Chapter Seven
Hayley
November
H ayley squashed her clothes into her suitcase and sat on it to shut it. How was this actually happening? She’d gone from it being a jokey idea to it becoming the most exciting trip she’d had in ages.
‘You’re going where?’ her mum said when Hayley called her to let her know.
‘The Hair Show and a fancy dinner in London.’
‘I’m in the wrong job. How come you get to do that?’
Hayley didn’t like fibbing to anyone, but she didn’t want to let on she was doing this with Oliver. In her head, she was just dressing up and going to a fancy roof top bar in London and he happened to be her date. Who was she to knock it? But other people wouldn’t see it like that, she was sure. There would be tricky questions and her mum wouldn’t shy away from asking them. No one in their right mind could deny Oliver was extremely handsome. He had that perfect combination of dark hair, just the right amount of tan and beautifully chiselled features. Not a bad bit of stuff to be seen with. Shame his face always had a scowl on it, but she was working on it and if he was grumpy, she always had enough cheer to go around.
‘Oh, just a last-minute thing. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.’
‘You take care,’ her mum said, ‘and message me loads. Let me know you’re safe.’
‘I will.’
Her mum liked to know her children were ok, even now they were grown. Hayley had always had a close relationship with her. Her parents had separated when she was younger and her dad had moved away. She hadn’t ever been quite as close to him, but she still met up with him and his partner, Liz, whenever she could. But her dad wouldn’t be bothered what trips she went on or who with, so there was no need to tell him. In fact, other than her mum, no one else knew she was going, except the girls at work. Hayley hadn’t broadcast the fact that she would be travelling with Oliver and sharing a room with him. Her colleagues would have a field day with that information. Hayley, being a top-class speculator herself, knew the rumour mill would be spinning at a hundred miles an hour if people got wind of her travel arrangements. Innocent or not, who would see it like that? She almost didn’t see it like that herself and the naughty part of her would love to throw caution to the wind and use this as a week to have hot sex with a smouldering guy whose body was second to none, but that most certainly wouldn’t be happening. She needed to pack the idea away with the rest of the squashed luggage and keep things on the straight and narrow. Oliver was not to be used in such a way. How could she look him in the eye again if she did that? They still had to get through the wedding together and she didn’t want to mess that up by making things awkward between them.
She pulled a face at her giant pink suitcase. Getting it on and off the train and around London would be interesting. This thing weighed a ton and there was nothing in it she could ditch. Going to London for a week when she’d be frequenting posh places needed careful packing and lots of outfits. With Oxford Street calling, no doubt she’d buy herself lots more while she was there and need an extra suitcase to come home with.
Toying with her phone, she had to forcefully remind herself not to mention this to Genevieve. So irritating when normally she told her everything, but Genevieve and Finlay didn’t need to know what their chief bridesmaid and best man were doing. That would cause way too much chitter-chatter. Hayley didn’t want to imagine how her brother would look at them at every pre-wedding event if he found out. Finlay wasn’t the type to try to stop them from doing anything. He was a good big brother, and he’d never stand in the way of what she wanted, but that was the point. She didn’t want Oliver. Not like that. Not for a relationship. He was far too grumpy and uptight for her. But Finlay would read all sorts into a trip like this and be annoyed with them both if he thought either had used the other. Simpler to keep schtum. She just hoped Oliver hadn’t blabbed.
As the sleeper train didn’t get into Glenbriar station until eleven o’clock in the evening, Hayley had left her packing until the late afternoon. If she packed too soon, she’d just sit around, desperate to leave. Previous experience had taught her she wasn’t at all patient in that kind of situation. After her case was done, she had a quick dinner and did a clean around the flat, so when she came back everything would look nice. She’d snuck a bottle of wine into her case because if all else failed and she couldn’t get to sleep, she could always drink herself into a stupor and hopefully pass out.
