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  Turning to the right, she continued her way down the hallway to her room. She hoped a long, hot shower and a good night’s sleep might clear her mind about what to do. She had never been in this type of situation before. She usually knew what she wanted and went for it without any second thoughts.

  Cash had thrown her a curve ball, and for the first time in a very long while she was torn. She never watched any gossip shows, ever. Yet, her sisters loved hearing about the antics of their favorite stars, but none it interested her in the least. In spite of that, here was she attracted to a very handsome man who made his living off something she found a waste of time as a career path.

  She had to decide between her principles and the chemistry she felt pulling her in Cash’s direction. Choosing between the two wasn’t going to be easy, but it had to be done before things got too complicated and she wouldn’t be able to make a choice at all.

  Chapter Twelve

  Cash stood behind Luxury’s registration desk, trying to not lose his temper while his brother lectured him. He had finally gotten in touch with Gerald for help with money. Hoping he would send it to him, Cash could pay Rachelle for his hotel room. Hell, if he knew he was going to get the third degree, he would have tried one of his producers instead of going through this nonsense with his brother.

  “Cash, how could you fall asleep on the bus and let some stranger steal your wallet? I mean, come on, you didn’t even feel a thing? I thought you were more intelligent than to do something so stupid. How many times have you bragged about how smart you are compared to me? Yet, you make such a dumb mistake,” Gerald complained in his ear. “You aren’t looking so smart now, are you?”

  “I know,” he sighed, running his hand down his face. “You’re right, but can you help me?”

  He truly hated calling his baby brother for help since they weren’t on the best terms at the moment, but he needed it. He had to show Rachelle that he knew how to keep his word because he wanted to make sure things didn’t end badly between them. After he confessed to her about his job, he saw how she distanced herself from him. He had to build back some of what he might have destroyed earlier.

  Rachelle was the first genuine woman he had the pleasure of meeting in a very long time. Most of the women he came in contact with didn’t have the sophistication that seemed to radiate from her body. She showed her winning self the few hours she was around him. What other woman could pull off being sexy and smart without overdoing it like her?

  He wanted to pursue her even more if she’d allow him. She was so exhilarating, and just thinking about chasing her some more turned him on. He had to win her back. Rachelle excited him and he wasn’t ready for that feeling to go away…not anytime soon.

  “How much money do you need?” his brother asked, interrupting his thoughts.

  “You’re going to help me?” Cash asked, clearly surprised that Gerald had asked him for a dollar amount.

  His brother sighed on the other end of the phone. “I wouldn’t have asked you if I wasn’t going to help you out. We might fight, but you’re my brother. I can’t let you be stranded way out in the middle of nowhere. So, tell me how much you need. I know you will give it back to me when you get back home.”

  “Eight hundred dollars will be perfect. I’ll be able to pay for my hotel room and get a plane ticket back home,” he quickly answered. “There is no way in hell that I’m going to ride the Greyhound bus again. I think the fastest way for me to get it will be through Western Union. Can you do that for me?”

  “Are you sure that is enough?” Gerald questioned. “I think I’ll send you around twelve hundred and that will give you some extra cash in your pocket. I finally got the promotion I’ve been working towards, so I have the money. But, I do have one question for you—how do you expect to pick it up from Western Union? You don’t have any identification to prove who you are. If I remember correctly, don’t you have to show the place a photo ID to get the money?”

  “Shit,” Cash cursed underneath his breath. “I forget I needed ID to pick the money up.” What in the hell was he going to do now? He was actually getting the money plus money that he needed and he had to make this hurdle.

  He didn’t know what he was going to do until an idea suddenly came to him. “Send it to Rachelle Williams. She can pick it up and give it to me.”

  “Who in the hell is Rachelle Williams?” Gerald demanded. “You haven’t hooked up with another groupie again, have you? I know sometimes when you go on vacation a few women do recognize your name and face.

  “I thought you would have learned your lesson from the last woman. You almost had a stalker on your hands, if you hadn’t taken her to court and gotten that restraining order against her. She might actually still think the two of you were in a relationship. You need to be careful about who you take pictures with for now on.”

  “No, she isn’t a groupie. She is the owner of the hotel where I’m staying for the night. She was nice enough to let me check in, or else I might be sleeping on a park bench. I need to pay her. I trust her to take out the room money and give me the rest. So, will you do it or not? It’s the only way I will be able to get the money. Rachelle is a good woman, and not a thief.”

  There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone that he didn’t miss. “Cash, is there something going on with you and this woman?” Gerald asked him.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. There isn’t anything going on between me and Rachelle, why would you ask me that question?”

  “I just find it odd for you call a woman you barely know by her first name. Have you set your sights on this Ms. Williams? I know how you can be when a woman gets your attention. You don’t give up until she gives you a chance. It’s been that away since we were kids and you hadn’t changed that much over the years.”

  “I can’t lie and say that Rachelle isn’t a beautiful woman because she is, but I don’t think I have a chance of things going any further between us,” Cash admitted, remembering the disappointed look in Rachelle’s eyes.

