Page 28

Chapte r 28

Chloe

My attention snags on what he’s holding in his hands.

How I didn’t notice it before now is beyond me.

“Is that coffee?”

“It is,” he says easily.

He picks up one and hands it to me.

“I got you a salted caramel latte with oatmilk.”

If there was any doubt about my falling for this guy, it would have been decided at this very moment.

“Thank you,” I breathe and take it from him.

I take a small sip and close my eyes.

“I take it you like it.”

I can hear the humor in his voice.

“It’s so good. Thank you. I looked all over your mom’s kitchen but couldn’t find anything.”

“Yeah, my mom is an avid tea drinker.”

“Ah, that explains it.” I take another sip and let the caffeine help clear my head.

“And Greyson doesn’t drink coffee either?”

“He does, but he’s too lazy to make his own when he’s here.”

Greyson comes around the corner.

“Why would I make my own when I can buy the good stuff right around the corner. Besides, nobody’s coffee at home tastes this good.”

I meet Gunner’s eyes.

“He does have a point.”

Gunner shakes his head.

“Don’t encourage him.”

“Come on; let’s eat. I’m starved,” Greyson says as he heads back into the kitchen.

“What about your mom?” I ask Gunner.

“Oh, she’s gone already. She has a standing date every Saturday morning with her friends and Mahjong at Panera.”

“Really? Isn’t that the Chinese tile game?”

He nods.

“Yep.”

“I’ve always wanted to learn how to play that; it looks so fun. Do you know how to play?”

He shrugs.

“I’ve played a few times with my mom.”

“Oh, my word. You are so teaching me to play, Coftman.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“Come on,” Greyson whines from the kitchen.

“I’m hungry.” We both head that way.

“I don’t know why you’re bothering to wait for us to eat; you never do any other time,” Gunner says as we enter the kitchen.

“I’m trying to be polite to our guest,” Greyson nearly whines.

“Oh, please, don’t wait for me,” I wave him on and not a second too soon.

He digs into his breakfast sandwich.

I smirk.

“Is it good, Greyson?”

He nods and continues chewing.

“It’s amazing and call me Grey. All my friends do.”

My lips turn up.

“Oh, so we’re friends now?”

He nods.

“Yep.”

“Well, I’m honored.” I pull out a chair at the table and take another long sip of my coffee.

“This is really good coffee. Thank you.”

“They’re the best,” Grey agrees.

Gunner slides a wrapped sandwich towards me.

“It’s a gluten free bagel with vegan cream cheese and strawberry jelly.”

My eyes widen.

“Really? They have that at this coffee shop?”

Grey snorts, and Gunner elbows him.

My eyes narrow, and I glance back and forth between the two of them.

“What?”

Greyson opens his mouth, but Gunner shoves his sandwich at him.

Grey pulls back, laughing.

“What am I missing, Coftman?” I ask.

Two heads turn to me, and I realize the name works for both of them.

I arch an eyebrow.

“We went to five breakfast places this morning before we found what he was looking for,” Grey blurts out.

I blink and turn to Gunner.

“You drove to five different places? Why? Why wouldn’t you just call?”

Grey leans forward.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret about your fiancé.” My eyes dart to Gunner’s, but he just takes a bite of his breakfast sandwich, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“He hates being on the phone.”

I look to Gunner for confirmation; he doesn’t deny what Greyson’s saying.

“So you drove around to five different places because you didn’t want to have to call those places?”

Greyson nods.

“Yep. He hates phone calls, especially calls to people he doesn’t know—like stores, restaurants, etc.”

I tuck this information away.

“So, you never call to place an order for like pizza?” I ask him.

He shakes his head and takes another bite.

“Well, how do you order stuff? How did you order that pizza the night I was at your house?”

He swallows his food.

“Online order.”

I study him.

“You really never call places?”

“Not if I don’t have to.”

“What about talking to people like your mom or somebody close to you?”

“That’s what email and texting is for.”

My mouth drops open.

“Coftman, please don’t tell me you email or text your mom but don’t call her.” He takes another bite, finishing his sandwich.

“Do you?”

He meets my eyes.

“You told me not to tell you that.”

I groan.

“Gunner, that’s terrible. But that doesn’t explain things. Grey, why didn’t you make the calls?”

“I was driving,” he argues.

“You could have called in between stops,” I point out.

“I was busy plotting the next trip across town.”

I study the two of them.

“How do either of you get anything done if you don't talk on the phone?”

Greyson grins. “It’s an online world.”

“I can’t even with you two, but thank you.”

“Better try your bagel before you thank us,” Gunner says with a nod at my sandwich. I pick it up and unwrap it. It looks and smells really good.

“I cannot believe you found a place that does gluten free bagels and has vegan cream cheese.” I take a bite and close my eyes. “Oh, that’s good.”

“Is it really, or are you just trying to be polite?” Grey asks, frowning at my bagel like it personally insulted him.

“It’s good. Here, try it.” I tear off a piece and hand it to him.

He takes a bite and frowns. Then he spits it out into a napkin. “That’s disgusting; you need to get your tastebuds checked.”

I laugh; I can’t help it. “Well, when you can’t have the real stuff, it’s a pretty good substitute. I like it.” I turn to Gunner. “Want to try it? You know you want to.”

