Stormy Weather (9 page)

The prolonged anticipation was almost unbearable. She got lost in the spicy scent of him; it filled her senses—hot, sexy, and all male. She had never needed someone so badly. She barely knew anything about him, but her past boyfriends she knew better than the back of her hand and they broke her heart numerous times. Maybe Cash…

Whoa…wait a minute. You don’t even know him. What in the hell are you doing thinking about making love with him?
Akisha’s voice flashed through her mind and then it was gone.

“Tell me that you want me,” he demanded against her swollen lips. His hot breath brushed against her skin, making her body shiver.

“Mmmm, I want you,” Rachelle whispered in a low, soft voice. “You make me feel so good.”

Chapter Nine

Her mind and body were so lost in the hotness of kissing Cash, Rachelle didn’t feel her back touching the couch. It wasn’t until his big, warm body slipped between her spread thighs…

“No, we have to stop.” She twisted her head away and shoved at his wide chest. “We can’t do this. Not here.”

“What…why?” Cash nibbled at the side of her neck. “We both want the same thing. You know that we have been dancing around this need to be with each other all night. Something powerful flared between us the second I turned around and our eyes connected from across the room. We have been trying to fight it, but it’s getting harder and harder. So, why can’t we just give in to it?”

God, he made
everything
seem so simple and easy, but she wasn’t used to living on the edge like this. As her own driving need shocked her, it pushed her out of Cash’s spell and slowly back to reality. She just couldn’t jump into the unknown with Cash because she had to set some sort of limitations for them. They both had to take a deep breath and a huge step back. Because no matter how good he was making her body feel at the moment, she had to get better control of herself and stop before she did something that she might regret later.

Pressing her fingers against Cash’s mouth, she stared into his desire-filled gray eyes. He nibbled at them, making her moan. “Please stop or I won’t be able to think. I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” he asked, leaning away from her.

“I’m not telling you to quit because I want to, it’s the furthest thing from the truth. Did you forget that we are about to have a visit from my sister Akisha? I don’t want her to catch us making out on the couch. I would never hear the end of it. She would tell my other sisters and they would hold it over my head for as long as they can. No, we need to get up and be ready for her.”

“I don’t get why she is even coming here,” Cash said, getting off her body. He sat down on the opposite end of the couch.

“It’s a long story, but they are a tiny bit overprotective of me,” Rachelle said, straightening her clothes.

She pulled her skirt down and fixed her shirt. She didn’t even remember Cash unbuttoning it. God, he was very good at making out with a woman, which made her wonder just how many times he had done something like this. Maybe her sisters were doing the right thing—she
was
moving a bit fast with Cash. Her feelings for him intensified as her heart pounded, almost stealing her breath.

“Are you glad that she’s on her way?”

“I can’t do anything to stop her, so I’m going to make the best of it,” Rachelle said as she slid across the couch and ran her fingertips over Cash’s full bottom lip. “I know if she was kissing a man she just met, I would be doing the same exact thing. You have to admit, it does seems odd for us to be acting like this with each other.”

Grabbing her hand, Cash moved it away from his mouth. “I can’t deny that I have never moved this fast with another woman, but there is just something about you. I’m not able to fight it as much as I want.”

“I feel the same way, but we need to get ourselves together. Akisha has a sharp eye and will be able to tell if we were doing something we shouldn’t have been doing.”

“I guess finding us on the couch wouldn’t have been the best way for me to meet your sister.” Cash chuckled, then planted a kiss on her finger before getting off the couch. “I think I better go upstairs and take a shower. I need to cool off before she comes walking through the front door. I already have this feeling she isn’t
too
fond of me.”

Glancing to the side, Rachelle noticed Cash’s erection and it brought a smile to her lips. She liked that she could get him aroused so easily. “Maybe later you can come to my room for a nightcap?” she suggested as she stood up and pulled her skirt down for a second time.

