Rachel went into the kitchen and began cleaning up the table, washing the dishes before putting them away. Cash watched television as she worked, aware she was trying to ignore him, but occasionally, he felt her eyes on him.

“You done?” he asked when he saw her put the last dish away.

“Yes.”

“You want to go for a ride on my bike?” He saw the refusal on her face. “You scared to ride with me since I wrecked?”

“No, everyone in town knows that the wreck wasn’t your fault. The driver crossed the center lane. Knox said anyone else less experienced would have died on impact.”

Cash shrugged. “Been in a couple of them. That one was the worst.”

“Why do you keep riding, then?” She came farther into the room, taking a seat in one of the chairs.

“Because there’s nothing else like it on earth. It gets in your blood; the freedom of movement, how it feels when you ride it. It’s hard to explain. Go for a ride with me and you’ll see,” Cash prodded.

“All right. Do I need to get changed?”

“No, your jeans are fine. Grab a jacket, though.”

Before she could change her mind, he led her outside to his bike. Handing her his helmet, he climbed on.

“What about you?”

“Woman, you trying to insult me? I usually don’t ride with one. The only reason it’s on my bike was because I was hoping you would take a ride with me.” He saw it was the wrong thing to say. She was about to change her mind. “Get on, Rachel. We won’t be gone long,” he lied. He planned to keep her out as long as he could.

Gingerly, she climbed on his bike. As soon as she wrapped her arms around him, he turned on the motor, going slow until he felt her begin to relax. They rode through the mountain roads. It was still winter, and the massive pine trees hung over the road creating a canopy, shading them from the bright sun.

He drove until he came to his old homestead, pulling in to stop by the fire pit.

“Come on; I want to show you something.” Cash got off the bike, holding out his hand to help her off.

Rachel climbed off, removing the helmet. The trail was opposite the one she took to her parents’ graves, winding deep into the woods. Both of them walked steadily until they reached a small stream.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It was my grandfather’s favorite place to fish.” Cash squatted down to pick up a small stone before tossing it across the water.

“You’re pretty good at that.”

“He taught me, like he did most everything.” Cash’s voice wasn’t bitter, merely matter of fact. He had made peace with his lack of a relationship with his father years ago.

“Your father and you didn’t get along?” Her tentative question brought a wry smile to his lips.

“No, I couldn’t understand a grown man standing back and watching what went on in that church while he called himself a Christian.”

She didn’t question what he was talking about. She had attended the same church he had. Her parents had left the church, she returned only when Dean had taken over as Pastor.

“Mag quit going, your parents stopped attending. Only the self-righteous idiots like my parents kept going.”

Rachel reached out, touching his arm. “You stopped it, Cash.”

“I didn’t stop anything. I left town and sent someone in to do what I didn’t.”

“But your conscious didn’t let you forget. Ultimately, you showed your Christianity more than they ever did.”

“I’m no Christian; I’ve committed every sin in the Bible and then some.” Cash looked at her and wanted to lower her to the grassy bank and show her exactly how pleasurable sinning could be. However, being here had brought back bad memories of his mother’s and father’s disapproval of Mag’s life.

They had cut her out of their lives and had attempted to cut him out of it. He had learned early to use the mountains to run to his grandmother and grandfather, despite their attempts to keep him away.

“Let’s go.” He walked away, forcing himself to slow so she could keep up.

As soon as she got on the bike behind him, he drove back onto the road and headed to where he knew he could find the answers he needed.

He drove until he came to the turnoff to the lake. Slowing down, he turned into the spot where The Last Riders often went swimming. Some of them were there now. The January weather was cool, but for the last couple of days, the weather had been unseasonably warm. A large cooler was placed on the picnic table and several of the members were enjoying their Saturday off from work.

When he turned the bike off, he felt Rachel stiffen at his back.

“What are you doing? I don’t want to stay.”

“Come on, Rachel; I’m thirsty. One drink, and then we’ll leave if you want to.”

He felt her hesitation before she climbed off the bike. They walked to the picnic table where Stori, Raci, and Jewell were sitting while Nickel, Train, and a couple of the other brothers were lying on a blanket with Ember.

Cash pulled a cold beer out of the cooler. “Get a drink. There’s different ones inside.”

As Rachel opened the cooler and pulled out a bottled water, Cash sat down at the picnic table and began talking to Nickel.

“Was that your first ride?” Raci asked her.

“Yes.”

“I remember my first ride.”

“I bet you don’t,” Jewell said sarcastically.

Cash threw Jewell a warning look, which she returned with one of her one. He wanted Rachel to get used to the women, not get run off by them. Cash had a suspicion the women wouldn’t be as friendly with even more new additions to the club, what with the most popular of them getting married and becoming monogamous.

He hadn’t participated in any of the club parties since Rachel’ had caught him with Bliss, and he knew several of the women weren’t happy with it. Hell, he wasn’t happy with it. It had been a long time since he had felt his dick buried in a warm pussy, but he was determined the next one would be the one he wanted.

“Do you want to dance?” Cash asked as Nickel turned on the music.

She quickly shook her head.

“You don’t know what your missing out on,” Jewell advised.

“No, thanks.”

“Suit yourself.” Jewell rose to her feet, stretching and showing off her body, running to the bonfire that had been made. The others got up to join in. Soon, the area was filled with the sounds of laughing and voices rose as they began to dance to the music.

“Sure you don’t want to join in?”

“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.