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He doesn’t know it, but he’s the present I’m giving myself this year.

Chapter Three

Cash

I wasn’t expecting the kiss, and I was in no way prepared for her to wrap her arms around my neck and blow my mind. She doesn’t kiss recklessly—she kisses with purpose. Sweet, sexy, delicious purpose. Like kissing me is all she cares about.

Glancing down at her as the slow song comes to an end, I see the arousal in her eyes, and the way she’s looking at me tells me she’s all in.

Honestly, I didn’t think getting lucky tonight would come in a beautiful, pink-and-purple-haired package with an incredible ass.

“How much drunker are we going to get?” I ask lightly.

She flashes an almost blindly beautiful smile. “It’s my birthday—I can get as drunk as I want.”

“Not if we’re leaving.”

She laughs. “We don’t have to leave just yet.” She spins off, the skirt of her dress fanning around her thighs. Her very shapely, smooth thighs. And I find myself trailing behind her, equal parts aroused and amused.

She’s beautiful, of course, but also smart, funny, and apparently not one of those women who goes to a bar to get free drinks from men. That she offered to pay for her own expensive taste was a nice change. My ex never would have done that. Never, ever. So this is refreshing.

I watch Maya talk to her friends, both of them turn to look at me, nod, and then she’s back, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the dance floor.

“Made sure your friends saw my face, in case you disappear overnight?” I ask lightly.

She doesn’t even try to deny it. “We live in a dangerous world. You can never be too careful.”

That makes me feel bad for a minute, but she’s right. There are dangerous men in the world, who prey on women in settings like this. I’m not one of them, but it’s good that she’s aware. Responsible. From the way she’s dressed—expensive shoes with the red bottoms, a cascade of gold bangles on her wrist that are almost definitely not fake, and a small purse around her neck that I know costs a good chunk of change—she has money. Either a wealthy family or a good job.

Or both.

Normally, I don’t put this much thought into a woman I’m going to take home for the night, assuming she doesn’t change her mind. But there’s something about her that makes my heart, and regions further south, sit up and take notice.

Or maybe I’m just horny and she’s a breath of fresh air compared to the puck bunnies I usually run into. I see no signs of recognition at all. Like she genuinely has no idea I’m a top defenseman in the NHL.

“Have you ever been to Paris?” she asks me.

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“There’s a night club there and this reminds me of it. I visit whenever I get there.”

“You’ve been there more than once?”

She nods. “I travel quite a bit. It’s my thing. I don’t like staying in one place too long. I want to explore every inch of the world!”

I chuckle. “Sounds like a good goal.”

“Bucket list item number two is to visit every country in the world. I know there will be some exceptions because of safety and such, but by the time I get to those, maybe I’ll have done enough not to care.”

Somehow, I doubt that.

“I’ve been to twenty-eight countries,” I tell her, “and somehow, missed Paris.”

Her mouth opens. “How could you miss Paris?” She’s almost indignant.

“I know, my bad. Next year, maybe.”

That’s a big maybe because that’s where Shandy wanted to go more than anything in the world. In the beginning, we didn’t have the time or money. Later, she went without me because it was hockey season and her modeling and acting careers took off. Then I refused to go because she went for the first time without me and I was pissed about it.