBQ either.”
Her entire demeanor softens, and her eyes stake into me, her smile so incredibly warm. “That’s great. You’re always a little party planner. I’m sure it will be wonderful. I remember the murder mystery you planned. I heard about it for weeks.”
I chuckle to myself. “No murders for this one.”
“Just send me the details. We’ll be there. We’re not traveling again until next month.”
“Perfect. Well, I need to get home. I need to grade papers and all that jazz.”
Her eyes almost sparkle in admiration. “You are something special, you know. Being a teacher isn’t easy.”
I shrug. “Someone has to do it. Besides, it might change a bit now that I have a h—…homework. Yep, issuing less homework and that cuts my workload.” Holy crap that was a close one. Nearly said husband who is helping me get the building for a preschool.
“Hopefully. It was nice to run into you.” She touches my shoulder in passing.
All the fear erases from me as she walks away.
A little reminder of my unusual situation.
Sitting on my couch, I go over my lesson plans for next week. With my pen in one hand, the fingers on my other hand play with the necklace with the ring along my collarbone. It’s a struggle, as my thoughts keep lingering back to Oliver. The other night, he closed off when I pried for details of what he wants in life.
I just want to do something for him as I’m so indebted. It’s also the fact that I’ve never wanted to make someone so happy in my life. He deserves it, and it’s the only way that I’ll smile.
Reviewing the calendar, my eyes still on a date.
Husband or not, I would have been involved in planning Oliver’s birthday. Everyone seems to come to me for help in that department.
That also means that nobody will bat an eye if I organize one. I’ll make it his best birthday yet and nobody will need to know that it’s because I’m completely besotted with the man.
A dinner down at the River Bell with a group of friends and family. Simple decorations. A drink menu with a specialty cocktail, and after the party, I’ll throw on something for his eyes only.
You only turn 34 once.
Still, I need to cover my bases, and I grab my phone and quickly type a message to my brother.
Me
Hey! Sorry to interrupt your honeymoon but just wanted to check if you needed me to do anything for Oliver’s birthday? I remembered that it’s soon and normally you plan a gathering or something. I can imagine you have been occupied. Should I just take that off your hands?
I will play it cool because this is nothing unusual, and a few minutes later, I get a text back to confirm my theory.
Liam
Oh yeah, I was going to handle that when I got back. You’d be my favorite sister if you can take over since you are a party wizard.
No problem.
Alright, that’s solved, and I can go ahead with my plans.
I hear a sound of something hitting my kitchen window, but it must be a bird as there is a bird feeder near there. However, the sound continues. Woodpeckers don’t attack windows, do they? Call it my sixth sense, but I rush straight to the kitchen because I know who is outside standing at the bottom of the deck step, waiting.
Smiling, I quickly go to the back door to let Oliver in. I look side to side to ensure we have no watchers as he rushes inside.
I close the door and have to ask. “What’s with the pebble throwing? You could have just knocked on the door.”
“What’s the fun in that? I’m not supposed to be here so better go all out on the sneaking around.” He steps to me, and his hands rake through my hair only to fist it at the back of my head to drive my mouth straight to his.
It’s a fervent kiss that has me closing my eyes to completely inhale his breath and dip my tongue into his mouth. I’m already gone. He could slide my pajama shorts right down and I’d be ready.
I pull back and scrape my teeth along his stubbled jaw. “Are you sure Keats and Esme didn’t see you? I feel as though they are watching this place like hawks.”
“Nah, I walked through the backyard of that new family that just moved in next door. Their dog was inside which gave me a clear path.” We both meander to the couch, and Oliver sets my papers onto the coffee table before we have a seat.
I snort a laugh at his effort to fly under the radar. So far, we’ve used power walks, Liam’s key, neighbors’ yards, and me showing up to say they mixed up our mail as excuses. For the most part, we stay at his place since Esme and Keats are live next door. Carter has random shifts, and to be honest, he is the least of our worries.
“I wasn’t expecting you; I thought you were working late.” Getting comfortable, I tuck my legs under and love how his arm rests on the back of the couch behind me. It gives him ample opportunity to take his long finger and stroke my arm. I was hoping he would touch me.
“Managed to get out early. I might have to dash into a call later since the player’s agent is on Pacific time. Sorry if I’m interrupting your teacher stuff. Did that little punk have a better attitude today?” Because we do talk about things as our whirlwind has worn off, and now, we are in reality.
“Actually, a little. However, the excitement of my day was running into your mom in town. It was hard. It nearly burst out of me a few times that she’s my new mother-in-law.”
Oliver rubs his chin and seems to be in deep thought. “I haven’t seen her since they got back. I’m not sure how I’ll handle it.”
“I guess it’s the same boat as when Liam gets back. We have to get our nerves in check and stories straight. It’s just …” My eyes find his. “We’re deceiving everyone, and I know it’s what we walked into, and it will be temporary, but still…”
He cups my cheek, giving me that feeling of comfort. “It will all fall into place,” he promises.
I nod repeatedly, and he leans down to kiss the tip of my nose.
But he doesn’t succeed because the front door swings open, with the sound of feet quickly walking in. Oliver and I are quick to scramble apart.
“Oh hey, I didn’t know you were ho…” Esme stops mid-sentence when she stands in the entryway to the living room and notices Oliver sitting on the other end of the couch and still doing his best to sit straight. “Home.” Esme finishes her sentence and smirks gently to herself, and it’s almost sly because she seems to enjoy this awkward moment.
I swipe my hair behind my ear. “Yeah, grading papers.”
Esme bounces her eyes between me and Oliver. “Not alone, I see. Didn’t know Oliver loved to grade essays on the industrial era.”
