Page 42

Chapte r 42

Chloe

After my meeting, I head back to my office and get back to work.

Only, I can’t focus on a single thing.

All I can do is replay Gunner’s words to me over and over again.

On the one hand, I can’t believe he said all that.

On the other, it’s not like it’s a total shock.

I mean we’ve been spending a lot of time together.

After what Brielle said a while back, I’ve been noticing every interaction we have and paying careful attention to all of it.

And yet, he still managed to surprise me.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t been able to stop smiling all afternoon.

I know he’s got a busy schedule today, so I don’t bother him.

I pack up my bag a little before six and head out to the parking lot, so I don’t miss him.

I pull out my phone and lean against his truck while I wait.

Zac and Rico are the first to come out.

Zac waves, and Rico heads my way.

“Hey, Chloe, you good?”

“I’m just waiting for Gunner,” I tell him.

He smiles.

“Gunner? Not Coftman?”

I answer his smile with one of my own and shrug.

“What of it?”

His grin widens, and he glances back at the door.

“I gotta get home. I’ll see you later.” The other guys start coming out.

Every single one of them notices me and makes some sort of comment.

I make a mental note next time to just wait in my car.

It’s freezing out, anyway.

Aiden gives me a nod as he walks to his car.

Sebastian comes bounding over like a golden retriever.

“Chloe.”

“Sebastian.”

He cocks his head to the side, grinning widely.

“Watcha doing?”

“I’m waiting.” I don’t want to give him anything else.

Of course, he won’t let it go.

“Waiting for what or who I should ask?”

“You actually don’t need to ask,” I tell him, and his grin only widens.

“Hart, get away from my truck and my girl,” Gunner calls out, and we both turn.

He strides towards us, and I swallow because there’s no getting out of this now.

He uses the remote starter to start his truck.

“Hey,” he says softly when he gets close.

“Hey,” I say back just as softly.

“Hey,” Sebastian adds.

I turn to him, just as Gunner physically pushes him back.

“Don’t you have a wife to go home to?” I ask.

He laughs loudly.

“I do. Have fun, Kids. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He salutes the two of us and then jogs to his car.

“Thought for a moment he was going to ask to come with,” Gunner grunts out, and I can’t help but laugh.

He turns to me.

“So, does this mean you’re up for a date?”

I smile up at him.

“Yes, but I get to pick.”

He grins.

“Anywhere you want.”

I’m in his truck moments later with my hands over the vents.

“How does your truck warm up so fast? My car takes forever.”

He cranks the heat up another notch.

“What are you hungry for?”

I turn to him.

“How do you feel about stir fry?”

“Sounds good.” I tell him the name of the restaurant, and he nods.

It’s a local favorite.

Lucky for me, it has a touch screen with all the allergens clearly marked, so I can order what works for me.

I lean my head against the seat.

“How was your day?”

“Long but good. Yours?”

“Same.” And that’s the end of work talk.

“How’s Grandma May doing?”

I smile.

“She’s doing really well. I didn’t realize what a difference moving her to the other side with more care would do, but she’s doing a lot better.” I turn towards him.

“Thank you.”

“You already thanked me,” he reminds me.

“Well, I’m going to keep thanking you because what you did was...” I struggle to find the words.

“Yeah, I’m just going to keep thanking you.”

“I’m glad I was able to help out.” He reaches out and puts his hand on my knee.

Without even thinking about it, I cover his hand with my own.

He turns his hand and intertwines our fingers together, and I can’t help but look down at our hands.

“Is this okay?” he asks.

I smile.

“Yes.” He squeezes my hand once, and I’m pretty sure I turn into a puddle of goo.

We get to the restaurant soon after that and head inside.

It’s a pretty low-key restaurant, which is one of the reasons I suggested it.

Hopefully, we can get in and out without anybody recognizing the big guy at my side.

I glance up at him with his black cap on.

He notices and looks down at me.

“You good?”

I nod.

“Yeah. Just making sure your ball cap is in place, so nobody will possibly know it’s you.” He shakes his head at the sarcasm in my voice and puts a hand on my back as we walk inside and make our way to the screens.

He stands just behind my shoulder as I order and then steps to the side, so he can place his order.

I reach for my wallet, but he just shakes his head and swipes his card instead.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He grabs our receipt and puts his hand on my back once again as we snag a table.

I think for a moment it might be awkward, but I remind myself that it’s just Gunner.

We’ve spent so much time together; this is nothing new.

He leans back against his seat and gives me his full attention.

“So, what did Grandma May have to say about my game?”

And just like that, everything eases between us.

Grandma May is always criticizing Gunner, but she does it out of love.

That’s just how she is, and Gunner graciously accepts it and doesn’t let it bother him.

“Oh, she was praising your name after that goal.”

He grins.

“She liked that, did she?”

“Yeah, but don’t let it go to your head. She was mad as a hornet after that hit you took from Kowalski.”

“How was that my fault?” he counters.

I shrug.

“You know how she is.”

