Page 27

Chapt er 27

Chloe

Before I can say anything, there’s a loud knock on our door.

“I’m coming in; make sure nobody’s naked.”

“Greyson Coftman!” I hear Mrs.

Coftman yell from further away, and I can’t help but smile.

Gunner doesn’t look away from me.

“Go away.”

The door opens a moment later.

“Nope. I warned you. Hey, future sis. How’d you like my game?”

I turn around with a smile on my face, and his smile slips away.

“It was amazing. Great game, Greyson.”

“What happened to your face?”

“Your brother can tell you that fun story. You played a great game. An assist and a goal?”

He grins again and before I realize what he’s doing he pulls me into a bear hug and lifts me clean off my feet.

“Grey,” Gunner barks at him.

“Wow, you’re so light,” he says as he sets me down.

“Gunner, you need to fatten her up.”

“Um, thank you?” I manage and glance over at Gunner.

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes, but I watch the genuine smile that comes over his face.

My stomach tightens in response, and I find myself looking away, lest he see me gawking at him.

“She’s perfect just the way she is.”

I busy myself with my bag and try to ignore Gunner’s words.

I know he’s just playing it up for his family, though Greyson already knows the truth about us.

I frown as I dig through my bag for what I need tonight.

I can’t believe the bomb he dropped on me tonight.

I had no idea that Jenny was a close family friend.

I just thought she was somebody he knew from high school.

My frown increases; that’s what he led me to believe anyway.

As soon as we’re alone, we will be having a serious conversation with him about Jenny Prenderson.

The brothers are busy catching up, so I slip into the bathroom and change into my pajamas.

I brought my most covering set—a pair of silk shorts and a button down top.

I can’t sleep in anything more than light covering, even in winter.

It bothers me and makes my skin itch.

In the winter, I just sleep with lots of blankets.

I zip up my sweatshirt over my pajama set and take my time removing my make-up and brushing my teeth.

When I come out of the bathroom, Gunner glances over at me for a moment.

He doesn’t say anything, but his eyes say so much.

When he finishes looking at me, he meets my eyes.

My entire body tightens in response to the look in his eyes.

It’s not heat, and it’s not lust.

It’s more.

It’s almost like.

.

.

I shake my head and don’t even let myself go there.

He’s just playing the part.

I don’t look over at him again as I get ready for bed.

For so long, I wanted him to look at me a certain way, and now that he is, it’s throwing me off.

But I need to get my head in the game.

That’s all this is, after all.

“Get out of here; we need to sleep.” Gunner pushes Greyson towards the door.

“All right; all right. No funny business tonight; I’m right up the hall, and I want to be able to sleep.” I laugh in spite of myself, and Gunner shoves him towards the door again.

Greyson turns back.

“Night, Chloe.”

I smile.

“Night, Greyson.”

They wrestle a little bit more until Gunner gets him out in the hall and closes and locks the door behind him.

He shakes his head ruefully.

“He’s a little wound after his game.”

“It’s fine.” I glance at the bed.

“Which side do you want?”

“I’ll take the floor,” he says in a quiet voice.

“It’s fine. We’ve already done this a few times if you recall. We’re grown adults. I’ll take this side.” I snag my laptop after I’m settled against the headboard.

“I’m going to go check with my mom; see if she needs anything.”

I sigh.

“I know what you’re doing. It’s fine, Gunner. You don’t have to disappear like you did when we were in the hotel. You can sleep here; I promise I won’t attack you. I’m going to be working for a little while. Even if you leave, when you come back, I’ll still be working.” I pat the bed next to me.

“Come on.” He doesn’t hesitate after that.

In one smooth move, he reaches up and grabs the back of his t-shirt and pulls it up and off.

That’s my cue to look away and get back to my work.

Thankfully, he disappears into the bathroom, and I have a chance to prepare myself for sharing the bed with him.

My work sucks me in quickly.

I’m multi-tasking—listening to sports news while trying to schedule an interview for Aiden—when I hear a name that catches my attention.

His name is Charlie Greene.

He’s a popular referee in the AHL circle.

I recognize him as a referee we’ve worked with often.

So get this, Andy, he’s reffed a lot of games for the Green Thunder.

People are saying that he lets a lot of stuff go—calls that should be made, penalties.

And that’s not all.

Some are saying that he’s being paid by the Green Thunder team to make bad calls.

The American Hockey League of Officials Association has not responded yet to attempts for a statement.

Well, that’s certainly going to be an interesting story to follow.

Next up, Davante Reed is in the spotlight for.

.

.

My phone rings, and I wonder which member of the Green Thunder staff is calling first.

I pick it up and grimace.

The door to the bathroom opens, and Gunner steps out.

I notice absently that his hair is wet.

I wave my phone at him.

“I’ve got to go deal with some stuff. I’m going to sit out in the living room.” He frowns, but I answer the phone before he says anything.

“Hey, Coach.”

