Page 39 of Cash

"Will do."

She hung up the phone and started to get ready.

Cash - Be ready at 7

Evie - See you then

She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face at his text. She hadn't felt like this in a long time. She wasn't sure she hadeverfelt like this. When she had dated Bryan, things were good. They had gotten along and done the things they were supposed to do. She could see what their life would have looked like together. They made sense, but it wasn't what she wanted. He had never made her feel the way Cash did. She lit up inside at his touch, under his gaze, even at the mere thought of him. She lit up.

Nothing left to do but get ready for her date with Cash. Was this even a date? They were getting ready to plan a weekend of fake dates. She didn't know what was going on quite yet, but she would figure it out. And she would look fabulous while figuring it out.

After she showered and got ready, she stood in front of the mirror. She still wasn't sure what this was, but she looked good. She had picked a dress that looked casual but showed off her tits. Her hair fell in loose chestnut waves, and her makeup looked effortlessly flawless. With a deep sigh, she evaluated herself in the mirror. She was doing this, whatever this was. Fake dating? Real dating? Fake dating with sex?

There was a knock at her door, and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She turned and started down the stairs of her townhouse, her bare feet skidded on a step, and she almost fell. She stopped and took a deep breath. She needed to get herself under control before she opened that door and saw Cash.

She slipped her feet into some sandals as she opened the door. She should’ve been more prepared for what would be on the other side. Holy Fuck! Cash Hawthorn. There he stood with his hair slicked back, his beard neatly trimmed. The loose roll of the sleeves of his button down allowed his tattoos to peek out on his forearms, and his dark wash jeans quickly drew the eye to a specific area.

"Hi," she managed to get out.

He just stood there looking at her with his mouth parted.

"Are you ready?" she asked, feeling a little self-conscious.

"You look amazing," he said, his eyes still wide. "I don't think I've ever seen you with your hair down."

Reflexively, she reached up and tucked it behind her ear. "Oh yeah, I had it up for the gala and at the rink it's always up." Her stupid heart was pounding in her chest. How did he have this effect on her? At least he seemed to be struggling to find words right now too.

With a little shake of his head, he said, "Right, should we get going?"

"Where are we going?" she said as she grabbed her purse from the entryway table and slipped her phone in.

"How does Manelli's sound?"

"Delicious. Expensive though."

"I can afford it, and this is our first real date."

"Is it? A date that is?"

He looked at her with a tentative expression before his normal swagger found him again. "Baby girl, you know this is a date."

Baby girl...what the actual fuck was that? And why the hell did she love it so much? He held the storm door for her as she locked up, and they headed out. He opened the door of his big truck and helped her in. She took the moment it took him to walk to the driver's side to collect herself. This was getting out of hand.

"So, I just wanted to say thank you," she said as he climbed up into the truck.

"What for?" he asked as he started it up.

"For agreeing to go to this wedding with me. You didn't have to do that. I'm not even sure what made me tell my mother I was taking you...well I do, but that isn't something I want to get into right now."

He looked over at her with a quizzical expression as they started down the road. Manelli's was a nice Italian restaurant in downtown Glendale. She hadn't been there in a while. In fact, the last time she had been was one of her last dates with Bryan, but she wouldn't be telling Cash that.

"How long have you lived in Glendale?" she asked.

"I moved here four years ago when I started playing for the Magic."

"Do you like it?"

He nodded.

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