  “Okay, but whatever happens, don’t take it personally. You have to know some women might not like you making your living off of gossip. If this Ms. Williams turns out to be one of them move on from her and let it go. You will owe me big time for doing this. I’d just fallen asleep after getting home and now I have to get dressed and drive to the twenty-four-hour grocery store,” his brother complained.

  “I know I will, and I’ll make it up to you. I swear,” Cash said. “Just tell me what you want and it’s yours as long as it not something extravagant.”

  “Right now, I can’t think of anything so it will just be an IOU I will cash in at a later date. I’m warning you to be ready because it will be coming in the future.”

  “I will and thank you, Gerald.” His brother didn’t say a word back to him and Cash thought maybe Gerald had hung up.

  “You’re welcome. I need to get going so I won’t be on the road too late. You know how much I hate driving at night unless I really have to. I’ll call you back on your cell phone when I get everything done,” his brother told him, then ended their phone call.

  Hanging up the phone, Cash sent up a silent thank you. He was thrilled his brother had answered his phone call instead of allowing the answering machine to pick it up. Now, he would be able to pay Rachelle and have a little money left over to get back home. He had planned to stay a few more days, but after talking with Rachelle tonight his decision about his job had been made for him; he never wanted her or anyone else to look at him like that again.

  Moving from behind the desk, Cash shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks and paced the lobby in front of the fireplace. Thoughts of Rachelle had plagued his mind since he left her upstairs in his room to call his brother.

  She was everything he hadn’t wanted, but desperately needed in his fast-paced world. The way she had intrigued from the first moment they looked at each other still surprised him. He was used to seeing beautiful women
day in and day out because it came with the job, but Rachelle’s freshness dimmed their beauty like nothing else.

  Rachelle made him unabashedly direct about his attentions towards her. She made him not want to play the games he usually did in his past relationships. His instincts had never failed him in the past and he knew they weren’t going to now when they came to her. He saw the potential the two of them could have together. Now, all he had to do was get Rachelle to see them as well.

  How could he just let her go without even trying to make this work?

  She had this brightness about her that seemed to light up the room every time she walked into it. He never thought eating a kid’s camping snack in front of a fireplace could be so much fun, but it had been with her. She made it seem like a two-hundred-dollar meal in any of the fine restaurants he was used to eating in back home.

  The sparkle in her eyes only got more pronounced by the flames. He was so drawn into them that he fought his hunger and wanted to spend the time getting to know more about her. Which surprised him because, most of the time, he was so self-indulgent he wasn’t interested in spending his time on someone else.

  Just hearing her talk about her business and family filled some of the emptiness in his heart and it felt outstanding. He wasn’t ready to lose something he just found. He couldn’t be shoved back into a dim, dark world he was beginning to hate. Rachelle’s sweetness was the light guiding his way away from his past and he wanted to keep going towards his future. He only hoped that her decision wouldn’t the one that he didn’t want to hear.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I think one of us should go and check on Rachelle again,” Akisha said, walking around the test kitchen at her job. “I think I got through to her last night, but I’m not sure. I can see why she fell for Cash so fast. He was very charming and knew exactly the right words to tell me while I was there.”

  “I can’t believe you’re telling me this,” Sasha complained. “We all decided you would be the best person to send to Luxury and now you’re telling us that Cash wasn’t creepy at all.”

  Turning around, Akisha glared at her sister over her shoulder. She had gotten to work early and invited her sisters over so they could talk about Rachelle. She wanted to let them know how last night went before Ethan arrived at work, but they weren’t going to settle anything if Sasha kept opening her big mouth.

  “I can’t lie. He did come across like a good guy, but he looked familiar to me. I can’t put my finger on it,” Akisha replied, trying to keep the conversation on the right track. “I know I have seen him somewhere before. Just give me some time and it will come to me. I never forget a face and Cash’s will come to me.”

  “Well, I still think something was wrong with her last night. Our big sister wouldn’t ever think about jumping into bed with some guy she just met at Luxury,” Genise said, taking a sip of her coffee. “I should have been the one who drove over there. Cash wouldn’t have spent the night in the same room as our sister. Why aren’t any of us saying what the truth is?”

  Sighing, Akisha wanted this conversation to be over. Her day hadn’t even started yet and now she had to deal with all of this nonsense. “Alright, enlighten us, Ms. Know-it-all. What are we not being truthful about when comes to Rachelle?”

  Genise shot her a glaring look and then continued. “We all know if one of us ever thought about doing what she almost did last night, she would have called Mom and Dad. She would have told them all about it without a second thought, but it would have come after giving us the riot act first,” she said, making eye contact with her and then Sasha.

  “You’re right, but you weren’t the one who took charge and went over there. Akisha was, so why don’t you just keep your opinion to yourself?” Sasha said. “I’m not going to waste another minute second guessing my decision. I think it was the right one.”

  “Don’t try to blame me for anything, because it isn’t my fault. Akisha failed at her job last night. How about this? Why don’t you mind your own business and worry about your own love life?” Genise suggested. “I can’t remember the last time you had a boyfriend, but why would you when he is in your life?”