He grimaces. “I’m good; you enjoy it.”

I laugh because yeah, it’s good; but only if you have to eat it that way. I take another bite. “What time is your game tonight, Grey?”

He grins. “Seven.”

I glance at my phone. “I’ve gotta go join this meeting. I’ll see you guys in a little while.” I take the last bite of my bagel and throw my trash away and grab my coffee. “Is it okay if I take it in the bedroom?” I ask Gunner.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

My phone rings, and I answer it and wave bye to the guys. “Good morning.”

“What do you have?” Stan asks. I resist the urge to sigh. That’s Stan—always right down to business. Honestly, he’s intense and at times difficult to work with; but he loves this team almost as much as I do, and I know he’s trying to do what’s best for the team.

The call takes longer than I anticipated, but it’s good because I don’t get to talk to him for an extended amount of time very often. This was a good chance to get caught up on everything happening in the next few months. When I come back out to the kitchen, the boys are nowhere in sight. The front door opens, and I turn around. Mrs. Coftman gives me a big smile. “Hi, Chloe.”

I can’t help but return her warm smile; Mrs. Coftman has always been a favorite of mine. She’s always so friendly and easy to please at family and friends’ events. “Hey, Mrs. Coftman.”

“Come now. None of that Mrs. Coftman stuff.” She pulls me into a hug. “It’s good to see you, Dear.” Her eyes scan my face, and her eyebrows knit together. Her frown reminds me so much of Gunner’s scowl that it makes me smile.

“I’m fine,” I say, trying to push aside her concern.

“What happened? I wanted to ask last night but didn’t want to upset you.”

I debate a moment, trying to determine how much to tell her. I decide to keep it vague and let Gunner decide what he wants to say about it. I don’t want to cause any problems between her and Jenny’s mom and ruin their friendship. “Nothing to worry about,” I assure her. “How was Mahjong?” I ask, trying to change the subject. It works.

“Wonderful. Do you play?”

“No, but I want to learn.”

Her eyes light up. “Say no more. I will teach you.”

I nearly laugh at her enthusiasm. “We don’t have to right now.”

“But of course we do. I can’t let my future daughter-in-law down.” She eyes me as she says the words. And suddenly, I don’t feel like Mama Coftman is going to be as easy to fool as we think she is.

“Listen, Mrs. Coftman, about Gunner and I—"

“Hey, Mom,” Gunner says from right behind me. I feel a hand on my lower back. “Hey, Gorgeous, how’d the call go?”

It takes me probably a second too long to respond. “I made an official statement from the team and took care of what else I needed. Everything that can be done for now on my end has been taken care of. Eventually, Stan will realize that, and then he’ll chill.”

Gunner chuckles. “I don’t think the man is capable of chilling.”

“Yeah, probably not.” I’m surprised I’m capable of sounding normal when he’s no longer just touching my back. Now he’s moved to running his hand up and down my spine.

“He should trust you by now; you’re amazing at your job.” I look up at him in surprise. “You’ve taken our franchise and totally turned it around in the last four years.”

“Yeah, you guys have had nothing to do with it,” I say dryly.

He smiles. “You’re really good at your job, Chloe. So much better than the guy before you.”

His praise really means a lot, because Gunner is a man of few words and not super expressive. Actually, I don’t think the man has an expressive bone in his body. “Thanks.”

“Did you eat?” Gunner asks as his mom drops her bag and heads into the kitchen.

“I did. I had a delicious bagel sandwich. How about you all?” she calls out from the kitchen.

Gunner drops his hand from my waist but doesn’t move towards the kitchen. “Same. We grabbed bagel sandwiches and coffee,” he calls over his shoulder before gazing down at me. “I’m not just saying that, about your job. I mean it. You’re an amazing PR agent.”

“Thanks, Gunner.”

He’s looking at me with such a soft expression, and I don’t know what to do about it. Thankfully, somebody knocks at the door and breaks up whatever that was. “Gunner, can you get the door?” Mrs. Coftman calls out.

“Yeah.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket, ready to escape to the back room while they deal with whoever the company is. But Gunner’s words pull me up short. “Mrs. Prenderson, come on in.” I turn around in time to see a woman about his mom’s age pat his chest.

“Hi, Gunner, it’s so good to see you. Seems like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you last.”

“It has been a while,” he says. There’s just the slightest edge to his voice. I doubt anybody would pick it up, but I do. My feet are moving before I’ve fully thought it through.

“Hi,” I stick out my hand as I approach. “I’m Chloe, his fiancé.” I lean against his side, and he doesn’t let me down. He wraps an arm around my waist and holds me against him. I watch as she looks between the two of us, and I prepare for the worst. But she surprises me.

She gives me a small smile. “So, you’re the one that’s captured our Gunner’s heart.”

I couldn’t be more shocked, especially when her face falls. “I’m so sorry for my daughter.” Her look is so devastated, I don’t even know how to respond.

“Are you aware that she did that to Chloe’s face?” Gunner asks, his voice hard.

She gasps and turns her attention to my eye and follows the action by putting a shaky hand over her mouth. “I don’t know what to do.”