Chapter 4
Whitney woke up warm and cozy in the big four-poster bed. The handmade quilt was so soft and comfortable she dared not move to disrupt her cocoon of warmth. Raising her head off her pillow, she glanced at her bedside clock, 10:36 a.m. She’d slept in. After such an impulsive departure, she knew her email was probably full of concerned messages responding to a group email she sent out yesterday morning as she quickly packed for this trip. Sending emails to her family, friends, and work colleagues, she couldn’t help but smile at the wonderful and supportive people she had in her life.
In the years she was with Paul, he’d slowly isolated her from everyone else. He didn’t like her friends, so many of her high school and college friends simply floated away. Then her younger brother joined the RCMP, met his wife and settled on the East Coast. Her father retired from a long career as a detective with the Toronto Police Service and her mother, a retired psychology professor from the University of Toronto, started enjoying their retirement down south in Arizona during the winter months. So, after her marriage finally ended, she was left with no one. Ever was one of the first female friends she had made since she left her marriage, and her friendship meant everything to Whitney.
Unraveling herself from the warm quilt, Whitney fished out her toiletry bag from her suitcase and padded into the bathroom. The bathroom was nicely renovated with a huge walk-in shower, a long counter with double sinks and plenty of space and a gorgeous free-standing tub. Deciding to take a shower, she stripped off her flannel pajamas and stepped inside, putting on the rain shower setting to help her relax. She stood under the shower for a long time, simply clearing her thoughts so she could start her day. Breathe in, breathe out, she let the warm water run over her as a sense of calm flowed through her and any tension in her body dissipated. Feeling sufficiently relaxed, she washed her hair and body, then wrapped herself in a fluffy towel. Entering the bedroom, she heaved a suitcase onto the bed and unzipped it, searching for something comfortable to wear. She chose a warm University of Toronto sweatshirt and her favorite pair of faded jeans, set them on the bed and dropped her towel. Glancing to the side at her reflection in the full-length mirror of the closet, she turned to face it, taking in her body. Standing five feet five, she was slender and toned from years of yoga. Her breasts were still perky and her backside firm and high. She liked the way she looked and thought she looked pretty good for a woman in her mid thirties. Dressing, she could feel her body sigh at the feel of her favorite clothes, and she closed her eyes a moment to take in the blissful feeling of comfort. Returning to the bathroom, she dried her hair, applied some moisturizer, and pulled back half her hair into a makeshift bun at the top of her head. Slipping into a pair of purple fuzzy slippers, she opened her bedroom door and glanced down the hallway now lit with natural light. The bathroom door to her left was open and Hayden’s bedroom door was closed. Stopping at his door, she listened, not hearing anything. Was he still asleep? Making her way slowly through the house, she curiously surveyed the pictures on the wall and books on the shelves, then entered the kitchen. On the island lay a note and a pink bakery box. The note said:
“Good morning, Whit! I’m just at Prairie Sky doing the morning chores for Ben. I’ll be back around noon. I picked up some of the Eazy Café’s famous cinnamon buns and made you some coffee. I hope you slept well.”
Feeling her stomach rumble, Whitney lifted the lid of the bakery box to the most glorious smell of fresh baked cinnamon buns smothered in cream cheese icing. She combed the cupboards for a plate and utensils, finding what she needed. Lifting one of the large decadent confections out of the box, she eagerly bit into it, the tender pastry, spicy cinnamon, brown sugar, rich cream cheese, and butter enveloping her senses. She closed her eyes, savoring that first perfect bite.
“Dear God, these are orgasmic.” she mumbled, opening her eyes, only to be met with a steely blue gaze staring at her from across the island.
“If I knew that was going to be your reaction, I would have got you these earlier.” Hayden commented, a look of pure amusement on his face.
Whitney felt her blush bloom and offered him a sheepish grin, her mouth still full of the delicious treat and a dollop of icing on the tip of her nose. He shook his head and rounded the island, sauntering up to her side and coming dangerously close to her face. Eyes never leaving hers, he drew his hand up and swiped the dollop of frosting off her nose with his index finger. Bringing the finger to his mouth, he sucked it in, then removed his digit with a pop.
“Delicious.” he said low and deep, mere inches from her face. Then, with a wicked grin, he turned and strode off towards the bedroom, leaving Whitney speechless.
Whitney’s eyes followed him till he was out of sight, and she shook her head, trying to get her wits about her. Hayden is all your desires personified and now I am living with him in his home. What on earth was I thinking?
Shifting her attention to the smell of brewed coffee, she poured herself a cup, inhaling the bitter aroma and took a sip. Letting the heat warm her insides, she let out a big sigh. If she was going to live in this house with him for the next few weeks, she needed to set some ground rules with him. Maybe write them down? She shook her head. There is no rule book for this! All she knew was she needed to keep him at arm’s length so she wouldn’t be tempted and give into his overtures. Even if her heart wanted to throw out the rule book.
