Chapter 4
ETHAN
After running into Lawson in Outlaws where it was clear as day she was using it as a bathroom, it hit me hard she was living out of her car.
It broke my heart in many ways. She was obviously alone. There was no doubt she was scared. She hadn’t really been crying over that plate incident. But what could I say to her? I didn’t want to spook her.
While she was preoccupied with some patrons, I left the bar and went into the kitchen. Brax was in his office looking like he was ready to kill someone. Probably not the best time to talk to him, but I felt an urgency that wouldn’t wait.
I went in and closed the door. He looked up at me, his features twisted, his hair was sticking up every which way.
“Fuck me, I should hire myself an accountant.”
“You say that and then you never do.”
“Too true.” He eyed me, then sat back. “What’s on your mind. Don’t tell me you’re quitting because I’ll kick your ass and chain you to the bar.”
I chuckled and sat down. “You have such a way with your employees, Outlaw.”
“Yeah, well if you aren’t used to it by now—fuck you.”
I laughed again. I leaned forward used to addressing troops, used to leading men.
Ever since I got back to Suttontowne after my discharge from the Marines, I was missing that.
Not that Brax was easily led, but I knew how to push his buttons.
He might act like an ogre, but he had a damn fine heart of gold.
It’s why I still worked more with him than for him.
I didn’t have to guess that he would bend over backwards for me. I knew he would.
“This is about that sweet, lil’ thang that’s sidling around with my food. Isn’t it?”
“I was wondering if you’re using that small apartment out back for anything other than storage.”
He sat up straighter. “Why? What’s going on with her?”
“She’s living out of her car, Brax. She’s also hoarding her food like she’s not sure when she’s going to get another meal. I just thought it wouldn’t take a lot of effort to spruce it up.”
“The bathroom is a freaking mess. I really haven’t done anything with it since I opened this place. It’ll need all new fixtures.”
“I could install them, and I would do all the work for free. After she is gone, you’d have a nice little place you could offer to employees on a temporary basis.”
“She’s living out of her car. Man, I remember what it was like to be poor.” He looked away, then said, his voice husky, “I’ll spring for the renovations, including all new fixtures if you’ll do the work.”
“Done.” I rose.
“What are you doing, Ethan?”
“I’m trying to make the world a little safer. It had been my mission for a long time and I can’t seem to shake it.”
“She asked me to pay her in cash. She had a story about not wanting to open an account at the bank because she wasn’t staying around here long enough to really need a bank account.
But, I can see for myself that she’s stressed and much too thin.
That girl is in trouble, and she’s been running for some time. ”
“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.