Page 21 of Breakaway (Nashville Knights Hockey #3)

Chapter Twenty-One

DAX

“ I s this stupid? It feels stupid.”

I’m questioning myself yet again as the guys and I ride up the elevator car to the floor where the girls are getting ready.

“Relax. She is going to love it.” Marcus claps me on the shoulder. “I only wish I’d thought of it.”

I adjust my bowtie in the mirrored wall of the car.

I’m nervous. I know it’s Chloe, but I never went to prom or took a girl to a dance. By the time I could go, I was traveling for hockey. That took priority for me.

“Seriously. You’re making us look bad,” Bode chimes in.

“Sorry.”

The elevator dings and we get out, heading toward Harper’s room. With each step, my nerves ratchet up higher and higher.

I can’t wait to see what Chloe is wearing. I know she said she had something to wear that I would love, so I’m ready .

Marcus is knocking on the door, and based on his reaction when it opens, it’s Harper.

“You look amazing.”

I follow Marcus and Bode inside. The living room of the suite is scattered with clothes and makeup containers along with an empty bottle of champagne and the remnants of lunch.

Chloe, swiping on one last coat of lip gloss, stops me in my tracks.

She is a vision in a long, strapless black dress with a thigh-high slit. The fabric around the slit is dotted in black sequins, as is the material around her chest. It’s subtle, but perfect. Her long blonde hair is flowing in bouncy curls.

“Wow. Just…wow.”

She turns to face me, a bright smile on her face. “Hi.”

“You look incredible, Sunshine.” I drop a quick kiss on her lips, not wanting to ruin her makeup.

“Not so bad yourself.” She smooths a hand down the front of my tux. “It’s annoying you guys went bowling after practice this morning and it takes you all of ten minutes to shower and get ready.”

“Sorry.” I pull the plastic container from behind my back. “Would this help make up for it?”

“You really got me one?” Chloe’s hands fly to her mouth in surprise.

“If I could have gotten away with a limo, I would have.”

I crack open the plastic container and pull out the corsage, made up of three white roses and baby’s breath. I slide the band around her wrist.

“Dax. This is perfect.” She pulls me in for a kiss, not caring that we’re not the only people in the room.

I couldn’t care less either because all I want is this woman in my arms .

Until someone clears their throat.

“We have donors we need to go impress,” Marcus says.

“Right.”

I pull away from Chloe, wiping the smear of pink gloss from my lips. Crimson creeps up her cheeks.

“I guess we better get downstairs,” Chloe whispers.

I lean close, my breath ghosting her ear. “Just wait until later tonight.”

A shudder racks her body as I take her hand in mine and follow everyone else out of the room.

“Where are the other guys?” Stevie asks.

She’s wrapped in Bode’s arms as we wait for the elevator.

“They’re downstairs,” I say, keeping my eyes on the gorgeous woman next to me as we step into the elevator.

I don’t know how I got so lucky to have this woman take a chance on me. If I hadn’t been worried about her that night at the club and gone to check on her, would we be here right now?

Would I be able to pull her in my arms and press a kiss to her neck as we ride down?

All I know is I’m glad I had the balls to go that night because I would be missing out on this.

When we get to the lobby, the guys exit and we follow a few paces behind.

“You look gorgeous tonight,” I tell her again. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

“I think I might have the most handsome guy with me tonight.”

I steal one more kiss before we enter the ballroom.

“This looks incredible.”

Tall vases of flowers encircled by small, flickering candles sit on each table. Long swaths of white fabric hang from the walls and ceiling with glittering lights behind them. People are milling about as servers in white jackets serve hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne.

“They really go all out, don’t they?” Chloe asks, giving my hand a tighter squeeze.

“Helps to get bigger donations,” I whisper, dropping her hand to take two glasses of champagne from a passing server.

“Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it.”

I quirk a brow at her. “Does that only apply in here?”

“Dax!” she hisses, taking a sip of her drink. “You can’t say that.”

“Why not?” I grin down at her, pulling her close.

“Because we have a long night ahead of us and I don’t need to be thinking about that right now.”

“Later.” I kiss her cheek. “I can’t wait for later.”

