He crossed the room, somewhat covertly. There were more than enough people milling about that he could approach them unnoticed. He was hoping to overhear what Lara was saying, because it was obvious from McKenna’s expression that she wasn’t comfortable with the conversation.
“Wait, I know who you are,” Lara said, snapping her fingers. “Don’t you work in the PR department? You’re like the social media girl or something.”
McKenna nodded. “I am.”
“Oh, well, I guess that makes sense, then,” Lara said, as if she’d just figured something out. “You’re keeping my man on a rather short leash tonight, aren’t you?”
Her man?
The handful of times he’d hooked up with Lara, they’d met at a bar or nightclub, had a few drinks, dirty danced as foreplay, then went back to her place and fucked. No part of that meant he was her anything.
“Tank usually brings me to these events,” Lara continued.
He’d only brought her to one event—the fall fundraiser—so her words were an outright lie.
“Given the video,” McKenna started, but Lara cut her off with a loud scoff and an eye roll.
“I don’t know why Uncle Charles is so up in arms about that video. It was all in good fun.”
Tank decided he needed to cut this conversation short. “There you are, Mouse.” He handed McKenna her glass of wine, then placed his arm around her shoulders. Turning, he faced the other woman and painted on a smile. “Lara,” he said, nodding his head.
“Well, hello, stranger,” she purred. “I’ve been waiting for you to make your way over here to see me.” She put a hand on her hip, purposely jutting it out in what he knew was a practiced pose, meant to look sexy. Lara was a beautiful woman, and there was no denying it was her looks that had attracted him.
Tonight, however, he didn’t find himself as drawn to her Barbie Doll features and statuesque figure. Glancing down at McKenna, who was looking at him with those large blue eyes, he found her a thousand times more beautiful.
That realization caught him off guard.
He’d been blaming this strange pull he felt toward her on abstinence; certain the occasional hits of desire were based on the fact he wasn’t getting laid on the regular. But now, as he stood here between the two women, he was forced to admit it wasn’t a lack of sex driving his needs…but a genuine attraction to McKenna.
What the fuck was he supposed to do with that?
“I have a bone to pick with you, Tank Phillips,” Lara said, playfully. “Why haven’t you been replying to my texts?”
“I’ve been busy. We’re getting close to the end of the season, and I need to focus on the game,” he lied, because he suspected it would be bad idea to tell Lara things between them were over with Charles Steele so close by. Tank knew a spoiled woman when he saw one, and given things Lara had said in the past, he’d learned early on there was nothing she wanted that she hadn’t been given. She drove a Porsche 911, had a high-rise condo on the waterfront, and was always dripping in jewelry from Tiffany’s and Chanel bags.
The crazy part was, Tank was pretty sure the woman had never worked a day in her life, though if anyone asked her, she claimed she ran her uncle’s charitable foundation. Up until the video, he hadn’t even cared enough to ask who her uncle was.
“I think they’re getting ready to start serving dinner,” he said to McKenna. “We should probably take our seats. Good to see you again, Lara.”
He guided McKenna away, not bothering to give the other woman a chance to reply.
McKenna waited until they were out of earshot to murmur, “She’s delightful.”
Tank laughed because her tone was the definition of sarcasm. “Right?” he tossed back, as if he’d thought her comment sincere, because he couldn’t help himself when it came to teasing her.
McKenna nodded her thanks when he pulled out her chair. “She’s still texting?”
“Yes, and as you heard, I haven’t replied,” he said, uncertain why he felt the need to say that.
“I’m glad. I don’t know that she’d make texts between the two of you public, but I don’t get the sense she’s very bothered by that video.”
She wasn’t. Lara loved attention, good or bad.
“What else did she say to you?” he asked.
“Not much. At first, she was kind of catty. Typical girl stuff. I’m here with you, and she doesn’t like it. She pointed out I wasn’t your usual type, probably hoping to make me insecure. God, some women are real bitches.”
Tank chuckled. “Yeah. They are. Hope you didn’t let any of the shit she said bother you.”
