by Jamie Begley
“Rachel told me she saw you at the diner. I thought you would have already gone home.” Lily smiled up at him.
“I thought I would stop by and see if you wanted to close the store early and take a nap before the party.”
Rachel was throwing Mrs. Langley a birthday party. She was Winter’s aunt, so she was basically extended family to The Last Riders, and Beth cared for her; therefore, they had all been invited.
Lily bit her lip. “We haven’t had a customer in two hours.”
“Go ahead, Lily. I’ll stay,” Rachel offered. Shade noticed she hadn’t missed the look of envy Brooke had quickly concealed.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Go. I have to stay in town anyway,” Rachel urged.
“All right then.” She gathered her purse.
“Go ahead. I’ll be right behind you,” Shade said.
Lily shot her husband a curious look yet left without question.
“Do you mind excusing us, Brooke?” His tone implied he really didn’t give a damn if she did. Brooke wouldn’t expose her true colors in front of Rachel. She wanted to keep up the pretense of being the sophisticated wife of a pastor when she was nothing more than a snake in the grass.
Brooke’s face blushed bright red. “Not at all.” She turned on her high heels, leaving with an expression that said she would pay him back for being rude to her.
“Anything wrong?” Rachel asked.
“Could be. You tell me.” He said anger tightening his lips.
“What about?”
“The men you had lunch with, how long have you known them?”
“An hour. Willa and I were having lunch and the restaurant was crowded, so they asked if they could sit with us. Is there a problem with that?”
“Those men are bad news, Rachel. Stay away from them,” Shade warned.
“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me not to talk to them again?” she snapped.
“Yes.”
“Shade, I can talk to anyone I want. I don’t even let my brothers tell me what to do anymore,” Rachel argued.
“Listen, Rachel. They aren’t someone to get involved with. You’ve never dealt with men like them before. You’re a friend of Lily’s, so I’m giving you a heads-up.”
More calmly, Rachel said, “As Lily’s friend, I’ll take it under consideration. Willa and I shared our booth with them. We ate, we left. It was that simple.”
“And Willa gave them her card?” he probed.
“They want her to make some desserts for them for their next cookout.”
Shade nodded.
“Satisfied?”
“Not really, but I guess it’s all I’m going to get. You might drop a word and tell Willa to think twice about going out with one of them. You’ll handle it better than me.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Rachel gave him a wry smile.
“All right, then I’ll see you tonight.”
She was a friend of Lily’s, and without her using her gift on Lily, he didn’t know if her mind would have remained intact, so he had tried. However, she wasn’t going to listen, and like her brothers’ stubbornness, it was going to get her in trouble.
“Bye, Shade.”
Shade nodded then left the store, crossing the street back to the diner’s parking lot where the brothers were waiting for him on their bikes. Viper had showed up while he was in the store.
“What did you find out?” Cash asked impatiently as he approached.
Shade came to a stop by his bike. “That Rachel and Willa have never met them before. They were having lunch, and the Freedom Riders asked if they could sit because the restaurant was busy,” Shade repeated what Rachel had told him.
“That was convenient,” Cash snarled.
“We didn’t have trouble finding a table,” Lucky agreed.
“You warn her?” Viper spoke up.
“Tried to.” Shade shrugged.
“She didn’t listen, did she?”
“Nope. Willa gave them her business card because they want her to make desserts for their next cookout.”
“Fuck.” Lucky’s hands tightened on his handlebars.
“Let’s go back to the clubhouse. I don’t like that they came into Treepoint. Curt might have turned their offer down by now, so they may have come into town to scout for new property,” Viper said grimly, pulling his bike out in the lead.
Shade climbed on his bike, starting the motor. “Looks like someone is going to steal your cupcake away,” Shade needled Lucky and Rider. “Look on the bright side, though.”
“Shade….” Lucky warned.
Shade gave him a mocking grin. “When they’re done with her, she won’t be a virgin anymore.” He gunned his motor, riding away from the furious brother.
