Chapter 7 #2
However, they’d only made it ten feet from his car before the skies opened up.
“Holy shit!” McKenna exclaimed, as the two of them took off running toward her house.
By the time, she got the door unlocked and they raced inside, they were both soaked to the skin and laughing their asses off.
“I knew it was going to rain, but that escalated fast,” she said, gasping for breath as she pushed wet strands of hair from her eyes.
“You’re not kidding. I figured I could at least get home before it unleashed.” Tank pulled his wet shirt away from his skin. “That was an insane amount of rain. I don’t get this wet in my shower,” he joked.
McKenna laughed. “Seriously.”
They looked down at the same time when the sound of dripping became evident.
“Shit, Mouse. I’m getting your floor all wet.”
“Stay there. I’ll grab us both some towels from the bathroom.” She quickly left the room, racing upstairs and returning in less than a minute with two fluffy bath towels.
“Thanks,” he said, as he took one from her, rubbing his hair before running the towel over his clothing—a fruitless endeavor. Nothing short of wringing his clothes out and putting them in the dryer was going to help.
A bright flash of lightning briefly blinded him, immediately followed by a crash of thunder so loud, he swore the house shook.
McKenna jerked, then took a step closer to him. Tank wasn’t sure if her response was instinctive or intentional, but he didn’t care. He pulled her into his arms, both to offer comfort and warmth, though the second wasn’t going to happen as long as they stood there in wet clothing.
The rain pelted against the windows as the wind picked up.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but I swear it’s coming down harder,” she observed, still tucked within his arms, the sound of her voice slightly muffled from where her face was pressed against his chest.
“You’re right. You should get out of these wet clothes, Mouse, or you’ll get sick.”
She lifted her head, though she remained in his arms. “Is that a genuine concern, or are you just trying to get me out of my clothes?”
He chuckled at what he was certain she meant as a joke. The laugh was fake because he’d love to get her out of her clothing. “Is it working?”
McKenna snorted. “Sort of. I’m going to go change. Maybe you should hang out until the rain dies down.”
He nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Not keen on going back out in that storm right now.”
“I’ll grab you that jersey you loaned me,” she offered. “It’s probably the only thing I have that will fit you.”
“That’ll be fine.”
“I can toss the rest of our clothes in the dryer while we wait for the storm to pass.”
Tank watched her walk upstairs, delighted by the way things had turned out. He’d offered to walk her to her door in the hopes of another kiss. Getting to spend more time with her—while half dressed—was an even better opportunity.
Tank slipped off his shoes and socks, both of which were soaked through, and then used his towel to wipe up the puddles they’d made on the floor.
When she returned, Tank had to take a second to compose himself…because his drenched jeans were too tight to conceal his reaction.
For one thing, he couldn’t understand why his cock was reacting so strongly at all, since all she’d done was throw on pajamas. Bright red pajamas covered in Mickey Mouse’s smiling face.
Tank grinned, and she shrugged good-naturedly.
“I told you. My mom goes overboard on the Mickey nickname. Like, way over.”
“I like the pajamas.” She probably didn’t believe him, but he really did. While she was gone, she’d also pinned her hair up in those Mouseketeer buns on the top of her head, the entire look completely adorable and so her.
As much as he loved her hair down, he was also becoming a huge fan of the buns.
“Here.” She offered him the jersey he’d given her last week. At the time, she’d thanked him for letting her borrow it, though Tank had no intention of taking it back. He hadn’t lied about wanting to see her in his shirt.
He followed her to her living room, looking around.
This was the first time he’d been in her house, never making it beyond the front door.
The room looked like McKenna. It was neat and tidy but also screamed of comfort.
There were colorful throw pillows on the couch, a soft fleece blanket folded and hanging over the back.
There were countless books on the built-in shelves that surrounded her television.
Placed amidst the books were keepsakes and photographs.
Most were of McKenna and an older woman with auburn hair who looked just like her.
Tank started unbuttoning his shirt, amused by the way McKenna’s gaze darted around the room, returning every few seconds to steal a peek. He took his time, giving her a show. While she flushed and tried to pretend she wasn’t looking, he stared straight at her, wanting her eyes on him.
