“That sounds like fun.” Lily’s overly enthusiastic voice had her raising a brow in question. “I mean, that’s better than sitting at home on a Friday night, isn’t it?”
“Depends,” Rachel replied.
“On what?”
“I’ve never really dated anyone, Lily. He’s used to being around sexy women who can keep up with him. I’m not even in the same league as the other women.” Rachel hated how unsure of herself she sounded.
Lily bit her lip. “No, you’re definitely not that,” she agreed.
Hurt, Rachel picked up their empty tea cups, packing them to the back room.
“Rachel?” Lily’s soft voice from the doorway had her turning back to her. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. What I meant is that you are a sweet, warm-hearted woman who wants a husband and kids. Family is very important to you, and he doesn’t get along with your brothers.”
“He got their approval to go out with me,” she confessed.
Lily burst out in laughter. “I wish I could have seen that.”
“Me, too.” Rachel laughed along with Lily.
The two women spent a busy afternoon, which passed much too quickly for Rachel’s nervous stomach.
“Have fun,” Lily said mischievously as she pulled her car out of the lot.
All the way home, Rachel thought about what she would wear, not coming to a decision until she was standing in front of her closet, choosing a black skirt and a sapphire-colored blouse with tiny buttons up the front. It looked both casual and dressy, but she still felt uncertain whether she was overdressed. She brushed out her hair, letting it fall down her back in a mass.
As she checked her watch, she saw that she had only a few minutes to spare. Hurriedly, she went out of her bedroom to see Cash was waiting by the doorway.
Rachel’s feet slowed as she approached him. She had never seen him looking so handsome in his dark jeans and casual button down shirt. His sensual mouth was curved in a seductive smile as his eyes traveled her body, over the curves of her hips to linger on the firm thrust of her breasts.
“You look pretty all dressed up. Ready?” Cash asked.
“Yes. Where are we going?” Blushing, Rachel picked up her purse.
“I thought we would check out King’s new restaurant.”
“That sounds good. I haven’t been there yet.” Suddenly, she was more at ease; she was eager to see King’s new place.
“Me, either.” Cash opened the truck door for her.
Rachel wasn’t used to seeing the courtly side of Cash, and it was making her nerves pick back up worse than ever. She stared out the window as he climbed behind the wheel and started the motor.
“Rachel?”
“Yes?”
“Relax.” He gave her a cocky grin as he pulled out onto the mountain road. “It isn’t like it’s your last meal.”
“It feels like it.”
Cash reached across the seat, taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over her calloused palms. Embarrassed, Rachel pulled her hand away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his frown.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Your hand. I just noticed something was different.”
Self-consciously, she rubbed her palms against her skirt. “I should wear gloves more often. I get caught up—”
“I don’t give a shit about a few calluses; it’s just that something’s different.”
“What?” Curiously, she looked over at him in the dim interior of the truck.
“They aren’t warm like they used to be. Whenever I touched them before, they were abnormally warm; now they’re cold.”
Rachel turned back to stare out the window again, avoiding his probing gaze.
“I guess the old saying is true: cold hands, cold heart,” she replied ironically.
Sadly, Rachel thought it was his hands that should have been as cold as ice.
Chapter 24
Cash wondered about Rachel’s calm façade. The only hint she was uncomfortable with the conversation was the way she was twisting her hands on her lap.
The parking lot to King’s restaurant and lounge was filled, although Cash found a parking space toward the back of the lot. Opening the door, he was going around to open Rachel’s when he saw she was already sliding out.
“I was going to open it for you.”
“Why? I can open my own.”
Cash shut the truck door. The date wasn’t exactly getting started the way he’d wanted. Every time he was making a gesture, she seemed to want to keep a distance between them.
Sighing, he took her arm, leading her into the restaurant.
After a bit of a wait, King’s hostess seated them at a booth. Cash had intended to sit down next to Rachel, but she didn’t slide over far enough, and he didn’t want to make an issue of it while the customers from the nearby tables were staring at them with curiosity.
Once the waitress took their drink order, leaving them alone, Cash noticed Rachel’s hands tremble as she opened the menu.
“Why are you so nervous?” Cash questioned.
“I’m not. I’m just not used to everyone staring at me.”
He had felt the stares but hadn’t let them bother him. He had long ago grown used to being a topic of gossip in Treepoint.
“Are you ashamed to be seen out in public with me?” His curt voice startled her into dropping her menu.
“What?” Her confused eyes met his.
Cash relaxed, sensing that wasn’t the reason. “Never mind. They’ll quit staring in a minute. I think they’re surprised to see a Porter and an Adams sitting at the same table.”
The waitress returned with their drinks, taking their food orders.
Cash’s eyes met a pair of violet ones staring at him from a stool at the bar. He nodded at King—the owner of the restaurant who had married a member of The Last Riders last summer. His rugged face and sophisticated air had been transferred to the restaurant, creating a hit in the small town. The big-city feel was popular with the younger crowd while scaring the more conservative sect who were leery of embracing anything new.
The food was good, and Cash smiled when he saw the tension finally ease as Rachel enjoyed the steak she had ordered.
“I noticed your plants in the tank are growing larger.”
Rachel looked up from her plate in surprise. “You noticed?”
“Of course. I would be blind as a bat to miss them.”
“My brothers never did. They used to gripe about the money I wasted on the tanks.”
A thought struck Cash. He knew for a fact the job she did at the church store didn’t pay because he and other members of the club pitched in to give Lily her salary. He didn’t think her brothers were giving her money since they wanted her to move home, so how was she supporting herself? She had given
Mag rent money for sharing the house, even though he had heard Mag arguing about it. She also bought her own groceries and supplies. So, where was she getting her money from?
He didn’t think she had started her own weed business, or had she? There was no doubt she had a green thumb. He started to ask, but foreseeing that she would tell him to mind his own business, he decided to find out for himself. It shouldn’t take much to do so; Cash was a master on the computer. He would be able to see where her money was coming from and if it was legal. If there was no trail, then he would have his question answered.
“Are you growing the plants to be a new food source?” Cash joked.
“No.” Her serious expression had his smile disappearing at the determination in her expression. “To purify it. With all the mining, a lot of the wells that most of the people still use are tainted; the plants can purify it and make it clean drinking water again. I’m also seeing how they do with water that’s been polluted with oil spills.”
Cash was impressed with her explanation.
Holy fuck. She was attempting to do what scientists with doctorate degrees had been attempting to do for years. The last big oil spill had resulted in booming business for those who had developed cutting-edge techniques to remove the oil. The possibilities were endless. Developing countries with contaminated water supplies would also benefit. However, the chance of a mountain girl with only a high school education of finding such a discovery was almost nil.
“I can tell you don’t think I can do it.” When he opened his mouth, she raised her hand in the air. “Don’t deny it. I can see it on your face.” She looked down at her plate, hiding her expression. “I went away to college for a couple of semesters. One of the first classes I took was aquaculture. It opened my eyes to how many lives are affected by polluted water. Even Treepoint isn’t exempt. Most people in the mountains still depend on well water that’s contaminated or have streams that are.”
“Shit.”
“So, even though everyone thinks it’s a waste of my time, it’s mine to waste.” Her eyes stared into his with determination.
Cash put his fork down. “I wasn’t being snide. I can tell you have a deep interest in what you’re doing.” Whichever way he turned, he felt like he was taking a step farther away from the woman he was becoming more and more intrigued by.