Chapter Nine
Emma
I’d just finished my makeup and checked my phone to see that Chantal hadn’t messaged me back yet.
“Ready to go?” I heard Colton call from down the hall.
I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror.
I’d decided to wear my favorite dress, and while it wasn’t anything fancy, I hoped it would be good enough for the opening event tonight.
I really hadn’t planned on attending any type of black tie or formal events, so if there were going to be more, I’d have to get some new things.
I smoothed the material out, allowing the deep-green silky material to bunch back up naturally at my midsection, and then swiped on another layer of mascara.
“I’ll be right there!” I yelled, then quickly swiped some gloss onto my lips and stepped out into the hallway, sliding my feet into the pair of five-inch black heels I’d left outside the door before making my way down to the living room.
Colton was standing there, looking out the front bay window. The first thing I noticed was that he cleaned up rather well.
While I hadn’t noticed it when he’d come home, he’d gotten his hair cut, and while I was getting ready, he’d also given himself a fresh shave, removing the week or two worth of sexy stubble that had covered his cheeks.
As I stepped into the living room, I caught a scent of his cologne in the air as I gave him the once-over.
When he turned to look my way, all I could think of was how handsome he looked in the perfectly tailored black suit he wore.
“Ready,” I said.
He smiled as his eyes ran over my body. I knew the look; it was one Mark used to have for me years ago. It was also one Colton used to give me when we were younger. It was also a look I’d not seen coming from another man in a long time, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“What?” I questioned as his eyes roamed back over me.
“Wow…you look….”
He stopped again, his eyes washing from my head to my toes and back again for the third time.
“Is something wrong with the dress?” I questioned, panicking that there might be a rip or a stain that I’d not noticed.
“There is nothing wrong with the dress, baby girl. It’s just…you look…. stunning,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard as my brain realized the words I’d heard him speak, and I slowly lifted my head and met his eyes. Not only were they fixed on me, but they continued to roam my body, taking in every curve I was showing off in this dress. I crossed my arms and cleared my throat.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat. “I, uh, I think we should get going. We don’t want to be late.”
“You really have a problem with time, don’t you?” He chuckled, tearing his eyes from me and grabbing his keys.
“I wouldn’t say I have a problem with it.” I shrugged.
“It’s okay, after you,” he said, coming up behind me, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me to the door.
“No funny stuff tonight.”
Those were the first words he’d said to me as we arrived at the event center.
“Pardon?”
“You heard me. Media coverage is going to be everywhere.”
He pulled into a parking spot at the far back of the lot and cut the engine.
“Hate to break it to you, but I wasn’t planning on any funny stuff,” I said, grabbing my small clutch bag.
“Uh-huh,” he muttered. “I can already tell you won’t be able to keep your hands off me.”
“Please.” I laughed as he got out of the truck.
He surprised me by coming around the truck and pulling open the door and holding his hand out for me to take.
“Let me help you.” I glanced at him, but when he met my eyes, I could see he was serious.
Reluctantly, I slid my hand into his, and he wrapped his other arm around my waist. I placed my other hand on his shoulder as he carefully lowered me to the ground.
“Told you, “He whispered as he winked at me.
“Thank you,” I muttered softly, smiling while my hands shook as I took a step back from him so he could shut the door.
“You are welcome.”
We walked side by side through the parking lot, and we were just about to round the corner of the building and make our way to the front doors when Colton stopped.
“What is it? Did you want to go over the plan one more time?” I questioned. “Or is it the wording of your speech? If it’s that, just give me, I don’t know twenty minutes, and I’ll fix it.”
For the first time since I’d arrived, he actually smiled at me as he shook his head.
“Then what is it?”
“I was just thinking, if we are going to convince people of this lunacy, then we should stop acting as if we are two people who pretend to hate one another and actually start making it appear as if we are dating.”
“What do you mean?” I questioned.
“Well, right now, we seem like we are awkward as hell being near one another. We just walked across this parking lot, and if there were anyone out there taking pictures of us, it looks like we just spent the last forty-minute drive arguing.”
I thought about what he was saying for a moment and realized he was probably right. It had been so long since Mark and I had shown any type of PDA, I’d thought nothing of it, but Colton was right. Two people who were in love held hands, walked close to one another, and looked happy together.
