2. Blair
CHAPTER 2
BLAIR
Y ep? Really? That’s all he has to say. I stare at my phone, and of course I shouldn’t be surprised by the short and to the point text message from Cooper. Even after many conversations with his former agent Estelle, I’ve done my own research on my new client. Talented hockey player, Cooper Montgomery is well-known for his skills on the ice, his generosity, and his tough exterior. Estelle assured me that he’s one of the best clients she’s ever had, despite the stories of his difficult nature. Regardless, I know he’s not happy about the changes, and I’m not taking it personally. It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of a challenge. In fact, I thrive on it.
Being a publicist has been my dream career for as long as I can remember. I’m a big believer in fate and the right timing, and I was fortunate enough to connect with Estelle just as she was preparing to retire. In a stroke of luck I was talking to a friend at a networking event, and she told me about Estelle’s impending retirement. I reached out to her, and we instantly hit it off. I’ve taken over her two remaining clients just in time for a big charity hockey event in Maple Falls, Washington. I was thrilled about this for multiple reasons—despite this being huge for my career, I’ll get to see my best friend from college, Keira. She helps her sister take care of her two children and runs the local farmers market which is perfect for her. She grew up in the small town, and despite college in the city, I believe she always planned to return to her home.
I grew up on the East Coast, and as much as I loved it, I’ve always wanted to experience life in different cities. New places don’t scare me at all. I have a strong wanderlust, and at one point in my life, I considered pointing to a location on a globe, and that would be the next stop on my journey. I didn’t do that, but I’m currently living in Dallas and loving it. Who knows how long I’ll stay there. I’m open to all possibilities the future may hold, and for the next few weeks I’m going to enjoy small town life and all the fun seasonal activities. Apparently, the fall season is a huge deal in Maple Falls and people travel there to immerse themselves in the town and its festivities. I’m ready for apple cider, pumpkins, and changing leaves. I’ve studied up on everything the town has to offer, even though I’ll be working the whole time. I still can’t believe this is my job, and I’m determined to make it a success.
I fasten my seatbelt and settle into my window seat—this is really happening, and there’s an empty seat next to me, which I’m convinced is a sign of a successful trip. I switch my phone to airplane mode and slip it into my bag. I lean my head against the back of the seat as we climb into the air. My plan was to get some work done, but my three a.m. wakeup call is beginning to catch up to me. My eyelids are getting heavier by the second.
The loud voice of the flight attendant startles me; we’ve begun our descent and will be landing shortly. Wow, I slept through most of the flight—I guess I was more tired than I realized. I adjust my seat and lift the window shade. It’s a very clear day, and I smile to myself as soon as I see the rows of gorgeous fall foliage—oranges, reds, golds cascade down the mountain sides.
Hello, Washington. It’s great to be back in the beautiful Evergreen state. And yes, I googled the nickname because I can never remember it. I haven’t been back here since college.
Now I just need to wait for Cooper’s plane to arrive in a few hours. Estelle suggested I send a car service to pick him up, but I feel like I should personally greet him. Making a good first in-person impression is important and will hopefully put his mind at ease with all the changes taking place. I thought about holding up a Welcome to Maple Falls sign and balloons, but quickly decided against it. That would be over the top even for me, and I don’t think Cooper would enjoy that outlandish greeting. My goal is to assure him he’s in good hands as my client. A huge bouquet of balloons probably isn’t the way to do it.
Why is getting off a plane the longest process ever? Even with my seat being close to the front, it takes a ridiculous amount of time. When I’m finally free from the aircraft, I grab a coffee, a scone, and find a semi-quiet corner in the terminal to wait. I need to use this time to be productive—even though I’ve been preparing for this trip for weeks. I open my laptop and read through my game plan.
Confession—I’ve gone over this more times than I want to admit. It’s probably silly because I know things never go the way we expect them to. I’m prepared for anything that might come up, but I can’t function without some sort of plan. Estelle seems to have more of a go-with-the-flow style, but that could be after many years of experience in the business. She did give me some helpful advice, which I appreciate. Mostly about Cooper, but she also cautioned me to be aware of the press, specifically Yolanda Simms, who is a reporter for KBIZ. She has a reputation for being trouble and has major drama with Zach Hart, the billionaire backer for the Ice Breakers charity team. I want my client to be out and visible in the community, but to also stay away from negative press and reporters like her.
I scroll through the emails Cooper and I exchanged leading up to this day. They are all short and to the point, no small talk. Ha—that might be an issue for us. I’m a master at the small talk, one hundred percent a people person but not a pushover. My dad has always said I never met a stranger, even when I was very young. I firmly believe being genuine and real makes a difference—people want to feel connection. If I can help build that connection between my clients and the public, then I’m doing my job successfully.
