Chapter 15
HALEY
“Sugar,” Brax said as he pulled yet more cake out of the oven. “You going to help us taste all this?”
“Cake? Made by you? Hell yeah,” I said, setting a load of breakfast dishes in the sink. I yawned blaming Ethan for keeping me up last night. It was still early. The kid Brax had hired to do the washing came in the back door from taking out the trash.
Last night had been so hard. Telling Ethan everything had drudged up the whole awful mess and I was still handling the fear every time I thought about what I was going to do.
Ethan said the decision was up to me, but I needed a few more days to fortify my courage.
My first step, I thought would be to contact my lawyer.
She must have thought that Brad had done me in.
The next step would be going to the bank and seeing about getting access to my funds.
He might try to shut me out, but my name was still on those accounts.
Ethan had been so freaking adorable. He’d gotten in under the hood and before I knew it, I had Boone, Chase, Rory and Jake under there all looking at the engine.
They all agreed that I needed an overhaul—carburetor, spark plugs, battery—and God new what else.
I was pretty sure by the time they finished, greasy and content, I had gotten a new engine.
Thinking about Brad again, made me realize I had thought I’d loved him, but in reality, I was just going through the motions. At the time, I’d been na?ve about what deep, true love was. After meeting Ethan, there was just no contest.
I had been so truly on my own until I’d hit Suttontowne and Ethan.
He was doing something for me that I had no way to measure.
Was simply measureless. He was going to help me pick up the pieces and put everything back together again so I could move on.
Really move on free of fear, intimidation and abuse.
Ethan was a knight in shining armor, and I was damn lucky to have him on my side. White horse and all.
“Okay, after closing, we’re going to have a cake tasting party. Aubree and Booker are in town for a visit and to hammer out the last plans for the bash. You’ll get to meet my brainy brother.”
“Who looks just like you.”
“Identical in looks only.”
“Of course, no one could measure up to your amazing personality.”
He chuckled, snatching the towel off his shoulder. He brandished it at me with a threatening look on his face. “You’re pushing your luck, huckleberry.”
“Oh, now I know I’m part of the Outlaw clan…you just made me an honorary huckleberry.”
He threw the towel, but I was too quick and caught it. I threw it back and it hit him in the face. He peeled it off and gave me a mock irritated look. He turned to Martha, whining, “I get no respect.”
“Yeah, you’re so unloved and disregarded,” she said, her voice thick with sarcasm.
We all laughed.
“Lawson, could I speak with you in my office?” Brax said sobering.
My stomach jumped. Had Ethan told him my situation?
I’m not sure he would have violated my trust that way because he thought Brax should know, but then changed my mind.
He wouldn’t have without asking me first. Apprehensive, I followed him in and closed the door.
He leaned against his desk and folded his arms. “You’re the best damn waitress I’ve ever had.
No, wait. The best damn employee along with Ethan and Rory.
Always on time, never slacking, and volunteering to do more than your share, not to mention how much time and frustration you’ve saved me with those damn books,” he growled in his rough Brax way.
I flushed at his praise and the sincerity in his voice.
“I’ve been struggling for years with the management of not only Outlaws, but now this franchise and the side business with the Suttons for my sauces.
Now the cooking show that is also time consuming.
Plain and simple I haven’t trusted anyone up until now—you Lawson.
I need an executive manager and I want to hire you to oversee it all.
That includes River’s business. I’ve also gotten an inquiry from Verity.
She wants you to look at her and Boone’s books.
Do your magic there. Now, I won’t lie, it would be great if you had a law degree as well, since that would serve you well in managing everything.
I’m willing to allow you to train on the job and attend law school, keeping the load light for the time being.
” I opened my mouth completely blown away by his offer so in line with what I wanted.
I had planned on going to law school, but Brad had talked me out of continuing, something I now realized was his way of keeping me isolated.
I needed to tell Brax everything, too. He would need to know what I was up against if I was to accept this amazing opportunity.
But he held up his hand. “Give it serious thought. I don’t need an answer right now.
” He unfolded his arms and pushed off the desk coming abreast of me.
He pulled an envelope out of his back pocket.
