Page 10 of Sheltering Lawson
“I know, but let’s be careful not to spook her, or she’ll be gone faster than you can say, ‘Braxton is a big ole’ meddler.”
His eyes narrowed. “Look who’s talking, preacher boy,” he murmured. “Now get outta here and leave me with my misery.”
As soon as I finished at the bar, took care of some stuff at the bait and tackle, I headed to the back of Outlaws. Lawson’s car was nowhere to be found, but I figured I must have spooked her last night and she was finding an alternative place to handle her washing up. It made me sick and a little nervous that she might not be safe. But until I could get a little closer to her, I couldn’t get her to open up.
Even as I started clearing out the crap Brax had in the old dusty space, I thought about talking to her frankly. But prying into her life would spook her. I was sure of it. If she was gone, I couldn’t help her. I kept telling myself that I would do that for anyone, but I knew in my heart that I had feelings for Lawson. Something that I couldn’t shake. Every time I got near her, I wanted…aw damn…wanted to soothe her fear, kiss her mouth, mold that delectable little body against mine. I was a man and far from altruistic.
I worked a few nights on it, but the next night I was due at Chase and Samantha’s for dinner. Jake and Skylar were also attending. Not able to disappoint my best friend and business partner, I headed over there after a quick shower and change, the fatigue starting to drag at me.
I realized after cleaning out the storage area, the floor was gone and the walls were rough and bare. I’d spent time replacing the floor with a gorgeous cypress I got on sale and drywalling the whole space. The bathroom was a total loss, and I had to rip the whole thing out. I rolled my shoulders to work out the kinks. Marine habits die hard, but it felt good to be active. I still worked out like I was in the service, including a lot of running with Rory Finnegan. He and I were buddies from the same unit and he moved to Suttontowne shortly after I returned home. He was now married to Savannah, the love of his life and running a tattoo shop in the center of town. I’d never seen him so happy and was glad he had found a home finally.
Chase and Samantha lived in a renovated slaves’ quarters, and Samantha had done the bulk of the work. I knocked and she opened the door. Giving me a quick hug, she said, “Aw, I thought you might bring that wonderful Lawson with you. My God, that girl is the cutest thing, so funny and oh boy, she was good with the wedding planning.”
Sky came up and also hugged me with a disappointed look on her face. “No Lawson? I told you we should have dropped the hint, Sam.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad.”
“Geez, I feel the love in the room right now,” I groused, handing her a bottle of wine.
She accepted it and laughed softly as she walked to the kitchen and set the bottle on the counter. Chase and Jake were in a conversation about their new fishing boat building business by the fireplace. Jake owned and ran the Sutton pecan orchards, but James and Amy Sutton, their parents had up and sold Majestueux their family home. It was all due to their ancestor, Colonel Beauregard Sutton, the once lauded founder of the town. But when it was revealed by their daughter and Braxton’s wife, River Pearl that he was a thief and murderer, using the money he’d stolen from a Confederate payroll gold shipment to fund his plans, pinning it on his best friend Duel Outlaw, the Suttons had decided to change their lives. I walked over. “Hey, Ethan,” Jake said and punched me in the arm.
“You look like hell,” Chase said eyeing me. “What you burning the midnight oil on?”
“I’m renovating the small apartment behind Outlaws.”
“Why is that?” Samantha asked handing me a glass of wine. The heavenly aroma of pork wafting from the kitchen.
I was almost reluctant to say. Once something got loose in a small town, it was like trying to put a genie back in the bottle. “I thought Lawson could use it. She’s a bit down on her luck.”
Sam’s features softened, and Sky nudged me. “You big softie. I’m so sorry to hear she’s struggling,” Samantha said. “I bet Evie has furniture that would be so adorable in that space. Does she have a kitchen?”
“Yeah a small one with a large space for a bed and some living room furniture. The bathroom needs a complete redo, though.”
“I can talk to Evie and help you. I’m pretty damn good with a hammer,” Sam said.
“Me, too,” Sky piped up. Then bit her lip. “Well, not with a hammer, but I can help decorate. I know Verity could make curtains. I’m sure she’d do that. I could talk to her.”
I had no doubt that Verity would help. My sister was wonderful.
“We’d be happy to help with anything, too,” Chase said and Jake nodded.
It would all come together, and Lawson would have a place with a bathroom, fresh linens, a small kitchen and someplace to relax. But more importantly, she’d be safer. It made me feel good that my friends were like-minded in helping her out. Once I got her settled, then I could get to work on finding out what she was running from. I wanted that fear gone from her eyes and, even as I thought it, I labeled myself a fool, I wanted her to stay in Suttontowne so I could get to know her better.
Chapter 5
LAWSON
After the night I ran into Ethan coming out of the washroom, I was too embarrassed to come back here, so I was washing my hair in the woods where I found that nice little hideaway. I would just buy gallon jugs of water at the grocery store. It was awkward at first, but then worked out fine. It was just that the facilities left much to be desired. But it was totally temporary.
It was loud with the ruckus of the crickets and frogs, but it was also soothing. On my days off, I went to the local library and mapped my route to Texas. After searching for jobs, I noticed someone was looking for a cook on a ranch. That really appealed to me and I thought it would be a good idea to be self-sufficient and out of the public eye on someone’s large spread. Maybe eventually, my pursuers would give up.
But the thought of leaving Outlaws…okay leaving Ethan and Brax…okay…leaving Ethan…hurt in a way I couldn’t quite figure out. Distance didn’t help because he was always there, bartending.
At least I was getting more sleep, I thought, yawning as I walked through the back door, ready to get the coffee started. I poured in the grounds for several pots and got it brewing. Then went into the dining area to start filling the salt and pepper shakers.
“Morning,” I heard a deep, smoky voice. I spun to find Ethan looking like a mess, sawdust on his clothes and in his hair. He looked peaked as if he wasn’t sleeping well. I’d seen it in my mirror enough to know what it looked like.
“Good morning. You’re a mess,” I said. Without thinking, I brushed at his clothes and hair, then froze. What the hell did I think I was doing? I stepped back, slipping my hands into my apron pockets.
