Page 109 of The Love Shack

Without haste, she quietly shut the door, then leaned back on it, facing her defenders with a heart full of emotion.

Betty slumped into Lawson. “Thank God you held me back. There’s no telling what I might have done.”

It was the nonplussed expression on his face that got Berkley started, and after the first snicker escaped, she didn’t even try to hold back. Lawson grinned, and soon Betty was chuckling. Even the dogs got excited. Cheese, however, jumped up on the dryer and eyed them all with mere curiosity before leaping into Lawson’s arms.

He caught her handily, without a single scratch. “Told you she loved me.” As he stroked the cat, she purred and butted her head to his chin.

Watching the interaction, Berkley thought about how much she loved him, too. “It doesn’t feel right that Chad just gets to walk away.”

“He doesn’t.” Lawson cradled Cheese like a baby. “Oliver got hold of the county police. We’d already fixed up Kathleen, but we saw it all in the security feed, including his car. They’ll have his name and his license number.”

“He’s toast,” Betty crowed. “Even without legal charges, he’ll never be welcome in this town.” She leveled a direct stare on Berkley. “We protect our own around here.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. Contentment filled every corner of her heart, leaving no room for bad memories or regrets. She smiled at Lawson, loving that he was here. Loving that Betty was here. Loving that Lark and Oliver were friends, and the townspeople respected and supported The Love Shack.

These wereherpeople, the family that she was meant to have in her life.

Her disreputable past, mistakes and worries were all now behind her. For good.

Lawson was very unsure of Berkley’s mood. She wore the most beautiful smile, but she had to be upset, right?

She didn’t look upset.

Actually, she looked incredible. Flushed from a busy morning, her hair a little mussed, no makeup yet. Strong, he decided. She looked strong, and capable, and God, he loved her.

Cheese wiggled free, bounded down to the floor and headed to the back of the couch in the living room. Hero leaned against his leg, demanding reassurance that Lawson gladly gave. Gladys, the poor old thing, just plopped down on the floor with an exhausted huff.

He should have held on to Chad, at least until the cops arrived, but with Betty fuming and the dogs so agitated, he’d thought it might be best to get things settled down.

That included his heart, because it was still clamoring around in his chest.

The rush to get Kathleen cleaned up before anyone noticed had effectively diverted his better sense. He’d thought only of how the town adored the mannequin, the turmoil it would cause if the peaceful community learned that their beloved mascot had been defaced.

When he and Oliver finally had her back outside to greet vacationers and locals alike, he’d finally remembered to check the security feed. Seeing Chad clearly, watching the vindictive way he’d marred Kathleen, had stunned and enraged him.

Getting to Berkley became his top priority.

Oliver had promised to stay at the shop until Will showed up. He’d wanted to talk to the police anyway, so Lawson agreed.

He’d been so damned afraid for Berkley, both because of any physical threat Chad might pose and because the problems he caused would likely have rumors resurfacing. Berkley had paid for that debacle more than enough.

He knew how the past still plagued her, how she continued to blame herself for things that weren’t her fault, and the embarrassment she still felt.

Resurrecting all that would be painful for her, not that Chad cared. But Lawson did. So damn much.

At the very least, he had wanted to be with her so if Chad showed up, she wouldn’t have to face him alone.

He’d raced to her rescue, only to arrive in time to catch her giving Chad hell.

Chad, the ass, had dared to threaten her dog. Huge mistake. The look on Berkley’s face as she’d defended Hero was a sight to see. He’d been so proud of her. Still was.

Always would be.

Betty braced one hand on the dryer as she caught her breath, more wrecked than he’d ever seen her. “I’m glad I didn’t have to tangle with him.” She came forward abruptly and grabbed Lawson in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

At first, he wasn’t sure what to do. He’d never had a hug like this—from someone so short, elderly and frail. A motherly or grandmotherly figure.

Actually, it felt nice, and his arms came carefully around her. “I like how you threw him out.”

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