Page 45 of Unbroken
Mama Tried
Saturdaycamebeforeshe knew it and Maggie found herself rushing to pack for the weekend before she was late. Her thoughts were unusually scattered and she couldn't seem to get her things together. Her current dilemma included her boots taking up too much room in her weekender bag causing her to not be able to get the zipper closed.
“Aren’t you coming back tomorrow night?” JT asked, leaning on the door frame to her bedroom and watching her attempt to get her bag closed with amusement.
Maggie glared at him over her shoulder. “Yes, I am, but we’re going to Mama Tried to see Morgan Wallen and I have to get.these.boots.to.fit,” she said punctuating her last words with the effort to get the teeth of the zipper close enough to catch.
JT chuckled and went to her side, pushing her away from the bag with a hip. “Here let me fix it.” He reached in the bag, removed the boots and easily zipped up the case. “There, fixed.”
Maggie stared at him, hands fisted on her hips. “I could have done that,” she protested, rolling her eyes at him.
“Then why didn’t you, sister mine?” He patted her on the head like a puppy. She hated it when he did that and he knew it, which was why he did it every chance he got. “Y’all are probably leaving right after you get there. Just wear the boots.”
She looked down at her short, pink sundress and cropped jean jacket. It was Texas. She supposed she could get away with a sundress and cowboy boots. It might even be trendy. “Fine,” she breathed out a frustrated sigh. “I’ll wear the darn boots. Now open it back up so I can put my sandals in there.
He rolled his eyes but did as she asked and she slipped a pair of flat, pink, strappy sandals with rhinestone embellishments into the bag before zipping it up. “How many outfits do you have in there?” JT asked in confusion. “You’re wearing what you’ve got on to the showa nd then you’re coming home tomorrow. What is all this stuff?”
Maggie rolled her eyes right back at him. “You are such a boy! Who knows what I might need? I have no idea if we’re going out for breakfast or brunch tomorrow, or if we’re going to do something else before I have to leave to come back. A girl has to be prepared! I can’t just throw on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans like you can and be ready for anything.”
JT scratched the stubble on the dimple in his chin. “I think Zane and I need to have a talk. I don’t think he has any idea how high maintenance you are.”
She swatted him on the arm. “You just keep your opinions to yourself, Joshua Trent! I am not high maintenance. I am prepared. There is a difference.”
“If you say so,” JT said, his mouth quirking up on one side in a half smile. “Be careful tonight, Maggie,” he said, his tone suddenly serious. “Those places can get raunchy at night especially with such a big name playing. Stay close to Zane.”
Maggie reached up and patted him on the cheek. “I will, but it’s just Mama Tried. I’m sure it will be fine. What could go wrong?”
JT grabbed her bag off the bed and slung it over his shoulder to carry it to her Explorer. “Probably nothing, but I mean it. You’re not used to that type of crowd. It only takes one drunk idiot to start something and everything can go to shit.”
“JT, mouth!” she exclaimed. “And I promise I’ll stay with Zane.”
“Yeah, yeah,” JT muttered at her admonishment as he carried the bag through to the garage. As smart as she was, he knew his sister could be very naive. He hoped Zane realized that too.
Mama Tried was packed to the gills in anticipation of Morgan Wallen playing later in the night. Maggie held tight to Zane’s hand as they wound their way through the throng of people to get to the bar.
“What would you like, sweetheart?” Zane asked, bringing his mouth close to Maggie’s ear to be heard over the cover band currently playing on the stage.
“Margarita, frozen with Cuervo gold and no salt,” Maggie replied, her lips tickling the lobe of his ear.
Zane felt a shiver run down his spine at the innocent touch of her lips. He had missed her these last few weeks. When he had seen her at his door, suitcase in hand this evening in that little pink sundress and cute cowboy boots, he’d had to force himself not to throw her over his shoulder, take her to his bed and lock her up in there with him until someone needed medical help or the magnolias bloomed as Morgan Wallen would have said, instead of bringing her to the crowded honky tonk. He knew how much she loved the singer, though, and he had promised her the show, so here he was. It didn't matter where they were as long as he had his Maggie next to him.
In consolation, he turned his head and took her mouth in a quick but searing kiss before turning back to the bartender to place their orders. As he let go of her hand to tap his card on the screen and grab their drinks, he felt her breasts press into his back and her arms come around his waist, holding him tight. Zane closed his eyes briefly and stifled a moan at the full body contact.
She stepped back slightly as he twisted in her arms to hand her the margarita and he immediately missed the warmth of her body. He looked around. “I see a high top table over there,” he called, grabbing her free hand again and leading her to the table several feet away. When they had finally pushed their way there, he set down his Jameson and picked her up by the waist, sitting her on the high barstool.
“Zane!” she gasped and giggled trying not to spill her drink. He deftly took the cup from her hand and stepped quickly in between her thighs.
“Give me your mouth,” he demanded and kissed her again. He didn’t care if they were surrounded by people, he needed a bigger taste of her.
Something about the man always made Maggie forget all about her Southern Belle manners and her usual reserve. She couldn't seem to help herself in his proximity. Like she'd tried to explain to Dani, something about being with him made her feel free. The minute Zane's lips hit hers and he talked to her in that sexy, demanding voice, Maggie forgot that they were in a public place, surrounded by people and that she was in a short dress. She lost herself in the sensation of his lips on hers and their tongues sliding against each other. Her legs went instinctively around his waist despite the way it made her dress hike up her thighs and her hands dove into his blonde locks. Her self-control went completely out the window with this man’s touch.
After a few minutes, or was it a few hours, Maggie wasn’t sure, Zane stepped back from her with effort and rested his forehead on hers. “I’m sorry, baby,” he panted. “I got carried away.” He took another step back pulling the hem of her dress back down to a more modest length.
Maggie shook her head and tried to catch her breath. “No, don’t apologize. I’ve missed you so much.” She adjusted herself on the stool and crossed her legs tightly working to gain control of herself. She grabbed her margarita and took a long pull from her straw. “I almost told you we should just stay in tonight.”
Zane’s mouth quirked up at her admission. “I nearly said the same thing,” he confessed. “But I know how much you like this guy.”
Maggie ran her free hand up his chest over the black, long-sleeved shirt he wore landing on the tattoo over his heart that she knew was there. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. When did I start thinking forearms were sexy? They locked eyes over their drinks. Hers deep and dark in the evening light and his almost matching the golden brown liquid in his cup. They finished their drinks in silent communication.