Cash asked Logan if he was ready to start pre-school, sending the little boy off into a conversation that Rachel could barely keep up with. Cash surprised her at how well he interacted with the child. She’d expected him to be more like Rider, who ignored him to flirt uselessly with Holly. Rachel could have told him he was wasting his time, but she was enjoying watching the man make an ass of himself.
After the meal, Rachel and Holly cleaned the dishes and kitchen for Mrs. Langley, leaving it spotless before going to the room they had turned into her new bedroom. They wanted to make sure all her things had been arranged for her to avoid her having to go up the steps after everyone left.
When they returned to the living room, Mrs. Langley was sitting on the couch while Logan sat on the floor, reading one of his books to her. Rachel sat down next to her, taking her hand in hers as Holly squeezed in at the end, even though Rider had scooted over to make room on the smaller couch for her. Razer and Cash weren’t in the room, making Rachel wonder where they had gone before she remembered Mrs. Langley’s television upstairs needed to be transferred to her new room.
Rachel’s thoughts went to Mrs. Langley, letting her consciousness flow into her. Closing her eyes, she let her strength gather in her hand, allowing it to gradually seep into the older woman. Shifting closer, she infused warmth into her chilled hand.
She had only done this a few times; her grandmother had often warned her against it. When you did, it was hard to gauge exactly how much of yourself you were giving away. If you weren’t careful, you could give away too much and have nothing left for yourself.
Carefully, she withdrew, taking her hand away, noticing Mrs. Langley’s cheeks were now flushed and her eyes seemed brighter. Rachel felt as if she might lose the dinner she had just eaten, though.
“Logan, tell your grandmother goodnight. You can finish your story the next time we come.” Obediently, Logan jumped to his feet, hugging his great-grandmother good-bye.
When Mrs. Langley would have gotten up, Rachel forestalled her. “We’ll see ourselves out. Take care.”
Rachel shakily got to her feet, feeling a rush of dizziness hit her; however, counting to herself, she managed to regain her equilibrium.
Opening her eyes, she saw Cash standing in the doorway, frowning at her. She had to pass by him as she forced herself to walk steadily to the doorway, and when she did, he reached out to take her arm.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I must have swam too long.”
His eyes searched hers before he slowly released her arm. “Holly, make sure you drive,” he ordered, his hard gaze going to Holly.
“I will,” she said, taking Logan’s hand to lead him out the door.
“I don’t know what you did, but—”
Cash’s stern expression reminded her of Tate, causing her to cut him off. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t lie to me.” His jaw tightened at her obvious lie.
She stiffened. “Let’s get one thing straight, Cash. I already have three brothers; I don’t need another one.” She edged past his hard body that was partially blocking the doorway.
“Rachel.” She paused. “The last thing I feel toward you is brotherly. And the next time I’m talking to you and you lie to me, be prepared for me to show you exactly how I do feel.”
Her mama hadn’t raised an idiot. The advantage to having three brothers was knowing when not to challenge a man of Cash’s caliber. It was like a raccoon in front of a coon dog—only one would walk away unscathed.
Chapter 4
Cash drove Rider and Razer back to the clubhouse, trying to ignore Rider’s description of Holly’s tits. Shifting uncomfortably on his seat, he tried to take his mind off Rachel’s voluptuous ass.
He pulled into the parking lot of The Last Riders clubhouse, cutting the motor.
“Thanks for helping out,” Razer said.
“No problem.” Cash slammed his truck door harder than necessary, taking his frustration out on the truck. Climbing the steps to the large house that housed all the brothers, he entered, giving a sigh of relief at putting the woman who was periodically stealing her way into his thoughts behind him.
He grabbed himself a beer from the bar before going to the pool table in the corner. It was still early, but the room was beginning to fill.
“Want a game?” Nickel came up to the table, picking up a cue stick.
“You break.” Cash took a step back from the table, letting the brother go first.
Nickel was good; it would be a challenge to beat him, and it would help take his thoughts away from Rachel. She was too young for him, and worse than that, he despised her brothers. He couldn’t even remember how many fights he had gotten into with Tate and Greer, not to mention the few he’d had with Dustin. The more he thought of her brothers, the less attracted he felt to Rachel, and by his third beer and second win at pool, he had mellowed out.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bliss sucking off Rider’s dick. He was sitting on the couch with the sexy blond leaning over him, her ass in the air. He took his last shot as he heard Rider groan.
Cash lay down the pool stick. “I’m done for the night. You can pay up tomorrow.”