Page 87 of The Closed Off Captain

I keep a smile on my face, but it feels tight. “Who exactly did you reach out to?”This is my event; I’m the one with the guest list.

“Your team manager.” He frowns slightly. “I would have assumed he told you.”

Stan.I take a deep breath. “No problem. We’re happy you’re here. Feel free to mingle with the other guests. The appetizers should be served shortly at the gathering tables in the atrium.” I take a steady breath and make a move to walk away, but a hand on my arm stops me. I glance down at Jason’s hand on my arm and work to keep a pleasant expression on my face.

“Actually, you’re the one we wanted to talk to.”

“Oh?”

“Is there a place we could talk privately?”

Before I can think of a reply, a sensation overcomes me.Gunner’s here.I don’t even have to turn and look; I just know. Jason looks over my shoulder, and his smile tightens just slightly. “Coftman,” he says easily, putting out his hand.

Gunner steps up next to me. He glances down at me for just a moment before putting his hand out to Jason. “Knight,” he says in return. Gunner doesn’t waste time with pleasantries. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to take in the evening,” Jason says easily, but it’s impossible not to pick up the tension in the air. “We’ve heard about your event and wanted to check it out, so we could try something like this in the Indianapolis area.” He turns to Carl.“This is Carl; he’s with our organization and here with me to scout out the event.”

“The event or the event coordinator?” Gunner asks. I glance up at him and resist the urge to elbow him in the ribs.

Jason grins. “Well, in this case, both.” He looks between the two of us. “Congratulations on the engagement, by the way.”

“Oh, we’re not—”

My words are cut off by Gunner stepping close and wrapping a big hand around my waist and pulling me close. “Thanks.”

I close my eyes a moment and count to three before opening them and plastering a smile on my face.

Chapter38

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 thegroup 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 seesexactlyhow 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.

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