  “What are you talking about?” Sasha demanded, walking around Akisha. She went to stand directly over her sibling, who was still seated.

  “All of us know that you are already in love with your boss. I don’t know what you even see in Sterling anyway. I mean, the few times I have come to visit you at your job he is constantly walking around his employees with his nose stuck up in the air like he’s so much better than all of you.”

  “We aren’t talking about me,” Sasha shot back, angry. “Besides, I’m not in love with Sterling Hamilton. He is just my boss and nothing else. He hired me to do a job and when it’s over I’m gone. When are you going to get that through your thick skull?”

  Genise arched an eyebrow at her. “Really, is that your story now? I thought you were trying to get that promotion he keeps dangling under your nose. Don’t you want to be a permanent part of his company? Oh, I’m sorry. What happened, did your meeting with him last night not turn out as planned? Did he back out at the last minute because you didn’t praise him enough?”

  “I really hate you,” Sasha hissed. “And furthermore, he cancelled on me because he…”

  “See, I’m right. He does think he’s better than you.”

  “Will the two of you stop fighting? We decided to meet here to talk about Rachelle and Cash. We aren’t going to get anything done if we keep clashing about stupid things. Sterling is Sasha’s business, not yours, Genise. So, just leave it alone.” Akisha said.

  “Well she’s always in mine, so turnabout is fair play,” Genise mumbled, falling back in her seat and crossing her arms over her breasts. “Anyway, I could have stayed in bed another hour instead of getting up to deal with Sasha. How can she tell Rachelle anything when she isn’t woman enough to tell Sterling her feelings?”

  “I’m done talking about Sasha and Sterling. You deal with your own personal life and let Sasha to take care of hers. If she needs or wants our help, she will ask one of us but until then stay out of it,” Akisha said.

  “Fine, I will. Let’s get this over with so I can go back home. I have to work a second shift tonight. I need to get some more sleep or I’m going to be a bitch to deal with,” Genise said.

  “Since our big sister isn’t acting like herself, do either one of you think it has anything to do with Luxury?” Sasha suggested. “I’m beginning to think working all of those extra hours week after week could be getting to her.”

  “It could be,” Akisha agreed. “She’s there a lot more than us. I know it’s her business. We only work there when we have the extra time, but maybe we should step it up a little more. I like living on the edge sometimes. But, I wouldn’t ever think about having a one night stand with any guy. It wouldn’t matter how hot he is.”

  “You’re such a liar, Akisha,” Genise said, sitting up straighter staring at her from across the table. “Sasha and I both know you already had the same exact thoughts our big sister did last night.”

  “What are you talking about?” Akisha frowned, glaring at her sister. “I’m not about to have sex with a man I don’t know.”

  “Are you really trying to tell us if Ethan Newman asked you to spend the night at his place, you wouldn’t jump at the chance to do it? Have you ever noticed how you bring him up any chance you get? This morning might be the first day in months that you haven’t, so he must have done something again to get on your bad side. Did he go out on a date with another woman who wasn’t you?”

  “You really need to stop tossing Ethan in my face all the time. It’s getting old. You might make me tell you something you don’t want to hear. So, leave it alone.”

  “Don’t get all upset with me because I’m speaking the truth,” Genise hurled back.

  “Stop fighting, you two,” Sasha jumped in. “We aren’t here to do that. Now, let’s get back on topic. Should we confront
Rachelle about Cash later on today when we have the shift change at Luxury, or should we let it go?”

  “Do you think we are reading too much into this?” Genise asked. “Maybe she changed her mind last night after Akisha left. None of us knows what happened because we haven’t spoken to her.”

  “From the way she was acting with him, I think our sister really likes Cash. The two of you weren’t there. I saw how they were looking at each other. What if this could grow into something more for Rachelle? She hasn’t dated a guy in such a long time. I hate to say this, but Genise could be right. We might need to stay out of Rachelle’s business and let her figure out things for herself,” Akisha said, hoping she wasn’t making the wrong decision.

  “I think you are wrong, but I’ll go ahead and leave it alone, too,” Sasha said.

  “Great. Now since that is all settled, how about we have Akisha fix us some breakfast? I’m starving and we are inside a huge, impressive kitchen. I know you can whip something together for your hungry sisters.”

  “If I could make a suggestion, I think blueberry pancakes with crispy bacon and fresh orange juice would be delicious,” Sasha moaned. “I can almost smell the bacon in the oven.”

  Akisha glanced back and forth between her sisters like they had lost their minds. “I can’t cook you anything to eat.”

  “Why?” Sasha and Genise asked her.

  “This is Ethan’s test kitchen. He is the one who mainly cooks in here. I do a little bit with the other chefs, but I’m more of his assistant in charge of the other staff,” she answered.

  “Oh, I get it. You don’t want to prove what a horrible cook you really are,” Sasha teased. “For the past two years, we thought you were here working and honestly you weren’t doing a thing but drooling over Ethan and his light brown eyes.”