“Did you see that?”

I close the door quietly behind me and hold my laptop to my chest as I walk out into the living room.

“I did. I’m getting on it right now.” He sighs, sounding tired.

“Get some sleep, Coach. I’ll give you an update first thing tomorrow morning.”

“All right,” he says gruffly.

“Thanks, Chloe.”

I answer the call that’s beeping in.

“Hey, Stan,” I say without enthusiasm.

“Have you gotten to the bottom of this ridiculous story?”

I take a breath and stay calm.

“It just aired; I’m working on it now.”

“It should have been dealt with before it ever aired, Chloe.”

I don’t say anything that will make him even more frustrated.

“I’m working on it now. Like I told Coach Seers, I will update you first thing in the morning.”

“Fine. Meet in my office at ten.”

“I won’t be there in person; I’ll call in for it.”

“What do mean you won’t be there in person?”

I resist the urge to sigh.

“I’m not going to be there in person; I’m almost four hours away, and I’m not planning on being back in town until late tomorrow night. But I will handle the situation, like I always do.” I feel the need to remind him of that fact.

“You’d better.” He hangs up, and I drop the phone next to me.

“What’s going on?”

I put a hand to my heart.

“Coftman, you startled me.”

His eyes are focused intently on me.

“What happened?”

I shake my head.

“Something with Charlie Green, one of the refs who does our game. I’m looking up the full story now, but they’re trying to pull down the team with him.”

He pulls out his phone and settles next to me on the couch.

It surprises me, but I keep working.

I’m going to have to get to the bottom of this story before it really gets out, so I can have a handle on how we’re going to respond.

“Can I do anything to help?” Gunner asks after a bit of silence.

I shake my head.

“No, thanks though. You should get some sleep.” I put my headphones in, so I can really focus.

And then I get to work.

I lift my head sometime later and work out the kinks in my back.

A glance beside me shows that Gunner’s asleep with his head against the back of the couch.

I look at the clock on my computer and see that it’s after two in the morning.

I look over at Gunner again and study him.

It's not often that I get a chance to. He's wearing a t-shirt and a pair of dark pajama pants, and his feet are bare.

It's weird to see him so relaxed and homey. I feel bad that he’s sleeping out here when he could be sleeping in bed, so I reach out and shake his arm. He wakes up and gives me a sleepy look. “Hey,” I say softly. “You should go to bed; it’s after two.”

“Did you get done what you need to?” His voice is low and raspy from sleep.

“Almost.” I nod towards the bedroom. “Go get some sleep.”

He frowns. “Are you almost done?”

“Yeah, I’ll be in soon.” That seems to satisfy him, and he stands to his feet. He stretches, and his shirt slides up, revealing his toned body. I glance down quickly.

“Night.”

I swallow. “Night.” I watch him go for a moment before turning back to my laptop. It’s good we’re not here long because this feels way too domesticated. Him asking when I’m coming to bed...it all feels like too much. I force thoughts of Gunner and his sexy, sleepy voice out of my head and get back to work. By the time three o-clock hits, I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. My head has been bobbing for the last forty-five minutes. I finally give in and head to bed. After a yawn that feels like it’s going to crack my jaw, I push open the door to the room Gunner and I are sharing. He’s asleep, his soft breathing filling the room. I can see clearly from the light from the bathroom that he left on for me. I take off my sweatshirt and slip into the bed. I’m careful to stay to my side of the bed, but I'm too tired to worry much about it.

I’m asleep almost instantly.

The next time I open my eyes, it’s obviously morning.

I glance at Gunner’s side of the bed, but it’s empty.

Wearily, I snag my phone and grimace.

It’s almost nine.

I hate that I feel both bad about sleeping in so late but also still exhausted after just a few hours of sleep.

I drag myself out of bed.

I’m going to need to find coffee; I have a phone call with Stan at ten.

I throw my sweatshirt on over my pajamas and head out to the living room, hoping maybe I can find coffee.

It’s quiet, and I head to the kitchen, grateful to find it empty.

I’m not sure where everybody is, but if I can just find coffee, I have a hope of making it through my meeting at ten.

My search for a coffee maker dies a sorrowful death when I come up emptyhanded.

I hear the front door open, and I walk around the corner.

“Morning, Chloe,” Greyson says as he walks in the front door carrying a white bag.

Gunner walks in behind him, grinning at something; and my heart stutters in my chest.

He looks so at ease and happy; it’s so different from how he normally is.

He looks up, and his eyes lock with mine.

I expect his smile to drop, but he surprises me.

His smile deepens, and he walks towards me.

“Hey, did you sleep well?” His voice is quiet, as if he doesn’t want anybody to hear our conversation.

“I’m sorry I slept in so late.”

“Not at all; you were up most the night. What time did you come to bed?”

His question is innocent, and yet it feels so not.

It’s weird, like we’re a married couple.

I look down before he can see my feelings written all over my face.