* * *
Hayden grabbeda new pair of jeans and a Henley and threw them onto the bed, choosing something comfortable for a casual Sunday. With the hardware store closed on Sundays, he always enjoyed a quiet day free from responsibility. He would turn on a movie or a hockey game, whatever was on and now, whatever Whitney wanted to watch. Having her in his home was strange but nice, her simple presence changing the air in the house and making his home feel more complete. A feeling he had not felt since his parents passed.
Losing his parents was by far one of the most difficult things he had ever gone through. Being extremely close to them both, especially his mother, not seeing them every day left a huge void in his life. Having worked with his father at their family hardware store since he was a teen, he was suddenly faced with the challenge of running a business, choosing to keep the store as a legacy to his parents. He was grateful everyday for Ben’s business savvy in managing the finances for his business. Not having attended college or university, all he knew was the store, so the thought of running his parents” store into bankruptcy was a real worry for him. Together they were able to keep it going and thriving, Ben the business guru and Hayden the expert in product and customer service.
Slipping into the bathroom, he took a quick shower, washing the barn smell from his hair and body and wrapping a towel securely around his waist. Leaving the bathroom, a cloud of steam wafted into the hallway as he turned only to walk right into Whitney. Her hands came up instinctively, bracing herself on his bare chest, and his hands naturally reached for her waist. Her brown eyes were wide with surprise, they slowly drifted up to meet his. I could take a swim in those eyes. They were the most beautiful rich brown, like milk chocolate. Delicious. His eyes twinkled in amusement as his lips turned up in a playful grin.
Boldly, her eyes grazed over his muscular chest and down to his six-pack just above the towel, before shaking her head and pushing herself away from him, breaking his hold on her waist.
“Sorry.” she apologized, that all too familiar rosy blush settling on her cheeks.
Their eyes locked. He ached to touch her face and feel the heat under his hands. She was so cute when she got flustered and he knew it didn’t take much to get her there. She diverted her eyes from his, tucked a strand of hair that escaped her bun behind her ear, and shuffled past him, disappearing into her room, and locking the door behind him. He frowned, unsure of how to respond, yet knowing the last thing he wanted to do was make living with him uncomfortable. If he had a fighting chance with Whitney, he needed to be the gentleman he promised he would be.
* * *
Whitney closedthe door to her room and flipped the lock, resting her back against the door, her breaths coming out staccato as her mind drifted to the impossibly sexy man on the other side of the door. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breaths, but when she did, flashbacks of their hot and steamy night floated into her consciousness. Letting out a frustrated growl, she glanced around the room, needing a distraction. Locating her phone on the bedside table, she grabbed it and climbed onto the bed, crossing her legs.Opening her phone, notification after notification popped up. Ned, several of her colleagues, a few friends, her parents and one from Ever. What was Ever doing, messaging me on her honeymoon? Opening her text, it read.
Ever: “Hey Whitney! Ben just informed me that you’re in Primrose. Is everything okay? Call me as soon as you get this.”
Against her better judgement, Whitney dialed Ever’s number.
“Hello!”
“Hey Ever! How’s Hawaii?”
“Gorgeous!” she exclaimed, immediately turning the tables. “I’ll tell you all about it later! Why are you in Primrose? Did something happen?”
Whitney lay back on the pillows and sighed. “It’s a long story, but in a nutshell, Ned is retiring, the agency is closing, my ex resurfaced, and I’m considering moving to Manitoba.”
“Oh wow! That’s a lot of change. Ben said you’re staying with Hayden.”
“For now, yes, he offered, and I needed a place quickly. I intended to fly out closer to when you and Ben returned, but I panicked when Paul started contacting me, so here I am,” she explained. “My restraining order expired recently and now he has texted and emailed me. I know I’ve not shared a lot about him with you, but Paul is unpredictable. I needed to get out of the city quickly.”
“Whitney, I can’t even imagine.” Ever empathized. “Hayden kind of saved the day, then?”
“I guess he did.” she sighed. “I’m not sure what I would have done without the offer, honestly. Even after all these years, Paul still scares me.”
“Hayden is a good man, Whitney.” Ever offered. “He won’t let anything happen to you. Does he know the reason you returned to Primrose so quickly? Does he know about Paul?”
“He asked me about it yesterday and I just told him a short version.” She answered solemnly.
“Honestly, I think you should tell him, Whitney. Hayden is a great listener.”
Whitney rolled her eyes and let out a big guffaw. “You mean when he’s not flirting, poking fun and all around flustering me?”
“Seriously Whitney, give him a chance.” Ever suggested a little laugh escaping. “He only does those things because he really likes you. You challenge him and I don’t think he’s used to it. If you ask me, you make him nervous.”
“Me?” she questioned. “I highly doubt that.”
Ever laughed again. “Yes, you! You have no idea the effect you have on him.” She explained. “You are smart, sassy, successful, and beautiful. Hayden is completely smitten with you. Don’t you see it?”
