Page 32 of Cash

14

EVIE

Evie looked down at the text message the Cash had just sent her. She wished it didn't make her heart sing, but it did. She wished she wasn't attracted to him on such a deep level, but she was. He had fucked her in her shared office for crying out loud. That was not like her. While she wasn't mad at how good it felt, it was definitely out of character. It just seemed no matter how angry she was or how hard she attempted to push him away she just couldn't do it. The chemistry between them was next level.

She should have replied, but she didn't know what to say. 'Looking forward to fucking you on my desk again tomorrow.' She was at a loss as to how to move forward. She just couldn't get a read on him. She had thought it was a one-night stand, but the second time they had sex that night was earth shattering. She thought he had left in the middle of the night, but he'd had an emergency and left his phone number. She had thought he was a player, but she was realizing that there might be more to him there too. Maybe she should find out where he was the first morning of camp.

She went to bed and pulled up her phone and looked at the text one last time.

Evie - See you tomorrow

That was it, she locked her phone and went to sleep. She would figure out the rest in the morning.

Thursdays were an early morning for Evie. She had two private coaching sessions before camp started, so she was already on the ice when all the younger skaters and the hockey kids started arriving. She had one of her assistants leading some stretching and yoga with figure skating camp, so she decided she would stop and check on the hockey side. She tried to tell herself she wasn't going to check on Cash, but she knew she was. As much as she wanted to stop, she just couldn't.

When she got into the hockey rink it was noisy and the kids were all lacing up their skates and getting out.

"Coming over to the dark side?" she heard a voice behind her. She turned to see Wes smiling at her.

"What? No! I'm just checking out how everything is going over here. I have my kids warming up and doing some yoga this morning, so I had a few minutes."

One of the kids came up to talk to Wes and she took this moment to take in the rink. Cash was already out on the ice passing the puck around with some kids. He had a big friendly smile on his face as he talked to them, she wasn't sure she had ever seen that particular expression on his face. Then she noticed up in the top corner on the bleachers a frowning kid in a leather jacket who looked less than thrilled to be there.

"What's up with James Dean over there?" she asked Wes.

Wes smiled and shook his head. "That's Cash's nephew. He's gonna give him a run for his money this summer."

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying not to seem too eager for the new information.

"He ran away to the city without telling his mom. They live all the way in Colorado. Cash went to get him on Monday, and I think he is spending the summer with him after all of that. Yesterday he took the train back into the city, so Cash isn't letting him stay alone anymore."

Monday. That had been the day Cash was late. Was he late because he was picking up his nephew?

"Is that why he was late Monday?"

"Yeah, he called us all at the ass crack of dawn making sure one of us could cover him."

Evie nodded, letting that information sink him. He had been late because he had to drive into the city to pick up his nephew. Once again, she had jumped to a negative assumption, and once again, he was proving to be a good guy. While she wasn't sure he was over his playboy ways, she was willing to admit she had been wrong about him and maybe he deserved the benefit of the doubt more often.

Cash looked over at her while Wes was getting out on the ice. He smiled and waved at her, and her heart somersaulted inside of her. She needed to get ready for her skaters who were all done by now and putting skates on. She turned to leave but looked back one last time at Cash.

Damn...this was dangerous.

She finished up her morning group and somehow found herself back in the hockey rink. They were finishing up, and she watched as Wes and Cash did some skating while Owen was pointing out tips for the kids.

Evie had never watched him skate in person. She wasn't a hockey fan, and while yes, hockey required serious skills in skating, they weren't the skills she was used to appreciating. But watching him and Wes together was really something. Wes was fast and almost graceful when he skated, but Cash dominated the ice. He skated like he was in charge of the ice itself. It should not be as sexy as it was but damn.

"There you are. What are you doing in here?"

She knew that voice and it made her cringe. As she turned, she saw an elegant woman holding a purse that cost more money than she made in six months.

"Mom," she said with a nod. "I believe the real question is what are you doing here?"

"Came to put an end to this plus one nonsense for the wedding. We both know you’re not seeing anyone. This is putting a kink into the seating chart, and I think you are just being selfish."

"Selfish? Because I want to bring a date to my sister's wedding?"

"Evelyn, please, you know how seating charts work. One person can throw off the whole thing."

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