Page 37 of Cash

“Good,” Cash said as he patted River’s knee. “If you’re hungry I ordered a couple pizzas and I’m about ready to put on some horror movies in the theater if you want to join me.”

“I’ll be right down,” River said, and that time he didn’t bite back the smile.

“Good, I’ll let you pick the first movie but then it’s my turn, if you can handle it,” Cash said with a wag of his eyebrows.

After that they both settled in for a night of horror movies and pizza. Maybe a date with Evie would have been nice, but this was needed, and Cash was happy to be here with River. He was a good kid, and he got the feeling no one had made him feel like a good kid in a long time. While this wasn’t the plan for the summer, it was a pleasant surprise.

The next day Cash decided to try and trust River and left him home. He even tried to get in a little early to talk to Evie, but she was already on the ice when he got there. It was just her out there and he thought about calling her over, but he couldn't stop looking at her.

This was the second time he had seen her on the ice, and he was transfixed. She glided effortlessly over the ice. The smooth lines of her voluptuous body being held tight by those criminal leggings had his gaze glued to her. Then she came to a spin and grabbed the blade behind her and pulled her leg up behind her in an elegant spin. How could something so breathtakingly beautiful also be giving him a boner? He'd dated his fair share of figure skaters, but none of them ever drew his focus on the ice like she did. He could watch her skate all day.

"You got it bad." A voice behind him pulled him out of the moment and he turned with a glare to whoever it was.

Wes just stood there with a dopey grin on his face. While Wes was never a playboy, he had become insufferable since he started dating Conner's sister. He thought everyone should be settled down and flaunted his happy relationship all over the place. It should make Cash irritated, but instead he found himself wishing for something like that.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said as he turned from Wes and started walking toward the hockey rink. "Let's do this," he said, pulling open the doors, but he was still thinking about that beautiful woman on the ice next door.

"Cash!" called on of the voices on the ice. "Check this out," he watched as one of the kids he's been working with finally mastered a changeover.

"Nice!" Cash answered as he walked over to the ice and the kid skated over to him and gave him a fist bump.

"Let me get my skates on," said Cash as the coach started another skating drill with the kids.

"They've come a long way this week," said Wes as he sat to put his own skates on.

It had been a week full of ups and downs from River to whatever was going on with Evie, but these kids were golden. When his professional career was over, he wanted to coach, but this week training these kids had solidified that for him.

The last day was over, and the kids were all in the foyer getting ready to go home. Cash had stayed behind to talk to the coach and thank him. He was sitting on the bench taking his skates off when Evie made her way over.

"Hi," she said quietly.

She had a look Cash had never really seen before. She was usually so confident and held herself with an undeniable grace. While the grace was still there, the confidence seemed to be faltering.

"Hey beautiful, are we still on for dinner?"

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that."

"About dinner?"

"No, about...the whole wedding thing." She sat down next to him with her hands clasped tight in her lap. "I just want to tell you I don't need you to be my date."

"What?" Just when he thought he was making headway, she pulls back again.

"I don't know what came over me. We can just forget about it," she said looking at the hands that were still clasped tight.

"Hey," Cash said as he put his hands over hers. Her body relaxed ever so slightly, but still Cash noticed, because he noticed everything about her. "I'm going to that wedding with you. And we are going out to dinner tonight."

"Cash," she said looking into his eyes finally. "It's really not necessary."

"Yes, it is. You are a necessity to me, Evie Masterson."

Her mouth fell open at his words. Those weren't words that had ever come out of his mouth before. While he was a sweet talker, he never lied to women. And he still hadn't, he meant it. He had no clue what was going on with them or where they stood. Evie was so damn hot and cold. He couldn't find his footing with her, but he would.

"Here's what we are going to do," he said as he laced his fingers through hers. "I'm going to head home to check in on my nephew and take a shower. You’re going to text me your address. Then I’m going to pick you up and take you out for dinner and we’re going to start over."

"You're serious?" She looked at him with a hint of a smile and it lit something inside of him.

"Yeah, I am. We’re going to figure this out once and for all.” His thumb lightly traced the back of her hand and all he wanted to do was sink his hands into her lush curves and pull her close and kiss the fuck out of her, but there would be time for that.

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