Whitney lay back down, looking at the ceiling, her internal dialogue going into overdrive. Did Hayden really think of me that way? Was he as affected by me as I am affected by him? Why am I asking myself these questions? He couldn’t feel the same way. He’s just a playboy. He isn’t smitten with me. I’m just a conquest. She groaned at her negative thoughts of Hayden and reflected on his sweet words about his parent’s relationship last night. He spoke with such reverence about them, his admiration for their love and commitment to each other clear. Maybe he wasn’t the playboy she thought he was. Maybe he had more depth and did want something more meaningful. One thing she couldn’t deny was their crazy chemistry. Like two magnets drawn together. Unable to stay away. And yet she had her doubts.
“Are you sure he likes me that much? I mean, Hayden is just a lot, all the time.”
Ever let out a huge guffaw. “I know exactly what you mean! He’s Ben’s brother, and the apple doesn”t fall far from the tree. The Hastings men can be intense. But in the best possible way. Trust me on this, Whitney. Hayden is completely enamoured with you.”
Whitney laughed nervously and slapped her hand to her face, not believing what she was about to tell her friend. “So, you know the night of your gallery opening?” she asked, internally wincing at the confession that was about to spew out of her mouth.
“Yes.”
“Hayden and I kind of slept together.” she blurted out, throwing her arm over her eyes.
“I knew it!” Ever exclaimed excitedly.
Whitney sat up again, crossing her legs. “What do you mean, you knew? Did Hayden say something to Ben?” Whitney questioned; eyebrows raised.
“No, no, nothing like that. C’mon, Whitney, you must admit, you two have a noticeable sexual energy with each other. Even Bea noticed it at the wedding.”
Whitney’s eyes closed, and she took a deep breath. “Had it really been that obvious?” she asked, curling up her nose, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“To us, yes, but we know you both. To everyone else, the chemistry was cracking all over the place.” She shared. “I promise you; he’s not the player you think he is. Would it be so bad to get to know him more? Maybe go on a few dates?”
“No, I guess not.” Whitney conceded. It wouldn’t be bad at all.
* * *
Hayden saton the couch flipping through channels. Whitney had been in her bedroom for the last two hours. What is she doing? Napping, reading, working? Maybe she’s too embarrassed by our hallway encounter or frustrated with me and she wanted to be alone? The thought of that troubled him. He had always tried to be good to the women he was interested in or dated, and even though some people labelled him a player, he knew that label was the farthest thing from the truth. He was a one-woman kind of man, always giving his full attention to one woman at a time. Is it my problem that none of them lasted? All he wanted was what Ben had found. Is that too much to ask? Yes, he had a business that was doing well; he had friends; he had his brother and now Ever, but he wanted the love of a good woman. A woman that would appreciate his sense of humour, his strong work ethic and challenge him in life. His best friend, but also a passionate lover. Someone he could laugh with, have serious conversations with and couldn’t go a day without touching, kissing, and holding in his arms. Someone who someday would help him create a family of his own. Visions of Whitney’s beautiful face clouded his thoughts, and he smiled. Whitney could be that woman. The question was, would she let him in?
“Hockey fan?” a soft voice asked from behind him, breaking him from his revery.
His eyes flitting up to the screen to the hockey game he had stopped on and he glanced behind him to see Whitney, leaning against the frame of the cased opening to the living room, hands clasped in front of her.
“Yeah, you?” he asked, his eyes following her as she rounded the side of the couch.
She sat down at the other end, curled her fluffy slipper feet under her and gave him a warm smile. “I am. My brother used to play, and I always enjoyed watching with my dad,” she answered, putting her focus on the game. “I’ve never actually been to an NHL game, though.”
He smiled, taking her in, looking casual and cozy, in her University of Toronto sweatshirt and faded blue jeans. The kind of jeans that hugged her curves perfectly and looked well worn and loved. Her favorite pair, he assumed. She was so naturally beautiful, with no makeup. Are those freckles on her nose? He groaned internally; she was so gorgeous it made his chest hurt.
“Are you going to just sit there and stare at me or are you going to watch the game?” she asked, giving him a sideways glance, an amused smile tugging on her lips.
“I was thinking a little of both,” he answered with a laugh as he got up from the couch and strode into the kitchen. Retrieving a bag of potato chips from the cupboard, he poured them into a bowl and opened the refrigerator. “Beer?” he asked.
“Sure!” she exclaimed, nestling deeper into the couch.
He pulled out two bottles and made his way back to the living room, along with the bowl of chips. Settling the bowl between them, he handed her a bottle. She twisted the top off and took a long, rather impressive swig, making him smile in surprise and admiration.
“Hits the spot.” She shrugged, holding out her beer bottle to clink his. Hayden obliged with a laugh and settled back into the couch.
They watched for a while, making comments on players, sharing their favorite teams and player stats. She knew her hockey, and he was thoroughly impressed.
“We’ll have to go to a game sometime.” He offered, waiting to see her reaction.
She turned to him, a cheeky grin on her face as she asked. “Are you asking me out on a date, Hays?”
“I believe I am Whit,” he replied, matching her smile.
“Sure.”, she replied, reaching over, and grabbing a handful of chips, then making a show of popping one into her mouth.
Hayden chuckled and shook his head. Whitney had just given him an in, and he wasn’t going to squander this opportunity.