Page 1 of Cash

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Evie

Evie smoothed out her gown as she got out of her car and handed the keys to the valet. While she wasn't necessarily a hockey fan, she was arriving at the gala for the Glendale’s NHL team, the Magic. She was there as a representative for the skating center where she taught figure skating. The Magic had always been a supporter of their local hockey program, so she came for the kids who needed the assistance.

Plus, she didn't often get an excuse to get this done up, and she would enjoy it. The only thing that was making her second guess this evening was that she was dateless. But she was here for the kids, she reminded herself. Plus, her new friend, Sasha, had invited her.

As she walked into the ballroom, she took a moment to take in her surroundings. They had leaned into the magical theme hard. It was beautiful and whimsical, with flowing purple silk and splashes of gold everywhere. A magician wandered around doing small tricks, and it even looked like they had a fortune teller who was giving tarot card readings in the corner. And while hockey might not be her thing, she had to admit that the players were nice to look at walking around in their tuxes.

"Evie!"

She turned to find Sasha Maloof, the new social media manager for the Magic. Sasha had attended open skate a few months ago at the rink, trying to learn how to skate. Evie had shown her some of the basics and they made fast friends. Sasha was the only reason Evie wasn’t dreading tonight, they were both here date free and ready for a good time.

"Sasha!” she said as she approached. “This place looks amazing!"

Sasha turned with a smile stretched across her face and pulled her into a hug.

"It does! I’d love to take credit, but I came to the team after most of this was planned. I just helped to turn the auction into something the players bid on and offer their services too. I'm sure the center will get a couple players. I know Wes Darling is looking at it."

"Really? He would be great."

The center had put in a week-long camp in the summer for two players to lead with the center's youth hockey team. All the proceeds for that and the donations from tonight would be going to the scholarship fund.

"Is the whole team here?" Evie asked.

"I think so, I haven't checked to make sure that they’re all here yet, but they will be since they’re a major part of the auction."

"I noticed you talking to Conner McPhee," said Evie, giving Sasha a knowing look. "He's looking awfully handsome tonight."

The look Sasha was giving her told her everything she needed to know.

"Let's go get a drink," Sasha said, taking her by the hand.

Arm in arm they walked over to the bar and got a drink. "You should totally go get your fortune told before the night is over,” Sasha told her. “The fortune teller is this amazing old Scottish woman. She's really something.”

"Yeah? I love a good tarot reading."

Sasha’s eyes caught on something behind Evie. "Hey, I need to check on a few things. I'll find you in a while."

"Of course, see you in a bit. We should get out on the dance floor later," Evie said.

"Of course! Once the auction is over, I'll be out there shaking my booty."

Sasha turned and left. The uncomfortable feeling of being at an event like this without a date threatened to creep in, but Evie pushed it away. She knew this was a work event for Sasha and she would be busy. Reminding herself she was a grown-up who could do hard things, she looked at the crowd thinking she should mingle.

She had grown up going to events like this. Her father owned a chain of nationwide sporting goods stores, and she had grown up running in circles just like this. Even still, it wasn't really her scene. She loved dressing up, but something about the people at these events always made her feel a bit uneasy. Her sister and brother had always felt at home in places like this. Her brother was going to take over the business and was groomed for that life. Her sister was engaged to a corporate lawyer and would be getting married this summer.

And Evie was a figure skater instructor who had broken up with her fancy boyfriend when he had made it clear she needed to change to be with him. Change her job, her body, her personality, all of that needed to change if you asked him. He was more interested in her father than he was in her, but that was fine because her mother was more interested in him than she was. She had pushed hard for them to get back together, but she wasn’t interested.

That being said, it had been a long time since she'd gotten any action. As she looked around at the handsome hockey players in this room, maybe tonight she might try a one-night thing. She hadn't done that since her competitive skating days, it might be time. There were definitely some guys in this room she wouldn't mind a night of no strings attached fun with.

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CASH

Cash Hawthorn was at the bar ordering another beer. He didn't drink much during the season but shit like called for drinks. If the gala wasn't a mandatory team thing, he wouldn’t be here.

"You clean up nice," he heard a voice say from behind. He turned to find Conner McPhee, the team captain. Cash was his assistant captain, and they’d been playing together for years. Where Conner was their center and fearless leader, Cash was their enforcer. He was a fighter on the ice, and he was good at it. It had given him a reputation off ice as well. He wasn't a fighter off the ice, he was a lover, but he didn't mind the reputation either. It helped with the ladies, and his reputation as a ladies’ man was definitely warranted. He wasn't a douchebag player by any means, but he did take advantage of hot consensual sex with many different women in many different cities. If all parties knew the intentions, no harm no foul.

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