Page 10 of Unbroken
An Unexpected Event
ThenextmorningMaggie was ready early. She sat on her knees on her sofa looking out the front window waiting for Zane to drive up. I’m acting like a teenager! Maggie laughed at herself. It had been a long time since she had been excited to see a man and living in such a small town, well, to be honest, the pickings were slim even if she had been inclined to date.
Just as she was about to go check her make up in the mirror for the thousandth time that morning, she heard a deep, rumbling sound coming down the street. Her eyes widened as a black motorcycle came to a stop in front of her house.
“Oh, my!” she breathed, looking at all the chrome and black on the bike.
The rumble brought JT out from the kitchen. “What the hell is that?” he demanded.
Maggie’s mouth quirked up in a grin as she saw Zane’s face as he took off his helmet. ”That is apparently my ride, brother mine,” She bounced a little on her knees in excitement before heading for the door to welcome Zane. She threw the door open just as he was starting up the porch.
“Zane! A motorcycle? I’ve always wanted to ride one!” Maggie grabbed his face and gave him a long, deep kiss.
“I would have brought her to see you weeks ago if I knew I’d get that type of reception. I wasn’t sure what you’d think of her.” When she let him go, he stood stunned for a moment before his normal, easy grin found his face again.
JT stood over her shoulder, arms crossed across his chest, still looking pissed but Zane could see the grudging admiration for the bike in his eyes.
“What is that? A Harley?” JT asked.
“Yeah, a V-rod.” Zane threw an arm across Maggie’s shoulder. “You ride.”
“I have, but I don’t have a bike right now.” JT’s posture relaxed slightly. “You experienced with her?”
“I’ve been riding for years. Maggie’s safe with me,” Zane assured him.
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Ok, boys. Enough of the showdown. Let’s go!”
Zane didn’t move when she tried to pull him off the porch. “I don’t think you’re quite ready.”
“What am I missing?” Maggie looked down at herself, distressed she may have overlooked something.
“This,” Zane said, handing her the pink helmet he had in his hand. She had completely missed seeing it in the excitement.
“It’s perfect!” Maggie exclaimed. “Did you get this just for me?”
“Of course,” Zane said. He’d been looking for weeks for just the right pink helmet as Dani had advised him of Maggie’s ‘signature color’ theory. Apparently, her color was something called blush pink. He’d been anticipating this ride since almost the first time they’d met, and eBay had finally come through only the week before with the perfect helmet.
Maggie slid the helmet over her bob of chestnut hair and Zane fixed the strap to hold it in place. Taking her hand, he gave a casual wave to JT. “See ya, man.”
JT just glared but Maggie ignored him. She was too excited about getting on the bike and spending the day with Zane.
Maggie couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She had never imagined that riding on the back of a Harley could be so exciting. The vibration of the bike and having her arms wrapped around Zane’s lean, muscular torso all morning had her completely worked up. She had to fight to keep from letting her hands explore his chest under the leather jacket he wore. The scent of him in her nose while she was pressed tight to his back made her half crazed by the time they stopped for lunch. Zane pulled off into an area in the country that looked somewhat familiar, but she wasn’t sure as they had been riding for so long around highways and backroads alike. Reluctantly, she let go of him and let him help her off the bike. While she was removing her helmet, she saw him pulling a small cooler out of one of the saddlebags.
“Were you a boy scout?” she joked. Normally she was the one who always came prepared for anything. She felt rather discombobulated just standing there with nothing to do.
Zane’s mouth quirked into a smile. “That’s me, always prepared.” He took the opportunity to kiss her quickly then took her hand. “Follow me to the second part of the surprise.”
She followed him through the brush into the trees glad for her boots and jeans. “Where in the world….” she started but stopped short as they reached the clearing.
“Welcome to Avalon,” Zane said, stretching his arms out to encompass the glade. Surrounded by trees, there was a pond in the middle surrounded by green grass unlike anything else she’d ever seen in the area. She was mesmerized.
“Avalon? That’s what Dani used to call that spot she and Levi….is this Dani’s Avalon?”
“The same. She’s mentioned it a bunch of times and I finally talked her into giving me the secret map to get here,” Zane said.
“It’s all she’s ever said it was,” Maggie said quietly. Suddenly, she saw a large blanket spread out under a live oak near the water with a large picnic basket on it. Her hands flew to her cheeks. “Ohhh! What’s all this and how did you get it here?”
Zane smiled shyly at her obvious pleasure. “I had a little help. I dropped the food off this morning with Dani and Levi and they set this up for me. I know it won’t be as fancy as it would have been if you’d planned it, but I hope you like it.”