The station at Glenbriar had a small car park and an old Victorian ticket office and waiting room. These days, the ticket office wasn’t staffed and tickets were either pre-booked or bought from a machine on the platform. The office was now used during the day as a bookshop, but at this time of night it was all closed up. She got out of her car and trundled her suitcase through the floodlit car park and onto the very small platform. Standing not far along was a figure dressed all in black. She recognised it at once as Oliver. His suitcase was less than half the size of hers and he had a small backpack she assumed contained his laptop. He also had a suit hanger looped onto the handle of his case. She approached him, unable to stop the smile from spreading across her face. His usual serious expression was firmly in place.
‘Good evening,’ she said brightly.
‘Hi.’ Oliver glanced at her suitcase. ‘What have you got in there and how long do you plan to stay for?’
‘There’s barely enough in here to keep me going for the week, especially as I didn’t expect to be going to fancy functions. I’ve had to pack a whole lot extra.’
‘Oh, I see.’ His tone was slow and sarky. ‘Blame it all on me, why don’t you?’
‘Don’t worry, I will,’ she said.
‘At least you made it before the train. I thought you’d changed your mind.’
‘Why?’ She checked the time on her phone. The train wasn’t due for another ten minutes. ‘It’s not like I’m late.’
‘Maybe not. I just like to be there in plenty of time.’
She restrained her eye roll. This was so Oliver. Uber punctual and organised when he wanted to be – he just didn’t want to be organising anything for anyone else. ‘You and I are going to get along so well.’
‘I take it from your tone you mean you’re never on time.’
‘Exactamundo!’
Oliver didn’t hold back the eye roll.
‘I can’t wait for this,’ she said. ‘I have the whole of tomorrow free because the Hair Show doesn’t start until Wednesday. I’ve booked up for sessions on all three days. I might see if I can get tickets for the after-show party on Friday. You could come with me.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I’m going with you to your thing. It’s called reciprocity.’
‘Nice word, but I didn’t think we were working this trip like that.’
‘It’s how life works, Oliver, and it’s also known as manners.’
‘Seriously? If you’re going to be this annoying, I won’t last five minutes, never mind a week.’
‘Annoying? Moi? That’s insulting.’
‘I hope there’s room for your case in the cabin. It’s not that big, you know?’
‘Well, we can stick it in your bed and you can sleep standing up then.’
‘Oh, ha ha,’ he said in a low drone.
‘So, what’s your timetable for the week? Apart from avoiding me?’
He raised an eyebrow, as though her thinking impressed him. ‘Just business. A conference, some meetings, that kind of thing.’
‘Do you get any time off?’
‘There are some gaps, yes. Why? I won’t be able to hang around the shops and carry your bags or anything like that.’
‘Like I would want that. I just wondered because it sounds a bit dull.’
‘It’s work. It’s not meant to be exciting.’
‘I guess not.’ She looked up at a rumbling sound. ‘I think that’s the train.’ Bright lights came into view, getting slowly closer. The train screeched to a halt, and they waited until the doors opened.
‘After you,’ Oliver said.
As she climbed on the rather steep step, wrestling with her case, he took the handle and gave it an extra lift. Hayley was torn between being grateful or being narked at him for thinking she needed him to help her.
‘Can I see your tickets, please?’ A guard greeted them in the corridor.
Oliver pulled out his wallet, flipped it open, and handed over two tickets.
Hayley’s stomach turned over as she watched him and she fiddled with the handle of her case. She hadn’t bought a ticket or even considered she might need one. She’d assumed Oliver had paid for the cabin so there would be a free bed. So why did he have two tickets?
The guard pointed them down the corridor.
They shuffled down and Oliver opened the door, making his way in and holding it so Hayley could follow. The train had started moving already.
‘Well, isn’t this cosy?’ Oliver said, as the door shut behind her. Now they were both in, only their luggage separated them, and even Hayley’s enormous suitcase wasn’t really a barrier. He smelled amazing. Aftershave? Cologne? Was he a closet fragrance enthusiast with a bathroom cabinet full of choice scents? Or did he have a go-to label? Whatever he’d chosen tonight was intoxicating. A mixture of musk and a woodsy fragrance that filled the compartment with a heady aroma presumably designed to attract women, then drive them insane with desire. Hats off to the manufacturers because it was doing its job perfectly.
