Waves Of The Heart (Completed)

7. Princess

My muscles ache as I rest back in the seat of my truck. For the last week, I have been a town over helping the recovery efforts from the storm and Erik had joined Saul and I as we all volunteered. It isn't often we get a storm that bad but the communities around come together to help the others.

Sleep has been very little but when I do sleep, my dreams are reliving the moment I shared with Rachel in the cabin of her boat.

I get out of the truck and walk into the boat shop. Rachel turns from the coffee area holding a cup in her hand. "Finally." She smiles with a breathe.

I raise an eyebrow and smirk. "Miss me?" I tease.

She nods her head. "Can you come up to the front for a minute?"

I nod and follow her to her desk. She sits in the chair and I notice the small white furball sleeping in a small cat bed on the corner of her desk. It looks much bigger and healthy, not a skinny wet kitten. The white fur seems to shine bright. "How has she been?"

Rachel looks to the kitten with a smile. "She is such a sweet heart. The vet said she is actually four months old. She must had been a stray for a long time to be in such a bad shape but her weight is gaining perfectly since she has been with Jade and I. She has not been away from me at all as you can tell she comes to work with me." Her laughter is light.

"What did you name her?"

"Princess."

I smirk. "Cute." Her head pops up and I chuckle. "She knows her name."

"Jade had been talking nonstop about the lunch that you gave him and I was wondering where you got it or if you made it?"

"That is from my baby sisters Diner. It is down the road to the right in town."

Rachel nods. "Thank you and also I wanted to give you this."

I frown as she moves to sit on one hip and pulls out some cash. She hands it out and my frown deepens. Then something pops in my mind and I smirk, leaning against the doorframe of the front by her desk. "You know you don't have to pay me for the services. I am not a whore."

Rachel's mouth drops open before it closes and she opens it again with nothing coming out. Her cheeks turn that nice red shade that travels down her chest then hides under her shirt. "No!" She hands the money out more towards me. "This is for the lunch you gave Jade. I was going to give it to you for a while now but we hadn't met until." Her words trail off.

I smirk and push off the doorframe. "Keep it."

"But."

"Keep it." I cut her off repeating myself and she sighs. "He seemed hungry and I couldn't eat and not give him any."

"But you went without lunch that day."

"No I didn't. I had a granola bar and banana."

Rachel shakes her head. "That isn't lunch. He had said you weren't hungry."

I shrug. "He doesn't need to know that."

"I was about to run to the store and get him lunch just so you know, but I was held up on the phone with a boat owner."

I nod. "School had let out early that day and I had thought he was with an owner. Now, though, I know I will see him around more."

She nods. "He just started school the morning of the storm."

"So you are new to town?" I frown and she nods.

"My nephew and I moved here just a short time before you seen him here. There were issues with getting his transcripts so it took a bit longer before he got to start."

"How old is your nephew?"

"Jade is twelve."

I smile. "He is the same age as my nephew then. How is he liking it here?"

Rachel smiles. "Jade loves it here. He has actually made friends here. One of them invited him over for a night, I think the name is Sam." She frowns. "No, that isn't right. Samuel." She nods and looks up.

I laugh. "That is my nephew."

"No way."

I nod and she smiles. "Jade has talked about Samuel so much the last couple of days."

"I am glad they are friends." I smile and Rachel holds the money again.

"Are you sure you will not take this?"

I shake my head. "I'm sure. Keep it."

She finally puts the money inside her purse after opening the drawer on the desk.

My hand rubs my neck as I watch her and my body reacts with blood rushing down to my southern region when I see her back and shirt riding up slightly. She sits up and I clear my throat. "I did want to ask."

"Yes?" She looks up to me.

"Would you like to go on a date with me this weekend?"

Rachel slowly smiles. "Yes, I would like that."

I mirror her smile and step over to the desk. "Could I get your number? That way I can text you the details."

She nods and we exchange numbers.

"I better be getting to work."

Rachel nods. "Owners will be ready for their boats."

I chuckle and nod. With one last smile, I leave the front. Just as I make it to the tool box, Saul stands there smirking. "That was entertaining."

I roll my eyes with a smirk.

"Don't scare her off."

"I promise I won't."

Saul smiles. "Regina likes her a lot and Rachel is a kind person. Life has been hard on her and Jade." He frowns then shakes his head when he sees me looking at him. "Her and Regina have gotten close. Part of me thinking Regina sees Rachel as her daughter."

I smile. "I best be getting to the boats."

"I will join." Saul nods and we get tools out before walking down to the docks.