Chapter 3
Hayden arrived at the Winnipeg airport, parking in the car park and finding his way inside. Locating the domestic arrivals, he waited for Whitney, leaning against the wall and watching the empty escalator descend. Being a late-night flight, the terminal was quieter than usual with only a dozen or so loved ones lingering, waiting for the next flight to arrive. Hayden’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out, glancing at his texts.
Whitney: Just arrived.
Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, his brows knit together with worry. Receiving a text last night from Whitney, asking if she could come stay with him earlier than planned, he was surprised at her urgency to get there. He wanted to ask what the rush was, but since Whitney was so private, he was hesitant to question it. Would she trust me enough to even tell me? Something was obviously very wrong, and he needed to figure out the best way to ask.
The arrival door opened, breaking him out of his thoughts, as passengers started flooding the escalator, descending to the ground floor. Spotting her blonde hair, he smiled, his heart fluttering as warmth filled his chest. Whitney was dressed comfortable and casual in a turquoise fitted athletic jacket, and black leggings, her shoulder-length blonde hair pinned at the sides and her face natural. Beautiful. Walking her way, their eyes met, and she offered him a tired and wary smile, causing his stomach to drop. Something is definitely wrong.
Whitney stopped a foot from Hayden, staring up at him, trepidation in her eyes. Concern washing over him, he stretched his arms out to her, and she bridged the gap, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight grip. Melting into his body; a long-pained sigh escaping her lips as she clung to him. He held her to his chest, stroking her hair gently, her tension easing under his tender touch.
Releasing him, she stepped back and met his worried gaze as a grateful smile emerged. “Thank you, Hayden.” she said, emotion edging her tone.
“It’s no problem, Whitney.” he replied, waving off her thanks. “Let’s get your luggage and head home.” He suggested, walking towards the baggage claim.
Finding one suitcase, she pulled it off the baggage carousel and rolled it over to Hayden. Pulling up the handle, he turned to roll away, and she stopped him with a laugh. “Hold on, I got two more.”
Hayden’s eyes widened and his lips turned up in a mischievous grin. “Moving in with me already?” he teased with a wink.
Whitney rolled her eyes and shook her head as she went back to the carousel. Retrieving the last two suitcases, she pulled them along awkwardly towards Hayden, who had already commandeered a trolley. Loading up her three suitcases, they made their way out of the building and towards the parkade. It was getting colder now, November just around the corner, and the wind bit at them as they walked.
“My goodness it’s cold!” she exclaimed, pulling up the collar of her jacket. “I hope I packed warm enough for Manitoba.”
“Winter is coming. You’ll need something a lot warmer than that,” he informed gesturing to her athletic jacket.
She gave him a sideways glance and shivered, sliding her hands in her pockets. When they reached his truck, Whitney’s eyes widened, and she turned, giving Hayden an approving nod. “I love your truck,” she marvelled, running her hands over the hardware store logo on the door of his classic Green 1950 Chevy Pickup.
“Thanks, it was my dad’s.” Hayden answered with a proud smile as he opened the passenger door for her. Flashing him a grateful look, she climbed in.
Loading the suitcases into the bed of the truck, he covered them with a tarp and secured them with bungee cords before returning the trolley. Sliding into the cab, he started the truck and turned to Whitney. She met his gaze, making him melt inside, her cheeks and nose tinted red from the cold. He reached down to turn on the heater, letting the warm air circulate a few minutes before they set on their way. An awkward silence fell between them, neither knowing exactly what to say as they let the cab of the truck warm.
“Better?” he asked, glancing over at her.
“Yes, but my hands are so cold,” she replied, rubbing her hands together to generate warmth.
Reaching over to the glove compartment, his hand brushed her thigh, and she raised an eyebrow at him. Chuckling at her reaction, he opened the compartment and pulled out a pair of leather gloves. “These should help.” He said, offering them to her.
Her brown eyes softened as she met his gaze and accepted the gloves, slipping them onto her small hands. “These are huge.” She commented with a giggle as she held them up, her little hands swimming in his large gloves.
“You know what they say about guys with big hands? They have…” She flashed him a chiding look. “... big gloves.” he finished giving her a flirtatious wink and sexy smirk.
Whitney took off a glove and swatted his arm with it, causing them both to laugh. “Enough jokes, country boy! Take me back to Primrose.”
An hour later they pulled into the driveway of Hayden’s home, and he pressed the button of the garage door opener allowing them to park inside. He turned the truck off and pivoted to Whitney. Halfway through the drive, she had fallen asleep. Her head off to the side of the leather backrest, she looked peaceful. Not having the heart to wake her yet, he took her in. She was so incredibly beautiful, with long dark lashes, perfectly arched eyebrows, a slightly turned-up nose and full lips that begged to be kissed. She was everything he was attracted to, everything he desired, and she was now here with him. He reached over and gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, making her stir, then open her brown eyes meeting his gaze. “You feel asleep, gorgeous.”
