Page 33 of Sheltering Lawson
“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to say and violate her privacy any more than I was doing now, but I needed answers. Maybe Mike could give me an edge.
“I see. It wouldn’t be that pretty waitress you’ve been mooning over.”
“It would be. Could you do this discreetly, keep it to yourself?”
“Absolutely, I’m not a gossiping biddy,” he growled. “I’ll get back to you with whatever I find out and keep it strictly confidential. I don’t like the idea that little ole’ thang is in trouble.”
I didn’t like it either and was determined to take the right course of action, not barrel into a situation I had no knowledge. Anyone could jump to conclusions, but the military taught me to get all the facts before I acted. It could mean life and death there, and it meant a great deal to me here. I wanted Lawson to be safe, happy…and in my arms. I couldn’t deny that. “Thank you, Mike.”
“Think about coming to work for me, will you?”
I sighed. “Mike, it’s complicated with my daddy. I’m torn between what I want and what he wants. I feel sometimes I don’t give it a fair shake because he’s always pushing so hard and I’m always pushing back.”
Mike was quiet for a moment, then said. “I understand, but ultimately, Ethan, you have to do what feels right for you, damn the consequences. If he can’t understand what makes you happy, then there’s nothing you can do about that, but living with your decision will be your burden, not his.”
That was such good advice. “I’ll give it serious consideration and thanks again.”
When I came out of the bathroom, there was no more time to talk privately with her. River was still talking, and I followed them down the stairs. River opened the doors and the flood of guests started to arrive. I was busy helping River with anything she needed while Lawson mingled with the guests and made sure the food and beverage service went smoothly.
At the end of the evening, after River had racked up a ton of sales, we went back up to change into our own clothes. When I came out of the bathroom, Lawson was seated at River’s desk, and River had a look of rapture on her face.
“I can’t believe you did this in a day. This is…freaking amazing. I need you.”
Lawson laughed, a beaming look on her face, but all I could think about was talking to her about this. I just didn’t know how or the best way to go about it.
“I will be talking to Brax about having you manage both of our businesses.”
“Manage…River, I wasn’t planning on staying.”
“Why the hell not? We could offer you an attractive package. Don’t make any plans until I talk to him. Promise me?” Lawson looked like she was caught between a rock and a hard place. “Please, Lawson. I’m just asking for a little bit of time.”
Lawson glanced at me, and the look on her face made my gut tighten. She looked backed into a corner and stressed like she was Alice suddenly thrust through the looking glass with no way out of this wacky world.
“All right, River. I won’t make any plans.”
I had to wonder if that was a lie and it only made my anxiety climb. Trying to figure out my course of action, we changed our clothes, said our goodbyes to River and headed back to the truck. All the way home Lawson talked almost non-stop about the gallery, River and what a day it had been, filling up the emptiness and I knew staving off my questions. The air was brittle by the time we got back to Outlaws.
“Thanks for driving me,” she said hastily, reaching for the handle. She got out so swiftly, I didn’t have a chance to stop her. But, I realized I couldn’t leave it like this. “Lawson,” I said, coming around the truck.
She had this apprehensive, I’m-ready-to-run look about her, and my stomach dropped. She wasn’t going to make this easy. “I like you here in Suttontowne. I think this thing between us could be more if you let it.”
“Ethan…” she whispered like she wanted me to stop talking. She looked lost, and I couldn’t stand it.
“I think at this stage in our relationship we can be honest with each other. Don’t you?”
She looked away, her whole body rigid. “I wasn’t planning on staying here. You knew that.”
“Why? What is in Texas that’s not here?”
“What I planned.” She lifted her head, but reminded me of a kitten trying to fend off a hungry wolf. “I don’t have to justify it.”
“No? Maybe you don’t remember what happens every time we do this.” I jerked her against me, craving her. She was consuming, intoxicating…so addicting.
Her soft lips parted beneath mine, and the way she caught her breath in the back of her throat told me all I needed to know. She couldn’t pretend. That little guttural moan gave her away and made me go instantly rock-hard. It was all I could do not to crush her between me and my truck.
I cupped her jaw, tilting her head for a better angle so I could take the kiss deeper, half expecting her to push me away.
But then her body arched against mine. Her fingers clutched at my shirt. When I pressed with the tip of my tongue, her lips parted and she took me in almost greedily. Fuck, I wanted her. In every way, my blood heavy in my veins.
