Page 41 of Cash

She sighed and took a sip of her wine. "Coming out with the heavy hitters first, huh?"

He chuckled. "I mean, I'm not complaining. I'm pretty happy it means I get a shot, but what's the story there."

"It's a long, dull story. One about a girl who never lived up to her family expectations."

"I can't imagine you not living up to anyone's expectations," he said, taking her hand over the table. As his thumb grazed over her knuckles, it lit that same fire in her he always did.

"You've met my mother," she said flatly.

"That bad, huh?"

"Yes and no. I was supposed to marry my college boyfriend and settle into life as a wife with country clubs and charity committees and all that."

She saw a moment of insecurity flash across his face before his normal confidence returned. "And that's not what you want?"

"No. That's not what I want," she said with a rough laugh.

The warm smile returned to his face, and it settled something inside of her.

"She wants me to get back together with my ex who will be there. When she thought I didn't have a date, she was sitting us together and inviting him to all the other stuff like we were still together. So that is why I invented a date. I never dreamed she would call you over and introduce herself like that."

"I see. Is the ex going to be at the wedding?"

She looked up at him with a cocked eyebrow and nodded.

"What kind of ex are we talking about here? Do I need to kick his ass?"

"No, nothing like that,” she said with a small laugh. “He’ll provide a wonderful, well off, boring life for someone who is not me. If he had his way, I would have already married him, quit my job and turned into the perfect housewife."

He looked confused. "Quit your job?"

"If they even see it as a job. I think they all just assumed it was a hobby I would give up when I stopped competing. But to be honest, I like coaching even more."

"Really? You’re amazing on the ice."

She didn't know why that stoked the fire inside of her more, but it did. "You watched me skate?"

He nodded, watching her.

"When?"

"The other morning, I think you were skating to a Tori Amos song."

"And you watched me?"

"I don't think I could have taken my eyes off you if I tried. You look amazing out there. Plus I know what's under those leggings and when you spun and pulled your foot over your head, I had to adjust my pants."

She scoffed at him and hit his hand.

"What? I'm just being honest. You can be both graceful and fucking hot at the same time."

Okay, now her body was damn near vibrating for this man. How did he seem to see her better than people who had known her for her entire life?

"So, what else do I need to know about the wedding? Like when is it for starters?"

"It's in two weeks...I hope that's okay."

"Two weeks works for me. Is it in Glendale?"

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