* * *
“I better go break this up,” Rachel excused herself, rising from the table as Shade approached his wife.
“What’s going on?” Shade asked, sitting down next to her then taking the remaining piece of hotdog away from her, popping it into his mouth.
“I think Holly doesn’t like the way Greer’s new girlfriend is acting in front of Logan.”
“Greer’s an ass.”
“I think everyone in town shares that opinion.”
“You don’t?”
“I don’t know him well enough to cast judgment,” she said reprovingly. His wife was determined to find the best in everyone.
“I do. He’s an ass,” Shade remarked.
The escalating argument between the two was easily heard in the backyard in direct contrast of the balloons and fairy lights which had set a party atmosphere.
“You deal with her!” they heard Greer yell at Rachel, who was trying to get him to shut up. “I’m done listening to her sanctimonious bullshit.” Greer jumped back into the pool, spraying both women with water.
“I told you he was an ass,” Shade said, seeing Lily’s angry expression. “Come on, they want to cut the cake.” Shade took Lily’s hand as they walked toward the large table which had gathered a crowd to watch Mrs. Langley cut her cake.
Beth was standing with the knife, but she was motioning for Rachel to do the cutting. Shade turned to see what the holdup was, spying Rachel heading to another argument which was building between Greer and Cash.
“Be right back, angel,” Shade told Lily, giving her hand a squeeze before moving toward the end of the pool where Cash was sitting.
Greer’s new girlfriend Diane, who he easily recognized as having attended several of the Friday parties, was sitting next to Cash. The stupid bitch was trying to start a fight with the way she was pressing up against him.
“You never could keep your hands off another man’s woman. What is it with you; can’t you find one of your own?” Greer climbed out of the pool to glare down at Cash and Diane.
When Cash stared back impassively at Greer’s tantrum, Shade stepped closer so Cash could see him give a warning shake of his head.
“I know it’s hard, Greer, but be smart. Go have a piece of cake and leave me alone.”
Tate and Dustin came out from the house, coming closer to see what had Greer’s voice raised loud enough to be heard inside.
“You just can’t leave women alone, can you, Cash? Like father, like son,” Greer jeered.
Shade sucked in his breath as Cash got to his feet. Then Shade and the other Last Riders moved closer to back him up if he needed it.
“Keep cool,” Shade muttered to them under his breath.
“This is a birthday party! Let’s go eat some ice cream and cool down.” Rachel tried unsuccessfully to end the fight, but Greer wasn’t having it.
“Shut up, Rachel,” Greer snarled at her attempt.
“Don’t talk to her that way,” Cash growled.
“I can talk to my sister any way I want to.”
“Talk to her that way again, and I will—”
“What are you going to do? Rachel is none of your business. She’s the only woman in this town of o
urs you haven’t fucked.”
“Wanna bet?” Cash grinned. “I fucked her under your own roof.”
The horrified looks on Rachel’s brothers’ faces as they turned to her had Rachel taking a step back. Shade tensed, knowing the three brothers weren’t going to take Cash’s comment without retribution.
“You son of a bitch!” Greer threw himself at Cash, nearly knocking him into the pool, but Rider managed to grab his arm and steady him. After Greer’s fists flew out, one nailing Cash in the stomach, Shade moved, blocking Cash from returning the blow.
“This is how you repay us for saving Lily’s life? You motherfuckers can go to Hell!” Tate tried to go for Shade, who went stiff at his damning insult.
“We are paying you back. We’re not beating the shit out of you right now! Back off.” His brusque order was ignored.
Rachel made an attempt to stop her brothers one more time, grabbing Tate by his arm when he moved toward him again. “Tate! Stop. Please!”
Shade restrained himself from knocking the fucker in the pool, aware of Lily watching. Beth had placed a hand on her arm, keeping her away from the fight.
“Don’t fuckin’ touch me.” Tate shoved Rachel from him, jerking his arm away.
