Chapter 6
ETHAN
I couldn’t seem to get the stupid smile off my face the next day, the same stupid smile I had gone to bed with the night before.
Even as I made coffee in the small apartment behind the Sutton and Fairchild’s Bait and Tackle shop.
The one Chase had built to live in, but then turned over to me when he moved in with Samantha.
I had been living with my parents, and the constant pressure from my daddy about my future and the specter of the seminary looming over me every day had been stressful.
So getting out and having my own place was a relief.
Almost as much of a relief as having Lawson close her hand over that key.
Then that kiss. The feel of her soft lips, the low urgent sound she made only enticed me to open my mouth against hers.
The bolt of pure, raw sensation had knocked the wind right out of me.
I wished I was going to see her, but I had Sunday lunch with my parents and sister and had taken off from bartending. I had half a mind to cancel.
“Ethan?”
I jerked to the sound of Chase’s voice as I stood at the counter, not sure what I had been doing. His words were a bit strident as if he’d been trying to get my attention for a while. I focused on his face as he closed the cooler door. I frowned.
“You left the door open, and it took me like five minutes to get your attention. You okay?” I stared at him and sure enough, that stupid smile was on my face. “Let me rephrase that. What are you smiling about?”
“I showed Lawson the space we redid for her. She was overwhelmed and grateful.”
Chase’s brows rose. “Um, is that the PG version?”
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
“You kissed her?”
I looked away, but couldn’t keep my face neutral, so unlike me. I was the king of neutral expressions. You had to cultivate them in the Marines. That blank look kept me from any kind of scrutiny. “What did I just say?” I tried to get rid of that grin, but it wouldn’t go.
Chase chuckled and set his hands on his hips. “I’m not surprised. Samantha saw the way you were looking at her in Outlaws. She said it was just a matter of time.”
“Did she?” I must have been staring at Lawson for Samantha to notice. But, did others notice, too? This was such a small town and gossips loved to gossip.
“It’s about time you got on with your life.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He grinned knowingly. “I think you know what that means, but I’ll leave you to ponder that.
I’m heading out to the Gulf. I’ll be back in two hours.
Keep the cooler door closed, or we’ll have angry customers who will have to do without their orders today, loverboy.
Get ready to gut some fish when I get back. ”
I scowled a warning, but Chase only laughed. “I will. Sorry about the cooler.”
“No problem. I can cut you some slack. I remember what it was like to fall for Sam.”
“I’m not falling for her. I’m just helping her out. That’s all.”
Chase nodded, a skeptical smile on his face. “Sure you are. That’s all it is. You’re just giving her a hand—with your lips.”
I picked up some ball caps on the counter and chucked them at him as he ducked and headed for the door at a quick jog. “See you around, loverboy.”
I came around the counter and picked them up.
“Oh, hush up,” I said as he disappeared out the door with another knowing smirk.
I chuckled as I walked back to the counter and set the caps on top of the glass.
I enjoyed working with Chase and reconnecting with him after I came back from the Marines.
Going into business with him was a godsend, but I was feeling a bit restless as if I was marking time.
The reason I left home was still there. I had been avoiding the seminary, avoiding preaching because I was just a kid and hadn’t been sure of what I wanted.
But after two tours in the Marines, I was done with war, tired, feeling as if I needed my roots again, so two years ago I had come back to Suttontowne.
I’d been bartending for most of that time until last July when Chase had offered me a partnership.
I’d jumped at it and had been working with him ever since.
The phone rang and it was a couple interested in renting one of our boats.
I scheduled them in, then paused. I wrote in my name for later on tonight.
Then smiled like a loon. Once I stopped envisioning time with Lawson, I tried to figure out what I had been working on.
Then I saw the list in front of me. Right .
I had been doing inventory of everything to see what needed ordering.
My cell rang and I pulled it out. It was a call from my sister. “Hey, Verity. What’s up?”
“Just checking to make sure you’re going to make lunch with the folks.”
“I…ah…”
“Ethan! Come on. You can’t leave me alone with them again.”
“Distract them with your brood.” I counted and wrote the number of key chains on the inventory sheet.
“Haha, that only distracts Mom,” she said with a laugh. “Daddy asks me a million questions about you.” Her voice got series. “Really, Ethan, you need to tell him straight out whether or not you are going to follow in his footsteps. If you don’t want to, I think he’ll understand.”
