by Jamie Begley
“I lost my temper.”
“That ain’t no excuse. Her brothers have been pushing your buttons for years.”
He had never been able to win in a battle of words with his grandmother. “I’ll try to talk to her.”
“Good. You want another piece of bacon?”
* * *
Rachel tiredly got into her car after closing the church store. Her cell phone ringing had her searching through her purse until she found it. Her quick glance told her it was Lily calling.
“Hello?”
“Rachel, hi. I’m sorry to bother you, but I was hoping to ask a favor.”
“What’s up?”
“I can’t find my set of keys to open the store in the morning. I’ve searched everywhere. I was hoping if I offered you dinner you would run your set out. I could get another set made in the morning before I went into work.”
“No problem. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Thanks.” Lily disconnected the call.
Rachel wasn’t anxious to go to Lily’s house, but at least it was behind the clubhouse and she could avoid Cash as she had the last month. Whenever he had stopped by to see Mag, she’d made an excuse to leave or went to her room.
Several times, he had attempted to talk to her, but she would cut him short, ignoring all his attempts to put the past behind them. She didn’t want to forget; remembering what an ass he was kept her from falling for him again.
Ten minutes later, she parked her car in The Last Riders’ parking lot.
Going up the sidewalk that led behind the clubhouse, she managed to avoid the members on the trek to Lily’s house.
Lily opened the door before she could knock.
“I appreciate you going out of your way.”
“I didn’t mind. It was no trouble.” Lily opened the door wider for Rachel.
From inside the house, she admired what Shade had built for Lily.
“Hungry?” Lily asked, heading toward her kitchen.
“I’m always ready to eat,” Rachel joked.
“Good, I have plenty. Shade’s working late at the factory. They have a big order to get out. A few of them managed to get finished early and are rubbing it in the others’ faces.”
The loud music coming from the clubhouse could be heard inside Lily’s house.
“Doesn’t that noise bother you?” Rachel asked, taking a seat at the table.
“No, I like listening to it.” Lily smiled as she placed the chili and cornbread on the table.
Rachel didn’t say anything else, feeling Lily’s defense of The Last Riders.
They were sitting on the couch, drinking a glass of tea, when Shade came in looking exhausted. His grim face lightened into a smile when Lily got up to give him a kiss that had Rachel catching her breath.
She rose to her feet. “I’d better go. It’s almost Mag’s bedtime, and I don’t want her to lock me out.”
“Would she really?” Lily asked in shock.
“No,” Rachel laughed. “But she would make me wish she had by the time she quit fussing at me for making her get out of bed.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys. “Here you go, I’ll stop by the store tomorrow to pick them up.”
“All right. Thanks again, Rachel.”
“Dinner more than made up for it,” Rachel replied, giving her a hug. “Bye, Shade.”
He nodded to her while he was making his own bowl of food.
Rachel smiled, closing the door and going down Lily’s steps. It had gotten dark since she had arrived.
As she was passing the backyard of the clubhouse, she heard a woman’s moan. Thinking someone had fallen or hurt themselves, she scanned the backyard until she saw a movement in the gazebo. The lights from inside the clubhouse illuminated the couple within, and Rachel easily recognized Cash’s tall frame. He had regained most of the weight and muscle tone he had lost since his accident. He seemed to easily hold the woman he had pinned to the side of the gazebo. The woman gave another moan. It was only when her voice impatiently said Cash’s name that Rachel recognized her as Bliss.
“Cash, quit teasing me!”
Cash’s hand was buried in the opened shorts as Bliss’s legs circled his waist.
Rachel stood frozen in place as Cash lowered his head, sucking on a bared breast while she saw Bliss’s hands go for his jeans.
“You need something bigger than my finger for that pussy?”
“God, yes!”
Cash’s low laugh had Rachel’s feet moving again, wishing she had never stopped. The image of them together would be burned forever in her mind. Bliss’s pleas and Cash’s confidence that he could satisfy the woman took away any doubts of whether they shared a sexual relationship.
Her head lowered, she crashed into a hard chest.
“Oh!” Rachel barely managed to catch herself. If Train hadn’t reached out to steady her, she would have fallen.
“What’s the rush?”
A small scream had both of their eyes going to the gazebo where Cash’s arms were holding Bliss as he thrust into her.
Train’s eyes returned to hers. “Come on; I’ll walk you to your car.”
Rachel hurriedly followed the path to the parking lot with Train walking casually by her side.
She was about to scramble inside her car when he stopped her.
“You okay to drive home?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Rachel shrugged, trying to make light of what she had seen.
“I thought that may have bothered you. I know that you and Cash—”
“Had sex?”
Train hesitantly nodded.
“He doesn’t have a problem with getting laid, does he?” Her crudeness made her bite her lip in punishment.
“No, he doesn’t.”
Rachel flinched at his bluntness.