Rachel stumbled but Tate caught her, realizing what he had nearly done. Pulling her to his side, his furious eyes glared down at her in disgust.
“Get Logan and Holly, Dustin. We’re leaving.” Tate jerked Rachel toward the patio doors as Dustin and Greer followed.
Shade was disgusted by the brothers’ treatment of their sister. He might be a cold bastard, but he would never have treated Penni to a public spectacle the way the Porters were Rachel, who was crying, humiliated by them.
Mrs. Langley and half the town at the party were witnesses to the woman’s embarrassment as they escorted Rachel from the party.
Lily started after them.
“Hell no, you’re not getting involved in that mess.” Shade took her arm, pulling her back.
“But…”
“No, Lily. If they don’t care how they treat their own flesh and blood, they aren’t going to care how they treat you. Do you think I’d be able to stand back and watch if they were rude to you?”
Lily bit her lip, shaking her head.
“Go help your sister cut the cake. She needs your help.” Beth and some of the women were storming away from Cash at that moment, Beth making her way back to the cake and seeming to apologize to Mrs. Langley. “Rachel will be fine,” Shade told her, hoping it was the truth.
He walked back to Cash. “I’m going to fucking kill them after the way they treated her.” Cash’s voice was low and deadly.
“Brother, I don’t know what you were thinking when you said what you did, but I’ve known you long enough to know that shit spewing out of your mouth wasn’t by accident. You wanted to fuck with her brothers, and you accomplished your goal.”
“I didn’t expect them to go ape-shit!”
“Then that was your bad. You both provoked each other, and Rachel was the one hurt. You think telling her you’re sorry is going to make a difference?”
“No, I don’t. She’ll never talk to me again. Did you see her face when I told her brothers I fucked her?”
“I saw. Go get a drink,” Shade advised.
Once Cash nodded, going to the ice cooler, Shade motioned for Rider and Train to stay with him before going back to Lily.
She was standing beside Beth, already having served the cake and now eating a slice. Lily’s plate had two pieces.
Shade casually reached out, taking the plate away. At Lily’s crestfallen expression, Shade picked up the plastic fork, spearing a piece of cake with a generous amount of frosting before placing it in front of her mouth. Lily opened, taking the bite he fed her, and the frown disappeared.
He took the next bite for himself. “Damn!”
“What’s wrong?” Lily asked.
“Lucky and Rider are idiots.”
Chapter 81
Shade looked up from his paperwork when his office door was opened. As Lily rushed inside, leaving it open, he could see Cash and Rider coming inside the factory door, quietly closing it behind them. Lily had her back turned, so she didn’t see them enter.
The workers had all left for the day, and he wouldn’t have still been there if he hadn’t needed to finish up the day’s paperwork.
“You have to find her, Shade!” She was upset, twisting her hands together.
Cash was unashamedly listening, his jaw tightening when he heard her words.
“Lily, calm down and start over. What happened?”
Lily took a deep breath, her body shaking. “Pastor Patterson came to the store this morning and told me Rachel had called to tell him she wouldn’t be volunteering anymore. I was concerned because I knew Rachel would have a hard time facing everyone, but I thought she would just take a couple of weeks off! I didn’t realize until Tate came into the store, looking for Rachel, that no one has seen her since Friday night.”
“You said Pastor Patterson told you he had talked to her?” Shade asked.
Cash’s face had gone pale at Lily words. The women had given him hell Friday night for what he had done, and he had told Shade that morning that he was trying to avoid town so he wouldn’t run into Rachel.
Lily nodded.
“Then we know she’s okay if someone has heard from her,” he reasoned, calming his wife.
“Okay.”
“What did Tate tell you?”
“He said she was gone the next morning when they woke up. She left them a note, but he didn’t tell me what it said. He’s worried sick, though. He was going to see Knox when he left the store.”
“I’ll call and talk to Knox to see if he’s found anything out.”
