Page 192 of The Stalker

They managed to make it to the check-in with the reporters calling out questions about Hayden’s abduction, Ariana’s pregnancy, and the canceled concerts. Tatiana held the reporters back with the other bodyguards before going to check-in herself. Once they were all checked in, they made it through security and to the sanctity of the frequent flyer lounge, where they were afforded some privacy.

She settled along a bench seat next to Hayden and asked him, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, his jaw tight. “The memories—it’s not good.”

Tatiana reached up and kissed him. “I know. I love you.”

He carefully pulled her against him as they waited to board their plane. When they arrived in Chicago, they used a car service to get home, and Tatiana was once again on edge being driven by someone else.

“Almost home, Tati,” Hayden chuckled, and she smiled up at him.

He wheeled their suitcases into the elevator when they reached his apartment building, and Tatiana entered the code to go upstairs. This homecoming was strange, because Tatiana had never imagined she would come back to Hayden’s apartment as his fiancée.

“Do you want a coffee?” he asked, and it felt strangely familiar as she nodded at him.

They took their drinks into the library and sat reading together for a few hours before Tatiana noticed that Hayden was simply staring out the windows and not reading. She put a bookmark in her latest Bond novel and set it aside.

“Is everything okay, Hayden?”

When he turned to look at her, she saw that he had tears running down his face. She rushed over to him and leaned down to carefully put her arms around him.

“When will it get easier?” he asked quietly.

She sighed and told him the truth, “Probably not anytime soon. You’re going to see Brendan tomorrow, and hopefully he’ll be able to help.”

Hayden cleared his throat and nodded. “Of course.”

“It’s been a long day. How about we go to bed?” she asked him.

He gave her a cheeky grin. “Do you know how many times I imagined you in my bed when we were here? Today it finally comes true.”

She kissed him softly and linked her hand with his as he stood from his armchair, and they left the library. They walked to the bedroom together and got ready for bed, all of it familiar and yet strange. Tatiana was unused to there being no road noise while she was with Hayden. There was no feeling of the bus moving along the Interstate as they got into their bed. Yet, Hayden was wonderfully familiar as she moved into his embrace, careful not to hurt him.

His lips found hers in the dark, and he kissed her passionately. He stroked her back gently with his hand, and she felt truly at peace with him. She reached her hand between them to find his erection, but when she touched it, his entire body stiffened and she snatched her hand back.

“Hayden, are you okay?” she whispered.

He swallowed heavily and said quietly. “I’m not sure.”

Tatiana found his lips in the darkness and kissed him tenderly.

“It’s okay. We don’t need to do anything. I will just be here with you, loving you always.”

He pulled her into a hug, and she fell asleep wrapped in his arms.

* * *

Tatiana loved wakingup next to Hayden in the morning. They lay in bed together while she checked her emails, and she replied to a few of them before looking at the news.

“The media is having a field day about your concerts being postponed. Cooper also told them not to bother contacting him in regard to you.” She cringed as she said it.

Hayden sighed. “Yeah, the guys are going to come here today so we can talk about how we want to go forward. Word travels fast, though”—he shook his phone at her—“we’ve already got a few offers coming in via email.”

“I don’t blame them. You’re a hot commodity.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely different from when we first got signed. The guys will probably come out to LA with us so we can meet with some managers there. Most of the big players are in LA. We’ve even had interest from Meade Management, which would be pretty amazing.”

Tatiana only vaguely knew the name, but she smiled encouragingly at Hayden. “I’m sure that whoever you choose will be better to deal with than Cooper.”

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