"Is there anything you've actually refused to do?"
"Yes."
"Oh-ho. Like what?"
"I actually declined to do the naked wedding one couple requested."
"Aw … seriously? That would've been a lot more fun than getting painted green."
"It was a little outside my comfort level. Also, I once turned down organizing a bachelor party where they wanted actual hookers. I can find a girl to jump out of a cake. I can even find exotic dancers. But I'm not a pimp."
He laughed. "Good for you, Katie."
This warm exchange reminded him of some of the reasons he'd fallen in love with her. And did absolutely nothing to ease the semi he'd developed in his dress pants.
He wanted her.
There was no denying it anymore. He wanted her again … or he wanted her still … who knew, and what the hell did it matter. He just wanted her.
Chapter 10
Since the object of the evening was to meet the wedding party, Katelyn made a point of engaging in conversation with the people she didn't know as well-Lovey's cousin Kendra, who was some high-powered businesswoman in New York; her friend Jillian, who Katelyn learned worked for Moens Brewing as a marketing rep; and she got to know Lovey's matron of honor and her husband a bit better.
It was tempting to spend the entire evening talking to Tanner, because dammit, she still enjoyed talking to him. He was older and more mature, but he still had that wicked sense of humor. There'd always been a strong physical attraction between them-and still was, she reluctantly admitted-but they'd also enjoyed just hanging out together, or with friends.
She liked watching him interact with the other guests too. He and his teammates all had an easy camaraderie with good-natured trash-talking. They didn't talk much about hockey. Clearly they were all close friends off the ice as well as teammates on the ice, and their loyalty to one another and the team was obvious beneath the jokes and insults.
"Are you kidding?" she heard Tanner say to Marc. "Hughie thinks he's good in the sack? You know how he made his last girlfriend scream during sex?" After a beat, he said, "He called her and told her about it."
The guys laughed and Katelyn covered her mouth. It was inappropriate, but it was funny.
The food and wine were delicious, the service was attentive, and Lovey and Marc were gracious hosts. The evening passed in a fun blur of food and drink, talk and laughter. Sidney left early, taking a taxi home alone while Jared stayed awhile longer, but he was the next to leave. The table had been cleared and everyone had picked up their wineglasses and moved around. Katelyn was now sitting across from Tanner, trying not to look at him while she listened to Lovey and the bridesmaids plan their dress shopping trip tomorrow.
Then others started leaving as well, and she picked up her purse and moved to thank Lovey and Marc for the evening.
"Thank you for coming!" Lovey hugged her. "It was so fun."
"Thank you for including me. It was lovely."
Katelyn used the ladies' room down the hall, then found where their coats were. With hers on, she took a seat on a chair to change from shoes to boots.
Tanner appeared, his gaze dropping to her bare legs as she bent over and lifted one foot to slip off her high-heeled shoe. She dropped the nude patent-leather stiletto into the fabric bag she pulled from her purse. "Can't walk in the snow in these," she murmured.
"You're walking?"
"Yes."
"Where do you live?" He pulled his jacket from the closet and slipped it on.
"East Delaware Place. The John Hancock building."
His eyebrows rose but he nodded, looping a scarf around his neck. "I'll walk you home."
"You don't have to do that." She reached for her boots, tall black leather ones with a flat heel.
"I don't have to," he agreed. "But I will."
They descended the stairs and crossed the busy lounge, then exited onto the street. The sky glowed with a pale light, the cloud cover reflecting back city lights, and soft snowflakes drifted down. The area was still busy with all the bars and restaurants, and the ten or so blocks up Michigan Avenue would be full of activity also, so Katelyn felt safe walking home alone.
Tanner pulled on a black knit cap and held out his arm and, after a brief hesitation, she took it and they walked toward Michigan.