“Yes, you are, and I love you for it, despite the fact that you’re driving me crazy.” Lily leaned forward, brushing his mouth with hers, her hand cupping his smooth cheek.
Shade caught her troubled expression as she started to rise. He took her hand, pulling her back down.
“Is there something wrong?”
Lily didn’t try to avoid his question, asking one of her own. “Why do you still shave all the time?”
“I told you before, because you like to touch my face.”
“I thought men who were married eased off trying to be so perfect, but you haven’t.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“It’s not only that, Shade. Sometimes, I think you do too much for me and not enough for yourself.”
“Like what?”
This time, Lily hesitated. “Sex.”
Shade laughed. “In case you missed it, I was just as loud in the shower as you were.”
Lily’s lashes lowered, but Shade saw the hurt in her eyes. He reached up, cupping the nape of her neck and tugging her down to him. “I’m very happy with our sex life, Lily, if that’s what you’re trying to ask.” The tip of his tongue came out to trace her bottom lip before parting them and plundering her mouth in a passionate kiss which dissolved her doubts.
He rolled over until she was beneath him.
“Very happy.”
*
“Any luck?” Shade asked Cash.
He had just arrived back at the clubhouse, and he, Razer, Viper, and Train were about to go up to the house after getting out a large order when Cash had pulled in.
“No,” Cash answered grimly. The brother looked exhausted. He had been out all night and the entire day, searching for Rachel.
“Get some rest,” Viper ordered. “I’ll ask Winter to call some of her former students to see if they have any idea where Rachel would go.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Cash said before pausing and informing, “Viper, I’m going to Lexington to make sure Rachel isn’t there. She has a couple of friends who live there, and Lily’s old boyfriend lives there, too. Maybe she’s staying with one of them.”
Viper nodded. “You want us to go with you?”
“No need for all of us to waste our time. I won’t be long. If I can’t find her, I’m going to try to talk to Tate.”
“Good luck with that,” Shade said sardonically.
“If he’s half as sorry as I am for running her off, he’ll listen. If not, I’ll make him.”
“Ride safe, brother.” Viper turned toward the clubhouse, and Shade followed behind. He almost turned back to go with him, but he knew Cash didn’t want his help, preferring to search for her alone.
As they walked up the path, Viper said to him, “It shouldn’t take Cash long to track down his leads.”
“It might take longer than he thinks,” Shade replied.
They heard Cash restart his bike and turned to watch him leave. Neither man knew it was going to be a long time before Cash came home.
Chapter 82
“How is Cash?” Shade asked Viper who had come into the waiting room.
Shade had been in bed with Lily when Viper had called to tell him that Cash had crashed his bike. He had made Lily stay at the house with Beth, despite both of their arguments.
Viper shook his head. “Truthfully, I don’t think he would want to live in the shape the doctors say he’s in, if he even makes it.”
The women were sitting on the chairs, crying. King was standing behind Evie with his hand on her shoulder.
“He’ll live with whatever shape he’s in. Cash is a fighter,” Shade said forcefully.
“Yes, he is, but there are some battles which can’t be won, and you know that, Shade.”
“I do, but this isn’t one of them.”
“You can’t fight the inevitable.”
Shade knew Viper was remembering his brother Gavin.
“No, but I know someone who can. I just have to find her.”
*
Shade watched Rachel as she carefully stepped down the steep path on the hill. When she got to the bottom, she looked up, coming to a stop as she saw him.
“Hi, Rachel.” He was leaning against the door of her car with his arms folded across his chest.
“Shade. What are you doing out here?”
He gave her a mocking smile. “Knox told me you used to come here every weekend. I knew, eventually, you would come by for a visit, so I had the place watched. Old habits die hard.”
“Evidently. What do you want?”
“I want you to fix Cash,” Shade said determinedly.
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not capable of fixing him, Shade. I don’t have super powers.” She brushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek. “Besides, I already tried.”
“Then try again.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You’re just going to leave him lying in that bed without trying?” Shade asked brusquely.
“I tried! What don’t you understand?”
Shade straightened away from the car. “Rachel, do you feel any better since you left town?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Then, if you’re going to feel like shit, why not stay in town near Cash? Even if you can help him deal with the pain, then wouldn’t it be worth it?”