“This is for you. A little something extra.” His door opened and Samantha and Sky stood there.
“Go buy yourself something pretty with it,” he said grumpily.
“I’m sick of seeing you in your shabby clothes. ”
Before he could go anywhere, I touched his arm, my voice soft and raw. “Thank you. It’s not necessary, but so appreciated. I will give it serious thought, but I need to speak with you privately about…my past.”
“Name the time. I’m all ears.”
“Did someone mention shopping?” Sky said.
“Take this PIA off my hands,” he grumbled before squeezing my hand. Then he walked out, throwing over his shoulder, “Don’t even think about saying no,” he warned.
Sky beamed at me and Sam had an expectant look on her face. “We came to kidnap you into a good time. We were kind of ordered to by Ethan. He said you needed a girls’ day.”
“I had yesterday off.”
“Yeah, how did those condoms work out for you?” Sky asked slyly with a snicker.
Samantha giggled as she pulled the strings of my apron, dug out my tips and tossed it on Brax’s couch.
She took the envelope out of my hands and looked inside.
“Ooh, this should do nicely. We’re on a wild girls’ shopping spree. ”
“Yeehaw!” Sky whooped and started to push me from behind while Samantha grabbed my wrist and there was nothing but smiles in the kitchen as I passed.
Martha said, “About time,” under her breath.
As we moved through the double swinging doors and I glanced toward the bar, Ethan had a self-satisfied smirk on his face. I tilted my head at him, giving him an appreciative look which only made his smile broaden.
Then we were in their car, ending up driving for a while with the music loud and the top of Sky’s convertible—actually her fiancé Jake’s convertible—down. The warm wind rushing over us and making our hair flow out in colorful ribbons.
The mall was a whirlwind of moving from store to store and spending Brax’s generous bonus. It wasn’t until we ended up in a lingerie boutique that things got…personal.
“Did you try the sex bomb yet?” She nudged me while she sorted through the lacy panties.
After what had happened in the shower this morning with Ethan, I’d had a sex explosion of the completely intimate and orgasm kind.
“No, not yet,” I said my voice breathless. “But we are out of condoms, again .”
Sky nudged me, laughed suggestively and smiled. “Okay, we’ll get more before we leave. It should be safe here, but it won’t be long anyway until everyone knows that you’re getting it on. Curse of a small town.”
I covered my face. “Oh Lord.”
“Yeah, completely.” Samantha started going through the unmentionables. “Let’s get you something sexy to wear.”
I giggled, totally in love with these girls.
“I love doing Jake. He’s so…imaginative. We should all get them something to…take off.”
“Oh God. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing Chase is in bed.
He loves it when I…” She told us in low tones what she did to her husband and even though I was blushing like a little girl, I was taking notes.
I wanted to give Ethan that kind of pleasure and make him almost pass out from it.
It was so good to connect with female friends again.
Finally, exhausted and laden with bags, we plopped down in the food court for lunch.
“That was so much fun.”
“Okay,” Sky said, pulling out her wedding planner. “Time to make the final decisions.”
We poured over her choices and the final decisions were made. “Roses on the pews and in the bouquets.”
“For your bouquet, why don’t you have all red ones with a white heart in the middle made from white roses? You can have the bridesmaids’ ones be the opposite.”
“That is such a great idea. Done.” She consulted her list again. “Horse-drawn carriage, rose appliqued wedding dress already bought, decided on a pair of amazing white cowboy boots, and a boho wired hair vine to weave through a messy, loosely styled braid.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Samantha said, “Rhinestone flowers, pearl and crystal beads on easy to mold metal wire that goes on the crown of the head.”
Sky continued. “The reception will be at the country club with Brax catering. Sam’s making the cake—so yummy.
Jake’s taking care of the rings and the church.
There are all the minor details to work out, too, like favors and centerpieces for the reception but that’s all the big things. Did I miss anything?”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “But I do have an idea for the centerpieces. How about a Beauty and Beast inspired single rose under a domed glass, add a little fairytale to the celebration?”
“You are freaking inspired, lady,” Sky said, one-arm hugging me around the neck.
“What about the honeymoon?”