Stormy Weather

by Marie Rochelle

  Cash took Akisha’s words as the cue to continue on down the stairs so he could introduce himself. He could sense their conversation would become more heated if he didn’t go right now. He hurried down the last few steps and walked around the corner, coming face to face with Akisha.

  “Rachelle, is this one of your sisters that you have been telling me about?” he asked.

  He could see the family resemblance with their dark eyes and beautiful coffee skin tone, but that’s it where it ended for him. He didn’t see her the same way as he did Rachelle. She still captured his complete attention more than Akisha ever would.

  Looking over her shoulder, Rachelle grinned at him as he came up to her. “Cash, I’m so glad that you’re finally able to join us. I was getting worried about you. I thought you might have fallen asleep.”

  He gave Rachelle a kiss on her cheek and then moved back, keeping their contact to a minimum. He didn’t want to do anything to set Akisha off any more.

  “No, I just took a long shower. I wanted to get all the dirt off me after being down in your basement.”

  Rachelle placed her hand on his arms and gave it a slight squeeze. “Well, you have excellent timing because you can meet my sister. She has been asking me twenty questions about you. She’s worried you are trying to take advantage of my good nature and seduce me into your bed, but I told her I’ve everything under control. I have enough willpower to tell you no.”

  “I would love to meet her,” he said, smiling at Akisha. “Why don’t you make the introductions?”

  A flicker of apprehension coursed through his body as Akisha stared at him like she hated the sight of him. The look made him feel half anticipation at what she might tell him and then half dread like she could actually convince Rachelle after all not to give him a chance.

  “Cash, this is my sister Akisha Williams, she’s the middle triplet,” Rachelle said. “Akisha, meet Cash, the man you have been asking me about most of the night.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Cash said, extending his hand for Akisha to shake, but she just looked at it and he dropped it back down by his side.

  Well, this first meeting is already getting off to a bad start, he thought, wondering if this was how the other two sisters were going to treat him.

  With deliberately casual movements, Akisha walked from behind the front desk and kept coming until she was standing directly next to him. “Don’t try to charm me,” she said, looking at him directly in the eye.

  “Why are you so hot for my sister? A woman you just met tonight, because it’s not making any sense at all. Yeah, I’ve heard of instant attraction before between two people, but Rachelle is too level-headed to fall for something so cliché.”

  Cash became instantly aware that he wasn’t going to charm Akisha. She meant business when it came to her sister. If he wasn’t completely honest with her, he wouldn’t get a chance with Rachelle at all because she would stand in his way.

  “I think Rachelle is a very intriguing woman. I was drawn to her from the moment she spoke to me. I can’t deny this may come off as a little odd, but it’s just what happened. I can’t explain it any better. She’s─”

  “You know nothing about her. She could have five kids at home waiting for her, and three ex-husbands,” Akisha tossed out to shock him, but it wasn’t going to work.

  “What kind of game are you playing? Are you here for another reason that we don’t know about? Tell us the truth, because I’m not going to leave until you do. I’m not going to let you hurt her.” He didn’t have to guess where she stood when it came to her sister.

  “If three men let Rachelle go, then they were out of their minds. I wouldn’t care if she had six kids at home. I’m attracted to your sister. I was from the very first moment I walked through the front door. What man wouldn’t be attracted to Rachelle?” he asked.

  “She’s a very good-looking woman. I can promise you that I’m not playing any kind of game with her. I’m hoping that we can get to know each other better and find out if this attraction becomes something more.”

  “Nice speech,” Akisha snickered, “but you could have used that about any woman in your past. My sister is special. My sisters and I won’t allow just any man, especially one she met less than twenty-four hours ago, come to Luxury and mess with her emotions. Can you see why all of us are so concerned about you?”

  “I understand your concern, because it seems like we are moving way too fast, and maybe we are. But when I see something I want, I go for it with both hands. Rachelle is someone I want in my life and I don’t mind jumping through hoops with you or anyone else to have a chance with her.”

  “Cash, you don’t have to answer anymore of Akisha’s questions. I know how to take care of myself,” Rachelle said, interrupting him.

  “Oh, yes he does,” Akisha spoke up.

  She hadn’t taken her eyes off of him since he entered the room. Cash found Akisha’s love for her sister endearing. He wished that he and his brother could be this close with each other.

  “Akisha, will you stop it?” Rachelle snapped at her sister.

  “No, I want Akisha to see that I’m honestly interested in you. I wouldn’t be down here talking to her if I wasn’t. She has everything right to be leery of me. I don’t blame her at all. She wouldn’t be a good sister if she wasn’t showing genuine concern about your well-being.”

  Akisha planted her hands on her hips and continued staring at him, then over at her sister. He couldn’t tell which way this was going to end for either of them, but he was ready for anything. If Rachelle’s sister had more questions for him then he had the answers. He wasn’t hiding any dark, deep secrets from them. Besides, he wasn’t that bad of a guy and most people who got to know him really liked him.