Once he peeled the wet shirt off, he glanced around for somewhere to put it down.
McKenna’s hand reached out. “I’ll take it. My clothes are already in the dryer. I was waiting to grab yours before I started it.”
He handed her the shirt, then started to unbutton his jeans.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I can’t sit here in wet jeans, Mouse.”
“Yeah, but…”
“My boxer briefs are still relatively dry.”
“Oh. Um…”
“You gonna be able to handle that?” He knew exactly how his question would land. McKenna was very susceptible to his dares, always determined to come off as strong and tough and unflappable. And while she was all those things, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t push her when it suited his purposes.
She responded just like he knew she would, crossing her arms and giving him an almost bored expression that he didn’t buy for a minute. “Of course, I will.”
It took a bit of work, getting his drenched jeans off. He pulled his wallet, phone, and car key out of the pockets, tossing them on the coffee table before handing the jeans to her. He hadn’t bothered to put the jersey on first, so he was standing before her in nothing but his boxer briefs.
And McKenna, though blushing like a rose, wasn’t looking away, her eyes widening slightly when she realized he was sporting an erection.
He considered teasing her, telling her to take a picture, but he liked that gaze on him, liked seeing the effect his body had on her. McKenna was one of those people who wore her heart on her sleeve, her expressions hiding nothing. She was an open book, and he loved reading her.
For a few quiet moments, he merely let her look her fill, amused when—at last—she seemed to realize what she was doing and her gaze flew up to meet his.
“Take your time,” he joked.
She narrowed her eyes—goddamn, he loved when she did that—then turned away from him, heading back upstairs for the third time. He listened to her progress, hearing the dryer door close before she turned it on.
Tank considered remaining in just his briefs, not bothering with the jersey, but he changed his mind because the rain had been a cold one and he was chilly.
Drawing the jersey over his head, he plopped down onto her plush couch, smiling when McKenna returned and claimed the other end, curling her feet beneath her.
She only remained there a second before she popped up again. She was clearly nervous. “Do you want something to drink? I can make coffee or tea. I also have water and half a bottle of red wine.”
Tank gestured for her to resume her seat. “I’m fine, girlfriend.”
“This is just for work,” she reminded him, as she sat back down. “Because as you know, I don’t date hockey players or coworkers.”
“Why not?”
She’d made that comment before, but he’d never questioned her reasons. Now, he could see that was a mistake. Because whatever her reasons, they were the roadblocks to his end goal—and he needed to find a way to knock them down.
“I told you that I’ve only had three boyfriends.”
He nodded. “The guy from high school and the asshole in college. You never got around to filling me in on bachelor number three.”
“Eddie was the last man I dated. I met him shortly after I started my first job.”
“The one at Pete’s Sporting Goods,” he said.
“Yeah. Eddie is Pete’s son, actually. He came by to introduce himself on my second day at work and we just sort of clicked.
Two weeks later, he asked me out on a date.
By then, I’d learned from my other coworkers that he was well-liked by everyone.
The woman I shared an office with said he was a super-nice guy, and that more than a few of the females in the office had been trying to catch his attention.
I think she’d been one of them, because she was a bit chillier toward me after Eddie asked me out. ”
“Was it a good date?”
“It was a great date. One that led to another and another and before I knew it, we were in a serious relationship, spending every night together, either at his apartment or mine. For one year, it was complete bliss. And then…”
“Then?” he asked.
“Then, the company hired a new receptionist.”
Tank growled, because he knew how this story was going to end.
“Lisa was tall and blonde and curvy—all the right measurements,” McKenna said with a grimace. “She wasn’t vertically challenged like me.”
Tank smiled at her attempt at a joke, though it was forced, because the woman she’d just described could have been Lara.
“Several times I walked by and would see him standing near the front desk, talking to her. At first I thought he was just being friendly, because that’s his personality.
After a few times too many, I asked him about her.
He said she was struggling with a couple aspects of the job, and he was helping her.
I bought that…for a while. Then, I found out they went to lunch together one day.
I confronted him, and he said she was new in town and lonely and he was trying to cheer her up.