Rachel’s laughter bubbled over at his expression; Cash couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed in his presence. This date was going even further down the crapper with King’s appearance.

“Evie is in the kitchen. If you want to go say hi, it’s just through that door,” King directed.

“I think I will. Lily said she went over to Willa’s to check up on her last night. She hasn’t been answering my calls.”

After Cash stood up, letting her out of the booth, he resumed his seat, throwing King a disgruntled look.

“Don’t look at me that way. I don’t know what you’re doing, but that poor girl seems miserable.”

Cash’s shoulders slumped. “I agree.” He ran his hand through his hair, messing up the neat appearance. “I don’t know where I’m fucking up.”

“Perhaps because you’re not being yourself, so she can’t be,” King advised.

Cash went quiet, thinking about his words.

“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I do know that isn’t the same woman who I met flirting with me at the diner, nor is she the woman I saw saving my ass when Lily and I were trapped by Digger.”

“I hurt her with my big mouth. I don’t think she can get over it. She’s so mad at her brothers she hasn’t moved back home.”

“I don’t believe you’re going to change her mind by pretending to be someone else. She’s going to sense your insincerity,” King stated as they both saw Rachel’s approach. “Each woman is different. Evie got over being mad at me after a couple of months, other women don’t ever forgive. What you have to decide is how much you actually give a shit.”

King changed the subject as Rachel reached the table. “Find out what you needed to know?”

“Yes, thank you. I’m going to stop by tomorrow and see how she’s doing myself,” Rachel answered, sliding in on the other side of the booth that King had vacated, even though Cash had risen to his feet to let her back in. Clenching his teeth, he sat back down.

She was thwarting every attempt he was making to draw closer to her. Cash studied her worried eyes as she took a sip of her beer.

“Something wrong?” he questioned her.

“I’m just worried about Willa. Evie said she was acting strange when she was there yesterday. I’ll feel better once I’ve had a chance to talk to her.”

“Let’s dance. That will take your mind off her.” Cash got to his feet, taking her hand and ignoring her faint murmur of protest as he led her to the dance floor. He had deliberately waited until a slow song was played.

Circling her small waist, he pulled her close to his body. Her hands went to his chest, trying to keep a small amount of room between them.

“I’m not a very good dancer.”

“That’s okay. Just relax and move to the music.” It took several minutes, but gradually, Cash felt her body relax against his. His hand pressed her tighter against him, her arms sliding up around his shoulders.

Cash had to think hard to control the erection she was beginning to arouse. He wanted a fresh start with her, to take it slow and court her the way she deserved. Shade had done it with Lily; he could do the same with Rachel.

They danced to another couple of songs together before they returned to the table. As they passed a table, a group of women caught his attention. The women were familiar; he had partied with them a few times with Rider.

His hope that they would let him pass by without acknowledging him was doomed just as the thought entered his mind.

“Cash!” a loud squeal drew several eyes, including Rachel’s, who was walking in front of him. The woman got out of her chair, grabbing his hand. “Thank, God. I thought it was going to be a boring night.”

“Hi, Lynn, ladies.” Cash put his hands around Rachel’s waist to keep her moving, but her feet had come to a sudden stop.

Fuck! I’m screwed, he thought.

“Come on, Cash. There’s no one here who can dance as good as you. Dance with us.”

“Sorry, Lynn, not tonight. I’m with someone.”

“When has that stopped you?” The giggles from the table grated on his nerves

Rachel was rooted to the spot. Cash’s hands on her waist exerted pressure to move her forward, but she refused to budge.

“The more, the merrier, you always say. She might as well get used to sharing you now. We all did.” Lynn’s eyes went to Rachel and her mouth drooped. “I don’t know how much fun she’ll be, but we’ll be gentle.”

Cash didn’t have to try to get Rachel to move again; she took off like a shot. The night had gone from bad to worse. Cash followed, trying to keep up with Rachel as she fled the restaurant. She had to wait for him to unlock the truck door to slide in. Her stiff posture as he climbed into the truck showed she didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. Cash’s experience with women made him wise enough to know at least that much.

“Take me home.” Her order had his own anger rising. Hell, she knew he wasn’t a fucking virgin. He might have resolved to be patient with her, but her stony silence had him rethinking his own wisdom of whether this was the right time for them. She was younger than him, had a terrible temper, and was jealous-natured. All three qualities were ones he didn’t like in a woman.

“Rachel—”

“I think you need to take me home, Cash.” He expected anger in her voice, not the resignation he heard. “You can come back and meet them after you drop me off.”

“You’re overreacting.” He narrowed his eyes on her cold expression before starting the truck, driving back to Mag’s house.

“My last name is Porter. You know my family and what kind of person I am. Do you really think I would ever share anything that was mine?”

“I’m not asking you to share, but Treepoint is a small town and we’re not going to be able to avoid women I’ve been with. Are you going to ride my case every time?”

“No, because I’m not going to put myself in this position again.” Cash brought the truck to a stop in front of Mag’s house. “Go back to those women; they can show you a better time than I will.”

“You’re telling me to go fuck someone else?”

“I’m telling you, I don’t care.”

“If you want to test me, write it down. Don’t tell me you don’t care about me and to go fuck another woman. I’ll fail, Rachel, every time.”

Chapter 25

Rachel stood on the porch, watching the taillights of Cash’s truck disappear. She had let her mouth get away from her again. She refused to let herself regret what she had done, however.

She could tell from the onset of the night that she wasn’t Cash’s type; she never would be. You couldn’t fit a square peg into a round hole no matter how hard you worked at it. The truth was, she was a country bumpkin while Cash played games that were more experienced than she was capable of handling. They would end up fighting over her possessiveness and hating each other. She couldn’t go through another heartbreak over Cash; she had already spent too many wasted years mooning over him.

She went into the house, changed into her nightgown, and climbed into her bed. She desperately needed the warmth of her mother’s arms, yearning for the reassurance she had done the right thing.