Page 58 of Sheltering Lawson
I reached out and picked up the envelope and broke the seal. Pulling out the contents, I gasped. They’d accepted me for the incoming fall class. I closed my eyes and did a happy dance. I saw that I would have to be in New Orleans by the middle of August for a mandatory orientation and classes started on the following Tuesday. That was totally doable. I called my realtor and told her I needed a place in New Orleans, a house would be nice, authorized her to pay cash and told her I needed it by the beginning of August so that I could move in and get myself prepared for law school. I also asked her to find me an interior designer as well. I didn’t have time to handle that. I’d keep this information to myself for now. I really wanted to tell Ethan and Brax in person. But time was getting short.
As I walked into the DA’s office, Maria rose, greeted me and ushered me into Tom’s office.
Tom came around the desk. “Haley, good to see you again. How have you been?”
“Ready for this to be over.”
“Well, you got your wish. Brad and his father pled out.”
“That’s really good news. What does it mean?”
“I offered Brad a plea bargain. He would take the aggravated assault charges and the kidnapping charges, but I would drop the lesser charge of grand theft. We would also drop the drug possession charges currently against him as after a search of your home we found a large quantity of cocaine. Due to his father’s age, I also offered to reduce his sentence, but Brad would take a full twenty years instead of the longer sentence he was likely going to be slapped with after a trial. He was supposed to uphold the law and he broke it in numerous ways. It wouldn’t have gone well for him if he fought you in court. He would be eligible for parole after fifteen. He didn’t want the media attention and the public humiliation of a trial, so he agreed. I also have this for you. It’s the divorce papers. He signed them.”
“It’s over.”
“For Brad and his dad, it is. For you, a beginning.”
I stood. “I can’t thank you enough for everything. You’ve been so very kind.”
“It’s the least we can do after what you’ve been through. Be happy, Haley, and good luck with everything.”
The next day, I was on the road, all my legal papers in my purse and clothes in my small trunk, giddy with surprising Ethan, Brax, and seeing everyone in Suttontowne. Ready to be back on the gorgeous bayou. The only person I let know I was coming back to town was Brax. I had so many ideas to present to him.
In New Orleans, my realtor outdid herself and the quaint house she found me in the French Quarter was simply perfect. I went to the mandatory orientation and bonded immediately with several of my classmates. I got signed up for classes and started attending. A week later, I was heading back to Suttontowne. Ethan was finished with his training and was now a sworn deputy. I was giddy with all my news and so anxious to see him.
As I passed the sign to Suttontowne, the one I had almost crashed into, I stopped the car and just stared at the sign. Hope Parish, yeah, that was aptly named and Suttontowne had turned out to be my sanctuary where I’d found the love of my life.
As I turned on to the road that led to Outlaws, I looked up into my rearview mirror at the flashing lights. I tried to think if I had missed a stop sign or was going over the speed limit. When I pulled over, a grin split my face as the deputy got out of his car dressed in a khaki shirt, navy blue pants with a double white pinstripe down the side, a radio clipped to his shirt his weapon riding his hip. I had to take a very deep breath. His long strides brought him to my window which I lowered.
I looked up into his handsome face, but he wasn’t smiling. He looked so darned official. “Hello, Deputy. Did I do something wrong?”
“Usually the only vehicles in this parish who are allowed this fire engine red are our fire trucks. I’m afraid you’re breaking the too red law.”
I opened my eyes wide in pure innocence, my tone offhand and a bit defiant. “I had no idea there was a too red law.”
His features looked as if it was hacked from granite. Wowza, he had intimidating down to a science. Only the glint in his eyes gave him away. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse, ma’am.”
I leaned a bit out of the window, closer to his lean belly, my elbow almost touching him. “I totally agree. Maybe you couldschoolme about all the laws that I might be breaking.”
His eyes narrowed and I giggled. “Is that some kind of innuendo, ma’am.” He shifted, the leather of his holster creaking, the sunlight reflecting off the six-pointed star pinned to the breast of his khaki shirt. Are you propositioning me?”
I batted my eyelashes and purred. “Is it working? After all, maybe I’m just on fire and it’s reflected in my car.”
He placed his hand on the window frame and leaned in closer, his voice dropped an octave. “Are you one of them no-account sassbuckets?”
My chest so full, I wanted to reach out and grab him around the back of his neck and plant one on him, get him home and take my time undressing him. His eyes heated, aware of where my eyes were and where my thoughts were. “I come from a long line of sassbuckets. Is that against the law, too?”
His face went grim and he sighed heavily, like I was in some major trouble. It was all I could do to keep a straight face. “I’m afraid that sassbucketing in the state of Louisiana is a felony, ma’am.”
“A felony?” I mock gasped. “Oh, that’s bad.”
Amusement settled around his mouth. “Yes, ma’am. You look like a bad girl. “Can I see your driver’s license and registration?”
I lowered my voice to a breathy whisper. “Is that all you want to see, Deputy?”
He leveled a stern, reprimanding stare at me. “Are you propositioning a sworn deputy, again?”
“Is that also a felony?”
