She helped several customers find things they needed before she was able to close for the day. Locking the door, she turned to her car to see Cash leaning against the door.
“What do you want, Cash?”
“I wanted to talk to you to set things straight.” Cash ran his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. “Rachel, I don’t want you feeling awkward around me.”
“I don’t feel anything about you at all.” Rachel clutched her purse in a tight fist, belying her words.
Cash’s jaw tautened.
“Now, if you don’t mind moving your ass away from my car, I need to get home and fix dinner.”
“Your brothers need to learn to fix their own dinner instead of having you do everything for them.”
Rachel wasn’t about to let Cash badmouth her brothers. “When was the last time you cooked your own dinner, Cash? Washed your own clothes? Or better yet, when was the last time you worked? As far as I can see, you spend more time being an errand boy for The Last Riders than making an honest living.”
“What do the Porters know about making an honest living? Your brothers sell weed and you con people out of money, selling fake medicine and hope.”
Rachel’s head jerked back at his insults. “I’ve never made promises to any of my clients, and no one has ever been left unsatisfied.”
“I can vouch for that,” Cash said crudely.
Rachel’s face blanched. “Move.”
“Rachel…” Regret showed in his eyes as he stepped away from her car, his hand reaching out to touch her arm.
“Go to Hell.” Rachel climbed into her car, slamming the door closed.
Tears escaped as she drove home because she was so angry. She was furious at herself, then at Cash.
By the time she pulled up in front of her home, she had gotten herself back under control.#p#分页标题#e#
Surely in a few weeks it would quit hurting so badly. It had to become easier, didn’t it? She had only had sex with him the one time. How long was it going to take to forget the feel of his body against hers, to stop wanting him? It was something he had no problem forgetting or moving on from. Rachel was sure he had been with more than Cheryl with a whole clubhouse to choose from.
Cash was totally wrong for her, but the moment he had touched her, it had seemed so right.
* * *
Rachel discovered a therapy for getting Cash off her mind—work. She started her days even earlier, going out into the woods in order to search for new herbs and locations for Ginseng roots. She booked patients every day, further draining herself to the point her eyes became bruised-looking, and she had to wear concealer to hide her tiredness from everyone.
After she worked in the church store for the afternoons, she would come home and change. Once there, she’d head to her greenhouse where she managed to find peace until she went to bed, only to stare at her ceiling, and toss and turn throughout the night until she got up early and started the whole thing again.
On Thursday, she went grocery shopping for Mrs. Langley’s birthday party, going up each row to avoid forgetting anything and having to return. She had dropped Holly off at Mrs. Langley’s house to begin decorating so all they would have to do the next day was prepare the food.
Rachel went down the frozen food aisle and was reaching in for pastries when Bliss and Jewell came around the corner, pushing a buggy. Train and Cash were following along behind them as they shopped. She couldn’t catch a freaking break.
As they passed, she was determined to act normally this time.
“Hi, everyone.” Rachel smiled at each of them, including Cash.
“Hi, Rachel,” Bliss greeted. “Shopping for the party tomorrow night?”
“Yes. I promised Logan I would make his favorite fruit tarts. I told Lily and Evie everyone is invited.”
“We wouldn’t miss it. We’re always up for a party. It gives us a night off from cooking,” Jewell joked.
“Good, I’m glad you’re coming. See you tomorrow.” Rachel waved casually as she pushed her buggy away. She saw Cash look at her, and she didn’t try to avoid his gaze.
“Bye, Cash, Train.”
She let out a small whoosh of breath as she checked out; relieved she had come through with flying colors. She heard them playing around as she paid but didn’t look again.
She was rushing through putting her groceries in the trunk when she heard, “Need any help?”
Rachel jumped; she hadn’t even heard him come up behind her.
“Nope, I’m finished. Thanks anyway.” Rachel turned to him, giving him a smile before closing her trunk. Train and the girls were all loading their groceries into the back of his truck.