She didn’t think any of The Last Riders had a problem relieving their sexual desires. Train would definitely have no problem finding a woman. His black hair hung down past his neck and was tied back at the nape. His expression was always calm, but Rachel sensed the darkness within him that she had recognized in Shade. He was always the quiet one in the group, yet she felt the undercurrents of his seething sexuality that would be hard for a woman to resist. If she hadn’t made an ass of herself a few months ago over Cash, Rachel would have been tempted to find out just what Train was hiding.
“I could give you a ride home on my bike if you’re not sure,” he offered.
“I’m fine.”
“If you’re sure.” Train reached to her side, brushing her breasts with his arm as he opened the car door. Rachel couldn’t hold back the shiver of awareness, hastily climbing in her small car. Train carefully closed her door and then stepped back as she pulled out.
“You going to make a move on her?” Cash asked as he walked out of the shadows.
“Thinking about it. Any reason not to?”
“No. I guess not.” Cash started back up the pathway. “Did she see?”
“Yeah.”
They walked beside each other in silence until they got to the backdoor.
Train was about to go inside when Cash’s voice stopped him.
“Train, I... I…”
“Brother, if you don’t want me to touch her, all you have to do is ask.”
“I’m asking.”
“Cool, I’ll leave her to you then.”
Cash slung his arm around Train’s shoulder, letting him take some of his weight. He had overextended his strength and was tired as shit. Train easily took his weight without saying a word, helping Cash inside and up the stairs to his room.
“Want me to get one of the women for you?”
“Hell, no. You trying to put me back in rehab?” The men laughed.
After Train left, Cash starred at the closed door, still unsure why he had asked Train to back off. It wasn’t like he had a shot in hell at Rachel again, but something deep inside him told him that Train wouldn’t be a dumb-fuck and screw everything
up with Rachel the way he had.
He had heard her voice as he had come inside of Bliss, his dick nearly shriveling in the condom at being seen by her with another woman. He had shoved his dick in his pants and sent Bliss in the house. He had hoped to find Rachel upset, anything to show she cared; instead, he had seen the interest in her eyes for Train. Cash was experienced enough to know what that look on a woman’s face meant. His little virgin had been wondering how Train was in bed.
Cash reached over, turning out his bedroom light. He wanted to see that expression on her face when she was staring at him.
* * *
Cash wiped the sweat off his face with the towel Donna handed him.
“You’re doing good, Cash. So much better. You don’t need me anymore.”
Cash lowered the towel in surprise to find her grinning back at him.
“It’s true; you don’t. You’re almost back to full strength. Your workout sessions have really paid off.”
Cash threw his towel onto the washer across the room. He had worked out incessantly, attempting to drive Rachel out of his mind. It wasn’t working, but his body felt normal again.
“I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
“I’ll call Steve and tell him I’m releasing you.” Donna picked up her folder that marked his progress.
“Tell him I said hi.” Steve was his physical therapist from the rehab center.
“I will. Of course, he’s not going to be happy with me releasing you; he’s going to miss Rachel.”
Cash stopped stretching, straightening to look at Donna. “Rachel?”
Donna tilted her head quizzically at him. “Yes. She called everyday to check on your progress. Of course, he never gave away any of your medical information, but Shade gave his permission to share your status with her.”
“I wasn’t aware she called.”
Donna nodded, packing her folders into her bag. “I believe she wanted to see if you were progressing. She called several times when you were beginning to walk again.”
He had thought she hadn’t given a shit, that he hadn’t crossed her mind the entire time he had been in therapy. He had been wrong.
Cash hadn’t bothered to look at the paperwork Shade had signed for him, trusting his brother implicitly, but there was obviously something he hadn’t told him.
He showered and changed before driving to his grandmother’s house. Once there, he sat outside several minutes before going in. He had wanted to see her after finding out she had cared enough to keep track of his progress, but he still didn’t know how to get past the barricade she had put up against him or why he even wanted to.
He was about to put his truck back in drive when he saw Rachel hand Mag a drink through the front window. The last few months hadn’t treated his grandmother well. She looked older and more worn than he had ever seen her.
Rachel bent over and picked up something then moved behind Mag’s wheelchair. He realized she was brushing her hair; gently stroking the old woman’s hair as they talked.
Not even his mother had been able to get along with Mag. In fact, they had hated each other. Rachel, on the other hand, was developing a close relationship with Mag, and it affected him strangely. He wanted to go in and join them, see what they were talking about. Instead, he drove out of the parking lot, heading back to the clubhouse.
He was concerned over his grandmother’s appearance. He needed to spend some time with her and make sure she was fine. Her neighbor was actually paid by him to keep an eye on her and drive her when she wanted to go out, but he would take a few days, assess her health, and see if she needed more care.
Cash refused to acknowledge to himself that it wasn’t only his grandmother that he wanted to spend time with. Rachel wouldn’t be happy with his presence in the house. However, she would soon realize that he was tired of being ignored.
Chapter 14
Rachel was steadily busy during the day. Lily had started taking off one day a week as her pregnancy progressed. Rachel was sure it was to provide her with more hours, even though her friend denied it. She was seven months pregnant, and her beauty had only increased with her pregnancy. Rachel wasn’t jealous of her friend’s happiness; she more than deserved it from the hell she had survived.