Fuck!
Couple that scent with his stunning face and the hot bod she’d seen beneath the cycling gear and he was almost irresistible. But wait a second. Stop thinking these things right now! She wasn’t going to use Oliver like that. He raised one of his thick, dark eyebrows and folded his arms. Something told her he knew exactly what she’d been contemplating, and it didn’t amuse him one bit. So, even if she wanted to, he would not.
‘I suppose it’s quite cosy. Do you snore?’ she asked.
‘Not that I know of. Do you?’
‘Probably, but no one’s ever complained.’
‘So far.’
She chuckled. ‘Well, if anyone’s going to, it’ll be you.’
‘Too right. Now, I hope you don’t want to stay awake all night and chat because I don’t and I really need to get some sleep.’
‘I’ll be good, I promise.’ She took another look around. ‘It’ll be interesting getting dressed for bed in here.’
‘I put on my sleep shorts under my jeans before I left, so I’m ok.’ Oliver tossed the virtual ball back into her court.
‘Well, smartie pants, you can wait outside while I get changed then, because I didn’t.’
After a bit of shuffling around as Oliver got the cases under the bed, he took a bathroom break while Hayley got into her pjs. She was just removing her socks when Oliver knocked to say he was back. She kicked her clothes under the bed next to her case and opened the door. He came in already in a grey t-shirt, showing off his thick arm muscles.
‘Turn around, will you?’ he said. ‘I’m not taking these off with you watching.’
She smirked and looked away as he unbuttoned his jeans.
‘I thought you went to the bathroom to do that.’
‘I’m not walking down the corridor in my shorts.’
A laugh was on the verge of bursting out, but she held it in, as she listened to him pulling off his jeans.
‘Right,’ he said.
‘Safe for me to look?’
‘I suppose so.’
He was folding his jeans, not meeting her eyes, as she turned around. Nice sturdy legs. Man, would he be hard to resist with that delectable bod?
‘Who’s going on top?’ Hayley waggled her eyebrows and grinned.
He blinked slowly and shook his head. ‘You decide.’
‘I’m happy anywhere.’
‘I bet you are. But fine, you go on top.’
‘Ok.’ She climbed up and snuggled under the cover, resisting the urge to peek over and nosy at Oliver. Her phone was on charge down below, so she couldn’t look at it like she usually did before she went to sleep. The kerthump of the train as it rattled along was kind of soothing, but now and then it jolted and her eyes bumped open.
‘Oliver,’ she said after a few moments. ‘Are you awake?’
‘Uh-huh. Why?’
‘Why did you have two tickets? I thought you just bought a ticket for the compartment. I didn’t realise we needed one each.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’
‘What do you mean? Did you buy me a ticket?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh my god. Why didn’t you tell me?’ She leaned over and stared down at him. ‘I should pay for it.’
‘It really doesn’t matter.’ He pulled the sleep mask over his eyes and rolled onto his side. ‘Just go to sleep. Night-night.’
‘Night.’ She lolled back on the thin mattress. ‘And thanks.’
‘Sleep well.’
For a long time, her eyes wouldn’t close. She stared up at the semi-darkness. Every sleeper on the track and each little bump hammered into her consciousness. She wanted to get out of bed, grab her phone and google how much tickets cost on this thing because she had a feeling he’d paid through the nose for her. The thought didn’t settle her. Why would he do that? He wasn’t noted for his kindness or charity, but he hadn’t even mentioned it. If she hadn’t said anything, would he even have let on? What did it all mean? If anything.
Oliver’s breathing changed. No snores, but it got a little louder, deeper, and more rhythmical. Almost hypnotic. She was close enough to imagine they were side by side and she rolled over, buried herself in the blanket, and closed her eyes. Letting her breathing sync with his, she focused on it, until she sank deep into the world of dreams.