Chapter 15

Fifteen

Maeve

There's a nervous anticipation in my stomach as I stand in front of my mirror and give myself a once over. Am I really going downtown, and hitting up a bar with Tanner, and other members of the team? Getting a drink in a hotel bar during an away game is one thing, this is quite different and it has me jumbled up inside.

Kate spent the day hitting the stores, and said she'd meet us there, and for a moment last night, I was sure Dad was going to change his mind about going. I get it, he's positive I'm his responsibility, and I'm sure there's a part of him that hurts that he wasn't able to stop what happened before with my ex. Mom, however, assured him I was in good hands with Tanner. There must be a part of me that believes that, otherwise I wouldn't have agreed.

I turn to see the fit of my jeans, I'm so used to wearing yoga pants at home and skirts at work, that they feel a bit odd. My sweater is knit, with sheep on it. I thought that would be fitting for a Scottish bar. Not that I've been to Scotland, although that had been on my bucket list years ago. I just know they have sheep and thought this would be fun. Now, if Tanner shows up in a kilt? That thought makes me laugh.

The doorbell chimes and so does my phone. I pick it up and smile when I read the message from Tanner telling me he's at the door. He's here so much I should probably give him a key. Heck, Kate is here less than he is, and she has her own key. Leaning forward, I check my makeup and run my hand through my hair. I left it down tonight and put some product in it, to give my curls a little bounce.

Am I trying to look nice for Tanner? Trying to look nicer than Kate.

Ugh, I hate that uneasy, ugly thought as it rattles around inside my brain. It's not like me to be jealous, yet here we are and I hate acknowledging it. We are not in competition. Never have been, and just last night I was thinking Kate and Tanner would be a good couple. Today, however, the thoughts of them together... I don't know. It's unsettling. Is this what Kate felt like when her ex went for me over her? She told me everything was okay. She meant that, right?

I don't know. Honestly, I don't have claims on Tanner, and when Kate and I were chatting in the living room yesterday, when I was telling her about our fake dating and our trip to Santorini, she straight up asked that. The whole licking game was just a fun bedroom game. In the real world, it means nothing.

As I overthink everything, I head downstairs and pull open the front door. Tanner's gaze instantly heats as it goes from my face, down to the curves my tight pants do little to hide. His slow whistle fills me with warmth.

"Sweetness, you can't go out in public like this."

"What?" I ask quickly, my heart racing. It's been so long since I've been out to a downtown bar, I wasn't sure how to dress. "I should change."

"Hey." He pulls me to him. "You're perfect. It's just that if you're looking to go unnoticed, this isn't how to do it."

I laugh, but it's shaky. "Is it the sheep?"

"The sheep are cute."

Movement on the street catches my attention and I spot one of my neighbors walking their dog. "The jeans? I wanted to look nice…for you."

"Yeah, it's the jeans." He gives a shake of his head. "Your father was wrong."

"My father. What are you talking about?"

"I'm not a breast man. I'm a leg man."

I laugh at that. "So, is there or isn't there something wrong with my jeans?"

"There's definitely something wrong with them." I arch a brow and wait for him to continue. He scrubs his face, and winces like he's in total agony. "The thing is, Sweetness They're tight on your body, but they're squeezing the hell out of my cock." He reaches down and adjusts his jeans.

I chuckle. "If it's going to be a problem, I can change."

"It's going to be a problem because I'm going to spend the night thinking about getting you out of them. It's going to be the sweetest, most agonizing foreplay of my life."

I kind of like the idea of making him crazy all night. "What about drawing attention?"

"The guys know you're with me, so they won't mess with you, other than stare until their eyeballs pop out." He touches my hair and rubs it between his fingers. "We'll be going from the car to the pub. I have ballcaps and glasses for both of us. No one will recognize either of us. I told you I'd keep you safe and I meant it."

My heart pinches so tight, tears form behind my eyes. I breathe through the emotions as they tug tight. Sometimes I wonder if this guy is for real. I used to think the same thing about my ex in the early days, but quickly learned if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

"Tanner, that is really thoughtful."

He leans in and presses soft lips to mine, and he tastes like peppermint. "I'm really glad you're coming out tonight, Maeve."

I exhale, and hold his big body to mine as the cool night air curls around us and seeps into my house. "I think I might be tired of hiding all the time."

He inches back and his dark eyes narrow. He looks like he wants to say more about that, but instead straightens and asks, "Have you heard from Kate?"

"Just that she had a great day shopping, and is going to Uber here to drop her stuff off before meeting us at the pub."

He nods. "Did you want to shop with her today?"

"Not really. I don't like shopping." I crinkle my nose. "Is that awful of me? I mean she came all this way to visit and last time she was here, she did everything on her own."

"It's okay, Maeve." He cups my face and sweeps a rough thumb across my cheek. "You'll get there, in your time and on your terms. Baby steps."

"You think so?" I ask, wishing that were true, but not really sure it is.

I stare into his confident dark eyes. "You're going out tonight, aren't you, and you're flying to Santorini with me."

Will I ever be able to do it without him, though…

"What?" he asks and cocks his head.

"Nothing. We should probably go." I back up and grab my coat and boots from the closet. Tanner puts his arm around me to keep me warm as I lock up and we walk to his truck. Inside, he jacks the heat because I'm always cold. "Do you know where this place is?" I ask.

"Yeah, been there before. The servers all wear kilts. They encourage guests to as well."

"That's funny because I was wondering if you would be wearing one tonight."

"It's too damn cold." He casts me a glance. "They don't wear anything underneath, you know."

"Oh, and how do you know that?" I arch a brow, and bite back a smile. "Did you personally check?"

"Yes, Maeve," he shoots back with a roll of his eyes. "I walked up to the server, and lifted his kilt to take a look."