My cheeks hurt from my tight smile.
“Actually, I stopped by because…” Oliver glances at me while he thinks before sliding his gaze back to Esme. “We were just talking about Liam’s plants. One of us forgot to water them. We were debating if we needed to buy a new one,” Oliver attempts to cover the situation and could in no possible way fool anyone with that lie.
“Sure you were.” Esme sounds completely unfazed before she sharply turns her attention to me. “Sorry to bother you. I sent you a text earlier that a client forgot her sweater by the door, so I was going to pick it up. You said cool. Remember?”
Ah shit, I did. Still, I need to reset some boundaries about knocking.
She uses her hand to cover her eyes and pretends to look away. “Well… nothing to see here. I’ll be on my merry way.” Then she scurries away.
When we hear the door close, my body eases because it was tense. “Fuck.” My eyes zip up to Oliver. “She knows.”
He rubs the back of his neck with a pained look. “Nah.” He takes a few beats. “Maybe.”
I shake my head before it falls into my hand before I swat him. “Liam’s plants, really?”
We look at one another and our serious looks drop into a wide grin, and I chirp a laugh. Because it is ridiculous and he knows it.
Oliver lifts a shoulder, confident. “I mean, it could be true.”
I sigh. “Well, she didn’t exactly see anything, and we didn’t confess. She is probably jumping to conclusions in her head, and she’s always had those.”
He reaches out to yank me flush to him. “Let’s not worry about it.”
“I guess you’re right.”
After a few calming breaths and acceptance of nearly getting caught, I decide that we should move on with our night. “Anyways, I went to the bank after school, and it seems everything really will work out.”
He squeezes my arm attentively. “I’ll make sure of it.”
The way he says it feels as though there is so much more underlying. It’s heavy, not said in jest.
Ignoring the thought, I touch his thigh and grin ear to ear. “And I’ll make sure you have a birthday worthy of celebrating.”
He groans and sinks back onto the sofa. “Don’t remind me. I’m getting old.”
I crawl on top of him and straddle his hips, instantly grabbing his interest. “No, you’re not, and I’m planning a party whether you want it or not.”
“Hailey.” I can hear that he is pretending to hate the idea.
“Oliver.” I return the tone and smile smugly.
His head falls forward, and he nuzzles his nose between my breasts as he growls annoyance. “Fine,” he grits out.
I bounce with her hands showing excitement. “Excellent. Because I would have done it anyhow.”
Oliver relaxes again, and he wets his lips while his hands begin to run along my thighs. “You’re taunting my cock with all of your movements.”
I bring a finger to my chin and pretend to consider. “Hmm, how can I rectify that situation?”
“I have about 1000 ways and 99% of those are dirty as fuck.”
I throw my head back in laughter. “We should make a list and we can work our way through them,” I suggest.
“That’s a pretty long list and will require a long time… very long.” He has my eyes pinned and suddenly the air in the room shifts. It shouts in my head how much I want this to be foreshadowing.
This time it’s me demanding a kiss, and I ensure I get it when I dive straight to his mouth for a hard kiss. It takes him by surprise, the force, but he doesn’t mind because his hands wander around my body, and we both murmur as our kiss doesn’t break and our bodies glue together.
I hate air.
You need to breathe and have no choice but to part for air.
A thought that’s been floating in my head recently enters into the situation. I wipe his lips with my thumb and swallow to prep myself. “Kind of wild that we went from a one-night stand to spouses at the speed of light.” My voice thins, delicate, as my eyes slide away only to return.
He’s patiently waiting for me to continue because he knows I have more to say, and the sly smirk barely visibly on his face tells me that he is partly entertained about my sudden shyness.
“We kind of missed a step, and I was thinking… maybe… since we haven’t, you know… gone on a date. A real one.” Am I nervous right now? That would be silly. This man has already gone a step above to care for me.
A date is a small speck on the scale.
“Blisswood winery or Dizzy Duck Inn in Lake Spark?” He’s very on board, even if his face is set in an unreadable mask, but his voice is cool and smooth.
“Uh, isn’t the Blisswood winery your brother’s ex in-laws’?”
“There are no hard feelings. So it’s the Dizzy Duck? Dinner or should we just stay the night. Wait…” He holds up a finger. “Scratch that. Keats is there a lot as his sister works there. Too risky.”
My shoulders lift then sag. “Probably anywhere in a 20-mile radius is out of bounds.” I almost frown because I’m not enjoying this obstacle. But being out in the open with all to see is a whole new ballgame.
Oliver’s lips quirk out and then ease into a coy look. “I’ve got it.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.”
I’m curious, but I’ll accept that it’s a surprise. “No pressure or anything but my expectations are high,” I tease him.
He grips my hips and in one swift move shifts us until I’m on my back and he’s hovering over me. “Don’t you worry. Now be a good wife and open those thighs. I’m starving for you.”
Heat prickles all over my body and my arm snakes between us so I can touch him, and he isn’t lying.
I would say he only came over for sex except you show feelings through actions and everything he keeps doing for me erases that thought.
“Oliver, I want hard and fast.” My breath is already heavy and my voice scrapes.
“Whatever you say.”
He kneels with one leg between my thighs. Watching him unbuckle his pants causes my pussy to pulse with need.
His sight stalls on me, and the promise of fast turns into Oliver sliding over me to slowly brush his lips on mine with intention.
“My wife.” His whisper cascades down my neck until he plants a soft kiss on my shoulder and slides down the strap of my tank top before his teeth capture the ring on the chain.
This man is feral most the time, but this time the glint in his eyes is a promise.