Cash (Glendale Magic #2)

Chapter 23

Cash

Cash walked up to Evie's door. He was wearing a suit with a dark shirt underneath. He wasn't going to be caught underdressed again. He was trying to shake some of the shame that kept popping up from the game. He was out of his element in every way. From playing a sport he wasn't good at, to people with so much money they didn't know what to do with. Even though he tried to remind himself he had money now, he didn't fucking care about it. He hadn't grown up with it. And sure, it was nice because he was able to help his sister and his mom and have nice shit, but he would never equate it with what a person had to offer or their fucking value in society.

He closed his eyes and blew out a breath, trying to clear his head before he knocked on the door and Evie was there, because there was no clearing his head when she was around.

After another moment, he knocked on the door. He was glad he had taken that moment because the sight of her took his breath away. She stood before him in a romper with short shorts. He had never seen this much leg on her before when she wasn't naked. The top was a long sleeve in a wrap style, but it plunged deep, revealing cleavage he just wanted to shove his face between. Her hair fell soft around her face, and she had deep red lips. He stood there staring at her with a hard on like a drooling teenager.

"Hi," she said breathlessly. "Are you ready?"

"Evie, you look amazing. Like, really amazing." He slid his hand around her waist and kissed her. "Are you sure we have to go?" he asked as he leaned his forehead to hers.

Evie pulled away and pushed at his chest. "I want nothing more than to go inside and cuddle up on the couch with you right now, don't make this any harder."

"I don't think it could be any harder," he said, bringing her hand down to his rock-hard cock.

"That is not helping," she said, removing her hand. "Let's go," she said with a hand to his chest and a gentle nudge. He took that hand and pressed a kiss to it before tucking that hand in the crook of his arm and guiding her to his truck.

"If we must," he said, opening the door and helping her up. "You really do look incredible," he said, dropping a sweet kiss to her lips before closing her front door and making his way over to the passenger's side to help her in.

They made it to the restaurant with his hand on her bare thigh the entire time. He just needed to get through dinner with the wedding party, drinks and dancing with his girl, then he would take her home and take her out of this sexy outfit that was scrambling his brain.

After finding a parking spot he hopped out and helped her out, and they walked into the restaurant hand in hand. Something about that simple gesture centered him. He had felt so out of place in the golf game today, but here with her by his side he felt like he belonged because there was no doubt in his mind, he belonged with her.

They joined the party and ordered drinks. He sat next to Evie and her sister.

"Cash, this is my sister Ellie. Ellie, this is Cash."

"Hello," she said with an easy smile. She looked similar to Evie, with the same smooth skin and dark brown hair and elegant smile, but she was lacking Evie's luscious curves. "I've heard so much about you."

"Likewise," he said with his charming smile. "Congratulations on the wedding."

"Thank you."

At that moment the waiter showed up to take their order. He slid his hand on Evie's thigh under the table and let his fingers grip her bare inner thigh. He bent down and said just loud enough for her to hear. "Baby girl, these shorts are driving me insane." He squeezed her thigh. She just looked up at him with a heated gaze. Fuck, this was going to be a long night being this close with her looking the way she did.

"Cash Hawthorn, right? You play for the Magic?" asked the man sitting across the table.

"That's right," he said, reaching out to shake the man's hand.

"Trent Thomas, we didn't get to talk much at the golf outing today," he said with a polite smile.

"No, I was pretty busy sucking at it," Cash said with a self-deprecating smile

“You weren’t that bad,” said Allen who was sitting next to him.

“That’s debatable,” Cash said, finding his easy charm. “But I was happy to be there to help you celebrate your day, man.”

"Thank you, I'm a lucky man. The Masterson women are incredible," he said, giving Ellie a small kiss on her cheek.

"That we agree on," he said gazing at Evie.

The rest of the meal was much more pleasant than the golf outing had been. It was mainly the four of them who chatted and much to Cash's surprise he enjoyed Ellie and Allen. Maybe this night wouldn't be that bad after all. It couldn’t be all bad if he got to admire Evie all night and then take her home. Nope. He needed to keep those thoughts at bay, or he would be fighting another inappropriate erection.

Once they were finished up, they all decided to walk to the club that was only a few blocks away. On their way they passed Westside Pub—which is where he spent a lot of nights with the team. And really pubs were more his speed than clubs, but he would gladly go, because the idea of Evie grinding her perfect ass into him on the dance floor was something he was very much looking forward to.

They walked in and the music was already thumping. "Can I get you a drink?" he whispered over the music into Evie's ear.

"Vodka tonic," she answered. He nodded and disappeared.

While he was at the bar he felt a hand on his forearm, "Cash?" He turned to see a blond girl who looked vaguely familiar.

"Casey," she said with a smile, trying to jog his memory.

"Casey, yes. How are you doing?" He still had no clue who she was.

"Doing good. Better now that you're here," she said with flirty eyes, her hand still on his forearm.

He pulled his hand away and ordered the drinks.

"Are you here with anyone?"

"I am. I'm here with my girlfriend," he said, waiting for the drinks.

"Cash Hawthorn has a girlfriend?" the woman asked, clearly taken aback.

"There's a first time for everything," he said to her with a warm smile.

"She's a lucky woman," she said, her eyes raking over him as the bartender set the drinks down.

"No, I'm the lucky one," he said as he laid a big bill on the bar and made his way back to Evie.

As he got back to the table, he put the drink down in front of Evie and stood behind her bar stool and slid his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him and smiled up. "Who were you talking to at the bar?"

"Just an old friend," he said, hoping she would drop it. She knew about his past, but knowing it and seeing it are two different things. While he felt no shame about his previous choices, he didn't want to rub her face in any of it. But sadly, Glendale wasn't that big of a city, it was bound to happen, especially in places like this.