I huffed out a very sarcastic laugh.
“He will . You just have to be firm. Look what happened with me and Boone. After getting pregnant with Duel, hiding it, then having it all come out so publicly was completely difficult, but they understood and it all worked out. It will for you, too.”
“I’m not sure he’s even forgiven me for going into the service, Verity. You know how he feels about violence.”
“Yes, I do know that. But this was about serving your country and war isn’t tame.”
I closed my eyes, the memories of battle washing over me, the friends and comrades I had lost. The shear chaos and disorientation of fighting, killing, and the aftermath, the destruction and the loss of life. It was brutal.
“No. It isn’t.”
“I’m proud of you, Ethan, and am so glad you’re home. Please don’t disappoint us.”
“Us? As in Boone? Ah, hell, I see him every damn day at Outlaws.”
“Okay, well then don’t disappoint your nephews and niece.
They have been asking me all day if you’re going to be there.
” My sister had gotten pregnant with Duel when she’d been nineteen, then she’d hidden it from the daddy, Boone Outlaw that she’d not only had his son, but gave him up for adoption.
I was still in the Marines at the time and didn’t come home until she’d settled everything with them and Boone.
They got Duel back and since then have added a sweet little boy, Henry whom they adopted over Christmas two and a half years ago.
That’s when my sister had found out she couldn’t have any more children.
But, almost two years ago, my sister’s friend and sister-in-law, Aubree had delivered twins to them—a boy, Morgan and a girl, Nola.
Verity was exhausted, but so damn happy it made my teeth ache.
So Duel was three this past February, the twins would be two in September, and Henry just turned eleven. She had quite the brood.
“Oh, it’s the sister-kamikaze-ninja-bring-up-the-kids sneak attack, is it?” I chided.
“Yes, it is,” she said smugly, knowing she had me over a barrel and I’d cave. “And, Boone does like to see you, too. Even though he’d never admit it.”
I heard in the background. “Momma, I’m hungry and Morgan is stinky.” It was Duel’s voice and my heart melted for that kid. How could I say no?
“I’ll see you there. I’ve got to go.”
“I heard. The joys of motherhood.”
“Yeah, wait until it’s your turn, big brother.”
“Verity, I’ll be there.”
“Great. Love you. Bye.”
The rest of the day blended from one hour to another.
When Chase got back he made his deliveries and our night person came in for his shift.
After gutting plenty of fish, I wasn’t fit to go into polite society.
It was a hot shower for me. I headed toward the back of the store and entered my apartment.
Once inside I stripped off everything and got into the shower, thinking again about Lawson and wondering how she was enjoying her place.
I was sure it was much better than sleeping in her car.
All this time, I had been focused on getting her a better living situation, but I wondered again what she was running from and how I could get her to stay here in Suttontowne long enough to tell me what it was about.
Part of it was purely selfish because I wanted her here where I could… keep an eye on her.
I rolled my eyes as I dried off. Right. I was so pathetic. I wanted more than my eyes on her.
As I was getting in my truck and preparing to drive to my parents’ house, I grabbed my phone and dialed.
“Outlaws.”
The sound of Brax’s harried voice made my conscience twinge. I hoped he wasn’t short-handed.
“Hey, everything going okay?”
“You mean am I suffering without you, huckleberry?”
“Shoot, Brax. Are you?”
I heard the grin in his voice. “No, just messing with you. You can go to your family lunch. You work hard enough for me, Ethan. Have some fun.”
“With my family?” I asked deadpan.
“Oh, um, yeah, right. Well, Boone will be there. I’m sure nonsense will ensue. He can’t go anywhere and not cause a ruckus. That’s something to look forward to.”
“Ha, you’re right. Hopefully, he’ll be in fine form.”
“Is that all? I’ve got a full house.”
“No, could I speak to Lawson for just a minute.”
He chuckled, then said, “Hang on.” After a few minutes, I heard her voice.
“Lawson, it’s Ethan.”
“Yes, I know,” she said warmly, and I felt my whole body infuse with happiness, my attraction to her thick in the air between us.
“How was your first night in your new place?”
“It was heavenly. I don’t think I could thank you enough.”
“How about tonight? I was wondering if you’d like to see the bayou after you get off from work?”