I laugh. "All right, take it easy." I tap my chin. "If I asked, I wonder if they'd show me. I bet they get asked all the time."

He shakes his head. "You are not looking under some guy's kilt."

"Why not?" I ask trying to keep my tone even as he looks at me like I might be nuttier than a squirrel's droppings.

"Jesus, Maeve. If you want to look under a kilt, I'll wear one for you one of these days."

"If you do, during one of Boston's cold winter nights, you might want to consider knitting yourself a willy warmer."

He pulls up to a stop sign. "Willy warmer? What the fuck is a willy warmer?" He briefly pinches his eyes shut. "Shit, never mind. Wait, how do you even know there's something called a willy warmer?"

I whistle instantly and he puts his hand on my thigh, giving it a playful squeeze. "Fine, you wouldn't believe the things I saw and heard in the fashion world."

"I really don't want to know more."

"There was this one time," I tease.

"No," he yells, and I laugh as he shakes his head.

"Will Josie and Jesse be here tonight?" I ask, changing the subject.

"I think so."

"It'll be fun to hang out with them in Santorini."

He squeezes my leg again. "Are you looking forward to going?"

"Yes, and apprehensive, too."

He nods, and puts both hands on the steering wheel when we get into heavier traffic. I sit back in my seat and take in his strong profile as he negotiates the roads. A short time later, we're in the downtown core, and he drives around, searching for a parking spot.

"We're a bit further than I wanted. I can drop you off at the door if you like."

I gather up my purse, and check to see if there are any messages from Kate. "No, I don't mind walking. I need it after all the turkey and potatoes yesterday." I shake my phone. "Kate is on her way. We must have left just before she got to the house. Too bad, we could have waited for her and we could have come together."

He parallel parks his big truck with ease, and we put on our hats and glasses before we exit the vehicle. Tanner circles the truck, and puts his arm around me to hold me close as we walk down the busy downtown street, people still out shopping this time of night. Not that it's late. I'm just not used to being anywhere but home or the grocery store come dinner time.

I spot Jesse and Josie entering the pub, and my gaze goes to the big flashing Kilting Around above the door, someone steps in front of us, and a camera is thrust into our face.

"What the fuck?" Tanner swears, and puts me behind him, shielding me from the press. More paparazzi bombard us, and circle around behind me, shoving cameras and microphones in our faces. "What's going on?"

I tug my hat down further, and lean forward to curtain my face with my hair. "Who's the mystery woman?" some guy asks.

"None of your business. Now if you'll excuse us."

"Tanner!" a guy yells. "It's the first time we've seen you out with a woman. Is she special?"

"Tell us your name, sweetheart," another guy yells.

"This isn't news and she's just a friend," Tanner yells, and works to avoid the flash of the cameras. "Jesus Christ," he curses under his breath and my stomach is coiled so tight, I think I might throw up.

"Is that why you had your arm around her?" a woman in the crowd asks. Jeez, so much for women helping women.

The door to the pub opens and I spot a big, muscular guy covered in tattoos standing there, glaring at the paparazzi. "This is a private event. Get the fuck out of here right now. Unless you want me to come out there and make you move."

I take in the anger on his face. He's in a kilt, but he's definitely not a guy I'd want to mess with. "Come on, you two," he calls to Tanner and me. He puts his arm out and guides us inside. Once we're on the other side of the door, he and Tanner exchange a look and a nod. The second he walks away, Tanner puts his hands on my shoulders, his breath coming fast and erratic.

"I'm so sorry." He examines my face and I do my best not to look as horrified as I feel. In the big scheme of things, nothing really happened. But if they post those pictures and my ex sees them, there's a chance he could come after me. "Maeve, talk to me."

"I'm okay, Tanner." I grip his coat at the sides, and as I hold tight, from the corner of my eye I catch the worried look on Josie's face. "I just didn't expect that."

Anger and pain tear across his face. "Neither did I."

I swallow, and glance around the bar, noting the way everyone is watching us with worry. "The cameras, microphones…" A hard shiver wracks my body as worry grips my chest and constricts my breathing. "Where did they all come from?" I take a gulping breath. "Do you think it was just a coincidence?"

He gives my shoulders a squeeze. "I don't know what to think."

The door opens again and I brace myself, until I see that it's Kate. She jerks her thumb over her shoulder when she see's Tanner and I standing close.

"What is going on out there?" Kate asks, her eyes wide as a sound crawls out of my throat. "Maeve, are you okay?"

Tanner pulls me closer as I ask, "Do you think they got any pictures of me?"

"No, I'm sure of it," he reassures me.

I shake my head. "I just…"

"I know." His jaw is so tense, I'm sure he's going to break teeth. "I told you I'd protect you, and I fucked up, Maeve."

"Tanner, this isn't your fault. You couldn't have known they'd be here, or knew they'd find out where the team was going."

"Maeve…"

"You didn't do this," I assure him, hugging him to me.

The muscles along his jaw ripple. "Yeah, okay, but who did?"

"Come on, Maeve," Kate pipes in. "You're not looking so great. Let's go splash some water on your face."

Kate slides her arm in mine, and I blindly follow her to the ladies' room. Inside, she runs paper towel under the faucet and I meet her worried gaze in the mirror. "What do you really know about Tanner?"

"What do you mean," I ask, coming out of my stupor.

"I don't know him well, but if you ask me, he seems rather overprotective of you, and don't you remember the way he was staring at you when we were in the hotel bar in Florida? Stalkerish."

I blink. I didn't realize she'd seen that. But clearly, she did. Why then, if she knew he was interested in me, did she call dibs? "What are you getting at?" I ask, as my throat squeezes so tight, it hurts to talk.

"Just be careful, Maeve. We don't want a repeat of what happened with your last boyfriend."