Chapter 11

Eleven

Maeve

I have no idea how my voice is coming out calm and collected when my well-used body is still reeling from a night in bed with none other than Tanner Bang—the man completely off limits to me for so many reasons.

Honestly, it's all I can do to focus on my parents and not slip back into reminiscing about the way he touched me, kissed me, and brought me to orgasm as he made sweet love to me. Perhaps my ability to switch gears so quickly comes from my time on the runway, where I was able to separate who I really was from the model showcasing the clothes. It was the only way to stay sane in a crazy business where I was nothing but a commodity. Deep inside, I was nothing like the confident, poised girl who strutted her stuff. I was someone completely different, a girl no one other than Kate, and now Tanner, cared to get to know.

Of course, Kate knew me before my modeling years. She was the reason I got into it in the first place. There was an agency doing an open call and she begged her mother to take her. I tagged along, wanting to see my friend shine, but it was me who got noticed. At first, I said no. This was Kate's thing not mine, but she assured me it was okay, and the next thing I know, I was being whisked off to many exotic locations. It was all kinds of crazy how that went down, and Kate was happy for me. How lucky am I to have a friend like her?

I clear my throat as everyone stares at me, waiting for me to speak and I shake my head to clear my musings and begin, "Dad, Mom, you know Tanner's parents and siblings, right?"

"Yes," they both reply in unison, as Tanner holds his phone out, waiting for me to continue before he messages his mother back. I'm pretty sure he expects me to come to my senses and change my mind, but that's not going to happen. The thoughts of getting away at Christmas does sound nice, especially after that scare last night.

"I know Lars quite well from our junior years," Dad says. "Your mother knows Stella better than me."

"Well," I let my hand flop open toward Tanner, wanting to make this conversation easy and light, nothing for them to worry about. "Tanner's mother, as lovely as she is, is retired and has now made it her life's mission to get her kids married. One by one, she seems to be making that happen. There's only Tanner's older sister Annie and him still unattached, and she's working on both of them."

"Oh," Mom says, her head rearing back in surprise. "Why is that?"

"She just wants what's best for us, or what she thinks is best for us," Tanner tells her and steps back to lean against the counter. He folds his arms, and crosses his legs and I force myself to tear my gaze away. I don't want Dad to see the way I'm looking at him like he's a big ice cream cone and I want to lick him.

Do not think about licking.

"I take it you don't think that's what's best for you?" she pointedly asks, innocent curiosity in her gaze.

I don't miss Tanner's moment of hesitation, or the fast glance he casts my way before focusing back in on Mom. "It's complicated." She frowns and sensing she's not going to leave it at that, he continues. "Let me just say it's not what's best for me right now."

"You'd like to get married someday then?" Her question is innocent, but Tanner scrubs his face, like he always does when something is bothering him. I'm guessing he doesn't like this inquisition and is trying to be polite about it.

"Yes, I'd like to get married someday but that's complicated too," he finally answers.

"Tanner is busy proving himself to the team," I pipe in, because clearly, he can't seem to explain himself all that well right now. Maybe his brain is still on last night. "Marriage isn't on his radar right now," I explain and glance at Tanner for his approval. He nods, and I pull a chair out for Mom and Dad. "Have a seat." I want them both comfortable for what I'm about to tell them next.

They both sit, and I gesture toward the coffee. Tanner pushes off the counter, pulls the second cup he made out, throws another pod in. "Tanner has a Christmas Eve wedding in Santorini, an old friend who now plays on his brother's team, actually. He fibbed and told his mother he had a plus one."

Mom opens her mouth, about to protest because she doesn't like any sort of lying. I mean, I don't either, and I still feel a bit guilty that I haven't told Tanner that the text at the bar wasn't meant for him. It worked out for the best and a part of me believes what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

I hold my hand up to pause her thoughts and explain, "He did it because he doesn't want her to worry about him. It was a harmless white lie, Mom," I tell her, as Tanner slides a mug of coffee in front of her. She smiles up at him and nods. "If she thinks having a woman in his life is what he needs to make him happy, he wants her to think he has a woman in his life. But he doesn't need a woman to make him happy. Just like I don't need a man."

Okay, I don't need a man to be happy, but there's no denying that having Tanner around does make me happy. A weird little thrill goes through me to think we're going to be spending more time together. Sure, it might be in secret, behind closed doors, and while that can get boring, I'm sure this thing between us will burn out long before that.

"It's nice that you don't want your mom to worry, Tanner. But it's what moms do, no matter how old her kids are," she responds with a laugh.

"What's this about a wedding in Santorini and how do you play into it?" Dad asks, ever astute and wanting to get right to the point.

I understand I'm an adult and can do what I want, but I don't want to upset my parents. They have always been there for me, and I totally know where Tanner is coming from with his mother. I glance at my own mother and decide that if I can get her behind me, Dad will follow. "You know those romantic comedies you love, Mom." Mom nods. "You've seen ones where couples pretend to be in a relationship, for reasons just like this."

"I don't think Santorini is a great idea," Dad grumbles, not wanting to hear any kind of reasoning. "That's a long way from home. If anything happened?—"

"I'd have Tanner," I say quickly.

"I'm not going to let anything happened to her," Tanner reiterates.

Dad glares at Tanner. "You can't predict?—"

"Oh my." Mom smiles, cutting Dad off as she laughs and wags a finger at me. "You do know how those movies always turn out, don't you, Maeve? They're called romantic comedies because they always end in happily ever after."