“Are you sure?” he asked, cupping her face in his hands. “I want to make myself very clear with you. I really like what is happening between us, but I don’t want you to think I need to have you in my bed. If we don’t take it any further, I’ll be fine with your decision. All I want to do is take things wherever they can go from here.”

He stepped closer and ran his hands up and down her arms. “I don’t want to rush you into anything. We can take things as slowly as you want. However, I won’t lie to you. I have slept with women before on the first night and we didn’t stay together.

“I feel like we could have something here. I would kick myself if I messed it up by taking things too fast, so how about we get through your sister’s visit and then move on to the next step?”

“Thank you for being truthful with me,” she whispered and then smiled at him. “I know most men would have lied about having a one night stand.”

“I’m not most men and I’m more than willing to prove it to you. However, I better head upstairs so you can have some alone time with Akisha. I know she will have a hundred questions about me. Tell her what you want and then I’ll be more than glad to fill her in on anything else from my past. I swear I’m not bad news.” Cash winked at her before moving upstairs to his room.

Only a few minutes had passed after Cash had disappeared from sight before the front doors to
Luxury
opened. Rachelle turned around and spotted Akisha strolling in with a determined look in her eyes. She was barely about to count to ten before the words left her sister’s mouth.

“Alright, where is this mystery guy I have been hearing so much about? What is so special about him that you have lost your damn mind? I want to meet him and I mean now!”

“Before you take Cash’s head off with your bare hands, can I at least get a hug from my baby sister? I haven’t laid eyes on you in almost a week.” Rachelle walked over to Akisha and gave her a tight hug. “I left several messages on your phone, but you never called me back,” she complained. “I mean, I never get to talk to you anymore unless you’re on speakerphone with Sasha and Genise.”

Akisha sighed as she took a step away from her. “Rachelle, you know I stay busy with work and other things. I can’t answer all of your phone calls. Do you know how much you are beginning to sound like Mama again? She gets on me all of the time for not calling her, like five minutes after she leaves me a message or text. I swear I might have to change my phone number because of my family.

“Enough about me. We both know the real reason I drove all the way out here. Tell me where this guy is. Did you warn him that I was coming over here and now he’s hiding from me?”

Rachelle wasn’t about to tell Akisha the real reason that Cash went upstairs, because it wasn’t any of her sister’s business. “For your information, Cash is upstairs taking a shower after being in the basement working on the breaker. He got dirty. After he is done, he will be down here to meet you. He isn’t hiding from you, little sister.”

Akisha’s gaze searched her face like she was trying to read whether or not she was lying to her. “Fine, I can wait until he’s done. I’m not leaving until I’m positive you aren’t trying to get involved with a psycho or a killer.”

“Cash isn’t a psycho or a killer. You watch way too much television,” Rachelle said. “He’s just a nice guy that I’m attracted to and we are having a good time getting to know each other.”

“You aren’t thinking clearly because your mind is all clouded with lust. I’m here to straighten you out. Why can’t you understand that you can never tell about men these days? Don’t you watch those shows on the ID Channel?”

“No, I don’t watch those reality shows because I don’t want to end up like you. What’s so wrong with sharing a meal with someone? Isn’t that how a woman is supposed to get to know a man better?”

Her sister threw her hands up in the air. “Shit, none of us would be so worried about you if all you wanted to do was share a meal with this guy. We would tell you to go for it, but you shouldn’t even be thinking about sharing a bed with him. You know nothing, and I do mean nothing, about him. He just walks through the front door and you’re ready to give it to him. Where in the hell is your mind?” Akisha shouted. “I’m so glad Sasha called me about this nonsense.”

Rachelle took a quick breath, astonished. A new and unexpected warmth surged through her. Akisha was really concerned for her safety, but she didn’t have to be. She had everything under control. She wasn’t going to allow anything to happen to herself.

“You really need to stop listening to everything that comes out of Sasha’s mouth. She doesn’t have a clue about what is going on with me. She called you in a panic for nothing. I think she needs to focus more on getting Sterling’s attention or at least that job promotion instead of meddling in my life.”