I have every intention of becoming a part of Maple Falls in the time we’re there—and encouraging Cooper to do the same. He doesn’t seem as excited as I am about the fall activities in town. Naturally he will be busy with team practices and games, but there will be time in his schedule to be out and about, mingling with the residents and visitors of the town. The big items on our agenda are media events, team meetings, and the Maple Fest, which sounds fantastic. Keira is very involved in organizing the festival, and the Ice Breakers players will be doing meet and greets during the day .
I grab my phone and send Keira a quick text.
Kiki! I made it to Washington. At airport waiting on the hockey player to arrive—wish me luck. Can’t wait to see you.
I’m so excited to see my friend after all these years. We text all the time, but it’s been a while since we’ve been together in person.
My phone buzzes almost immediately.
Welcome! I’m so excited. We have so much to catch up on. Kiki and B back together again.
I smile to myself as I’m instantly sent down memory lane. She’s the only person in the world who calls me B. We have one of those friendships where we can pick up like we just saw each other, no matter the number of years that have passed. Is there a better friendship to have?
I type a reply and smile to myself as I hit send.
I hope your town is prepared for this epic reunion.
I put my phone down and return to my notes. I’m trying not to watch the clock as the time gets closer for Cooper’s arrival. I don’t usually get nervous, but this is very important. The impression I make could change everything for me, both positive and negative.
Naturally I’m having a hard time concentrating, so I pick up my phone and scroll until I find my parents’ number. I’m extremely close to my family, and we talk almost every day. I’m lucky they’ve always been supportive of my adventurous spirit and encouraged me to chase after my dreams, even when it’s included going to college across the county and moving away from home.
“I just told your father you’d be landing any minute,” my mother answers. “How was the flight?”
“It was fine,” I say. “I’m still at the airport waiting for Cooper’s flight to arrive. ”
My parents know all about the hockey charity event and my new client.
“You should FaceTime us when Cooper’s with you,” my dad calls in the background. “I’d love to say hi.”
I roll my eyes. I should’ve known I was on speaker phone. That’s normal for a Radcliffe family conversation.
“Hey, Dad, I will—just not today. Remember, it’s the first time Cooper and I are meeting in person. This is my job, and he’s my client.”
The moment I landed this job, my father did a deep dive into Cooper’s career, and now he’s a fan of hockey and the Tennessee Wolves. Go figure. He even made me promise to get something for him signed by Cooper and the other players. The funny thing is I don’t think he’s ever watched an entire hockey game. He plays golf and has been a fan of baseball and football. Now he’s constantly bringing up hockey stats and history like he’s an expert.
“Tell him I watched some highlight reels of his greatest moments on the ice,” he adds. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate our support.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” I say. Ugh, I can see it now—I greet Cooper as he steps off a plane, officially introduce myself, and then tell him my father has been binge watching clips from his career and is now his biggest fan. Nope.
“TJ, let her have her first meeting with him before she harasses him for his autograph,” Mom scolds.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“He’s a professional athlete; he’s used to fans,” Dad retorts. “He’d probably be really flattered to know that our family supports him.”
“You’d never heard of Cooper Montgomery before Blair became his publicist,” my mother snaps.
My parents start bickering, and I sigh loudly. They can argue better than any two people I’ve ever met, but they love each other just as fiercely. My parents are the perfect example of couple goals, for sure.
“I promise I’ll tell Cooper what a devoted fan you are,” I interrupt. Thankfully their arguing stops immediately and my mother proceeds to ask questions about the weather in Washington and when I’ll be seeing Keira.
After I’m off the phone, I close my laptop and mindlessly scroll through Instagram. At this point I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for Cooper to arrive.
I’ve always found airports super exciting, the hustle and energy of people coming and going from all corners of the globe. Since Cooper’s flight was delayed thirty minutes, I’ve had extra time to wander, and people watch.
When I see that his plane has landed, my stomach twists in knots. I send him a text letting him know where I am and then make sure our car will be available to pick us up at baggage claim.
Suddenly I’m second guessing my decision to wait for him to arrive. Maybe I should’ve taken Estelle’s suggestion and sent a car.
Ugh. What am I saying? I felt confident this was the right move, and I plan on making his arrival as seamless as possible.
I twist my fingers as I watch the travelers descend the escalator. I don’t think I’ll be able to miss Cooper—he’s very tall and …
I draw in a breath, and my eyes grow wide as they land on the most gorgeous man. I mean—I knew Cooper was attractive, but I guess I wasn’t expecting him to be this attractive. He’s wearing a fitted athletic jacket, pants, and a white baseball cap. He kind of looks like Travis Kelce minus the famous smile. Before I can stop myself, I start waving my arm wildly to get his attention.