  While he was waiting for Akisha to say something, he continued studying the similarities and differences between the two sisters. Rachelle was a little taller and slimmer than Akisha. Her eyes were a sexy dark brown, but Akisha had more of a light brown look to them up close. However, anyone would be able to tell they were sisters.

  He couldn’t help but wonder if Akisha looked more like her other two sisters since they were triplets. He would probably get to know sooner rather than later, because he didn’t doubt they would be showing up to meet him as well.

  “You said all of the right things, but how do I know I can tell my sisters that you’re good enough for Rachelle? She has been there so much for us and we will hurt anyone who breaks her heart. Are you going to break her heart or hurt her?”

  Cash planted a kiss on Rachelle’s cheek, making her smile at him. “Honestly, I can’t predict the future for either of us. I’m not planning on hurting your sister. But, after a few dates, we both might realize we aren’t right for each other and go our separate ways.

  “All I want is a chance to see where this will take us. I know that you and your sisters love her, but I want to see if we like each other outside these four walls. Just give the two of us a chance. That is all I’m asking you to do.”

  Akisha slowly eased her hands off her hips. “I’m going to give you a chance because I trust my sister to do the right thing in the end. However, if you hurt my sister, you will have three very pissed women to deal with,” she warned him in a low voice. “Do you hear what I’m telling you?”

  Cash tried not to laugh at the spunky young woman standing in front of him. Her head came just below his chin but she acted like she was the same height as him. He felt a warm place touch his heart at how Akisha was protecting Rachelle. He found what she was doing very admirable and he was going to keep his word.

  “Yes, I hear what you’re saying,” he answered, wondering what was going to happen next.

  “You better,” Akisha said, glaring at him before focusing her attention on her sister. “Are you really going to be okay here with him for the rest of the night? I need to get back home.”

  “Yes, I’m going to be perfectly fine with Cash,” Rachelle said. “You can go ahead and leave
. I don’t want you out there driving too late. I’ll call you later to make sure you got home safely. Could you also please tell Sasha not to worry about me?”

  “I’ll tell her,” Akisha agreed, “but you know Sasha. She won’t believe me until she gets to talk to you herself.”

  “You’re right, but just try for me,” Rachelle said.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Cash moved out of the way while Rachelle finished telling her sister goodbye. He saw the closeness they shared and envied it. Over the years, everyone in his family had grown apart, doing their own things. He wanted to spend more time with them at family gatherings, yet his job kept him away most of the time. In order to make the big bucks, he had to go where the stars were. The hotter the dirt, the more money he would make.

  All of that would change. Spending more time with his parents and brother was at the top of his list now, because he wanted to introduce Rachelle to them. He could already see all of their shocked faces at the news he was finally interested in a long-term relationship.

  “Remember what I told you. I can promise if you don’t, I’ll be back here with my sisters and you don’t want Sasha mad at you. She’s ten times worse than I am,” Akisha warned. She gave him one last pointed look then turned to the front door.

  “You don’t have to worry. I will,” he yelled after Akisha just as she opened the door and went out.

  “Do I have to worry about your other sisters coming to get me?” Cash asked Rachelle as she came back up to him. He was ready to deal with the other two if he had to tonight.

  She shook her head then smiled at him. “No, Sasha and Genise aren’t going to show up tonight, so you don’t have to worry about them. I do want to thank you for being so nice to Akisha. I know she can be a handful sometimes with people. She usually lets things come out of her mouth before she thinks about it.” Rachelle wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll talk to her later on about her behavior.”

  “Don’t get on her. I think it is great how she’s so concerned about you. It shows how much she loves you.” Cash ran his hands down Rachelle’s back then cupped her tight ass in his hands.

  Looking into Rachelle’s beautiful face, he started realizing something very important that he needed to share with her. “I know Akisha was hard on me, but what she told me did make a lot of sense. We might be moving too fast with each other. I know we have this spark between us, but maybe we should take things a little bit slower. Why rush things?”

  She leaned back from him. “Are you saying my sister got to you?”

  He tugged her closer to his body until Rachelle’s breasts were pressed against his chest. He loved how good she felt in his arms. “No, she didn’t get to me, but what if we sleep together too soon? It might ruin what could have been. I still want you. How could I not, you’re a beautiful woman,” he said. “Yet, I─”

  “No, I’m getting what you are telling me,” Rachelle said, moving out of his grasp. “I can hear the doubt in your voice. Akisha was right. I wasn’t acting like myself. I shouldn’t have been so easily caught up in your charms. I think it would be for the best if you stayed away from me until tomorrow morning.”

  “Rachelle, wait.” He reached out to grab her by the arm, but she brushed his touch away. He couldn’t let her walk away mad at him. She took what he said the wrong way. He was trying to do the right thing and it backfired in his face.

  ”No, I need to check Luxury before the night crew gets here and then I’m heading to bed. Alone. I don’t feel like driving back home as late as it is. Have a nice night, Mr. Garon.” She spun away and went off in the opposite direction.

