“I’m sure.”
Cash raised his brow at her response. “Since when did you become a prude? They’re just having a good time.”
And they were. He wanted to join, too. He missed the carefree days of taking a timeout just to play. It was why he hadn’t wanted to become involved with her. She didn’t fit in with his lifestyle, and the way she was acting was making it blatantly obvious she never would. He had been right to bring her here and see for himself that the sanctimonious side of her which wanted to change her brothers would want to change him, as well.
Chapter 19
Rachel let herself back into Mag’s house, trying not to watch as Cash drove off down the driveway. She didn’t have to be told he was going back to party.
Closing the door behind her, she went to her room, taking a long shower. She leaned her head against the shower wall, breathing deeply, getting her emotions back under control.
She had frozen when surrounded by the women in their sexy outfits, too self-conscious of her own tomboyish body to join in the fun. She had been raised with three overprotective brothers, who had never let her experience the typical girly experiences other woman were used to.
She dried off after her shower, dressing in a pair of faded denim cutoffs and a tank top. Trying to shake off the feeling she had let an important moment slip through her fingers, she went to work with her plants. They never failed to give her peace when she was upset.
She had several seedlings she wanted to organize. She was using her grandmother’s notebook to make notes.
There was one plant in particular she was interested in. She had been researching its genus but hadn’t been able to locate it. She had found a couple that were close, though. She took a picture of it on her cell phone, determined to ask a friend, who was a botanist, if he recognized the species.
When she was finished, she put the plant up, frowning when she saw a couple of the cuttings were missing. Rachel carefully looked around where the plant had been sitting and on the floor to make sure she hadn’t dropped them. She only had three cuttings of the plant left and she always took five.
She searched until she was sure they weren’t in the room then saw the broom by the door. Relieved, she believed Mag must have accidently knocked it over with her wheelchair in the tiny space and cleaned it up. Mystery solved, Rachel finished straightening her plants.
When she heard Mag in the kitchen fixing dinner, Rachel went out to help her. They ate the pot roast she’d fixed and watched television for the rest of the night, but Cash didn’t return. Rachel made herself go to bed when Mag did, although it took a long time to fall asleep.
When she dragged herself out of bed in the morning, Cash’s bedroom door remained open, his bed un-slept in.
She went into the kitchen, uncertain as to why she was disappointed he hadn’t come home the night before. It was why she had refused to go out with him on a date. His wanting to be with her had lasted a whole day. His record was four days with Missy Vines, his junior year in high school.
“I see Cash didn’t make it home last night.” Rachel poured Mag a cup of coffee to avoid her angry gaze.
“I guess I better go get ready for church.” Rachel set her cup down in the sink.
She donned a new dress she had bought. The pretty yellow highlighted the reddish sheen of her hair and set off the faint tan of her skin. It felt like spring, and she felt it in the dress. Rachel, for once, didn’t braid her hair back or put it in a ponytail, leaving it loose down her back.
The church was filled to capacity. After the service, Rachel was one of the first out of church, not in the mood to be forced to talk to Brooke as she stood at the door by her husband as the parishioners left. She never brought her son to church, telling the other women in the congregation the sound of a baby crying grated on her nerves. Rachel smiled as Razer and Beth brought their sons every Sunday.
Outside, Rachel went next door to the Sheriff’s department.
“Can I speak to the sheriff?”
“Sure can. He’s with someone right now, but when he’s done, I’ll tell him you’re here.” The older woman sitting behind the desk was wearing a leopard-print dress and at least a dozen bangles. Rachel was tempted to ask her where she’d bought it. It was a sad day when a sixty-year-old was more attractive than her.
Rachel took one of only four seats in the small lobby and stared out the plate-glass windows at the motorcycles lined up outside the diner. She wondered which table and women Cash was sitting with.
When the sheriff’s office finally opened, Knox walked out with Cash.
“Sheriff, Rachel is here to see you.”
The idea of blending into the woodwork vanished when both men turned to look at her.
“Rachel, you can come into my office.”