Page 38

Gunner

I get to the event just a few minutes before it’s supposed to start and throw on my suit coat after climbing out of my truck.

I lock my doors and stride for the entrance, hoping this thing goes fast.

I usually look forward to this event; it’s actually the only event I enjoy.

Chloe has really made this event something special.

It’s a great opportunity to give back, and I enjoy being able to help kids that are in the same stage I was not all that long ago, with a single mom who really couldn’t afford for me and my brother to play hockey.

But because of programs like this one, I was given a chance to play.

I'll forever be grateful to the small community program in my town that paid for my equipment, so I could play. This is the one event of the year that I actually look forward to. Not tonight, though. I have no desire to endure tonight, not when Chloe’s going to be here in her element. I ache to be near her, and yet, she’s made it clear that she wants nothing to do with me. I scowl, thinking back on our conversation the other day when she gave me the ring back. My fist closes around the small box in my pocket, the one I haven’t been able to leave at home.

“There’s our happy captain,” Sebastian calls out.

I wave but keep walking. I really don’t know if I can handle being with all my happily married friends and their spouses tonight. But when I get to the door, and Rico and Amber greet me, I realize I’m not going to be able to get away. I make my way inside with them, giving in to the inevitable. We’ll be seated at a table together anyway; Chloe always sees to it. I follow the group inside and into the huge room. My eyes immediately scan the room, before I even realize what I’m doing. I don’t see her at first. And then she comes into my line of sight, and the breath is literally knocked from my lungs. She’s wearing a black evening dress I’ve never seen her wear before, and I would have noticed this one. Believe me. The dress is practically molded to her perfect body with a slit halfway up her thigh, that shows off her toned legs in sky high black heels. The neckline is low, and my blood heats at the view of her exposed flesh.

“You’re drooling,” Rico whispers as he walks past, but I don’t even look his way.

“Hey, Mr. Coftman,” I turn at the voice and can’t help my smile as I see Andrew and his family walk towards me. Andrew was my trainee last year; he’s a good kid.

“Andrew. How’s it going?” He fist bumps me. “How’s your season going? Are you starting?”

He nods shyly. I’m not surprised; I knew he would. “We’re four and one so far.”

I smile. “Way to go.” I turn to his parents and greet them, and then they leave to find their seats. I start to follow them but notice Aiden coming toward me, a frown on his face. I instantly think of Brielle, wondering if she needs something.

“You’d better go check on your girl.”

I spin around and locate Chloe immediately. When I see who she’s with, I start forward immediately. I try to stay calm, even though Knight is standing closer to Chloe than he should be. Why is he even here? This is a Thunder event. I’m only a few yards from them when he puts his hand on her, and Chloe stiffens. Fury courses through me, and I speed up. Knight looks up, and I make sure he sees exactly how I feel about him talking to my girl and putting his hands on her.

He puts his hand out. “Coftman.”

I ignore him a moment and run my eyes over Chloe, making sure she’s okay. She gives me a wide-eyed look that instantly makes me want to protect her. She’s fearless, I know, and totally capable of taking care of herself, especially in this venue. But I don’t like the fact that she’s obviously thrown by Jason. I turn to him. “Knight.” I only shake his hand because I don’t want to make a bigger scene than we already have. It’s obvious to everyone here that these two are not with our team. What I don’t know is why they are here. “What are you doing here?” I don’t bother to make my voice polite.

“We’re here to take in the evening. We’ve heard about your event and wanted to see what it looked like, so we could try something like this in the Indianapolis area.” He turns to the guy next to him. “This is Carl; he’s with our organization and here with me to scout out the event.”

I scowl because something isn’t adding up here. “The event or the event coordinator?” I ask, ignoring the glare Chloe shoots me.

Jason grins. “Well, in this case, both.” Then he glances between Chloe and I. “Congratulations on the engagement, by the way.”

“Oh, we’re not—

I don't let her finish her sentence. “Thanks,” I say as I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into my side. At the feel of her soft body against my side, I feel my tension begin to ease. Chloe, however, is a different story. I can feel her tense up; and that is not what I’m going for. So, I take control. “It’s going to be starting soon, so we’ll take our leave and find our seats.”

“Chloe,” Jason says before we take a single step. Her name on his lips makes my skin crawl. “This event is amazing; we’ve heard about the work you’re doing, and you are truly to be commended.” I don’t say anything because Chloe deserves the praise, even if it comes from this idiot.

Carl, the guy next to Jason, finally joins the conversation. “The work you’ve done with the Green Thunder organization is truly astounding. You have truly turned this team into a franchise team.”

