Strangely relieved and pleased, Tank leaned back—as much as he could in this damn small car. “You think, huh? Guess I’m going to have to go the extra mile until you’re sure. Let me take you to dinner,” he said. Quickly adding, “Since I kept you out so late on a school night.”
McKenna started to shake her head.
“Do you have other plans?” he asked.
“No.”
“What do you intend to eat for dinner tonight?” Tank wasn’t going down without a fight. He was riding high from the fun afternoon, and he wasn’t in the mood to go home and eat alone. He’d done that too much since the video, not in the mood to deal with the damn hecklers, trolls, and reporters. It was easier to toe the line if he wasn’t out and about, but there was no way in hell he’d manage to keep this up for six months. Unlike McKenna, Tank was a very sociable person, who fed off crowds and attention.
“I subscribe to a meal delivery service. I think tonight’s easy-prep meal is maple Dijon salmon.”
Tank reached over, playfully tugging on her ponytail. “I can do way better than that. How do you feel about fish and chips?”
“I love it,” she admitted.
McKenna had joined the team at Pat’s Pub a few times for victory drinks after big wins, but she typically sat with the wives and girlfriends. “Pat’s Pub has the best in the city.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh. I love that place, though I’ll admit I’ve never eaten there. I’ve only ever gone for drinks after the games.”
Tank shook his head. “That’s shameful. You’ve lived in Baltimore what? Six? Seven months?”
“Almost nine,” she corrected.
“Those fish and chips should have been one of your first meals in Baltimore.”
McKenna grinned slightly. “Well, I guess we’d better correct that wrong.”
She started the car, the two of them rehashing some of the funny things the kids had said and asked. McKenna had a memory like a steel trap, and he suspected a lot of the silly comments would find their way into posts, and she’d find a way to make him look great and the kids adorable. Miss Efficient had also made sure every parent signed a media release form, allowing her to share the pictures and videos she’d taken of the kids.
Tank had never paid a lot of attention to the team’s social media pages because they hadn’t felt particularly important. With so much time on his hands lately, he’d decided to check out McKenna’s work, and he had to admit, she was really good at building a positive image of not only him but his teammates as well. She made them sound less like hockey stars and more like approachable, friendly people, and it obviously resonated well with the fans, if the comments were anything to go by.
When they arrived at the pub, she parked by the curb across the street. Tank got out quickly, walking around the hood and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close, pretending it was his attempt to provide warmth from the chilly February wind coming in from the harbor.
The truth was, he was hoping to sneak another whiff of her strawberry-scented hair because damn, she smelled good.
“Tank,” she warned.
“It’s cold out. Don’t want you to catch a chill.”
She snorted. “Yeah, sure. FYI, you and I are going to talk about that kiss in front of the kids.”
“It was just in good fun,” he said, trying to minimize his actions, mainly because he still wasn’t sure what had prompted him to do it. He kept trying to tell himself it was just a platonic kiss on the cheek, but that didn’t console him much…as he now wanted a real kiss that was a hell of a lot less innocent.
McKenna didn’t step away or force him to lower his arm. “I am cold.”
Tank grinned, keeping his arm right where it was, not wanting to admit—even to himself—it felt nice holding her like this.
“Tank!”
They weren’t two steps inside the pub before the bartender loudly called out his name. Tank smiled and waved at Padraig Collins.
McKenna shot him a raised eyebrow, her gaze sparking with mirth.
“I’m not an alcoholic,” he said, getting her unspoken joke. “You know the team celebrates here.”
“I know, but the bartender calling out your name doesn’t really help our case.”
Tank pulled her closer. “Hush. Padraig is a huge Rays fan.”