Our number is called, and he stands up to go get our food.

We both dig in hungrily, and I eat as much as I can before sliding my bowl over to him.

He takes it without question and finishes it.

We talk about anything and everything.

I yawn at some point, and he pushes back his chair.

“Let’s get going.”

“That was really good, Gunner. Thank you.”

He opens my door for me “You’re welcome.” I climb into the truck and start warming up.

When he climbs in and closes his door, he glances over at me.

“How about I take you home? It’s later than I realized, and I’ll pick you up in the morning since you don’t have your car.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him, waving off his concern.

“If you don’t mind returning me to my car, I’ll be fine.”

“That will add an extra thirty plus minutes to your night. Let me just take you home; I’ll get you in the morning. What time?”

“If you’re sure,” I start.

“I am.”

“I need to be there at seven tomorrow.”

He nods.

“I’ll get you at six.”

“Are you sure, Gunner? I can just get my—”

“Yes.” We drive in silence for a little bit, but it’s a comfortable silence.

I’m grateful he’s driving, because I’m suddenly exhausted.

I yawn again, and he glances over at me.

“You can put your head back and rest; I’ll get you home safely.”

“I know.” But I don’t want to; I don’t want to miss anything from this perfect night.

“How are your mom and Greyson doing?” I ask instead.

He launches into a story about his brother and his team, and I listen with a smile on my face.

When we stop in front of my house sometime later, I turn to him.

“Thanks, Gunner. I had a really good night.”

“I did too.” He stares at me intently.

“Did you give any more thought to what I told you earlier?”

“You mean when you talked more than I’ve ever heard you talk?”

A wry smile graces his lips.

“I was passionate about the topic.”

A warm feeling settles over me.

“I mean I thought going on this date with you would tell you where I stand.”

“So, you want to do this? Go forward and see where it leads?” he asks, a little uncertain.

I lean forward and put a hand on his chest.

“Yes.”

He smiles then, a smile that so few people ever see.

“Good. Then you won’t mind if I kiss you? It is a date after all.”

“It is,” I agree, licking my lips.

His eyes track the movement and suddenly, the air thickens between us.

The lightness that was there moments ago is gone.

I can see his face clearly because of the streetlamps lighting up the car, so I don’t miss when he leans forward.

“Stop me if you aren’t ready for this,” he says in a low voice.

I have no intention of stopping him.

Is he kidding?

I’ve dreamed of this for years.

The dream pales in comparison as his lips gently touch mine.

The kiss is over almost before it starts, and I can’t seem to open my eyes.

When I finally do, his eyes are right in front of mine.

He reaches up and strokes my cheek gently before pulling back.

“Let me walk you inside.”

Somehow, I manage to walk to the front door and even unlock it.

When I turn to him, he’s staring down at me intently.

“Thanks for a great night,” I tell him.

His eyes flick down to my lips again, and I feel my pulse begin to race.

I’m not sure who moves first, but suddenly his lips are on mine again.

His arms wrap around me and pull me against his firm chest.

A sigh slips from me, and his arms tighten around me.

I feel my bag crash to the ground, but I pay it no mind.

Something opens inside me at the feel of being in Gunner’s arms, and I’m suddenly ravenous for him.

I reach my hands up to his shoulders and dig my nails into the muscle there.

He groans deep in his throat and whatever restraint he was showing snaps.

In the next minute, we’re inside and he pushes me against the closed front door.

I open my mouth for him, and he groans deep again when our tongues touch.

I can’t get enough of him, and I feel my legs give out underneath me.

Thankfully, his strong arms around me hold me up.

We're a tangle of limbs and tongue and heat, and it’s so good. A sound comes from somewhere far away. It doesn’t register at first. Only when he pulls back does it hit me that my phone is ringing. I fumble in my pocket for it. “I just need to make sure it’s not the nursing home,” I say breathlessly. He nods, and I finally grab hold of it, silencing it when I see it’s just a spam call. I drop it back in my pocket and stare up at him. His eyes are darker than usual when they meet mine.

“I better go,” he says gruffly.

I know he’s right. “Thank you for a good night.” He leans forward and gives me a quick kiss on the lips.

“Thank you .”

He opens the front door, and I can tell he’s reluctant to leave. I’m reluctant as well but know we both have an early morning. “Go before we get ourselves into trouble,” I say only half-kidding.

That seems to be just what he needs to snap out of it. “I like getting into trouble with you.”

I smile. “Yeah, me too. Night, Gunner.”

“Night, Chloe.”

Then he jogs down the stairs and over to his truck. With a final wave, he backs up. I watch as he pulls away and can’t keep the smile off my face. It was an absolutely perfect night. I lock the front door and head to my bedroom to start getting ready for bed. A knock sounds at the front door, and I quickly head that way, wondering what Gunner forgot. I can’t help my grin as I open the front door. Only, it’s not Gunner standing on my front porch. It’s a guy I’ve never seen before, and he’s holding a gun... a gun that he’s pointing at me.