Puck Drop_Utah Fury

by Brittney Mulliner

  “They are accurate to my perception of the player.”

  He seemed to think that over while I scanned his body. No man should be allowed to look that good in a tux. He could be a cover model with a jaw like that. I dreaded when that scruff would turn into a full beard around playoffs.

  “Chloe.”

  My eyes snapped up to his eyes.

  “I’m sorry for how I was acting my first few days. The trade completely blindsided me. I haven’t handled it very well.” He let out a sigh. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on your or anyone on the team. I’m not normally that…abrasive.”

  He dragged out the last word, a direct quote from my article.

  I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing and took a breath before responding. “I appreciate that. I understand too. Well, not being traded from a team, obviously. But I understand being upset when things out of your control affect your life.”

  He stared into my eyes for several long beats before nodding slightly. “Exactly.” He broke eye contact and looked around the room. “This looks great. You did a good job.”

  “Thank you.” I took the compliment with a smile. It was a labor of love, and after spending months planning it, the night went by in a blink. It always felt a little bittersweet.

  “Do you work on all the charities for the team?”

  I was a bit surprised by the questions. “I organize the events, like this, and coordinate with the foundations we support.”

  He nodded and motioned for a passing waiter. Reese took two flutes and handed me one. He took a sip before looking at me again. “Do you ever help any of the players with their charities?”

  “Some of them. Erik and I run his together, but most of the wives take over for their husbands.” His expression changed for barely a moment. I didn’t answer his question. Was he wanting me to help him? He could just come out and ask. “I’m always willing to help players that need some help setting up or organizing events, though.”

  That seemed to brighten his mood a bit. “Interesting.”

  Interesting indeed. Perhaps I’ll be rewriting his bio sooner than I thought.

  “Chloe,” Erik called out as he walked over with an empty glass in his hand.

  Reese met my eyes and smiled before walking away. I’d have to find out more about why he was asking those questions later.

  “Hi, Erik.” I waved at a passing waiter and took a glass for my brother. He accepted it and took a large gulp before speaking.

  “Everything looks great. You did a good job, sis.”

  “Thanks.” I appreciated the validation. It was surreal when events were finally happening after planning them for so long. I often had to remind myself to stop and enjoy the moment.

  “So, I have a dilemma.”

  I narrowed my eyes and waited. This usually didn’t lead to a good thing.

  “I know that I’m your ride and all, but I…”

  I held up my hand knowing exactly where this was going. “I’ll find a ride or call a cab.”

  He stepped forward and gave me a brief hug. “You’re the best.”

  I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Do me a favor and go to her place.”

  There had been one too many awkward morning moments of me running into the girl during her attempt at a quiet escape the next morning. It was uncomfortable to say the least. I’d started asking him to go to the girl’s home from now on and things have been much better. For me. I’ve heard rumors of how much girls are starting to hate him for disappearing in the morning, but that wasn’t my problem.

  “Of course.” He smiled and hurried off to where I’m sure his new friend was waiting. He knew better than to leave too soon, but I doubted I’d see him again.

  I sat with Emma and Ollie for the dinner but resumed my hostess responsibilities after the meal. I mingled with as many people as I could before I started getting tired. People were starting to trickle out, so I moved to the doors to give my thanks as they left.

  A few of the players joined me, but Erik had disappeared, and so had Reese. I was disappointed he was the type to flake out. Especially as a new player. People needed to see his face and meet him if they were going to cheer for him.

  I peeked into the ballroom and nearly burst out laughing. Reese was running around with the few children that were left. Their parents were sitting at tables talking amongst themselves while their kids chased Reese.

  I moved into the room and leaned against the wall, trying to go unnoticed.

  Reese had removed his suit coat and tie, making him look a lot more human. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing his thick forearms. He ran up behind a small boy and caught him. He tossed him in the air and caught him twice before setting him down. The boy’s laugh filled the room, making impossible not to smile.

  This wasn’t the same man who had been walking around the arena for the past week. He looked so relaxed. So happy. He wasn’t doing this for show. Less than twenty people were left in the room and the cameras were long gone. This was the real Reese Murray.

  A young girl ran up to him and froze. He looked down at her with a wide smile and she screamed with delight as he chased her. I couldn’t tell if they were playing tag or if there was a real direction for the game. It appeared the kids just wanted his attention and he was more than willing to give it to them.

  I watched him drop to the ground on all fours and give rides to the remaining kids until he collapsed on the ground with his laughter filling the room. How he had the energy to run around with the kids was unfathomable.

  He finally stood and gave each child a high five before walking back to his table and pulling on his coat. He was walking toward the doors now but hadn’t noticed me. It wasn’t until he was a few feet away that he looked up and met my eyes.

  “Chloe? What are you still doing here?”

  I smiled and nodded to where he’d been. “Just enjoying the show.”

  His grin was in full force. “They’re fun.”

