Page 24 of The Scout

Naturally, there was one of Cash receiving a trophy for the most valuable player. Laughter and chatter echoed, the class reunion in full swing. Trying to hide my nerves from seeing Cash, I sipped my wine and nodded at something my former classmate Roland had just said. Although, if anyone asked me what that was, I’d have no idea.

“Relax, Hannah,” Mia whispered, leaning over to me. “Maybe he isn’t coming.” I gave her ayou’ve got to be kiddinglook, and she quickly amended her statement. “You’re right. No way would he miss this. Let’s go sit at a table.”

We headed to one of the white-linen-covered tables adorned with red cloth napkins and a flickering candle sitting on a round mirror in the middle. I waved or nodded to a few of my classmates as Mia and I made our way across the wooden floor.

My gaze landed on the door. Call it a sixth sense, or maybe it was a shift in the room, but no sooner had I turned my head than Cash walked in. The chatter around us increased as people made their way toward him. He shook hands and said hello to a few people. When he turned his head, his eyes landed on me.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t want it to, but his smile always had that effect on me. Ignoring a few others or just giving them a passing nod, he strutted toward us.

“Damn, he looks good in a suit,” Mia said with a sigh.

He did too. While other guys had on sport coats or golf shirts, he was decked out in what I assumed was a designer or custom suit. I couldn’t tell yet if it was navy or black, but the red tie was a nice nod to our school colors.

Cash stopped when he got to our table. “Good evening, ladies.”

Mia stood. “Hi, Cash. It’s been a while.”

“Mia, it’s good to see you.”

She punched him in the arm. “That’s for ... you know.” Then they exchanged a quick hug, which reminded me of when we were all friends.

“May I join you two? Or are these seats taken?” Despite his asking both of us, his focus was on me. Tiny sparks pricked my skin. Then my thighs decided to join the party and tensed beneath my dress.Damn traitorous body. “Hi, Hannah. You look beautiful.” Cash bent over and kissed my cheek. “Stunning, actually. Can I sit next to you?”

Playing it calm and cool, I gave him a quick smile, hoping he couldn’t see the effect he had on me. “Thank you. You look nice too. And sure.”

“How’s Jimmy?”

That didn’t take long. Not that I expected him not to ask. “Good, still on cloud nine after yesterday’s game. He’s at his friend Max’s house.”

“Hey, man,” one of our classmates, Brian, said to Cash. “Good to see you.”

Cash’s eyes quickly flicked to the guy’s name tag. “Hey, Brian, good to see you again. It’s been a while.”

Sure has.

“Hi, ladies. I must say, you both look beautiful tonight, but then again, you were the prettiest in our class.”

“Are you talking about us again, Brian?” Susan said, appearing out of nowhere with Janice at her side.

“Gag me,” Mia whispered, making me giggle.

Cash stood as a gentleman would. Susan’s eyes cruised up and down his body. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. How’ve you been? I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the game yesterday.”

He knew how much I despised Susan in school. Generally, I liked everyone. But when Cash and I started hanging out, she and Janice took an interest in being extra snarky toward me. Not that I cared. I’d only known them since kindergarten, and I knew they’d grow up to be shallow, but it had irked me all the same.

“Nice seeing you again—” He made a point of looking at her name tag as though he had zero recollection of her. I didn’t know why, but that move made me sit up a bit straighter in my seat. “Susan,” he added.

Under the table, Mia bumped my knee with hers. Good, she’d noticed it too. If I could have clinked my glass against hers, I would have.

“Yes. Well, save me a dance, will you?”

“Sorry, no can do. My dance card is full.”

Dance card? Who says that? And with who?

That question was answered when he casually rested his arm on the back of my chair. No. My head snapped in his direction, and a smirk graced his beautiful face.

“I love it,” Brian announced as his wife, Brenda, walked up to him. He introduced her to Cash, and then Mia invited them to sit at our table, leaving only one empty chair. “This is great,” Brian went on to say. “These two were the class couple,” he explained to his wife, who wasn’t from our area. “Voted most likely to marry.”

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