“Thank you. I’m so worried about her, Shade. I saw her face, and she was so humiliated. She didn’t deserve Cash and her brothers treating her that way. She helps everyone. She gives her skills and usually doesn’t even charge people.
“Mary Owen’s little girl had something wrong with her stomach and couldn’t even hold food down. Rachel gave her a supplement, and she’s gained five pounds. Mrs. Willis had the shingles and when Rachel made a cream for her, she was able to go back to work. Rachel helped me, too, Shade. I don’t know what would have happened if she hadn’t pulled me out of that nightmare.”
Shade got up from behind his desk, taking her into his arms. “Don’t worry, Lily; I’ll find her, but be prepared. She may not want to come back to Treepoint.”
“You made me come back,” Lily argued.
“There’s a difference between you and Rachel. You belong to me.”
“I didn’t then.”
“You did. You just didn’t know it.” Shade smiled down at his wife. “Now, go feed my baby, and I’ll call Knox.”
“All right.” Lily turned, coming to a stop when she saw Cash and Rider. Throwing them an angry glare, she moved between them, leaving the factory.
Shade picked up his phone as soon as she was out the door while both Rider and Cash entered the office.
“Knox, Lily told me Rachel’s disappeared. What do you know?”
“Not much. I’ve been making a few calls. Tate showed me the note she left. Told them she was leaving and not to come looking for her. It said she wouldn’t be coming back, and she was sorry for shaming them.” Knox’s voice became harder as he read the note.
“If you find where she’s at, call me or Cash.”
“Will do.” Knox hung up.
Shade looked at Cash, relaying the information he had just received.
“I’ll kill them.” Cash turned to find the doorway blocked by Rider.
“Sit down, Cash,” Shade ordered.
Cash turned angrily yet didn’t sit down. “Don’t tell me what the fuck to do. Do you know how badly they must have treated her for her to run off?”
“And that surprises you? You knew Friday night when she left with them what she was facing. I didn’t see y
ou running to her defense then.”
Cash picked up a chair and threw it against the wall.
“Sit down!”
Cash sat.
“How do you want to handle this?” Shade said calmly.
“I’m going to find her, of course,” Cash stated angrily.
“I’m not the enemy, brother.”
Cash stood to his feet. “I know,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I’m a fucking idiot.”
“Piece of advice. Take it or leave it, but I’m going to give it anyway. Figure out why you want to find her before you go looking.”
Cash gave an abrupt nod before leaving his office.
By the time Shade had finished his paperwork and was locking the factory, Cash had changed his clothes and was on his bike, leaving the parking lot.
“Thank fuck the days of me having woman trouble are over,” Shade said out loud to Rider who was working on Cash’s truck.
“Don’t jinx yourself, brother.” Rider poked his head out from under the hood.
“I don’t believe in luck, and I sure as shit don’t believe in jinxes,” Shade snorted, heading to the steps.
“I hope you’re right, because you just tempted fate to prove you wrong.”
“I don’t believe in fate, either.”
Shade made his way up the walkway and to his house where he found Lily in the shower. He quickly took off his clothes and stepped in behind her. She turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Shade placed his hands on her hips, lifting her until her pussy was over his cock. Slowly, he lowered her, sliding inside of her. Taking a step forward, he pressed her against the shower wall as he gently stroked inside her.
Lily ran her hands over his shoulders. “Harder,” she moaned.
“You want me to fuck you harder?”
Lily frantically nodded.
“I think you can say the word fuck and not go to Hell, Lily.”
“It just seems so … I don’t know…”
“Dirty? Sexy? Fun?” Shade laughed at her embarrassed expression. They had been married almost a year, and Lily still found it hard to completely relax her guard.
“Yes,” she admitted, moaning as her pussy started clenching on his cock.
Shade began to fuck her more forcefully, driving himself deep while drawing out her climax and building his own. He groaned into her throat as he felt his nuts tighten until he thought they were going to explode.