When I looked at him, I smiled softly. “Oh, I guess you are right.”
“I know I am.”
He lifted his elbow and waited while I slipped my arm through his, and together we made our way to the front door where he opened it and placed his hand on my lower back while I walked through the doors first. We were greeted and immediately directed to the conference room where the event was being held.
Flashes started going off the moment we entered the room. Colton wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against him, and nudged me.
“Smile for the camera, sweetie,” he whispered to me.
As the cameras started flashing, I couldn’t help but notice how overwhelming this was. I wrapped my arm around his back as he pulled me close, and we continued smiling for the pictures. I’d occasionally look up at him only to have him smile at me.
Colton thanked the photographers and stepped away the moment other players arrived, taking their spot for photos.
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. It’s overwhelming.”
“At first, but you get used to it.”
We were one of the first couples to enter the room, aside from Larson, Thompkins, and most of the PR team from the Dominators. We walked over and quietly greeted them, and that was when we heard voices. Stepping away from them, I slid my arm through Colton’s.
“Ready for all the introductions?” Colton quietly asked.
“I think so,” I whispered, swallowing hard.
Colton kept his arm around me, pulling me against him.
“That is Dylan and Aurora. Dylan is our team captain, in case you didn’t know, and Aurora is one of our therapists.
Right behind them are Knox Evans and his girlfriend Lorelai, another one of our therapists,” he whispered in my ear as he lifted his arm, waving at the two couples.
Immediately, I recognized Lorelai from the photographs I’d seen from that night. She looked a little on edge, so I smiled as they made their way over to us, which didn’t surprise me, given the circumstances.
“Good to see you, big guy,” Dylan said, holding out his hand, which Colton shook.
“You too. Aurora, good to see you, sweetie,” Colton said, leaning in and placing a kiss on her cheek. “How’s Jackson?”
“He’s good. He’s with my mom,” she said.
“He’ll be fine,” Dylan said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “She’s a little nervous because my dad is also supposed to stop by to see Jackson.”
“Mr. Hayes, could we get your picture?” a photographer asked.
Dylan nodded, then took Aurora by the hand, and they went over to where we’d been a few moments ago and had their pictures done.
Colton shook Knox’s hand and leaned in and placed a kiss on Lorelai’s cheek as well, before greeting Levi, Clay, and Lucas, and then he turned to me just as Aurora and Dylan returned.
“Since we are all together, I’d like for you all to meet Emma Cooper. My much better and way more attractive half.”
I could feel him watching me as he introduced me. I smiled and nodded to everyone. Each of them had questions, I could see it, and right now I wasn’t sure I could handle them.
“Emma, it’s wonderful to meet you,” Dylan said.
“Yeah, we were wondering about this mysterious girl,” Aurora said, smiling as she held her hand out for me to shake. It surprised me when I slid my hand into hers and she pulled me in for a hug instead.
“Yeah, the big guy kept quiet about having a significant other, so you can imagine how much of a shock it is to us,” Clay added.
“Cut the crap, this is no more shocking than finding out your little sister was impregnated by a teammate. We all, apparently, keep secrets,” Knox said, bumping into him.
“Here we go,” Dylan muttered, glancing at Colton.
“Yep, here we go,” Colton agreed, chuckling.
“Are you still on that, Knox?” Lucas questioned.
“He’ll always be on it. I’d have figured finding out Colton had a secret girlfriend would have pulled his attention elsewhere, but I guess I was wrong.” Clay chuckled.
“Well, surprise, here she is,” Colton said, pulling me against him, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
I could feel the tension in my body as everyone looked at us, particularly Aurora and Lorelai. It was as if they were trying to read the situation, and that was when I realized that the look that was on my face was probably not one of adoration. I’d have to work on that, I thought to myself.
“I’m sorry that we shocked all of you. I’m sure he only kept things on the quiet side because of the move and us trying to figure out the long-distance thing for a while.
It’s been hard, but we’ve finally worked things out, and I couldn’t be happier to be back here with him,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I’m sure. Long distances can be hell,” Clay said. “Peyton and I were long distance until she moved out here. It was tough being away from her when all I wanted to do was be with her.”