Page 12 of Love in Overtime

“Hello. Are you new in our little town?” A petite older woman asks.

“Yes. I’m in town with the Ice Breakers hockey team.”

Her face lights up. “Ooh, how are you connected to them?” The other women at the table suddenly seem more interested.

“I’m Blair Radcliffe, Cooper Montgomery’s publicist.”

The woman gives an uninterested shrug. “I’ve never heard of him.”

“Well Cooper will be out and about in the community with the other players over the next six weeks,” I tell her. “He’s thrilled to be a part of the team to help Happy Horizons Ranch.”

“We’ll all be there to support Dan Roberts,” she says while the other two ladies nod in agreement. “He grew up here in Maple Falls.”

“I know—it’s wonderful that he’s able to come back and play in his hometown.”

“Yes,” she agrees as she stands up. “Anyway, it was good meeting you. I’m Mary-Ellen McCluskey. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

“Thank you. It was nice meeting you too.”

After they’re gone, I check my phone. Keira should be here soon. I can’t wait to catch up with my friend. Spending time with her will help to take my mind off other things and other people. One thing’s for sure, the Ice Breakers are already causing quite a lot of excitement in Maple Falls.

The Bistro is another adorable local spot. The vibe is inviting and romantic—or at least it would be if I weren’t here for a working lunch with my client. It’s a nice day, so I find a table in the corner of the outdoor seating area near a heat lamp. I order a Diet Coke, and just as I open my laptop, I spot Cooper. He’s wearing a pair of baggy jeans with a tight, blue Henley shirt that leaves very little to the imagination. Cooper obviously hasn’t missed many early morning training sessions.Look away, Blair. Look away.

Too late—our eyes lock as he makes his way to the table.

“Hey,” I say cheerfully.

“Hey,” he replies, his voice deep and soothing.

“I guess you’re ready to get to work,” he asks, pointing to my open laptop.

“I was just reviewing a few things before lunch,” I say, closing it.

He sits down across from me and exhales slowly.

“How’s the arena?” I ask.

“It’s nice. I guess I was expecting something different or smaller, but it’s a good space.”

“Excellent,” I exclaim. “And have you had a chance to interact with your teammates?”

He nods. “Yes. It’s fine.”

A feeling of relief falls over me. Despite doing my research and many conversations with Estelle, I haven’t been around Cooper to see how he is with other players or the coaches.

The server arrives to get Cooper’s drink order and asks if we have questions about the menu.

We both look over the selections, and I decide on a Cobb salad, while Cooper orders a chicken sandwich and extra french fries. I guess when you look like he does, you can eat all the french fries you want. Must be nice.

“I’m ready, let’s get this over with,” Cooper says as soon as the server is gone. “What do I have to do? Shake hands, smile for photos, sign autographs? That’s all, right?”

I take a deep breath before launching into the itinerary. Cooper silently nods along as I go through the events we have lined up. He’s not leaping for joy, but so far he hasn’t objected to anything.

“Like I said in the Zoom, since you were intently listening”—I flash him a knowing smile—“I feel like this is your time to shine. Helping the children is very important to you, and your story adds a personal touch. That’s ultimately why this team has been brought together. You’re taking a break from your own hockey season to give of your time. This shows your fans and the critics the type of person you truly are. Happy Horizons is a wonderful organization, and I’ve been able to speak to Angel Davis, who runs it. This community is so grateful. It’s very touching, and you guys are definitely making a difference.”

Cooper doesn’t say anything. He actually looks very deep in thought.

“You okay?” I ask.

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