Page 36 of Sheltering Lawson
Unable to handle her despair, I looked across the room. The sounds from her tearing me to shreds inside. But there was nothing I could do until I heard the story.
I had just about reached my limit when she finally lifted her head and quickly wiped her face. She let her breath go in a shuddering sigh, then she clasped my shirt. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at me, a depleted expression in her eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin,” she whispered. “It’s all been so awful.”
I settled back, taking her with me and cuddling her against my chest. I gave her a small smile. “Then why don’t you just start talking, and we’ll see where it takes us?”
She managed a smile, then she leaned her head against my jaw. “I’m from Atlanta,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I have no family left: my daddy died when I was twenty-five, just after I was married. He was very wealthy and very well-regarded in Atlantean society.”
“You’re an heiress?”
“Yes, are you surprised I’m a princess?”
I shook my head, urging her with my eyes to go on. “My daddy was sweet and kind, always wanted the best for me. He introduced me to a man he thought I would do well with, encouraged me to consider my future.” Her voice caught and her eyes teared up again.
“Lawson,” I asked softly, “who is Bradley?”
She looked at me, her gaze bleak. “My husband.”
Chapter 12
LAWSON
I don’t know why I expected him to explode or release me and be upset. I guess it’s because I’d been subjected to a selfish, narcissistic man for too long. Ethan stared at me for a few seconds. “You’re married, but obviously not intending to stay with this a-hole.” He kissed my temple and pulled me closer. “I’m sorry you had to go through all this.”
It was a defining moment, a moment that I could only describe as incredible. This man who I’d lied to, even though it was by omission; this man who could have been insecure and react badly was as solid as a rock, confident, strong, and very alpha. So many things Brad wasn’t. I thought…no, Iwasfalling for him, falling hard and deep like a star from out of the heavens. I wrapped my arms around his neck and just held on, marveling at how solid, how confident I felt about Ethan.
“No,” I whispered on the huff of a short laugh, I’m not going to stay with him. In fact, I filed for divorce.”
“How about we make some coffee and discuss this all the way through? I want to know everything.”
“It’s getting so late,” I said, “You have to work tomorrow.”
“I work loosely for Brax. It’s only been since you came that I’ve been working regularly for him. He’s also going to cut you some slack. You’ve been working almost non-stop since you got here. I’ll call him and square it up. You get ready for bed. I can wait to hear all the details.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Not if you don’t want me to. I told you I don’t want to take advantage of you, but I’m worried if I stay…”
“If you stay? What? We get intimate like we both want to?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
“You’re not concerned about me being married. I mean, to me now, it’s just a legal matter. Getting involved with you scares me a little because I’m not sure how this is all going to get resolved. But, I’m so drawn to you, Ethan, more so than any man I’ve ever known. We both feel it every time we’re together. It’s pretty hard to ignore.”
Now he was focused on my mouth and my skin heated from the gaze. He raised his eyes. “Impossible,” he whispered.
“The situation…or me?”
He chuckled. “Both, but mostly you.”
“Is that bad?”
“No, Lawson, it’s good.”
He bent to kiss me, but I covered his lips with my fingers. “I know you don’t know the whole story, and it feels so damn good that you’re willing to trust me with the details. That means so much to me, Ethan, but I can’t be with you until I tell you something.”
He kissed my fingertips. “Tell me, then.”
“I’ve had to do plenty of odd jobs since I ran. Brad has systematically shut me out of my bank accounts. I’ve had no access to money for fear of him finding me. I’ve waitressed, landscaped, baked doughnuts, and even shoveled manure.”