“Oh, sorry.” she apologized, sitting up quickly and looking around. “Are we here?”
“Yes,” he replied as he climbed out and rounded the truck to the passenger’s side, opening her door. She offered him an appreciative grin and slid out of the cab.
Reaching around the truck bed, he unfastened the bungee cords, removed the tarp, and lifted out her luggage. Grabbing two of the largest ones, he carried them in through a side garage door that led straight into the house. Whitney grabbed her lighter bag along with her carry on and followed him inside.
“Home sweet home,” he announced, leading her down a short hall into the kitchen. She looked around. The kitchen was modern with stainless steel appliances and beautiful finishes. A long quartz countertop island housed four chairs perfect for casual dining.
“This is nice,” she said, eyes darting around the kitchen. She peeked around the corner through the cased opening which led into a large cozy living room.
“Follow me,” he gestured. “I’ll show you to your room.”
“Wow, you’re like a full-service bellhop!” she laughed.
“And you don’t even need to tip me,” he volleyed as he led her through the living room, front entrance and down a long hallway, stopping at a door at the end of the hall.
Putting down one of her suitcases, he opened the door leading her into a large bedroom with a 4-poster king size bed dressed beautifully in a homemade quilt. The quilt was thick and plush in different shades of purple stitched into a star pattern. Whitney put down her suitcase and carry-on bag and went up to the bed, running her hands over the quilt, admiring the handiwork.
“This is beautiful.” She commented, tracing the pattern with her fingertips.
Hayden smiled nostalgically. “My mother made it. She always loved to quilt.”
“How long has it been since your mother passed away?” she asked, knowing a little about his family from Ever.
“Almost 4 years ago.” He replied, as she offered him a sympathetic smile and took a seat on the bed. “My mom and dad passed away in a car accident.” He continued. “It was all very sudden, but I’m happy they left this world together. They were inseparable even at the end.” Whitney met his eyes and gave him a half smile as he added. “If you’re lucky enough to find someone you love and are best friends with, it would be hard to go on without them.”
“That would be difficult.” She agreed, her eyes downcast as she took in his words.
The air around them growing heavy, Hayden surveyed the bedroom and asked. “Is this room okay for you? There’s a huge ensuite bathroom through there.” he gestured to the door on the side. “I figured I would you give my bedroom, so you have more space and privacy if you need it.”
“Oh, was this your room?” she asked, rising from the bed, slipping off her tennis shoes and climbing back on, folding her legs in a crisscross.
“Yes, but you can have it. I moved myself just down the hall, two doors down if you need anything.”
“Seriously, Hayden.” she replied, meeting his gaze with sincerity. “You didn’t need to go to that much trouble for me. I know I sprang this impromptu trip on you only last night.”
“It’s not a big deal, Whitney. I wanted you to be comfortable,” he replied, slowly approaching the bed where she sat. Leaning against the bedpost, he cocked his head to the side. Here’s your chance. “Speaking of that, when we chatted yesterday evening you made it sound like you would be here in a week. Then I got the text that you were hopping the earliest flight you could get out of Toronto. Did something happen?” he asked curiously, putting his hands up in the air. “Only if you want to tell me, Whitney. If you’re not comfortable sharing, I’ll understand.”
Whitney let out a long, shaky exhale and replied. “I guess you could say that I got a little spooked.”
“About what?” he asked, furrowing his eyebrows in concern.
“My past seems to be resurfacing out of nowhere.”, she replied cryptically.
Hayden rounded the bed post and sat down on the edge of the bed turning his gaze to her. “Your ex-husband?”
Whitney’s eyes widened and her face turned white. “How did you know I was married?” she asked pointedly.
“Ben mentioned something about it to me at the wedding,” he confessed. “Was it a secret? Should I not know about it?”
Whitney shook her head. “No, it”s fine. It”s not like I hide it; I just prefer not to talk about it. It was a dark time in my life.”
Hayden pinned her with his gaze, the wall she had erected between them evident and understandable with her past. He reached out and took her hand in his, smoothing over her thumb with his. It was a tender and affectionate gesture, and she glanced down at his hand on hers, then back up to meet his eyes. “I’m sure you’ll tell me more about everything later, but for now, get some rest. You must be exhausted,” he said, letting go of her hand as he got up from the bed and made his way over to the bedroom door before glancing back at her. “I’m just two doors down if you need me,” he reminded her with a waggle of his eyebrows.
Whitney let out her giggle and rolled her eyes at him. “You promised me you would be good.”
“I’m just saying this is a full-service establishment,” he deadpanned cheekily. “Seriously, anything you need. A cup of sugar, an orgasm. I’m your guy!”
Whitney climbed off the bed and grabbed her shoe, throwing it at him playfully, the shoe hitting him square in the back as he exited the room. He peeked around the door frame, a devilish smile on his face. “Two doors down gorgeous!”
“Get out of here,” she giggled, charging the door, and closing it behind him.