"Yes, but that's television," I counter, as I foolishly consider happily ever after with Tanner. Which is ridiculous. I don't know him all that well and we're just having some fun. I'm not about to subject him to a life behind closed doors. Sure, I'm going to Santorini, but that's a small, intimate event. "This…" I wave my hand back and forth between Tanner and me. "It's different. I'm going to help him out, and he's going to come running to my place whenever I don't feel safe. It's a lot closer for him to come over than you, Dad, and with winter coming and slippery roads. It's kind of a win-win for both of us." I pause. Am I selling this too hard?

"Yes, I suppose you're right." Mom makes a strange sound and glances down, searching for something in her purse, but I suspect she's hiding her expression. What is it she doesn't want me to see? Wait, is she grinning?

"Hannah," Dad begins. "A daughter needs her father. We can't be sure Tanner?—"

"Your back isn't what it used to be, Felix," she tells him. I know he's hiding his old injury from the team, and Mom had hinted at his retirement just last year. I can't help but think it's time for him to leave the rink behind and pursue his hobbies. But wait, would that mean he'd want to be my full-time protector? That could be troublesome. Seriously though, at times I think he only keeps playing to make sure he's by my side during our away games. He never goes out with the team to celebrate unless I go, and I only go when I'm traveling with the team and I don't have to leave the hotel lobby. My life really is pathetic.

"Hannah," Dad admonishes gently and frowns, like he doesn't want to discuss this in front of Tanner, and Mom just shrugs. "I'm just saying, Tanner is younger and more agile."

Mom fishes out a tissue and puts it over her nose, still hiding her face. "Oh, honey, I think it's a great idea. I know Tanner's mom. We were all WAGS. She's a lovely lady. If this will buy Tanner some time until he finds the ‘one,' I can't see how it can hurt."

I smile at her. "Thanks."

"Hannah," Dad begins, his brow bunched so hard he's given himself a unibrow. Poor Dad, this is hard on him and I hate that. It's just something I feel I need to do.

Tanner slides a cup of coffee in front of my father and I hope the caffeine will help him see the situation clearly. Or perhaps he's the only one seeing it clearly and I'm living in some fantasy world. Nevertheless, everything inside me wants to help Tanner out, even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone. And hey, Santorini in the winter when it's freezing here. It's not a hard sell. Tanner was right about that. Oh yeah, and traveling with the hottest guy on the planet. Real hardship there.

"I also think a trip to Santorini in the winter is just what you need." Mom beams. Jeez, was she reading my thoughts? "You've been couped up too long in this house. You need to get out more."

My tight chest relaxes. This is going better than I thought, with Mom anyway. I love how she's open and supportive of this idea. "I was just thinking the same thing."

"Hannah," Dad tries again, and I bite back a smile. The poor man can't get a word in, and I suspect Mom doesn't want to hear his disapproval. But he's only worried about me and I appreciate that.

Mom's gaze rakes over Tanner, traveling from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, a careful assessment. "Tanner is a big capable guy. I don't think anyone is going to mess with you when you're with him."

Oh yeah, he's far more capable than she realizes. That thought makes me blush.

"No one is going to mess with her," Tanner assures my mom as he runs his fingers over his phone, no doubt telling his mom it's me he's taking to Santorini.

"I'm going to have to reach out to your mom, Tanner. It's been a long time since we've exchanged recipes."

"No, no. I don't think that's a good idea," he bursts out, a new kind of panic about him. "I mean, we want her to think we're going to a wedding together, and a real couple, which is why we're going to have to spend so much time together." Felix narrows his gaze and Tanner explains, "She could stop by anytime without me knowing. That's what she's done to my brothers and sister, and she stuck around for a long time. So, for her to think this is real, until, you know, I find the ‘real one,' we're going to have to hang out."

"That's true," Mom agrees, her eyes widening. "I guess we'll be seeing a lot of you around here. You know, while you two are pretending."

"We have to look like we're comfortable together, so yeah, a lot of pretending," I add. "I just mean, we shouldn't all be cozying up as families, and building hope that this is a forever kind of thing."

"Hannah," Dad tries again.

Mom arches a shapely brow at Tanner. "Did Maeve tell you she's doing thanksgiving dinner this year?"

Tanner turns to me, his brows lifted. "No, she didn't."

"She's a great cook," Mom assures him.

"I know." The smile he gives me fills my belly with butterflies and warmth and a happiness I haven't felt in…ever. Was I ever really happy modeling, having only one close friend, dating my ex? "She cooked for me last night." Something rumbles in Dad's throat and Tanner stands a little straighter.

"Thank you for coming so quickly and checking things out," Dad blurts out sternly. "But truly, it's no trouble for me to come over when Maeve calls." As his worried gaze moves to me and softens, that's when I realize something very important about my father. It was hard for him to see me damaged and broken, and it's even harder for him to let his baby girl go. He wants to be my protector. He knows there are some great men on his team. But maybe this is why he warned them all to stay away from me. He doesn't think anyone can take care of me the way he can. While it's nice to have these men watch out for me, honestly, I really just wish I had the strength and courage to take care of myself.

Mom puts her hands on her chest. "It gives me such comfort knowing you were close and could get to her quickly." Just then Mom's phone pings, and she fishes it from her purse. Her eyes go wide. "It's your mom, Tanner."

Well, hell.

"That didn't take long," I say to Tanner, and he puts his hand on his forehead and shakes it.

Dad shakes his head. "So, you two are really going to pretend to be a couple?"

"Just until his mom backs off, or Tanner finds a girlfriend," I explain.

Dad takes a sip of his coffee and under his breath, mutters, "Nothing good can come from this."

Mom grins as she texts Tanner's mother back. I eye her when she glances up at me, warning her to be careful. She reads my message and just gives me a dismissive wave, and I'm beginning to believe Dad might be right. Nothing good can come from this.