Page 71 of The Love Shack

“Lawson, you did all that as akid. You saw how messed up things were and made a conscious decision to forge a different path. Grown adults struggle to do that.”

“I guess.” He’d had bad examples, and knew that to survive, he had to be different. For him, the choices had been simple. Hard, yes. Painful, sure. But he’d wanted more out of life.

Her brows tweaked together. “When did you move out?”

“As soon as I graduated high school. Like—that very day. No ceremony, no celebration. All I needed was my diploma. I didn’t go far, though.” He hadn’t been able to, not with his limited means. “I still worked and lived in our neighborhood.”

“Right. Because you were there for my big headlines.”

She’d been seventeen, but he was older. A man when she’d still been a teenager. “I’m glad I was still around, because as a firsthand observer, I have a perspective you don’t have.”

She acknowledged that with a nod. “Eventually, you left, though. When did you make it out?”

“It wasn’t long after that, when I’d just turned twenty.” He heard a splash and they both glanced at the lake. The night was still warm, with a humid breeze stirring the air. “I’d been working construction when another guy offered me a job.”

“That job where you traveled?”

“Yeah. It was like a lifeline. Got me out of our neighborhood, paid me well, let me see things in the world I’d never imagined.” It was the first time he’d felt any real hope. “Gave me the opportunity to learn a lot, too.” Closing his eyes, Lawson recalled how liberating it was to leave everything, and everyone, behind. “Standing up to my parents was the first step for me.”

“Toward being free?”

He lifted one shoulder. “After that, I knew I could handle everything else. Moving out, earning enough to make it on my own.” Touching his fingers beneath her chin, he tipped up her face. “You’ve done the second, hardest part already. It impresses the hell out of me.” He kissed her, and didn’t want to stop. At every second, he was aware of her dress, of the flirty skirt and how easy it’d be...

Unable to help himself, he rested one hand on her thigh and felt her shift that leg toward him. He stroked his palm a little higher, drawn by the silkiness of her skin, then forced himself to stop.

It was getting darker by the minute. If he wasn’t careful, they’d be eating their food under moonlight.

Easing away from her, he whispered, “I’d be happy to put myself between you and Durkinson. If you want that, say the word and I’m there.” He’d take great pleasure in making sure Durkinson never bothered her again.

“I know,” she said softly. “But—”

“But.”This was the point he wanted to make, what he really hoped she would believe. “I know you can handle it, Berkley, just like you’ve handled everything else.” If it was a confrontation only.

Anything more, if the bastard dared to touch her, Lawson would destroy him and deal with the consequences later.

11

Berkley thought thatwas the finest compliment anyone had ever given her. “Your faith in me means a lot.”

“I’m a good judge of character,” he assured her. “You’ll be fine.”

Hearing him say it with such belief made her believe it, too.

With a quirky smile, he added, “I have a feeling Durkinson is in for a big surprise. But if you decide to see him face-to-face, I’d like to be with you.”

A wonderful offer, except she’d prefer to dodge Chad if at all possible. “I have zero interest in being anywhere near him, so I was thinking I should call, just to make that perfectly clear.” Hopefully, that would keep him from showing up in Cemetery.

It was a silly request, but with Lawson, she didn’t mind being silly. “If I call him, would you want to be there with me—”

He swooped in to give her a firm, enthusiastic kiss. It happened so quickly that she laughed. “Is that a yes?”

“I’m glad you asked.” With one more kiss, he said, “I want to be there with you, and I agree. Telling him to get lost before he shows up is a good plan. Just remember that you’re past the hard part already. After everything you’ve accomplished, facing the past will be easy.”

“Maybe.” She wasn’t Lawson, and so far nothing had seemed easy to her—except loving animals.

And talking to him.

Wanting him. That came pretty easily, too.

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