Page 3 of Sheltering Lawson
He chuckled and the sound was rich and contagious. I cracked a wan smile, then scooped some eggs into my mouth, a bite of savory sausage and a chunk of toast.
Braxton brought in the cup and set it down on the side table next to the couch.
He stepped back and he had to notice my plate was half gone. “Just traveling through?”
I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t going anywhere without fuel, both for myself and my car. “That was my plan, but I’m out of cash and out of gas.”
Braxton shifted and said, “You done any waitressing? I just sent one of my girls off to summer school in New Orleans, and another is heading there once she’s finished with her backpacking through Europe. So, I’m a mite short-staffed.”
“Yes, I’ve had several waitressing jobs.”
He stood there for a second as if he was measuring me up. He wiped his hands down his apron and said, “All right, you’re hired. I’ll expect you in the morning. Let’s see how you do.” He turned and left the room, and I sat there for a minute stunned.
“Did he just give me a job. Just like that?”
“Yeah, Brax doesn’t beat around the bush.”
This was a lifesaver. “I could start today,” I said.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” he said with concern.
“I’m fine now that I’ve eaten. I want to get started.” He nodded. With the money I made here, I could refuel my car and have some decent meals, then it would be back on the road again. It sure beat stripping.
The only complication wasn’t the way Ethan Fairchild was looking at me, it was the way my heart and body was responding to him. He could be trouble, the irresistible kind.
I couldn’t afford anything to slow me down.
If they caught me, it would all be over.
Chapter 2
ETHAN
The little blonde waif I had found just outside of Outlaw’s doors when I’d gone to open them after taking out the trash, was starving. That was easy to see. She hadn’t had a meal in some time. She was thin, the delicate bones of her pretty fairy features were prominent, her ocean blue eyes looking huge in her face.
Everything about her was ethereal and she’d weighed almost nothing in my arms as if she was made from fairy dust. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“I’ll be fine,” she said with a dismissive gesture, and it wasn’t the first time I got the vibe she didn’t want to talk about herself. She really didn’t want to talk. Period.
“We’re going to get the breakfast rush crowd, so I have to get back to the bar. You going to be all right back here?”
She looked up at me, cleaning off the last bite on her plate. She looked away, then back at me. “I’ll be fine.”
“I could give you a short-term loan for gas.”
Her eyes grew round. “I couldn’t impose—”
“You’re not imposing. I’m offering.” Sitting straight in the chair, I folded my arms across my chest and watched her as she sipped at the coffee, my mind absently registering what she was saying, the knot in my gut tightening. She looked like hell. Her hair had no luster, pulled severely off her face revealing a hollowness to her finely sculpted features, and there wasn’t a speck of color in her face. Her jeans practically hung on her, and it didn’t take much to detect an unhealthy energy in her. There was no doubt in my mind; she was running on empty.But from what?
“That is very generous, but I could just wait until I have tips.” She took a breath. “You really don’t know me.”
I reached into my back pocket and grabbed my wallet. Pulling out the money, I held it out to her. Do you need a ride to get the gas? The nearest station is down the road a piece.”
“No, that’s all right. I can walk. The town can’t be far.”
I pulled out my keys and tossed them to her. She caught them, her eyes wide.
“It’s the midnight blue truck out front. There’s a gas can in the back. Make a left out of here and it’s on the main road on your left. You can’t miss it.”
