Page 37 of The Closed Off Captain

I make my side of the bed to put the pillows back in place. “You’re my fiancé; of course, he expects us to be sleeping together.”

I stare down at him. “You didn’t tell your family this isn’t real?”

“No.”

I stare at him. “Why ever not?”

“Because it’s supposed to be real to the world.”

I take a deep breath. “Okay. Fine. I’m going to go take a shower.” He doesn’t say anything more, and I slip out the door to head back to the guest room. After a quick shower, I dress in my spare outfit. I always pack one for trips because you never know what can happen. Only once I’m dressed and have my makeup on and my hair brushed, do I head out. I look through Gunner’s door and see he’s sleeping again. That’s good; he needs all the sleep he can get to heal. I take a deep breath and head out to the living room. His brother is sprawled out on the couch with a textbook and notebook on his lap.

“Hi, I'm Chloe.” I put out my hand.

He looks up at me and looks at my hand. “Hi, Chloe. I’m Greyson.” He gives me an assessing look before shaking my hand. He looks so much like Gunner, it’s unnerving.

“I’ve heard about you.”

“Yes, I’m sure you have.”

He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up. “Sorry about that. I’m not used to Gunner having a woman in his bed.”

That hits just right, though I don’t stop to consider why. “Yes, well.” I cock my head to the side and study him a moment. “How come I’ve never met you before at any of the team events or games or anything else for that matter?”

He shrugs. “I don’t go to a lot of events or games really. I have a full schedule of my own games throughout the year. I try to make a few of Gunner’s when I can, but it doesn’t happen all that much.” He returns my look, like he’s trying to figure me out. “So, what’s your deal? Who are you to my brother?”

“You don’t know?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking,” he says slowly. His voice has that touch of irritation that sounds so much like Gunner, it makes me smile.

“Well, I hate it to be the one to tell you, but I’m your brother’s fiancé. Well, fake fiancé.”

He doesn’t even blink. “Come again?”

“Don’t you ever watch the news?”

“Nope.”

“Do you live under a rock?” I ask the question with a straight face. He gives me a look that is so Gunner, I can’t help but crack a smile. “You and your brother need to catch up apparently. But the long and short of it is there’s a woman claiming to carry your brother’s baby; which we all know is a lie. She won’t let it go, and it’s threatening your brother’s career. His endorsements are threatening to drop him, and it doesn’t look good for him asthe captain of the team. So we came up with a plan—give him a fiancé. That will shut her up. At least, that’s the plan.”

“Let me guess,” he says dryly. "You volunteered for the job.”

I stare down at him. “No, actually, I told your brother no.” He cocks an eyebrow. “I am the PR manager for the Green Thunder, not that I have to explain myself to you. I don’t need to date any of the guys on the team to find my self-worth.”

He throws his arm over the back of the couch. “So, you’re saying, you’renota puck bunny.”

I level a look at him. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He grins at me. “I can see why my brother chose you.”

I ignore his words. “I have to go home. Are you good to stay here and check on your brother?”

He loses the relaxed look. “What’s wrong with Gunner?”

“Wow, you really don’t watch the news, do you? Your brother took a cheap shot last night by one of the players from LA. He flipped him, and Gunner’s shoulder took the brunt of the fall.” I know the guy’s name now.Ricky Sanchez.I did my homework on him last night. New to the league last year, a hot shot that’s just now making waves this season. I’m not sure why he wasn’t on my radar sooner; he should have been with the season he’s having. “He’s got a separated shoulder.”

“How long is he out for?” he asks quietly.

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me yet, and I didn’t ask. But I do know if he has any hope of coming back quickly, he’s going to need lots of rest and ice and whatever else they tell him. I have to go because we’re supposed to have engagement pictures in like,” I glance at my watch. “Two hours. If he’s not up in an hour and a half, can you get him up?”

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