“Mick still have hamburgers and fries?”
“I guess. He has bar food, but—”
“Good, I’m hungry,” Jo said, bringing the tow truck to a stop in the parking lot of Rosie’s.
“Jo, this is a—”
“Biker bar. I know. Is that red Trans Am Curt Demaris’s?”
Rachel looked closer at the car in question. Several of the locals still hit Mick’s, leaving before the bikers showed up after dark.
“Yes. It’s the same one he’s driven since high school.”
“I heard he’s the coach now.”
“Yes.” Rachel knew Curt was a sore subject with Jo. He had been the one accused of trying to rape Jo. “Let’s go to King’s.”
“I feel like eating here. It’ll bring back old memories,” Jo said grimly. “Dad used to bring me here when my mom was at work so that he could get a drink.”
“Jo, some memories aren’t worth repeating.”
“And some are worth confronting,” she said ominously, getting out of the truck.
Rachel sighed. She liked Mick, but she was really beginning to dislike his bar.
She went inside after Jo. There wasn’t that many customers; Curt and… Rachel swallowed hard when she saw him sitting with Jared. The two were cousins and not only did both believe they were God’s gift to women, but both were asses. It wasn’t a good combination.
Jo sat down at a table not too far away from the men. She was staring a hole through Curt until Mick came to take their order. Jo’s expression softened as she got up from the table to hug the man who twirled her around. Rachel was surprised at the closeness the two shared.
“I heard you were back in town.” Mick’s misty eyes stared down at Jo.
Jo grinned back. “I told Rachel I needed a good hamburger and fries.”
“Coming up. What can I get you, Rachel?”
“I’ll take the same.”
While Mick went back behind the bar, Rachel felt everyone’s eyes on them. Not only Jared and Curt’s, but Train was sitting across the room with Crash. She saw him reaching for his phone. She knew he was calling Cash. She wasn’t going to feel guilty; she owed no explanations to Cash about what she was doing. From the look on Train’s face, however, he didn’t agree with her. She blushed bright red remembering Friday night.
“So, I hear you and Cash are an item.”
Rachel waited until Mick placed two beers in front of them then left before answering. “I wouldn’t say we’re an item.”
“What would you say, then?”
Rachel cleared her throat. “I don’t know.”
“I see he hasn’t changed since I’ve been gone. None of the women in town knew, either.”
Rachel nodded, knowing Jo wasn’t trying to be mean, just trying to help her get her head on straight.
“He’s with the biker club that moved into town?”
“Yes.”
Jo laughed at her answer. “I never took you for a biker’s woman, Rachel. Hell, you and Lily were the only virgins left in our class when I left town.”
Rachel winced. Jo hadn’t had an easy time being Lyle’s daughter. She was still staring a hole in Curt’s back.
As they ate the food Mick brought a while later, Rachel was anxious to eat and leave, feeling the tension coming from Jo as the minutes ticked by.
They were finishing their beers when Curt got up from the table, coming to theirs.
“I heard you were back in town, Jo. It’s good to see you.”
“Why, so you can get me drunk, and then you and your cousin can rape me again?”
Curt’s mouth dropped open.
Rachel was shocked. The gossip around town had been vicious about Jo, but none had said that he had actually raped her.
“You were lucky my mom didn’t want to drag me through a court hearing, or you and Jared would still be sitting in prison.”
Curt leaned down. “I didn’t rape you; you begged us for it.”
Rachel gasped as Jo picked up her beer bottle and smashed it over Curt’s head. Jo then jumped up, going for the knife she had used to cut her burger.
Rachel slowly got up from the table, not seeing Cash, Rider, and Knox come into the bar. She simply stood, not wanting to try to reason with Jo or distract her.
Curt was furious that Jo had a steak knife poised above his throat.
“Lie again, and I’ll cut your fuckin’ throat,” Jo threatened. “I wanted to vomit when I found out you’re coaching. You’re no role model for high school boys.”
Curt was smart enough to remain silent.
“I’m back now, Curt, and I’m not fifteen anymore.”
“I can see that.”
Rachel thought he was stupid for smarting off while in such a position.
“Um, Jo, I know he’s a piece of shit, but he’s not worth going to jail over.” Rachel tried to reason with the woman who had changed since they had last known each other.
“No, he’s not.” Jo removed the knife before sitting back down at the table.
Curt moved away; this time smart enough to keep his mouth shut with The Last Riders looking on.
Cash, Rider, Train, and Knox took seats around the table while Rachel introduced the men.
“You going to arrest me?” Jo questioned Knox who was wearing his uniform.
“No, I’m going to buy you a beer.” Knox motioned Mick to bring a round. “He always pretended to be a little too nice for my taste.”
“It’s all an act,” Jo confirmed.
Rachel was glad she had never taken Curt up on the numerous invitations he had sent her way.
“What did he do to piss you off? Dump you?” Rider spoke up, reaching for a beer.
As Rachel winced at Rider’s words, Jo glared at him before responding. “No, he raped me after a football game.” Rider choked on his beer. “To men like you, it probably doesn’t matter, but it meant a lot to me.”
“What the hell? Fuck…I had no idea. What do you mean, men like me? I’ve never taken a woman against her will.” The usually affable Rider was getting his comeuppance.
Rachel took a drink of her beer to hide her smile.
“No? So you don’t just expect every woman to want to have sex with you because you’re good-looking?”
“You think I’m good-looking?”
“Jesus.” Jo looked toward Rachel. “He a friend of yours?”
Rachel didn’t know how to reply, so she went for the truth. “Not really.”
Rider looked at Cash. “You know she’s not getting my vote, right?”
“You running for something?” Jo cut in.
Rachel blushed bright red, throwing a killing look at Rider, who scowled back unrepentantly. “No.”
“Yes.” Rachel glowered at Cash as he answered.
At that point, Jo’s cell phone rang. Cash shrugged unconcernedly as Jo talked.
“I need to go. There’s been a wreck outside of town. I’ll drive you home—”
“I’ll take care of it. You go on,” Cash broke in.
When Jo cast her a quick look, Rachel nodded her head reluctantly, wishing she hadn’t when Jo left. Rachel felt uncomfortable sitting alone among the men.
Knox finished his beer. “My deputy is handling the wreck. I’m going home early and waking Diamond up,” he said, getting to his feet.
“Later,” Cash said, not taking his eyes off Rachel.
She had ignored his calls and texts for the last few days. Instead of laying into her, though, he stood up and took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. They danced silently for several minutes since the music was so loud. It was just her luck that the next song was low and slow.
“You okay?”
“Yes.” She didn’t avoid his eyes as he stared down into hers.
“Rachel…”
“Cash, I don’t want to talk about it. Please?” Cash’s hands gripped her waist tighter.
“We’ll talk about it later, okay?”
Relieved, Rachel’s
head fell to his chest, enjoying being held by him.
The bar began to fill. Raci, Stori, and Jewell came in while she was still on the dance floor with Cash. Each of the women grabbed someone to dance with. At their enjoyment, Rachel felt herself relax when the music returned to a fast-paced beat. She didn’t worry about her two left feet, only of Cash’s body moving against hers.