“Cooper, yoo-hoo,” I call louder than intended. “Over here.”
Yoo-hoo? Ugh, why? Why?
He looks up from his phone when he hears his name, and his eyes settle on me. His expression changes slightly, and I’m not sure how to read it. Maybe he’s as embarrassed as I am by the yoo-hoo greeting. He gives a slight nod and moves smoothly through the busy terminal. As he walks toward me, I clear my throat and stand up straighter. I’m tall at five foot nine, but he still towers over me. I tilt my chin up and smile broadly as he approaches me. It’s time for me to get to work.
“Cooper, hi,” I say cheerfully, holding out my hand to him. “I’m so glad to officially meet you in person.”
Ah, I sound very professional. Maybe this will help him forget the initial yoo-hoo greeting.
“Hello, Blair,” he says, placing his hand in mine. His grip is firm and strong.
“How was your flight?” I ask.
“Eventful.”
“Ooh, why? What happened?”
Cooper sighs. “The couple across from me argued the entire time. I ignored it until their fight escalated and she tossed her ring across the plane.”
My mouth drops open. “No way. What were they arguing about? Did someone pick up the ring? ”
I have so many questions. It sounds like something you’d see on reality TV.
Cooper gives a nonchalant shrug. He’s obviously not as invested in the drama as I am.
“The flight attendant found it and returned it to the guy,” he adds. “That was shortly before we landed. They didn’t speak again for the remainder of the flight. It was ridiculous.”
“Oh, I wonder where they went. Do you see them anywhere?” I ask, looking around for a feuding couple. Clearly I’m more invested in his story than in doing my job. I feel like I always miss the good stuff. A few years ago, my friend saw a runaway bride still in her wedding dress at the airport in Dallas. Someone put a clip of it on YouTube. It was crazy watching a woman rushing through the terminal in a designer gown.
“I don’t know. I’m just glad we didn’t have to make an emergency landing due to unruly passengers. She was furious.” He pauses and quickly looks away. “Anyway, we made it.”
“Oh, yes,” I exclaim remembering why we’re here. “Let’s get your baggage. The car should be here soon to pick us up.”
He nods as we make our way toward the escalator. Neither of us says anything, but I know from our previous discussions that he’s not very chatty. The ring on the plane story might be the most I’ve ever heard him talk. This means I’ll have to keep the conversation going, which usually isn’t a problem for me. I’m a talker.
“Today should be relaxing,” I tell him. “At some point I want to have a meeting to go over a few things. Practices start in a few days, as you know.”
“Yes,” he says .
“It’s going to be a great event,” I continue. “And the town is so pretty and quaint. Their fall events are popular, they’ve made the place famous.”
Cooper makes a face. “I doubt Pine Falls is famous.”
“ Maple Falls,” I say with a giggle. For some reason he can’t remember the name of the town.
He groans. “Crap, you’re right. I don’t know why I keep doing that. You’ll have to keep me on my toes over the next few weeks. The last thing I need is to meet the mayor and call his town by the wrong name.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, I’ll definitely keep you on your toes,” I exclaim.
“Yes, I can tell,” Cooper replies, the corner of his mouth turns up slightly which unexpectedly makes my stomach do a flip.
Ugh. What was that?
Thankfully we arrive at the baggage carousel at the perfect moment. I conveniently excuse myself to contact our driver while Cooper waits for his bag. As soon as I’m a safe distance away from him, I let out an exasperated sigh as I call for our car.
“Hello.”
“Hi, this is Blair Radcliffe. Just confirming our pickup at the airport.”
I glance back to where Cooper is standing and meet his gaze almost immediately. I give him a quick wave and point to the phone.
“Yes, ma’am. Your driver is on his way—ETA ten minutes.”
“Wonderful. Thank you,” I gush.
I exhale slowly after I end the call. I’m not sure why I feel so frazzled. I’m usually calm, focused, and professional.
Seriously, Blair, get your head in the game . Cooper Montgomery may be attractive, but he’s my client, which means we work together. These next few weeks could make or break my career. The last thing I need is to be swooning over a professional hockey player and his tall, muscular physique. In my defense, it’s kind of hard to ignore. Cooper stands out, and I’m only human.
It’s ironic that I was just lecturing my dad about the same thing. Of course, my dad wasn’t swooning—but he would probably be fan-girling hard if he were here. I take a slow deep breath before I head back to Cooper. This is fine—everything is fine.