  “Do you have any nieces or nephews?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m an only child.”

  That was surprising. He’d been so good with them I’d assumed he either had little siblings or he was an uncle. “Oh.”

  He slipped his tie over his head and continued to watch me. “Can you leave or do you have to finish up here?”

  Was he asking me to leave with him? No. He was just making conversation. But why?

  “I need to check in with a few of the suppliers.”

  He nodded once. “Alright. Have a good night, Chloe.”

  “You too.” I watched him walk out the doors and wished I was going with him.

  But unlike my brother, I was crawling into bed alone before midnight.

  Chapter Eight

  Reese

  Taking an elevator never been so hard. A front office never filled me with anxiety. In Boston we were treated like kings. Here no one even looked up when the doors opened up and I walked past cubicles.

  I slid past the general manager’s door, hoping he wouldn’t notice me. I was on a mission and any deterrence might take away my courage.

  I was finally there.

  Nothing left to do but knock.

  And risk whatever was on the other side.

  Would she tear me apart? Would she be kind and funny like at the gala? The woman was a loose cannon.

  Before I gained any suspicion, I knocked.

  She called me in. She sounded fine. Happy maybe? Hopefully that wouldn’t change when she saw me.

  I watched her face and her smile never wavered. If she was disappointed, she didn’t show it, but women were sneaky that way.

  “Hi, Reese, what can I do for you?” Her voice was all business. Not that I was expecting anything else.

  She hadn’t invited me to sit but she hadn’t kicked me out either.

  I took my chances and pulled a chair away from her desk.

  “I need your help.” I broke the silence.

  That got her attentio
n she looked up from her computer with a worried expression.

  “I’m not over PR.”

  That’s what she thought of me? My first week on the team and I already needed someone to cover up a mistake. Great.

  “No. It’s nothing like that.”

  Her silence propelled me to continue.

  “You said help the other guys with their charities, right?”

  She nodded. Woman of few words. How rare.

  “I was wondering if you’d to help me with mine.”

  She fell back in her chair and a slow smile emerged. “Tell me more.”

  That was all the encouragement I needed. “I started a foundation in Boston, but I asked a teammate to take it over. I want to start the same thing here.”

  She smiled, barely. “What kind of foundation?”

  “I provide gear for children that otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn to play hockey.”

  “Like jerseys?”

  “Not just that. Stakes, pads, sticks, helmets, everything a kid would need.”

  “Boys and girls?”

  “Yes.”

  Her smile grew.

  “In Boston, I set up a league, so they could have practices and experience games. There were a few great things that worked well, but there are changes I’d like to make.”

  She turned in her seat and faced her computer. “Let’s get started.”

  An hour later, I left her office feeling much more prepared than I’d ever been in Boston. She knew what she was doing, and she seemed to really believe in this cause. Almost all foundations and charity organizations have a good purpose, and I’ve seen teammates change people’s lives with theirs. The difference with mine was that I hoped to impact one thousand kids a year, and those kids could turn around and teach a friend and so on. It was something I really believed in but having Chloe on my team made it so much sweeter.

  She gave me homework to complete before our next meeting and cautioned me not to expect her to do all the work, which I would never do. Having an excuse to see her again was all the motivation I needed. I didn’t want to let her down, and I really didn’t want to give her an excuse to go back to her first impression of me.

  I wasn’t a jerk, I’d just been having a bad day. Hopefully, after working together, she would realize that.

  She was more than what I first thought too. She wasn’t just the bossy woman that let the people around her expect her to do everything. It was almost an oxymoron.

  I stood and paused in front of the door. “Does your offer still stand?”

  She looked at me, obviously confused. “What offer?”

  “The one to show me around town? I know that was for all the new guys, so I probably missed it.”

  A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “You did.”

  Great. Shut down with two words.

  “But I’d be willing to put together a second session.”

  I narrowed my eyes. What was she getting at?

  “I treat it as if I were a tour guide. I’d have to call a few places and see if I can get us in to see the capitol building and museum, but I can probably make it work. There are a few sites that are better to see during the day, but I’ll make an exception.”

  She said it so frank I had to nod. Of course she did. She was all business all the time.

  She cracked and began laughing. “I’m kidding. I took the guys out to dinner, told them where they would be safe eating without getting harassed by fans, and what areas to avoid.”

  I relaxed, just a bit. I couldn’t read this woman.

  “Tonight. You can pick me up.”

  “I don’t have your address or number.”

  She smirked. “Ask one of the guys.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Asking for her number would be a death sentence. This was a test. It had to be.

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Seven.”

  “I’ll see you at seven.” I opened the door and left before she could add any other terms. Like I needed to be dressed in a gorilla suit and speak in a Russian accent all night. Any other impossible or embarrassing task would tip me over the edge.