Our group spreads out, making the rounds as we talk to the guests. Even though it’s early in the season, we hear how great the team is looking. I introduce Chloe and proudly tell them about her new business. No reason I can’t try and help her business while helping the Knights, right?

“You know, you don’t have to keep selling these people on my business,” Chloe tells me as we take our seats for dinner.

“Who says I can’t?” I grin. “I think I’ve gotten you at least four different people who want to host a jewelry party at their house.”

Chloe tries to fight the smile, but she can’t. “It is exciting that they want me to come, right?”

“See?” I kiss her because I can. “Let me be your hype guy.”

Chloe extends her arm behind my chair. “And I’ll be your hype girl while you’re on the ice. I’ll be the best cheerleader out there. ”

“Hey now,” Harper interrupts. “Don’t let the girls hear you say that. They proudly wear that crown for their dad.”

Chloe laughs. “They can be Marcus’s biggest fan. I’m Dax’s.”

Bode nudges me in the side while Harper and Chloe discuss the next game they’ll go to.

“It seems like she’s really into you.”

“Thanks, I think?”

Bode drops his voice lower. “I was worried because she was with Duncan and might just need to fill the void?—”

“Again, thanks?” I ask.

“Hold on.” He smacks me in the shoulder. “But she really likes you. I was looking out for you, but I think you’re good.”

I sneak a peek at Chloe. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Good.”

“Good evening, everyone.” The team owner calls everyone’s attention to the stage, where a spotlight shines down on him.

“I want to thank you all for joining us here tonight to raise money for the local children’s hospital.

I know how much it means to them that we host this event, so I urge you to open up those pocketbooks during the silent auction to help us this evening.

I don’t want to monopolize your time, so enjoy your dinner and I’ll be back with a surprise before the dancing starts. ”

Everyone claps as Chloe leans over. “Okay, that has to be Genevieve.”

“I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Stevie leans across Bode to talk to Chloe. “Do you really think it’s going to be her?”

Chloe nods as a plate is set in front of her. “I mean, it has to be, right? Wouldn’t they just say otherwise?”

“I really hope so,” Harper says from Chloe’s other side. “I’ve never gotten to see her perform live. ”

“Me either,” Chloe says. “This would make the best night if she did.”

“ That would make it the best night?” I whisper, grabbing a knife and cutting into my chicken.

She rests her chin on my shoulder, staring up at me. “Well, it’d make the night better. It’s already pretty great.”

“Yeah.”

We all eat our chicken—rather dry, if I do say so myself—chatting about our upcoming game and road trip while the girls talk about what else the surprise could be.

I love that they bonded so quickly. I’ve only met Harper and Stevie a few times, but I knew that they’d get along.

After dinner is cleared out, the tables are moved away to make room for the dance floor, while a dessert bar is spread along another table against the wall.

Before anyone can go far, Coach Andrews takes the stage.

“Hi everyone. I’ll keep this short and sweet because I get to introduce the big surprise tonight. I think everyone knows her, but please welcome to the stage Genevieve!”

“It’s her!” Chloe smacks me on the arm as we head toward the dance floor. “Oh my God!”

“This is so cool!” Harper grabs Chloe’s arm and drags her and Bode closer to the stage.

“Should we go up there with them?” I ask Marcus as Jasper joins us.

“Nah. Let them enjoy it. I’m fine standing back here.”

Dropping an elbow onto the cocktail table, I listen as the music starts. It’s a song I don’t recognize, but I recognize her.

Genevieve is the biggest pop star in the world right now. How they got her to come perform here, I don’t know. Jasper’s jaw drops as he takes in the curvy star. His eyes are focused only on her.

In a black, one-shoulder dress with a cut-out on the side, glittery fabric flows down from her shoulder. Long, silver earrings catch the light as she moves around the stage.

She’s powerful and captivating while she’s performing. But my eyes aren’t looking at her. They’re looking for the woman dancing to the music up front with a smile lighting up her face.

I don’t know the lyrics to this song, but she’s talking about finding the right person to fall in love with at the wrong time.

Huh. I guess you could say that was what happened with me and Chloe. All these years in each other’s lives, but nothing happening until she left my brother.

I sip my drink, not bothering to hide my happiness. Because if it weren’t for him being a dick, I wouldn’t be here with her right now.

