Page 11 of Sheltering Lawson
“I’ve been working on a project for Brax. I’m going home and getting cleaned up. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“All right,” I said as he left.
I went about my normal routine when the phone rang. I went over and said, “Outlaws.”
“Lawson, it’s Brax. I’m running late. River had a meeting this morning and the trips have colds. I should be able to be there later this afternoon. Martha’s car broke down, so she’s out, too. How are you on the basic fare?”
“I can make eggs, bacon and toast, but other than that, I’m useless.”
“That’s perfect. My patrons are used to my changing the menu. But, my biscuit recipe is in the small box by the stove. If you could whip up some of those, that would be good, too.”
“All right. I think I can handle it until you get in.”
“Thank you for covering.”
“You bet.” I hung up and got to work. I heated up the griddle and the stove, made the biscuits and had those baking, then I did the rest of what was needed. I opened the doors just before six o’clock.
Immediately someone pushed inside and the minute he cleared the door, I saw the gun. I gasped and he grabbed me by the arm. He smelled like smoke and cheap liquor, his breath hot and sour.
“Don’t scream or it’ll be over for you. Where’s the cash?”
“In the register,” I whispered, pointing to the bar. He hurt my arm he was holding me so tight.
Dragging me over to the register, he said, “Open it.”
I did as I was told and was appalled to see so much still in the drawer. Brax needed more regular deposits. He shoved me hard, and I stumbled into the side of the bar, cracking my elbow and my ribs. He ripped wads of cash out of the drawer.
I don’t know where Ethan came from, but one minute he wasn’t there, the next minute he had easily disarmed the man and had him against the bar, his arm twisted up behind him until the guy cried out.
“Ethan,” I said breathlessly.
“Are you all right?” His tone held an underlining anger, but his eyes were calm, the violence he contained in those impressive muscles under his control. He leaned down after my nod. “You move a muscle and you won’t be able to move for a very long time. You got me, son?”
“Yes,” the guy bit out when Ethan torqued his arm. Ethan let him go long enough to scoop up the gun. He ejected the bullet in the chamber and then set the safety. That’s when the guy bolted, making a run for the front door. I stuck out my foot and he went sprawling.
“Nice, Lawson,” he said with a chuckle as he hauled the guy up off the floor and grabbed both of his hands in his big one. Marching him back over to the bar, he said, “Call the sheriff.”
Those words made me freeze. I wasn’t keen on law enforcement, and I had solid reasons for it. The men after me would stop at nothing and they used and abused their power both with me and the system. But how could I argue?
I grabbed the phone and Ethan rattled off the number. It wasn’t long before a man came through the door dressed in blue jeans, a camel colored shirt with a silver star on it, a gun holstered on his hip. “Ma’am,” he said, nodding to me. “Mike Dalton.”
“Lawson Edwards. Nice to meet you.” He was a middle-aged, tall, broad-shouldered man with a boyish face and a twinkle in his eyes. I liked him right away.
He turned to the robber and sighed, “Jimmy, haven’t I given you enough room and board, son? The judge is going to throw the book at you. I’m thinking you really need AA and a ten-step program.”
The man remained sullen as the sheriff pulled out a pair of cuffs. “Nice job, Ethan. I swear, boy, your talents are wasted behind this bar. Speaking of that, I’m going to be shorthanded for the festival next week. Would you be available to fill in. With your military training, I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking you in.”
Ethan hesitated for a split second, something flashing in his eyes. Then, he nodded. “Sure, Mike. I got you covered.”
Ethan had been in the military? That explained the air of authority around him, the close-cropped hair, and the honed body. It also explained how he’d easily subdued that guy. As soon as the sheriff was gone, he came into the kitchen. I had managed to save the biscuits.
He walked right up to me. “Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you?”
“No, just scared me.”
He was standing so close. Kissing close and as soon as that popped into my head, I couldn’t seem to resist looking at his mouth and those full, enticing lips. He smelled so damn good again, that spicy and citrus smell making me lean into him. He cupped my lower back and pressed small circles there as if he was trying to release the tension so evident in my body. I shivered and he felt it. His face softened, his head tilting. “I’m sorry you were scared,” he whispered. “But, you’re safe here. After work, don’t go rushing off. I want to show you something.”
That sent another wonderful shiver down my spine, and I lifted my chin to look him in the eyes. This close they were more green than blue and that took my breath away.
