Page 19

Chloe

Two hours later on the dot, I pull up in front of Gunner’s house.

I take a breath to steady my nerves and then open my door and step out.

I give myself a once over in the reflection of the window.

I’m wearing the red dress Gunner asked for.

It’s long and hugs my curves in all the right places.

My hair is pulled up into an elegant twist, and my makeup is on point.

I’m not one of those women who needs someone else to come help them with makeup and hair.

I think I’ve known how to do my makeup since I was in eighth grade.

I stride towards the front steps, my stilettos not slowing me down.

The nice thing about Gunner being tall is I can wear heels and still be shorter than him.

I take one last breath before opening the door and striding inside.

The living room has been turned into a studio, from the looks of it.

A woman I don’t know stands with an expensive looking camera next to one of the backdrops.

I walk over to her and extend a hand.

“Hi, I’m Chloe.”

The woman turns to me and gives me a warm smile.

“Hi, Chloe. I’m Olivia.”

I shake her hand.

“Thanks for coming here today.”

“Oh, it’s my privilege. To get to photograph Gunner? I don’t even need to be paid to do that.” My lips settle into a thin line, and I don’t respond.

Apparently, she doesn’t need me to.

“What do you think, Chloe? Do you think he’ll let me do some photos of him shirtless?” She doesn’t look at me when she asks; she’s still snapping photos of the background she has set up.

“I don’t think so,” I say in a clipped voice.

“Oh, come on now. You can’t keep all that deliciousness to yourself.”

I shrug.

“I’m his fiancé; I’m pretty sure I can.”

“But he’s got such a beautiful body. Don’t you think other people should—”

“No.” I cut off her ridiculous statement before she finishes it and turn around, trying to find something useful to do with my hands.

I look up in time to see Gunner walking towards me.

Neither of us say a word as our eyes connect only for a moment before his eyes leave mine to travel down my body slowly and reverently.

By the time they make it back to my face and meet my eyes, I feel short of breath.

“You look amazing,” he says in a low voice.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I’m proud of the way my voice sounds—cool and completely unaffected by his presence.

“Ooo, Gunner, you look smoking hot,” Olivia says from behind me.

I clench my teeth; I’m beginning to really not like our photographer.

“Where’d you get the photographer?” I question him softly, stepping closer to him.

He glances over at Olivia before looking back at me.

“Not a fan?” His voice is just as quiet, so she can’t hear us.

I shrug, trying to play it off as if she doesn’t bother me in the least.

“Gunner,” Olivia’s annoying voice trills.

“What do we have to do to get you to pose for a few photos shirtless?”

I resist the urge to grind my teeth.

Gunner stares at me and shrugs, and I turn away, fighting the urge to say something we’re all going to regret.

Gunner snags my hand and turns me back to him.

His eyes hold an emotion I can’t quite place, which is unusual.

I know all of Gunner’s expressions.

“You want me to send her away?”

I don’t have to think about it.

“Yes.” I take a breath and push away this annoying feeling coursing through me.

“But it’s fine; I can be a professional.”

His eyes glint at my emphasis.

“But she can’t?” he asks, smirking.

“Let’s just get this over with.”

We walk over to Olivia, and she turns to face us, beaming.

She looks between the two of us with a smug expression on her face.

Her lips turn into a slow grin.

“I think she’ll do, Gunnie.”

I frown, and Gunner turns to me.

“Chloe, meet my cousin. Olivia.”

I resist the urge to let my mouth fall open in shock.

When I turn to her, she’s grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“Sorry about all that, Chloe.” She shrugs, not looking even remotely sorry.

“I just wanted to know if you were the real deal or after my cousin for his bank account and looks.”

“Liv,” Gunner says sharply.

I cross my arms across my chest and study Gunner’s cousin.

She doesn’t look anything like him, but that’s not super surprising.

Most of my cousins and I don’t look anything alike.

I glance at Gunner with a question in my eye, but he gives me the slightest shake of his head.

I get it; he doesn’t want her to know this is fake.

I nod back, letting him know I understand.

I’m really hoping this doesn’t come back to bite us.

I have a feeling she’s not going to let us not get up close and personal for this photo shoot.

At least she’ll stop trying to get Gunner out of his clothes, though.

.

.

hopefully.

While she finishes getting set, I turn to Gunner.

“How’s the shoulder?” He scowls, and I regret asking him.

“Trent told you, you couldn’t play for a little bit, didn’t he?” He doesn’t look down at me.

“Yeah.”

“How long?”

“A few weeks.”

I take it in.

All in all, it’s not terrible.

It could be worse, but I’m sure he doesn’t feel that way right now.

So, I stay quiet.

After a moment of silence, I ask, “Shouldn’t you have it in a sling or something?”

“Trent told me I could keep it off for the pictures, and then I have to put it right back on.”

I mentally think through what this will mean for Gunner and for the team.

I need to get out a press release about his return time and talk to Coach about what his plan for Gunner’s replacement is so I can share that as well.

I run through my mind what games he’s going to miss.

“Thanks for not telling me it will all be okay.” I glance up at Gunner, confused.

