“I would love to.” While Logan eagerly showed her how to play, Rachel watched for several minutes before going back into the sunroom and removing the sheets, placing them in a hamper she kept in the corner. Blowing the candles out, she went to her room to get changed out of her jeans and t-shirt.
The only time she wore dresses was when she went to church or helped out at the church store which helped the economically disadvantaged in the community.
Pulling on a peach sundress, Rachel brushed her waist-length hair before plaiting it. Her hair was straight as a stick, but it was thick and heavy. The whole process was becoming more and more time-consuming; she needed to cut it off and save herself the trouble.
Sliding her feet into her sandals, she turned back to the mirror. Somehow, even in the pretty dress, she still looked like the tomboy she was. Just once, she wanted to look as sexy and seductive as the women Cash ran after.
Rachel went for her purse, immediately dragging her thoughts from the man she’d had a crush on since she was a little girl. Some things were better left to the imagination, Cash being one of them. She wasn’t his type, and her brothers would kill him. On the other hand, a little fantasy never hurt anyone.
Chapter 2
Rachel straightened the clothes on the shelf as Lily handled their last customer of the day.
“Want to grab some dinner at the diner?” Lily asked after the customer left.
“Yes. Holly volunteered to cook dinner tonight. I love her to death, but she can’t cook.”
Lily laughed. “You ready?”
“Let me grab my purse.”
Rachel curiously studied her friend. Lily was beautiful; she had long, black hair with violet eyes. Today, she had worn a long, maxi skirt with a pretty, white camp shirt. She was feminine and pretty, everything Rachel wasn’t.
“Why aren’t you eating at the clubhouse tonight?”
“The factory has a big order to get out tonight, and Shade refuses to let me help. Since he’s found out I’m pregnant, he hasn’t let me lift anything heavier than a book. He’s going to order everyone pizza so they can work through dinner, but me and pizza aren’t getting along right now.” Lily made a face.
“Stomach upset?”
“That’s putting it mildly. The doctor said it should pass after I get farther along.”
Rachel looked down at the small woman, her morning sickness the only sign she was pregnant. She had told her husband and father last week that she was pregnant at a barbeque celebrating her nephews’ Baptism. Rachel had been there and had offered her congratulations to the happy couple. Lily was only a couple of months along, and despite her morning sickness, she was glowing with happiness.
“Try chewing on some crystallized ginger. It will help.” Rachel waited as Lily locked the door behind them, then they crossed the street, going inside the diner.
It was slow for a Friday evening, only a couple of customers. Rachel was surprised to see Cash and Stud sitting at one of the tables, quietly talking. Being in two different motorcycle clubs, Rachel would have thought they wouldn’t be sharing a meal.
After making their way to a table, Lily waved at the two men while Rachel took a seat, facing away from them. When Lily sat down across from her, they requested their drinks before giving their order.
“Any luck getting your brothers married off yet?” Lily teased.
“No, darn it. I’m beginning to get worried. Tate is getting older; he should be settled down and married,” Rachel complained.
“He’s got plenty of time. You just want him off your back.”
“Yes, I do.” Rachel didn’t have any problem admitting the truth. “I’m too old for him to be telling me what time to be home or who I can and can’t date.”
“He actually gave you permission to date someone?” Lily’s purple eyes were filled with amusement.
“Payne Macy.”
“Oh.” Lily shuddered.
“Yeah. He only said it because he knew I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. It would serve him right if I started dating him.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I might. They are being big jerks right now.”
“Not as big as Payne.”
Payne Macy was the town’s confirmed bachelor. The gossip-mongers had always tried to find some dirt to dish on him but had been unable to find a speck. He attended church regularly, dated within reason, and never bought weed off her brothers; thus, they considered him the perfect man for her. The big problem for her was that he and anyone who had met him quickly realized he was an asshole. A mean asshole. Rachel was happy she didn’t come into contact with him very often.