The song ends, and she starts singing another one that I recognize. Given the fact that Chloe loves her, I know most of these songs.

When there’s a break in the set, the girls come back up to the table, smiles on their flushed faces.

“Having fun out there?” I ask, wrapping an arm around Chloe.

“It’s so cool getting to see her perform like this,” she says.

“She’s amazing,” Harper agrees. “We’re going to have to get tickets to her next show. Whenever that might be.”

“Count me in,” Stevie says. “I’d love to go.”

Before Chloe can say anything, her jaw drops. Following her gaze, I know why. The pop star in question is walking our way .

“Hi there.” Genevieve comes up to our table. “I’m Genevieve. It’s nice to meet you all.”

Jasper snorts next to me and Bode elbows him in the side. “What? It’s not like she needs to introduce herself when she’s the world’s biggest pop star.”

She smiles back at him. “It’s only polite.”

“More polite than him.” Bode laughs.

“It’s nice to meet you…” Genevieve holds her hand out toward him.

“Jasper. But we’ve met before. When you sang the national anthem at our game.”

She flashes an award-winning smile at him. “I think I’d remember if I’d met one of the Knights’ greatest players.”

“Then you clearly haven’t met Jasper,” Bode jokes.

“Ouch. You going to let him talk to you like that?” Genevieve fires toward Jasper. “I think you should respect your elders.”

“He’s not that much older,” Bode says.

“We’re meeting the world’s biggest pop star and you guys are arguing over who is older?” Harper shakes her head. “I’m sorry, we can’t take these guys anywhere.”

“They’re always like this,” Stevie confirms. “But we love them anyway.”

“They sound like keepers,” Genevieve says.

“That they are,” Chloe says, smiling over at me.

“Well, it was nice to meet you all. I was taking a quick break but need to get back up on stage.” She throws up a peace sign. “Got to go.”

“Who says that?” Noah laughs as she retreats.

“Holy shit,” Jasper says, eyes flying to the space vacated by the pop star.

“What?” I ask.

“It’s her.”

“Her who?” Marcus asks .

“ Her, ” he reiterates.

“Okay, you saying ‘her’ again doesn’t help me know who her is,” Marcus says.

“I have to go.”

Jasper runs from the room before we can get any more information from him.

“Okay, that was weird, right?” Noah asks, throwing his thumb in the direction of where Jasper ran off.

“Even for Jasper, that was weird,” Bode says. “Is he dating someone that we don’t know about?”

“It sounds like it,” Stevie says. “But he looked surprised by whoever this her is.”

“Think we should go after him and see if he’s okay?” Graham asks.

“Let him be for now.” Harper pats him on the arm. “If he’s not telling you guys he’s seeing someone, there must be a reason.”

“Hey!” we all answer, affronted, at the same time.

“Why wouldn’t he tell us?” Marcus asks.

“Yeah, I’m offended that he thinks he can’t tell us,” Bode says.

“It’s not like we’d give him shit about it,” I say.

Harper and Stevie exchange a look and laugh. “I can’t believe you all think that. You’re the biggest bunch of gossips. You love each other, but you would give him so much grief over a new girl.”

“We would not,” Noah states.

“I mean, we definitely would,” Graham argues.

“Whose side are you on?” Noah elbows him in the side.

“I’m just saying. I know us, and Jasper would take a lot of heat for this one,” Graham says.

“I’m with Harper and Stevie,” Chloe says. “My guess is it’s new and he doesn’t want you guys getting in his head. ”

“We would be nothing but supportive,” Marcus says. “We always are.”

“I mean, after we gave him shit for not telling us,” Bode says. “After all the crap he’s given us over the years? He’d deserve it.”

“Want to dance?” I ask Chloe.

If Jasper wants to keep quiet on his love life, I’ll let him have it. Right now, all I care about is Chloe.

“Yes.”

Linking hands with her, I lead her onto the dance floor. I don’t know this song, but I don’t care. Holding the woman I love more than anything close, we sway to the music.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight.” I twirl a lock of soft hair around my finger.

“It’s been fun, but…”

“But what?” I step back, looking down into her eyes.

Bright blue eyes filled with need.

“I’m ready to get out of here.”

At this moment, it’s only the two of us in this ballroom. And I want to be anywhere but here.

“Let’s go.”