Back Check (Aces Hockey #4)(53)

 

"We should go." He glanced at his watch. "We have a reservation for seven."

 

"Right." They stood in her apartment, where he'd just arrived to pick her up for their Monday night date.

 

She was going on a date with Tanner.

 

Even though she knew him so well, it felt like a date with a stranger. She'd been rushing around her apartment in a tizzy to get ready, waxing, shaving, rubbing scented lotion all over, indecisive about what to wear … A cocktail kind of dress? A casual dress? Jeans and boots?

 

She'd settled for a slim-fitting black sweater dress and her flat black boots, adding a handful of long gold necklaces. This would work for either a dressy or casual place.

 

He held her coat for her and she slid her arms into it. Then she grabbed her purse and keys and they left the apartment.

 

"Where are we going?" she asked in the elevator.

 

"Warwick's."

 

"Um, wow. That place is expensive."

 

He gave her a steady look. "You're worth it."

 

She lowered her chin and gave him a look up through her eyelashes. "You charmer, you."

 

He grinned. "Thank you."

 

"And cocky ass. I see that hasn't changed."

 

"You love my cock and ass."

 

She burst out laughing and fell against the wall. "Oh my God."

 

He moved closer and set his hands on her waist. "Admit it."

 

"Mmm. Okay, I admit it." Heat gathered low in her belly.

 

"You can love my cock and ass more later."

 

"You wish."

 

"Oh, I definitely do."

 

She shook her head, smiling, as she walked out of the elevator ahead of him.

 

On the sidewalk, he took her gloved hand in the frosty evening air and they walked to where he'd parked his car. "Warwick's is near my condo." He opened the passenger door for her. "I thought we'd drive to my place and leave my car there, then walk to the restaurant."

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"Sounds good."

 

"Did you enjoy the game last night?" he asked as he pulled away from the curb. "Other than the fight."

 

"Yeah, other than the fight. You know I never liked fighting." She didn't want to tell him how upset she'd been, afraid he could be hurt.

 

"Unlike other bloodthirsty hockey fans, who go crazy for it."

 

"There has to be less fighting these days, right? With the worry about injuries? Especially concussions."

 

"Yeah, there's less fighting. And I really don't fight much, even though the very first game you come to, it happened." He glanced at her. "I'm a lot more careful these days about how I hit. I don't know if you heard about my suspensions."

 

"No. I told you, I haven't followed hockey at all."

 

"Well, a few years back I elbowed a guy in the head. It was an accident. I was way taller than him, but it was a hard hit and ultimately I'm responsible. He ended up with a concussion and I felt like shit. I was suspended five games for it."

 

"Oh no." Her heart squeezed with sympathy-for the guy who'd been hurt, but also for Tanner … because even though he was a physical player, she knew he would never intentionally hurt someone and would feel terrible about it.

 

"That really blew. I messaged the guy that I never meant to hurt him and hoped he was okay. But it still sucked. And then once you do something like that, you get a rep. The other teams are all watching you, the refs are watching you. I swear after I came back, they were giving me two minutes for breathing hard."

 

Katelyn huffed out a laugh, although it wasn't really funny.

 

"I got another suspension when I came here. It probably wouldn't have been a suspension but because it was my second time being reviewed … " He shrugged. "So I've really been trying to be more careful. Not take dumb penalties, especially stick infractions."

 

"You're a great player, Tanner."

 

"Yeah." Then he laughed. "Don't bug me about being cocky. I know I'm good. But I don't want to be a liability to a team either. At least last night I got a goal and an assist too."

 

"Gordie Howe hat trick," she murmured.

 

"You remember that?"

 

"Yeah. It was surprising how much came back to me last night. I remembered most of the rules. At first it was hard to follow the play, but I got better."

 

"You don't really hate hockey. You said you did."

 

"I did? Oh. Right." She sighed. "No. I don't really hate hockey. I just didn't want to be reminded of you."