Her eyes filled with wonder. “You didn’t. After the day we’ve had, it was going to be hard for me to hold back, too.”
“Now, that’s what I like to hear.”
As he lowered his lips to hers, Baz said, “Are we eating or making out?”
Leah buried her face in Tank’s shirt, and he scowled at Baz.
“Don’t look at me like that. I wasn’t the one kissing her.” Baz chuckled. “For the record, Leah, I’m Team Tank and Leah all the way.”
As everyone settled around the dining room table, Tank sat between Leah and Junie, and Rosie pleaded to sit between Conwoy and Gingy. Hell if that nickname didn’t make him feel good all over. They devoured spaghetti and meatballs and all the delicious sides the girls had made. Junie and Rosie talked excitedly about their day, getting sauce and spaghetti everywhere, which was the cutest damn thing Tank had ever seen. Everyone raved about the food, and his family took the mess in stride. He leaned closer to Leah and whispered, “Did you have as much fun as they did?”
“I loved every minute of it.”
“I’m glad.” He kissed her cheek.
Rosie reached over and patted Conroy’s chest. “No wings?”
Conroy looked at Leah with a question in his eyes, and she turned beet red. Gunner and Baz burst into hysterics.
“Piercings, Pop,” Tank clarified. “No, Cheeky. I’m the only one cool enough to have those.” He put his arm around Leah and kissed her temple. “Sorry.”
Rosie pulled her shirt up and announced, “I get wings!”
Everyone tried to stifle their laughter.
“Rosie, put your shirt down,” Leah said sharply. “We don’t show our bodies at the dinner table.” She looked at Tank’s parents. “I’m so sorry.”
“Ah, that’s nothing,” his father said. “We were at a Dark Knights picnic when your boyfriend over there was about three or four, and he climbed onto the picnic table and peed into the punch bowl.”
Everyone laughed.
“Don’t give them any ideas, Conwoy,” Ginger teased. “Why don’t you guys tell us about where you rode today.”
“We had a great ride,” Gunner said. “We went out to Cape Ann and had lunch by the water.”
“Where is that?” Leah asked.
Baz stabbed a meatball and said, “It’s about two hours from here.”
“I’d like to take you and the girls there sometime,” Tank said. “I think you’d like it.”
“Have you taken the girls to see the Woods Hole Aquarium yet?” Ginger asked.
“No. We haven’t explored the area at all since we moved here,” Leah said.
Tank finished eating and put his arms around Junie and Leah. “We’re going to fix that. We’ll take Twitch and Cheeky girl over there to see all the cool stuff.”
His parents rattled off fun things to do with the kids, and the girls chattered excitedly.
“Don’t forget about Trunk or Treat on Halloween,” Baz added. “Everyone dresses up, and the girls can collect candy and play games. They’ll have a blast.”
“Candy!” the girls yelled, talking over each other about costumes.
“Tank told us all about it the other night,” Leah said. “We’re going to take the girls costume shopping soon. Last year we trick-or-treated in the apartment complex where we lived. It sounds like this will be a lot more fun.”
“Tank mentioned that you moved from North Carolina. What brought you to the Cape?” Gunner asked.
“I had a dream about the area, and when I looked it up, I loved what I saw. I thought it would be a good place for us.”
“I’m sure there was a good-looking biker in that dream, right?” Tank waggled his brows.
She laughed.
“Don’t be shy. You can tell us,” he urged.
“You were not in my dream.” She bumped him with her shoulder.
“That’s a shame, baby, because you’ve been in mine for months.”
“Aw, come on.” Gunner threw his napkin at Tank. “Could you be any cheesier?”
They all laughed, and the rest of dinner passed with small talk, fun banter, and laughter. When they finished eating, the girls went to play with their toys, and the rest of them cleaned up.
“That was a phenomenal dinner,” his father said as they cleared the table. “The perfect end to a great day. It’s been ages since I’ve been on a ride with you guys. Ging, let’s make arrangements so you can come next time.”
“Sounds great.” Ginger looked at Leah. “How about you, honey? We could ask Mads to babysit and you could join us.”
“Me?” Her eyes widened. “I’ve never even sat on a motorcycle.”
Tank put his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. “It’s time to change that.”
“Hell yeah it is,” Baz said. “Why don’t you take her for a spin?”
“Good idea.” Tank was dying to be alone with her. “Mom, can you watch the girls?”
“Absolutely. Leah, there’s nothing like being out on the open road. It’s freeing,” Ginger said. “You can borrow one of my helmets.”
“Wait. You mean we should go now?” Leah asked.
“Yes,” she urged. “You can ride out to the beach and watch the sunset. The girls are happy here, and we have no plans.”
“I’ll stick around and hang out with them so they can see what cool Uncle Baz is like.” Baz headed into the living room where the girls were playing.
“I’ve never left them with anyone but River.”
“All the more reason you should go,” Ginger said. “You mentioned earlier that you’re talking with Corinne Langley about watching the girls when you go back to work.”
Corinne was the daughter of a Dark Knight, and Tank had met her several times. She’d gone through a messy divorce in Colorado and had moved back to the Cape four years ago with her then three-year-old daughter to be near her parents. She babysat Patience and Gracie, and Tank trusted her with Leah’s girls.
“Yes, Starr gave me her number. We’ve spoken a few times, and I really liked her. I’m meeting her in a couple of weeks. If it goes well, then I’ll take the girls to meet her.”
“This will be good practice for them,” Ginger said. “And you know they’re safe here, so you can relax and have fun.”
His father said, “When’s the last time you got to do anything other than go to work or be a parent?”
“Before my father died. When I was eighteen.”
“And how old are you now?” he asked.
The girls’ giggles floated into the room as she said, “Twenty-four.”
His father took her by the shoulders, just as he had Tank many times, and said, “Sweetheart, you’ve had a lifetime of responsibility. Go out for an hour or two and be a twenty-four-year-old girl out with her beau. Be loud and silly, or whatever you want to be, without the worry of the girls watching.”
Leah looked hopefully, and a little nervously, up at Tank. “What do you think?”
“Baby, I will never turn down time alone with you, and the idea of you on the back of my bike. Mm-mm.” He cocked a grin. “There’s nothing hotter than that.”