“Willa?”

“I don’t know. If so, she wasn’t giving it to him; he was taking it. She hated him, but I don’t think it was her.”

“Why not?”

“Because he had an underwear set in the bag and I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have fit Willa. I checked the local hotel, then Jamestown’s. No one recognized his picture.”

“Go further. Start with the towns closest to the Virginia border. If you don’t get a hit, try the Tennessee border,” Shade ordered.

“He wouldn’t be able to drive far. With the kids, he would’ve needed to stay close,” Cash reasoned.

“Unless he had a sitter.”

“Thought of that. Beth is going to ask around church and see if any of the women there were babysitting for him.”

“That it?” Shade asked.

“Pretty much. If I find out anything, you’ll be the first to know.” Cash went to open the door.

“Cash, while you’re flashing around Lewis’s picture, show them one of Brooke. She may be the more memorable of the two.”

“Will do.” Cash closed the door behind him.

Going back to his bike, he started it before heading back out on his search, turning in the direction of the Virginia border. He wouldn’t stop until he found what he was searching for. If there was a connection between Brooke and Lewis, he would find it and give the information to Shade. What he did with it from there was his call.

* * *

For a man who’s promised to storm my defenses, it’s anticlimactic to not see him for three days, Rachel thought glumly.

It had taken two more dates, one with King’s cook and the other with Lily’s old boyfriend, for her to realize that finding the chemistry she shared with Cash wasn’t going to be easy to find with another man.

“Do you want something to drink?” Rachel asked Mag as the television show they were watching went off.

“No, thanks. It’s my bedtime.”

Rachel smiled warmly at the woman as she laid down her crocheting. It was a mess, but she kept doing it. She said it kept her fingers limber.

Rachel blinked back tears. The old woman’s health was declining. She would have moved back with her brothers weeks ago, but Rachel couldn’t bring herself to leave the woman’s side. She had missed her gift more and more each day as she wished she could have eased the woman the last few months. Mag had lived a full life, but a hard one. Rachel would have liked to help with the pain of her passing.

Rachel got off the couch, brushing a kiss against the woman’s cheek. “Goodnight, Mag.”

“Night, Rachel.”

As she was about to wheel herself from the room, Cash came in with a tired expression.

“What are you two up to?” he asked, staring between the two women.

“Nothing. I was just telling Rachel goodnight. I’m going to bed. From the looks of you, a good night’s sleep would do you some good.”

“I’ll get plenty of sleep when I’m dead.”

Rachel winced at his choice of words, reaching down to pick up the tea glasses and leaving the two to talk.

She was finishing the dishes when Cash came in, leaning against the counter.

“She looks tired tonight.” Cash frowned. “She’s always so full of energy; I forget how old she is sometimes.”

Rachel didn’t make a remark to his observation. Cash and his grandmother had a strong bond; she didn’t need to tell him what he already sensed was near.

“Mag is in bed.”

“Yeah, so?” Rachel paused in wiping the table.

“So, go put on your shoes; we’re going out.”

“I am not.”

Cash stalked toward her, and Rachel dropped the dishcloth onto the table, backing out of the kitchen into the living room. Once her ass landed on the couch, Cash squatted down in front of her, sliding her tennis shoes on and tying them for her. Rachel could only stare at him in stupefaction.

“Mag’s neighbor is going to stay with her for a few hours while we go out.”

“I don’t want to go out with you again, Cash.”

“Rachel, go out with me this last time. If you don’t want to go out after that, I won’t bother you again.”

Rachel’s gaze narrowed on him, listening to the nuances of his voice. “You’re lying.”

Cash shrugged. “I am, but I’m willing to bet none of the men you’ve been out with this week makes you feel like I can.” His hand took hers, lifting her from the couch. “Come on, Rachel. Your brothers are the wildest men in town; don’t you have a little bit of that in you?”

Rachel looked away. None of the men she had gone out with had her wanting to touch them the way her body craved Cash’s. What’s more, she had always felt that same wildness he’d spoken of, controlling it by working and studying hard. Her mother had begged her brothers not to take after their father, who had stolen her mother’s heart away from Cash’s father, and hadn’t let it go until the day they’d died together. After their deaths, Rachel had wanted to make her mother proud, and subsequently, she had smothered the inherited wild streak burning in her blood.

Giving in, she followed him outside.

“You brought your bike?”

“I figured you need to get used to being on the back.” Cash grinned, handing her a helmet. Rachel climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“I’ve seen plenty of women on the back of your bike, Cash; it’s not exactly a privilege when a hundred other women have shared the experience.” Rachel wasn’t going to let him lead her to believe she was special.

He shot her a look that had her closing her mouth. She was pushing it with him again, and from that look, she was treading on dangerous ground. She held on tighter as he drove out onto the roadway. She’d thought he would head into town; instead, he headed in the opposite direction. As they passed Rosie’s bar, she wondered if he was taking her to his clubhouse.

When he passed it, she assumed he was simply taking her for a ride. She took a deep breath of the brisk, night air. There was nothing like the fresh, mountain air.

The throbbing bike underneath gave her a sense of freedom she had never experienced before. She could understand the lure of the motorcycle club; it was the tie that grounded them. If not, it would be easy to just keep riding without the responsibilities of life holding you back.

Cash slowed the bike, turning into the lake where he had brought her before. When he pulled in, she saw several of his friends were already there. She stiffened, fearing this time wouldn’t be any different than the last.

She had been around them enough with Beth and Lily to recognize several of them. She wasn’t the type to be made nervous, but she didn’t know how to interact with them. She felt self-conscious around the women, who were completely feminine. The small blond with the spiked hair was dressed in a small, red bikini with a thong bottom. Next to her was Raci, a pretty brunette with a bright-pink bikini that was even smaller, the top barely covering her nipples and the bottoms barely covering a small patch.

Rachel swallowed hard, uncertain of how to deal with the uncomfortable situation. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the women were taking complete advantage by showing they hadn’t gained an ounce during the winter while her own ass had grown from Mag’s comfort food.