I frown at his words, even as I’m happy for the praise for Chloe. Chloe laughs, but it’s not her real one. “The players have made this team a true franchise,” she corrects.

“True, but you have brought this team a lot of notoriety and really done an amazing job,” Carl says.

Chloe inclines her head the slightest bit. “Well, thank you; but these guys are a dream to work with. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to the other guests.”

“Of course,” Carl says.

“Just one more thing,” Jason says, and I feel Chloe tense next to me. I rub my thumb over her side, hoping it helps to calm her.

“What?” My voice is no longer polite; maybe it never was. But I just want to get Chloe away from the two of them.

“Would you ever consider starting over with a new team?” Jason asks.

I stare at him in shock. Is he seriously trying to get Chloe to leave the Green Thunder?

Chloe seems to be just as shocked as I am. “I am very happy working here,” she starts, and the pressure eases the slightest bit from my chest.

Carl sticks his hand out and hands me a paper. “This isn’t an official job offer, but it’s just a glimpse of what it would look like, working for Indianapolis. Look at it and consider it. Everything is negotiable.”

“Sir, I really am happy—"

“Just take a look at it,” Carl says. “You can always say no.”

Chloe takes it from him but doesn’t look at it. And with that, my patience is gone. “Gentlemen,” I nod as I turn, bringing Chloe with me. She doesn’t fight me, and I feel like she might be in a daze. I spy a quiet corner and lead us that way. I position us so that she’s in the corner with me in front of her, my back to the rest of the room. It gives us a little bit of privacy. “Hey, are you okay?” I put my finger under her chin and lift it gently, so I can see her eyes. I relax slightly when I see her eyes are clear.

“Yeah, sorry.” She shakes her head and then squints her eyes. “Did they just offer me a job?” Not trusting myself to speak yet, I nod. She laughs softly, but I don’t join her. “What in the world?” she mumbles.

I glance at the envelope still clasped in her hand. “Are you going to look at it?” I ask in a low voice.

“No.” Her answer is immediate. “I love working with this team.”

“I know you do.” My heart is conflicted. I can’t imagine losing her to another team, but this isn’t about me. “Maybe you should look at it.” Her wide eyes meet mine. I shrug, trying to make it look like it doesn’t pain me to even be having this conversation. “What if it’s a better offer?”

She continues to stare at me, and I wish I knew what she was thinking. Part of me wishes she would tear it up and throw it away without ever looking at it, but that’s not fair to her. What if it’s a better offer? More money, better position, less working hours or stress... I would hate it for me, but I want that for her...if that’s what she wants. “Open it,” I tell her softly.

She breaks eye contact with me and opens the envelope and pulls out a single piece of paper. I watch her as her eyes skim over the words. I know it’s a good offer when her eyes widen, and my chest tightens painfully. She lowers the letter a moment later and meets my eyes. “Is this for real?” Her whispered words tell me exactly what I need to know.

“It’s a good offer.” It’s not a question.

“It’s a really good offer,” she corrects. Her eyes are wide with panic when they meet mine again, and I step closer. “Why are they doing this? Why now? It’s the middle of the season.”

“Hey, you don’t have to decide anything right now. Let’s just get through tonight, okay.” And then, because I can’t resist, I reach out and touch her soft cheek. “You okay?”

“Chloe?” somebody calls from right behind me, and I realize our quiet moment is over.

Chloe shakes her head. “I can’t deal with this right now. I need to go. Can you hold this for me?” She shoves the letter at me.

“Yeah.” I step out of her way. Before I can say anything else, she strides away, step in step with a server. I watch her go a moment before I make my way to the table where my teammates and their wives sit. I pull out my seat and join them. I put the letter on the table next to my plate, so I don’t ruin it.

“What’s that?” Sebastian asks, nodding at the letter.

I take a drink of my water before I answer. “A proposition letter from Indianapolis to Chloe.”

Everybody at the table stares at me. It’s Stephanie that breaks the silence first. “They want Chloe to come work for them?”

I nod and reach up and loosen my tie before it strangles me to death. My skin is itchy, and I wish I could just leave this event. But I won’t do that to Chloe, so I’m stuck here. “Are you serious?” Sebastain asks, a rare scowl on his face.

“Why?” Brielle asks.

“Because Chloe’s really good at her job,” I tell her.

“Well, yeah,” she admits.

“I can’t stand Knight,” Sebastian mutters.

“Same.” I don’t say more than that, because once I start, I may not be able to stop.

“When do you guys play them next?” Stephanie asks, looking across the room, just like Sebastian is doing.

“Not soon enough,” I grunt out.