  * * *

  This had to be a joke. I stared at Hartman waiting for him to laugh, or smirk, or wink. Anything to tell me he was kidding.

  “She lives with him?”

  He nodded his head and pulled the strap of his duffle bag over his shoulder. “I’ll text you the address. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he won’t be home.”

  I watched him leave the locker room before falling onto the closest bench. That sneaky little brat. She was doing this to me on purpose. She wouldn’t have to go out with me if I was dead. And I was pretty sure I would be if I knocked on Erik’s door and asked for his sister.

  It would have been nice of her to warn me. Luckily, Hartman did. He was probably sitting in his Mercedes laughing all the way back to his house.

  I could do this. I’d done harder things in my life. I made it to the NHL. Picking up a girl from her house was nothing.

  I repeated that to myself at home as I got cleaned up and checked the clock. I needed to head over. To meet my doom.

  Maybe he wouldn’t be there. Maybe he wouldn’t even care.

  It’s not like this was a date. She was showing me around, professionally.

  I pulled into the parking lot in front of the building and cursed. I should just leave. Was a night with her worth my life?

  Since when was I such a pansy?

  I got out of my car and walked through the doors. A man in uniform greeted me.

  “Hi, I’m here for Chloe Schultz.”

  He nodded. “She let me know she was expecting you. Use the elevators on the left. Floor twenty-five.”

  Man of little words. I liked him. “Thank you.”

  I wiped my hands on my pants while the elevator rose. I felt like a teenager again. Next thing would be me breaking out in pimples and my voice would be an octave higher.

  The doors opened and I stepped out. There were only two doors, but I didn’t know which one to use. The doorman hadn’t specified, and Hartman hadn’t given me the specifics. I was on the verge of flipping a coin when the door to the right opened.

  Erik glared at me.

  “I thought I heard the elevator ding.”

  “Hey. I…” I don’t know what to say. I’m here for your sister? I’m here on business? Please don’t kill me now or later on the ice.

  “You’re here to see Chloe?”

  I nodded. This guy had never intimidated me before, but now I felt like I was meeting a girl’s father. The kind that clean their guns in front of guys like me.

  “She told me you were going out tonight.”

  I nodded again like the idiot I was.

  He eyed me like he was sizing me up. I was a bit bigger than him, but he had that territorial thing going for him.

  “Don’t hurt her.”

  That wasn’t what I’d been expecting.

  “I won’t.”

  He stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him. “I don’t think you understand. The team is my life. It’s Chloe’s life. She will do anything for anyone in the organization, and guys have taken advantage of that in the past.”

  I wanted to ask who, but I doubted he’d tell me.

  “They aren’t around anymore.”

  His expression cleared up any question I had about why they were gone. He got rid of them. Poor guys.

  “You’re not the first guy to look at her and see an easy target.”

  “Erik.” I had to stop him. I wouldn’t let him think of me like that. “That’s not it at all.”

  He smirked. “Then what is it?”

  “I’m new to the city. She offered to show me around. That’s it.”

  He shook his head. “You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought if you won’t admit it to yourself.”

  I tried to defend myself, but he put a hand on my shoulder and leveled me with a glare. “Don’t hurt
her. If you’re attracted to her, fine. If you want to spend time with her, fine. If you think you have a chance at dating her, you’re wrong, but fine. One wrong move and you’re done.”

  He was serious, and I respected him for it.

  “You have my word.”

  He nodded and stepped back. “I’ll let her know you’re here.”

  He stepped back into the apartment and shut the door in my face. I guess I wasn’t invited in. Yet.

  I only waited a minute or two before the door opened again and the much nicer, more attractive Schultz appeared.

  “Hi.” She looked beautiful in a simple cotton dress and sandals. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and I couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry I didn’t get to the door first. I was trying to listen for you, but Erik beat me to it.”

  “No worries.” I pressed the button to call the elevator. “You look great.”

  “Thanks.” She didn’t look uncomfortable at my compliment. Most women would have downplayed it or blushed. Chloe just accepted it with a smile. Like she knew it.

  Once we were in my car I turned it on and waited. “Where to first?”

  She ignored me and pushed the buttons to find the radio and found a station that played pop music. I guess she felt at home with me.

  “We’re going to drive around for a bit, so you can get familiar with where things are. If you have any questions or want to see anything specific let me know. Then we’ll get dinner.”

  “Sounds good.” She seemed to have this plan down, so I let her direct me down the road.

  “Where are you from, Reese Murray?”

  I eyed her. She really hadn’t looked me up?

  “Michigan.”

  “And you’re an only child.”

  She remembered. That didn’t mean anything. It was her job to know about the players. “Yeah. Are you going to ask my favorite color next?”

  She laughed. “No. I already know.”

  “What? How?”

  She laughed harder. “It’s black and red.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not allowed to like colors that aren’t on our jersey?”

  “You can like them, but your loyalty needs to be to the black and red.”