Page 22 of Sheltering Lawson
Chapter 8
ETHAN
I hadn’t been able to get Lawson off my mind. I realized after her day off she was working at keeping me at arm’s length.
That kiss on the bayou and the one I’d given her after dropping her back home that night told her in no uncertain terms that I was interested in her. But I didn’t want to spook her and make her feel uncomfortable. Giving her a little space made me antsy, but I tamped down my impatience. She needed time to acclimate to the idea of staying in one place. I wanted her to get comfortable with that idea.
Each day I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her. I let her have her breathing room, but as the day of the craft festival opened, three days after I’d last touched her, I was determined to at least talk to her.
As I drove through the part of town that was open to traffic, Main Street and the square had been closed down, through stop and go traffic, finally reaching the Sheriff’s Office to report for volunteer duty, I was eager to help out. I knew she was manning Brax’s booth that would be selling food to the hungry tourists and craft enthusiasts who were already flocking to Suttontowne for the two days of organized chaos. But I was also ready to give Mike a hand in policing the area, making sure things flowed smoothly, deterring crime, and any other duties that cropped up.
Inside the Sheriff’s Office several other guys were milling around until Mike’s strong voice said, “Let’s all go into the conference room.”
We piled inside and as we came in the door, we were issued a T-shirt and a badge to clip to our waistbands. The back of the T-shirt said,Crowd Control, Hope Parish Sheriff’s Office. Mike went over what he expected and then gave us our assignments.
Before I left, Mike said, “It’s good to have you with us, Ethan. I know if you’re on the job I won’t have to worry.”
Mike gave me a list, and I headed out to the center of town. Later, I was working the square, making sure no one was trying to park in an area that was restricted unless they were a vendor.
It was a hectic morning and I had very little time to breathe, but Lawson was still heavy on my mind. I wanted to know why she was putting up roadblocks. What she was running from and why? As I was checking the credentials of one of the driver’s, I heard, “I just want one more. I have good money. I can pay.”
I waved him through to park in the city hall lot and turned to see what the shouting was about.
As I came around one of the booths, one serving burgers and beer, a man was pounding on the counter. “Serve me!”
I looked around for a deputy, but they were scarce in the area. When he suddenly lunged across the short expanse, separating him and the guy manning the booth, grabbing his shirtfront, I moved.
I got the guy in a simple hold, one that sent him to his knees. “Call the Sheriff’s Department,” I said to the booth operator and he grabbed his cell.
“Let me go,” the man shouted.
“Keep your voice down and calm down, sir. Have you been drinking all morning?”
“Yes, what’s it to you?” he shouted.
“You’re looking at drunk and disorderly. I’d be a little quieter and more respectful,” I said calmly.
“Look, I just wanted a drink,” he growled, slurring his words.
“I think you’ve had enough.”
A cruiser pulled up and Mike got out. He walked over to me and said, “Looks like you’re doing my job again.” He smiled.
I nodded and said, “He was getting handsy with the booth operator. Drunk and disorderly.”
Mike grabbed his wrist even as the man began protesting again, swearing a blue streak, but when he saw the uniform, he clammed up. Mike cuffed him and led him to the car. Once he was safely inside, Mike said, “Thanks for doing such a good job, Ethan. Maybe you should think about law enforcement. You have a knack for it. Just a thought.”
“I don’t know, Mike.”
“I’ve always got an opening for an excellent candidate. Think about it.”
“Do you have a superman’s cape beneath that shirt?”
Lawson’s voice froze me in place, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. I turned around and found her leaning just outside Outlaws’ booth.
“Shh, you’ll blow my cover,” I murmured as I walked over to stand in front of her. She laughed. “Oh, I don’t think it’s a secret at all,” she said. She looked amazing today, her thick blonde hair wrapped in a messy braid that graced her shoulder, the tail reaching almost to the waist of her jeans, her blue eyes like a slice of sky, and her teasing smile was the best sight of all. She’d lost those circles under her eyes and that gaunt look. She was dressed in a simple yellow blouse, but even in those clothes, she still had an air of class about her.
“I see Brax roped you into taking a turn on the booth.”
