“Lumberjack porn,” he elaborated, flexing his muscles with the axe in hand.
Whitney laughed, reached down, and scooped up some snow, forming it into a ball. A snowball smashed into Hayden’s chest. Surprised, he glanced at Whitney, and she let out a playful giggle.
Cocking an eyebrow at her, Hayden dropped his ax next to the fallen tree. Reaching down, he grabbed a handful of snow and stalked over to her. Not knowing exactly what he was going to do, she turned, ready to bolt down the path. He caught her by the waist, and she squealed, her giggle echoing in the crisp, open air. Holding out the fist full of snow in front of her face, ready to wash her with it, but he paused, unsure of how she may react if he did it.
“Don’t you dare!” she chided in warning.
Listening, he released her and dropped the snow in his hand, then turned back to their fallen tree. With his back turned, Whitney quickly scooped another handful and reached around him, giving him a face full of snow. Hayden sputtered and wiped his face with his gloved hands, then turned to her, his eyes twinkling as he let out a wicked laugh. She flashed him a teasing, “come and get me” look in return.
“Now you’ve asked for it!” he said as he grabbed another handful of snow and before she could get away, he hooked her around the waist, this time rubbing the snow into her face. She turned to face him, her face red and wet from the cold ambush. His eyebrows knit together as he surveyed her, waiting for her reaction to his retaliating snow wash. Whitney wiped at her face as her lips curved into a smile. Letting out a relieved breath, he put out his arms to hug her, but she ran at him, knocking him down into the snow. Startled, he started to laugh as she straddled his hips and smiled down at him with another handful of snow poised over his face.
“Surrender!” she commanded, a determined and mischievous look on her face.
“I surrender,” he replied, putting his hands up in the air.
She laughed, dropping the snow and taunted with a giggle. “I win.”
“You win,” he echoed, gripping the back of her neck to pull her closer for a passionate kiss. Pulling back from his embrace, Whitney fell to the side next to him in the snow. Hayden turned his head to face the woman he loved, pure joy twinkling in her eyes. Everything about her radiated beauty, and he was in awe. Her face flushed with the cold, ice kissing her long lashes and rosy lips curved into a sweet smile. How did I get so lucky?
* * *
Hayden and Whitney sat on the couch, admiring their handiwork. The fully decorated tree stood before them, beautiful lights twinkling, garland strung, and ornaments hung.
“I love all your handmade ornaments.” she commented, nestling into his warm chest.
“My Mom made most of them,” he commented. “She always loved to do crafts and always had DIY projects going.”
“Can you tell me about her?” Whitney asked, meeting his gaze.
Hayden smiled, nostalgia washing over his face as he reflected on his mother. “My mom was kind and always helping others when they needed help. She always put her family first and was very selfless. She had the best laugh, one of those laughs that made you turn your head, like you wanted to know where it came from. She was the best cook; she could literally make anything. She always gave the best advice and encouraged us to be whatever we wanted to be. I adored her.”
“She sounds amazing.” Whitney commented, her eyes trained on Hayden.
“She was. She and I were super close.”
“You must miss her.”
“I do, every day,” he answered. “I wish she could have met you. You two would have been thick as thieves.”
“I would have loved to have met her, too.” Whitney confessed. “What was the best advice she ever gave you?”
“To love big,” he said. “She would always say, Hayden, when you find the one for you, love big. Hold on and never let go.”
Silence fell over them both as they reflected on those words and watched the lights sparkle on the tree. Breaking their reverie, Hayden spoke. “Whitney, I know you had no intention of staying here with me forever in this house. But I can’t imagine not having you here every day,” he confessed. “Will you move in with me, officially that is?” Whitney turned her head, meeting his gaze. “I know we haven’t been dating long, but I know I love you and want to see where this goes. Plus, you need a place to live. I want you to live here with me.”
Whitney peeled herself from him, rose from the couch and climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips. She cupped his cheek and ran her thumb over his bottom lip affectionately, meeting his eyes as she answered, “Hayden, yes, I will move in here, officially.” She smiled and brushed her lips over his.
“But there is one more very important thing we need to do, to seal this living arrangement agreement,” he said, a serious look on his face.
“What’s that?”
He waggled his eyebrows playfully, his eyes darting towards the hallway leading to their bedroom. Whitney gave him a seductive smile, climbed off him and put out her hand to help him up. He smiled up at her and took her hand rising from the couch. Leaning in, he kissed her softly, then in one big swoop, hoisted her over his shoulder, making her squeal.
“Big man has big love to give his woman!” he exclaimed in an attempted caveman voice as he carried down the hall to their bedroom.
* * *
Whitney dialed her parent’s number in Arizona, waiting for the video to connect. “Hi Mom! Hi Dad!”