As their food arrived, they changed the subject, neither wanting to hurt their appetite by discussing the rude man.
Because the restaurant wasn’t busy, Rachel heard the low voices of Stud and Cash in the background. Yet, before she could discern what was being discussed, Lily’s phone rang just as they finished eating.
“I’ll be right out,” she said into the phone then explained, “Shade’s here to pick me up.”
“Go ahead. I’ll take care of the ticket,” Rachel offered.
“No, I’ll pay.” She reached for her purse.
“My treat. You can pay next time.”
“All right,” Lily accepted, getting up from the table. “See you Sunday in church.”
Lily left as the waitress brought the ticket. Rachel took it, going to the cash register as she felt the men’s eyes on her. Self-conscious, she was glad to escape their scrutiny after paying, leaving through the door as other customers were about to enter.
Jared and one of his friends stopped, blocking the doorway. Rachel knew it wasn’t a good sign when, instead of letting her pass to go outside, they backed out of the doorway, keeping her pinned between them.
“I want to talk to you.” Rachel stiffened at his harsh voice, unsurprised by his statement.
“What about?”
“Did you tell my wife it was my fault she couldn’t have a kid?” Jared was so angry his face was flushed red, and his beady eyes were narrowed, waiting for her answer.
“No, but I did tell her you should be checked out before she spent any more money on expensive doctors,” Rachel answered in a calm voice. How some women fell in love with certain men was hard for her to understand. There was nothing nice or attractive about Jared.
“How much money did you con her out of?” Jeeringly, he called into question her motives.
“None.” Rachel had dealt with enough. She didn’t have to put up with his bullshit; she wasn’t the one stupid enough to be married to him.
“Stay the fuck away from my wife and keep your advice to yourself.” Jared blocked her path again as she tried to move away from him. “I’ll make sure everyone in town knows you’re a phony if I catch you near her again.”
Rachel wouldn’t have been able to call herself a Porter if she allowed the man to continue. Her temper soaring, she reached out, grabbing his arm. Jared tried to pull it out of her reach, but Rachel needed only a minute to find out what she needed to know. When Jared pushed her away from him, Rachel was sickened by what she had found out. His anger had lowered his guard, blasting the knowledge she needed through his consciousness into hers. Rachel was easily able to read what he was hiding.
“You should be asha
med of yourself.” Rachel made no effort to hide her disgust, attempting to go around him again.
“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Jared took her arm, propelling her away from the door to the side of the restaurant.
Unwisely, she didn’t back down. “I mean, you know you can’t have kids, but you haven’t told Cheryl, letting her take the blame. Does it make you feel like a big man, Jared, keeping her pinned under your thumb?”
Her rash outburst brought out the ugliness inside of the overbearing man. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Yes, I do. You made sure you couldn’t get any of the women you fool around with pregnant, so don’t act innocent, Jared.”
A sharp smack to her face had her almost falling down. The only reason she didn’t was because Jared kept a firm grip on her arm, holding her in place as his hand went back to strike her again. Her face already numb after the initial burst of pain, Rachel braced herself for another strike, but then found herself thrust back against the restaurant wall as a body knocked Jared away from her, throwing him to the ground.
Rachel watched as Cash punched Jared repeatedly in the face. When his friend would have tried to help, Stud held him back. Wisely, the man took a good look at Stud and quit trying to intervene.
“Cash, stop! That’s enough!” Rachel reached down, grasping Cash’s t-shirt and tugging him away, aware he was releasing Jared only because he was finished.
“Go on home, Rachel,” Cash said, getting to his feet.
“I’m going to press charges!” Jared whined from the ground, holding his bleeding nose.
“No, you’re not, unless you want me to press charges against you. You hit me first!” Rachel yelled down at him. “Get up and go on home, Jared, before I call my brothers and you leave here in an ambulance.”
After Jared managed to get to his feet, he and his buddy took off to their car.
“Are you okay?” Cash asked, staring at her cheek.