  “Rachelle, wait a minute. I still want to talk to you. Will you please come by my room after you are done?” Cash hollered after her, but he wasn’t sure if she would come to him or not. He could only hope that she would do as he turned away and went back upstairs towards his room.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cash paced his room, hoping Rachelle would come so they could clear the air. He didn’t want to go to bed with this argument between them, not after the wonderful night they had shared. She seemed to understand him after a few hours, better than most of his family.

  He’d meant every word he had spoken to Akisha. He was well aware something good was going on between them. But, his stupid mouth probably had ruined any chances of him seeing Rachelle tonight or even in the morning since she was leaving.

  Tomorrow morning, he would get the money he needed to pay for the room and then leave. There had to be another place closer to town for him to stay. He couldn’t continue staying here, not with Rachelle upset with him.

  She had actually walked away from him without looking back in his direction. She acted like he wasn’t even in the room with her, which concerned him. Now, he might have lost the opportunity to see how their future might have been because he had allowed Akisha to get underneath his skin.

  He’d never worried about other people’s wants or needs, he learned to bury that trait after becoming a tabloid TV reporter. Cash made sure he never got too involved with others or worried about what they wanted from him. He only focused on the life he wanted to live and what he wanted to do.

  He approached life as his own personal mission, whatever he did to further his own agenda stayed in his direct line of sight. This made him incredibly impatient. He usually got what he wanted right then and there, so Rachelle not coming to see him wasn’t something he was used to dealing with.

  Thinking she could show up later pushed him to leave his room to find her so he could make her listen to him. She didn’t understand what he was trying to tell her earlier. He wasn’t saying he wanted to end anything between the two of them, but she didn’t give him the chance to finish telling her how he was feeling.

  “Shit,” Cash cursed, running his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t handle much more of this. He felt so torn up inside.

  Why was this happening to him at this time in his life?

  Wasn’t he supposed to use this vacation to put an end to one chapter? How was it possible for him to jump headfirst into a relationship with Rachelle?

  Wait, could what they were doing even be considered a relationship?

  In the past, he had constantly gravitated towards people with passionate, challenging, and powerful personalities. Rachelle’s unabashed confidence intrigued him after their initial conversation and kept him downstairs in the lobby with her.

  How could he not be drawn towards such a beautiful, smart, and sexy woman?

  Nothing else mattered to him tonight but Rachelle showing up. She was making him risk something he had never done before…the unknown. For the past several years, he had grown too predictable with his everyday schedules. It had become too safe and planned out.

  The routine was starting to stifle his creative nature and he was becoming unhappy. Coming here and meeting Rachelle had given him back his zest for being creative. He would tell her all of this if she just would show up.

  Glancing at the door, Cash wished Rachelle was on the other side but he knew she wasn’t. So, he might as well take a shower and get ready for bed. He had a lot to take care of in the morning. Turning around, he headed for the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

  ****

  A cold lump of anxiety lodged in Rachelle’s throat as she stood outside Cash’s door. She wondered if she was making the right decision by even being here this late at night. She had been in her room and planned on staying there after the way they had left things earlier.

  She wasn’t planning on coming to see him, but she thought about it for a while and changed her mind. She just couldn’t blow him off without hearing what he had to tell her. She had been the one who left without hearing his side of the story. She jumped to her own conclusions.

  Cash came into her life tonight like a tornado, stirring up so many emotions inside of her. She wasn’t used to being pulled in two different directions. Tonight’s events came totally unexpected for her but, as craz
y as it sounded, she liked this rollercoaster ride with Cash. She was so used to having her feet planted firmly on the ground that it felt beyond good to be a bad girl for the night.

  More often than she cared to admit to herself or anyone else, she stayed too busy taking care of Luxury and worrying about her sisters. She had never given much consideration to having a love life, especially not with someone as handsome as Cash. He captured her interest the instant she saw him standing at the check-in desk, waiting for someone to help him.

  In that very second, she fought down the need to not become Akisha or Genise and shamelessly flirt with him. Instead, she took a deep breath, then acted unruffled and composed like he was just another guest, not some gorgeous man who was making her pulse race a hundred miles a minute.

  Rachelle raised her hand to knock, but she couldn’t go through with it. Something was holding her back. Could she leave things like they were or did she want to hear Cash out? He had sounded so insistent when she walked away from him, like he really wanted to tell her more, but stopped because she had blew him off out of anger.

  No, she wasn’t going to make another mistake by falling for whatever he was trying to sell her. Akisha and her sisters were right, she couldn’t let herself get caught up a man she barely knew from Adam. Every time she watched a talk show she would laugh at the one female who swore she would marry her husband the second she saw him in a crowded room. The comment came off as so cliché. People didn’t fall for a stranger that easily, it just didn’t make any sense.

  Yet, here she was standing outside Cash’s door debating if she wanted to knock or walk away. Why was something so simple coming off as so hard? She had to make a decision or she might end up standing here the rest of the night fighting between her common sense and going with the less traveled road.

  As she raised her hand to knock, the door suddenly swung open and her eyes locked with Cash’s, but quickly slid down to the towel wrapped around his lean waist. The sight of his bare chest was hypnotic.