Akisha didn’t say a word to her as she went behind the front desk and checked the sign in ledger. “Cash Garon,” she said, pointing to the middle of the book. “What else do you know about this guy besides his cool sounding name?”

Walking across the room, Rachelle stopped in front of the desk. She moved the ledger away from her sister. “How about we talk about what’s going on with you? Have you gotten Ethan Newman to notice you?

“The last time we spoke you were working side by side with him and he still hadn’t asked you out on a date. Can he not see what is right in front of his face? You’re beautiful. What is wrong with him?”

Her sister shrugged her shoulders as a hurt look passed over her pretty face. “Truthfully, I’m beginning to think that I should just forget about trying to get him to notice I’m even there. Ethan isn’t interested in me whatsoever. He hasn’t given me a second glance or the time of day. I’m beginning to think Sasha, Genise, or even you will get married before I find the right man.” Akisha sighed, shaking her head.

“Don’t give up. I know that you will get Ethan’s attention. All you have to do is make him think you aren’t interested anymore and he’ll be all over you.”

“Thanks for the suggestion. However, your idea will be hard for me to do since I practically spend every waking moment with Ethan. We are usually thinking of new recipes and then we work on them in the test kitchen. Most of our clients are health nuts who always want to try out the latest diet trends. I mean I love being a nutritionist, but I need more in my life.”

“So, why don’t you spend that time making your move on him?” Rachelle asked. “He’s bound to realize you are there if your hand accidentally brushes over his as you are reaching for a measuring cup.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Akisha said, pointing her finger. “I see what you’re trying to do, but it isn’t going to work. You aren’t doing to sidetrack me into talking about my bad love life to take the focus off of your crazy situation, big sister. I came here to see about yours, not mine.”

Her sister looked away from her and over at the staircase. “How much longer is this Cash going to be upstairs? What is he doing, anyway? I know a shower doesn’t take this long for anyone. He has been gone a while. I’m beginning to think he might be hiding from me after all.”

“I don’t know. Cash will be down here when he is done. How about I fix us a drink and that will make the time go by faster?”

“I like the sound of that, but I can only have one. I need something to relax my nerves after the day I had at work.”

Silently, Rachelle prayed that Cash was relaxed after his long shower and ready to handle Akisha, because she wasn’t sure what her sister’s questions were going to be for him. She only wanted the two of them to get along with each other. She wanted things to work out between her and Cash after Akisha left.

Chapter Ten

Brushing slightly damp hair back off his forehead, Cash checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror one final time. On purpose he stayed upstairs longer than necessary so he could prepare to meet Rachelle’s sister. He sensed Rachelle was more nervous than him and he wanted to give her some time to allow the stress to leave her body. She didn’t need to worry about him along with how her sister would handle their unique situation.

Cash wasn’t sure about what to expect with Akisha, but he would deal with anything she tossed at him. No matter what happened when he finally made his way downstairs and came face to face with her, he was going to show Akisha that this wasn’t a one night stand between him and Rachelle.

Akisha couldn’t say anything to prevent him from pursuing a relationship with Rachelle. He had never been fond of long-distance relationships, but he was willing to get his feet wet with the beautiful woman he met tonight.

Okay, I have wasted enough time in my room. I need to go downstairs and find out what is waiting for me
. Cash left his room, ready for whatever might happen. He was a grown man and there wasn’t anything to fear, but fear itself.

Cash was halfway down the steps leading back to the lobby. He could see Rachelle and her sister by the front door. He almost let Rachelle and her sister know of his presence, but stopped when he heard his name. Rachelle was talking about him. He stopped walking and remained very still. He wanted to hear what Rachelle thought of him when he wasn’t around.

“I still think you are acting irrationally. Why can’t you just date him for a while and get to know his likes and dislikes before you crawl into bed with him?” her sister complained. “You are the one who’s always demanding the rest of us act responsibly and you’re doing this? I have to ask again and I’ll keep asking until I get the answer that I want: what is wrong with you? Are you going through a mid-life crisis or something?