“Are you busy, Rachel?” Brooke’s casual question had her rising from the toys she was separating by age.
“No. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I cleaned out my closet since I bought some new clothes when I went home to Atlanta last month. I also have some bags of clothes that Jeffrey has outgrown. Can you pack them down for me?”
“Of course.”
Rachel wondered why she hadn’t brought at least one down with her. Although, with the regal attitude Brooke always showed, she shouldn’t be surprised. Brooke would have probably thrown the clothes away if not for her husband. She had to know he would ask Rachel or Lily about the clothes.
Rachel followed her through the quiet church into the pastor’s house, which was attached to the church by a private hallway. The house had gone through a transformation since Pastor Patterson had taken over for Dean. Rachel, nor any of the congregation, had been invited to Dean’s private home, but several times, Rachel had brought food to him and had seen his modest furnishings. Brooke, on the other hand, had decked out the home with expensive furnishings and state-of-the-art electronics. The television alone would have fed two families for two months.
Rachel saw the bags sitting in Brooke’s bedroom; it was going to take several trips. Rachel bent and picked two up while Brooke picked up her purse.
“I’m having lunch with Daffney Cole. Just lock the door back to the hallway when you’re done.”
“All right.” Rachel gritted her teeth all the way back to the store.
It took several trips to finish carrying all the bags. By the end, she decided she would go through them tomorrow.
Pastor Patterson came in just as she sat down on a stool to do the day’s receipts.
“I see Brooke carried the bags down. I told her I would take care of it, but she never listens. She takes on too much as it is.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open at the man’s obtuseness toward his wife.
“Are you busy, Rachel?”
She hesitated, dreading packing more bags of clothes. “Not right now. What can I help you with?”
“Brooke has been overworking herself so much lately. I was wondering if you would mind asking your friend Willa if she would bake a cake for Brooke’s and my anniversary next month. Every time I ask, Willa doesn’t have any openings. Since she’s your friend, I was hoping she would be more inclined to make it if you asked.”
“I’ll give her a call, but I can’t make any promises. With King’s restaurant having opened, her time is pretty committed.”
“That will be fine. Just anything she whips up would be great, but chocolate is her favorite.”
“I’ll tell her.”
His beaming smile made Rachel feel small-minded. She might not personally like Brooke, yet she did like her pastor. He was no Dean; nevertheless, he was a good man.
“Let me know so I can make arrangements if she can’t.”
“I will.”
Rachel got busy. Instead of calling, she decided to stop by Willa’s house on the way home. A car was in the driveway when she pulled in. Regretting she hadn’t called ahead, Rachel decided to knock anyway.
Willa answered her knock minutes later, right as she had been about to leave.
Her flushed, upset face had Rachel’s eyes going over her shoulder to see Lewis.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Willa, but I wanted to talk to you about a private matter if you have the time.”
“Come in, Rachel.” Willa’s relief was obvious as she opened the door wider for Rachel to enter.
Lewis’s expression darkened. “Willa, we were talking—”
“And we’re finished talking. I think you should leave.” Willa’s voice trembled.
“I’ll see you later, then.” Rachel heard the threat in his voice and saw the shudder Willa couldn’t hide.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Rachel turned to Willa. “What was he doing here?”
“He thinks he can bully me into marrying him.”
Rachel knew the man had been pestering Willa, but not to that extent.
“Have Knox talk to him, Willa. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
“I’m not. I told him no. I’m actually proud of myself.” The woman couldn’t hide her fear.
If she wouldn’t talk to Knox, then Rachel would.
“Why did you stop by?”
Rachel told her of Pastor Patterson’s request.
“I told him no because Brooke hates my cakes. She tells me so all the time. Give him the bakery in Jamestown’s number.”
Rachel sighed. “It’s an anniversary cake. I think he’s planning a surprise party. Her favorite is chocolate.”
Willa sighed. “Have him text me the size and how he wants it.”
“Okay.” Rachel felt guilty for getting her to change her mind, but she knew she would have been the one he asked to drive to Jamestown to pick it up. She was slowly becoming their errand girl.
She stayed and had dinner with Willa, worried Lewis would come back.
She was tired when she finally let herself into Mag’s house. Taking a quick shower, she fell into bed exhausted, promising to let herself sleep late in the morning. Lily’s day was tomorrow.
Rachel stretched out on the soft mattress, letting her mind go back through her day. She reminded herself to stop by and talk to Knox about Lewis. She didn’t trust Lewis around Willa. She underestimated her attractiveness, and he had been one of the worst bullies in town. If Willa couldn’t get his ass under control, Rachel would see that someone else did.
Chapter 15
Rachel padded barefoot into the kitchen. Yawning, she started the coffee, surprised Mag hadn’t already. She pulled a cup from the cabinet.
“Grab one for me.” Cash slowly walked into the room.
Rachel screamed, nearly dropping her cup. “What are you doing here?”
“This is my grandmother’s house, remember?”