Page 78 of Cash

"You need to leave." She was so angry, but she also didn't want to be having this conversation with Cash upstairs in bed.

"I want you to come over to the house tomorrow for breakfast."

"I can't mom. I have a coaching session at seven."

"After that."

"Goodbye mother," Evie said, leading her to the door.

"I will see you tomorrow."

Evie just nodded and pushed her out onto the porch and shut the door. She would not be going over there tomorrow. Her mother had never been this pushy in her entire life. She knew that she wanted them back together, but this was getting out of hand.

She climbed the stairs and opened her door to find Cash sitting in her bed sheets up over his lap.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Ellie told her that Bryan couldn't come to the wedding...and she was having some feelings about that," Evie said with a small eye roll of annoyance.

"If he comes, just know it's okay with me."

"It's not okay with me," she said quickly, trying to refute him.

"I get that, and for that reason I hope he's not there. But if he is for some reason just know I'm not letting you out of my sight," he said with a look at pinned her in place, a look of utter possession and Evie shouldn't like it as much as she did, but fuck, she did.

"That's not necessary. There is nothing going on between us," she said.

"Oh, baby girl, I trust you, but you shouldn't have to fight off unwanted advances. He'll have to get through me."

That shouldn’t make her heart sing, but her heart was full on belting an aria right now. She was not a delicate flower in need of protection, but when the protection looked as good as Cash Hawthorn, who was she to deny it?

"Get in here. I still have a while before I need to head home and you’re much too far away,” he said, patting the bed next to him.

She didn't need any further invitation. Part of her wanted to be afraid of the depth of feelings she was starting to feel for this man. But there was no fighting them. Maybe it was time she just gave into them. If she could trust him as much as he seemed to trust her, they could have something really special.

She climbed into her bed, and he pulled her to him. She loved him. She knew that. The knowledge settled into her soul as she kissed him. Before long everything else disappeared besides that kiss and the desire it stirred. He rolled her onto her back and kissed her slowly, then started to kiss down her body with such slow indulgence. She would never get enough of this man, and it was time to start trusting he felt the same way about her.

30

EVIE

Evie arrived early to the ice the next morning. Her mother had already texted her to come over for breakfast, but she just ignored it. She tried to put everything she had into coaching.

"Nice job Jenna, remember to really dig in for that axel at the end of your program. You're going to be tired, so you have to make sure your entry is clean. Why don't we do the footwork portion one more time?"

She watched as Jenna skated out into center ice to start the combination. Evie missed competing and skating, but she really enjoyed this. Jenna was going to nationals, and she had never had a student at that level before. It was exciting. Watching a student she’d been coaching for years out there on the ice perfectly executing a tough footwork sequence and the knowledge that she and Cash were in the starting of a real relationship seemed to ground her. This could be her life. She wanted this to be her life.

"Good skate, Jenna."

"Thanks, coach," said the girl as she skated over to the gate. "I'm going to go get ready for class, but I'm wondering if you're around during free skate maybe we can work on that pass again."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Evie turned to go back to her office, but as she got into the lobby she groaned as she saw her mom walking in.

"Evie, I was hoping to catch you. It looks like you just finished up your coaching session. Let's go get a bite."

"No."

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