“Everybody keeps telling me it’s going to be fine.”

“It’s not fine,” I say in a huff.

“The Green Thunder needs you. We’re going to lose every game without you playing and without your leadership on the ice. Scott is a terrible backup, and Aiden doesn’t trust him the way he trusts you. It’s going to be terrible.”

When he doesn’t say anything, I look up at him.

He smirks.

“At least nobody ever accused you of not being one hundred percent truthful.” A wistful expression crosses his face.

“I can always count on you to tell me exactly how it is. Don’t ever change, Chloe.”

He leaves me staring after him as he starts up a conversation with Olivia.

I’m still trying to figure out if that was a compliment or an insult.

Greyson walks into the room with a bag over his shoulder.

“You leaving?” Gunner asks.

Greyson nods.

Gunner claps him on the shoulder.

“I’ll be at your game next Saturday.”

Greyson nods, looking unsurprised.

I wonder how many of Greyson’s games Gunner gets to.

“Are you any good?” I ask.

Greyson turns to look at me.

“What?”

I shrug.

“I want to come watch you play sometime but not if you’re terrible.”

His eyes widen like he can’t believe what I’m saying, but I’m totally serious.

I don’t want to make the three-hour drive if he’s not even going to play.

“I’m the lead scorer for our team,” he says, still looking like he can’t believe we’re having this conversation.

I nod, tucking away the information.

“Good. Then I guess I’ll see if you live up to that.”

He looks over at Gunner and then back at me.

I hear Gunner’s quiet chuckle, and I can’t stop the smile that creeps across my face.

“You’ll find that Chloe is nothing but one hundred percent truthful, even if it hurts.”

Somehow, I don’t find Gunner’s words offensive.

It’s the truth; it’s how I’ve made it this far in my career.

Greyson looks back down at me.

“Okay, future sis, I’ll show you.”

I’m still recovering from what he called me when he heads out the front door with a wave to all three of us.

I can’t seem to shake Greyson’s endearment as we get ready to start the photo shoot.

I mean, I know it’s not really going to happen, but that doesn’t keep a sense of longing for something that will never be from filling the emptiness inside.

Gunner snags my elbow, surprising me.

“Hey,” his voice is low so only I can hear him.

“Greyson told me you told him about us; just…” he pauses with a grimace.

“Don’t tell my mom it’s not real. I already told him not to.”

Before I can ask him why not, Olivia walks over to us.

“You are perfect for him.” Again, that sense of unease settles in my stomach.

I look over at Gunner, hoping maybe he’ll say something, but he stays quiet.

When my eyes meet his, he smiles; and my heart gallops in my chest as I quickly look away.

Oh boy.

This photoshoot is going to be hazardous to my health; I just know it.

“ All right, Chloe, come right over here, and put your feet here and here.” I position myself exactly where she tells me to.

“Gunner, you stand behind her and wrap your good arm around her waist. We’ll start nice and easy and work up to the fun photos.”

I take one glance at the smile on her face and know this is going to be terrible.

Gunner steps up behind me.

“Be careful of your shoulder,” I tell him just as he slides his arm around my waist.

“If you think I’m going to miss out on this because of a shoulder injury, you don’t know me very well,” he says in a quiet voice that his cousin can’t hear.

My body instantly heats up, and I try to tell it to knock it off.

My heart speeds up at the feel of him wrapped around me, but I try not to think about it.

I try to hold perfectly still and will my heart not to beat right out of my chest.

It’s not a big deal, I tell myself.

But it’s a lie.

I’ve dreamed of having Gunner’s body wrapped around mine for years.

And just for the record, this actual happening is a thousand times better than the dreaming of it.

His body is hard and muscular, and it makes my body feel soft.

Just when I think I can handle this and not self-combust, he leans forward again.

“You look amazing in this dress.” His words are right against the shell of my ear, and I can’t help the shiver that runs through me.

And then he continues.

“But I like the pajama set better.” His arm tightens around my waist; I’m pretty sure he’s doing it because he knows my legs aren’t going to hold me up.

“Perfect,” Olivia says, totally oblivious to what’s happening over here.

“Okay, Lovebirds, give me a soft smile.” I try to smile, but it feels like my face is going to crack.

Olivia pulls the camera down.

“Chloe, give me a better smile.” I try, but it feels brittle.

My body feels too hot; I don’t know what to do with my hands.

My face feels like it’s on fire, and—

“Chloe.” I turn at the sound of Gunner’s deep voice.

I think he sees the panic in my eyes because he reaches up a hand and wipes his thumb so tenderly over my cheek bone.

“Relax. I’ve got you.” I feel like I can’t get any air into my lungs, and his eyes pinch together in concern.

“My brother’s going to play the best game of his career so far next week.”

“Why?” I can’t help but ask, struggling to follow the change in conversation.

He smirks.

“Because you challenged him. Told him to put up or shut up.”

“I just was curious if he was good or not.”

“I know, and now you’ll see.”

“What if he doesn’t have a good game?” I ask.

“Oh, he will. He’s got Chloe Liessman coming to watch him play. Believe me; he’ll play his best. It’s a Coftman thing.”