Cash's Fight (The Last Riders 5)

“If you do, one of them could pay the price.”

Viper’s grim warning was still on his mind after he’d left the room.

Going downstairs, he passed the word about the meeting tomorrow night. Then, tired, he decided to go to bed.

He was halfway up the stairs when Raci yelled up at him.

“Want some company?”

Rachel’s hurt face flashed through his mind.

“Come on.” He held his hand out to her.

With a huge grin, the woman came up the steps and took his hand. He couldn’t have Rachel distracting him. If he tried to see her again, her brothers finding out would be inevitable. What’s more, The Last Riders needed to have Stud’s back, not fighting a feud with three idiots.

Inside his bedroom, Raci quickly removed her skimpy outfit.

“What do you want tonight, Cash?”

“Every fucking thing you’ve got.”

Chapter 7

“What do you want me to do with these?” Evie questioned as she opened the door for the men who were carrying in the furniture she was donating to the church store.

“Bring it to the back of the store.” Rachel couldn’t believe the amount of furniture Evie was donating. Much of it was expensive and custom-made. “Are you sure you want to donate all of this?”

“I’m sure. I kept what I wanted, and since King and I are living in his house and I’m selling mine, there’s no need to keep it. It will make me feel better that it’s going to good use. I only used it a few months before King and I got married.”

Rachel directed Rider and Train where to put the couch. Not looking at Cash, who was holding the other end of the bed’s headboard, she directed Nickel to put it against the back wall. Razer and Viper were busy trying to maneuver the washer through the store.

Rachel kept herself busy, directing the men as the household of furniture was all placed at the back of the store. She ignored Cash as best she could, making small talk with Evie while the men finished and left the store.

“Pastor Merrick will appreciate the donation.”

Evie’s expression went curiously blank.

Rachel hadn’t pried Lily for information on why Evie no longer attended church, but she couldn’t help asking for herself. “Why did you switch churches, Evie?”

“I don’t exactly get along with his wife.”

Rachel didn’t care for Brooke Merrick, either. If she hadn’t attended the church since she was a little girl, she would have left, too. Truthfully, Rachel didn’t see Brooke staying long-term in Treepoint; she snubbed her nose at most of the women in the congregation. Rachel had never met a minister’s wife so totally unsuited for her husband’s profession.

“That’s it,” Viper declared.

“Next Friday, we’re having a birthday party for Mrs. Langley if any of your club wants to attend,” Rachel invited.

Her brothers hadn’t been happy about her intention to invite The Last Riders, but they helped the woman out whenever she needed them, and she had a close relationship to Beth, Razer, and Lily. There was no way out of inviting them other than outright snubbing them, and she wasn’t going to do that.

“We’ll be there,” Viper agreed, moving off with his men.

“I hope you and your husband can attend,” Rachel teased Evie. “If I couldn’t have King, it’s nice to see both of you so happy.”

“You’re lucky I’m not the jealous type, or I would whip your ass for that.”

“I think I’m the last woman in Treepoint you have to worry about stealing King from you.” Rachel’s cheerful voice sounded fake to her own ears. Her simple dress was no comparison to the tight jeans and blouse Evie was wearing.

“I don’t know about that. King still talks about your shooting. He asked me if I wanted to get a conceal-and-carry permit. I have no desire to shoot or carry a gun around with me.”

“You might change your mind. I think several women in town won’t mind he has a wedding ring,” Rachel quipped.

Evie laughed. “It might be a good thing Penni sent my gun back .”

“Ready, Evie?” Viper held the door open.

“Coming. See you Friday.”

“Bye.” Rachel watched them leave; glad she had avoided talking to Cash. She wondered how long it was going to take her to get over being embarrassed whenever she saw him. For once, she wished she could use her powers on herself.

Rachel straightened the things Evie had brought in, trying to organize the heavy furniture as best as she could. She didn’t want Lily trying to pull and tug it.

She helped several customers find things they needed before she was able to close for the day. Locking the door, she turned to her car to see Cash leaning against the door.

“What do you want, Cash?”

“I wanted to talk to you to set things straight.” Cash ran his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. “Rachel, I don’t want you feeling awkward around me.”

“I don’t feel anything about you at all.” Rachel clutched her purse in a tight fist, belying her words.

Cash’s jaw tautened.

“Now, if you don’t mind moving your ass away from my car, I need to get home and fix dinner.”

“Your brothers need to learn to fix their own dinner instead of having you do everything for them.”

Rachel wasn’t about to let Cash badmouth her brothers. “When was the last time you cooked your own dinner, Cash? Washed your own clothes? Or better yet, when was the last time you worked? As far as I can see, you spend more time being an errand boy for The Last Riders than making an honest living.”

“What do the Porters know about making an honest living? Your brothers sell weed and you con people out of money, selling fake medicine and hope.”

Rachel’s head jerked back at his insults. “I’ve never made promises to any of my clients, and no one has ever been left unsatisfied.”

“I can vouch for that,” Cash said crudely.

Rachel’s face blanched. “Move.”

“Rachel…” Regret showed in his eyes as he stepped away from her car, his hand reaching out to touch her arm.

“Go to Hell.” Rachel climbed into her car, slamming the door closed.

Tears escaped as she drove home because she was so angry. She was furious at herself, then at Cash.

By the time she pulled up in front of her home, she had gotten herself back under control.

Surely in a few weeks it would quit hurting so badly. It had to become easier, didn’t it? She had only had sex with him the one time. How long was it going to take to forget the feel of his body against hers, to stop wanting him? It was something he had no problem forgetting or moving on from. Rachel was sure he had been with more than Cheryl with a whole clubhouse to choose from.

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Cash was totally wrong for her, but the moment he had touched her, it had seemed so right.

* * *

Rachel discovered a therapy for getting Cash off her mind—work. She started her days even earlier, going out into the woods in order to search for new herbs and locations for Ginseng roots. She booked patients every day, further draining herself to the point her eyes became bruised-looking, and she had to wear concealer to hide her tiredness from everyone.

After she worked in the church store for the afternoons, she would come home and change. Once there, she’d head to her greenhouse where she managed to find peace until she went to bed, only to stare at her ceiling, and toss and turn throughout the night until she got up early and started the whole thing again.

On Thursday, she went grocery shopping for Mrs. Langley’s birthday party, going up each row to avoid forgetting anything and having to return. She had dropped Holly off at Mrs. Langley’s house to begin decorating so all they would have to do the next day was prepare the food.

Rachel went down the frozen food aisle and was reaching in for pastries when Bliss and Jewell came around the corner, pushing a buggy. Train and Cash were following along behind them as they shopped. She couldn’t catch a freaking break.

As they passed, she was determined to act normally this time.

“Hi, everyone.” Rachel smiled at each of them, including Cash.

“Hi, Rachel,” Bliss greeted. “Shopping for the party tomorrow night?”

“Yes. I promised Logan I would make his favorite fruit tarts. I told Lily and Evie everyone is invited.”

“We wouldn’t miss it. We’re always up for a party. It gives us a night off from cooking,” Jewell joked.

“Good, I’m glad you’re coming. See you tomorrow.” Rachel waved casually as she pushed her buggy away. She saw Cash look at her, and she didn’t try to avoid his gaze.

“Bye, Cash, Train.”

She let out a small whoosh of breath as she checked out; relieved she had come through with flying colors. She heard them playing around as she paid but didn’t look again.

She was rushing through putting her groceries in the trunk when she heard, “Need any help?”

Rachel jumped; she hadn’t even heard him come up behind her.