Chapter 21 The Drive
THE DRIVE
ZEKE
Hitting the River’s Run city limits brought air back into my lungs. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders at the relief of being so close to Maggie. Love really did make people act crazy, I realized.
I found Marla already inside the bakery.
Two men I didn’t recognize were also there, taking measurements through the middle of the room.
Marla’s posture didn’t give anything away, but I hated seeing her alone with two men.
My protective instincts kicked in as I stood to my full height, letting my shoulders spread out.
“What’s going on here?” I asked loudly, making both men jump.
Marla tried to hide a smirk. “These boys are here from a glass company out near Savannah. They’re gonna replace the window and get me set up with a couple of custom display cases. I figure I might as well get something fancy if I’m gonna do this right.”
“I’m Sergeant Ezekiel Hayes,” I said to both men, holding out my hand to the one closest. “And who might you be?”
Both men shook my hand, identifying themselves as Rhett and Wyatt.
“Miss Marla here is important to me, which means she needs to be important to you. Take good care of her,” I cautioned them. I used my sternest leadership voice, the one that intimidated soldiers when barking orders.
“Zeke!” came a breathy cry behind me.
I spun on my heel to find Maggie in the doorway. A soft glow from the early morning sun framed her like a beacon, accentuating her brown curls and the soft curves of her body. She wore a white floral dress that fluttered to mid-thigh with white sneakers—basically, she never looked lovelier.
“Did ya miss me?” I grinned.
She gave a little squeal before running into my arms. All of the anxiety melted away, my stomach finally settling, the buzzing in my head long gone. Maggie was exactly where she needed to be—with me.
“Can I talk to you for a bit before we get started here?” I asked.
“Actually, I was just heading out to Savannah. There’s a salon out there that called me up for a job interview this morning!”
I smiled. “Hop in the truck. We can talk on the way.”
A blush crept across her cheeks. “You don’t need to drive me. Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“Nope. I’m yours for the next seventy-two hours,” I countered.
“Okay.” Confusion flashed on her face before she looked over my shoulder at Marla. “Wish me luck!”
“You don’t need luck. They’re the lucky ones to have you,” Marla replied.
Maggie didn’t hesitate to climb into my truck and prop her feet up on the dash. I loved seeing how comfortable she already felt with my stuff. We hit the highway before she finally asked, “So what’s going on? You’re makin’ me feel some type of way.”
“Don’t laugh at me, but I sort of threw up this morning when I realized I might not get to see you today.” I cringed at how silly it sounded when said out loud.
Maggie’s jaw fell open as she sat upright to stare at me. “You’re serious,” she said flatly.
“As a heart attack.” I glanced at her for a moment before focusing on the road again. Her scrutiny suddenly made me feel ridiculous.
“So then why the oddly specific number of hours?” asked Maggie.
“That’s how long I was given quarters.”
“What does that mean?”
“That’s what the Army calls it when you’re given sick leave,” I explained. “The doctor told me this morning that I must have the flu if I threw up. But I know the truth.”
“And the truth is?”
I shrugged. “Going without you makes me sick. I’m just gonna have to keep you.” I let out a dramatic sigh as if it was a hardship.
Maggie’s mouth closed with a snap.
“Is that okay?” I pressed.
Her mouth opened and closed several times like a goldfish before she straightened in her seat to watch the highway ahead of us. Tension filled the space, creating a chasm I didn’t understand or know how to close.
“Talk to me, Trouble. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” I finally asked.
“You became physically ill just because we spent a night apart, Zeke,” Maggie replied, her voice thick with an emotion I couldn’t name. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that. We have to spend time apart.”
“I know that,” I scoffed. “But I’d like it if we could plan more time together so that I don’t have worry about the time apart. Let me just lay it out there for you—I like you. More than I thought I could like anybody. Don’t you feel whatever this is between us? Or am I just crazy?”
Either my imagination was in overdrive or I saw Maggie stiffen.
“Zeke, you don’t wanna be with a girl like me,” she said softly. I hated hearing how small her voice sounded, the sadness laced through it.
Chuckling, I asked, “Oh? And why not?”
“Because you deserve someone better than me.” This time there was no mistaking how she hugged herself, her long arms almost entirely circling her waiflike waist.
Frustration like I’d never known gave me tunnel vision. “There isn’t anybody better than you!”
She shot me another incredulous look before repeating, “You’re serious.”
“Of course I am, damn it! When have I ever lied to you?”
Throwing up her hands in defeat, Maggie snarled, “I can’t talk about this right now! I need to focus on this interview!”
Without meaning to, my voice rose to match hers. “You’re gonna rock it, but fine! We’ll finish this conversation over brunch afterwards!”
Both of us sat there huffing for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
“I really hope I get this job,” Maggie commented. “I need the money.”
“What made you decide to go to beauty school?” I asked.
Maggie shrugged. “I like having control over what I look like. Hair and makeup are fun to play around with, and if you know what you’re doing, you can truly transform yourself.”
“On the outside,” I amended.
She shot a questioning look my way before nodding in agreement. “Yeah. You can transform yourself on the outside.”
“But it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? Isn’t that what people say?”
“That’s what ugly people say!” Maggie rolled her eyes and laughed. “Kidding! But I think when people look good, they feel good, and that’s really something you can’t put a price on.”
“Not quite sure how you can charge for your services then.”
We both burst into laughter again, even harder than before.
It was the kind of moment you wanted to capture on film so you could replay it over and over again.
Now there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind—I was head over heels in love with Maggie Eaton.
And I didn’t have a damn clue what to do about it.