Chapter 37
Ian
“Ian, are you sure this is safe?” Maggie grips my arm and pulls it tight to her chest as we walk into the airport.
“I promise, we have Franklin’s blessing to take a little trip. He agreed you needed some time away.”
She looks up at me skeptically and stays clinging to my side as we step up to the kiosk to check in.
I’m not going to admit this to her, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little nervous about taking this trip.
It’s difficult, but I have to trust that Franklin did everything he could to keep her safe, and I trust myself more than anything.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
But sometimes, the unexpected happens, and that’s what scares me.
On this trip, my main objectives are to keep her safe and make her happy. No matter what.
By the time we make it to our gate, she’s slightly more relaxed. I buy her a cup of coffee to help ease her nerves a little more.
The only thing I need right now to keep me calm is her head on my shoulder, and our hands are clasped, resting on my thigh. My phone rings, and I shift in my seat to pull it out of my pocket while also doing my best not to jostle Maggie.
When I see it is Franklin, I kiss Maggie on the forehead and tell her I’ll be right back.
Once I’m far enough away, I answer. “Franklin. Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Just fine and dandy. Car rental is ready for you. I’m sending you directions to where you need to go. It’s about a three-hour drive to get there. My guys will be following you.”
I roll out my tense neck. “Roger that.”
Disconnecting the call, I pivot on my heels, and my gaze immediately finds Maggie.
My jaw clenches, and I inhale my annoyance.
There’s some business-traveling douche talking to her.
She’s smiling at him, laughing, and it pisses me off.
Though I can’t blame the idiot for wanting to talk to her, that shit isn’t happening.
When I get back to where Maggie is sitting, any annoyance completely dissipates when she looks up at me, and her face lights up so much it’s almost blinding.
Deciding to abandon the plan of intimidation, I drop into the seat beside her and slide my hand over her thigh, settling it on the inside, a little higher than would typically be acceptable when surrounded by strangers and families.
“Hi, baby,” I draw out.
“Hi,” Maggie chirps with a wide smile.
A smirk pulls my lips up when the man’s eyes freeze on my hand’s placement. When he looks back up, I narrow my eyes and clear any positive expression from my features.
He clears his throat and stands up. “Good talking to you, Maggie. Have fun on your trip.”
“Thank you! Good luck with your meeting!”
I squeeze her thigh, and she shifts in her seat to face me more fully.
With a laugh, she says, “Very subtle.”
“Don’t really care for subtly,” is my response.
She lays her head on my shoulder, and her hand goes to the back of mine, where it still rests on her thigh.
With a sigh, she says, “I can’t wait to get to wherever we are going. And enjoy some time away from everything, just the two of us.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Me too, beautiful. Me too.”
It won’t be just the two of us for the whole time, but I don’t think she’ll complain. I sit back in my chair and run through the plan a few more times in my head to ensure I’m as prepared as I need to be.
We land in Tampa without incident. Once we secure the rental car and are on the road, Maggie’s vibrating with excitement. “You sure you can’t tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope,” I reply simply with a smirk.
She pouts as she stares out the window. “What if I hate surprises?”
That’s actually something I never considered, but I think even if she really does, this one is worth it. I chance a quick glance at her as I enter the freeway. “Do you really hate surprises?”
“I mean, no. I love them, actually. But I do hate waiting!”
With a laugh, I squeeze her thigh. “Then this will be good for you. Teach you some patience. Sometimes, not getting instant gratification is good for you.”
Rolling her eyes, she huffs out a laugh. “Fine. You win. I’ll just let anticipation fester.”
We settle into a comfortable silence as she plays on her phone, and my thoughts wander to the day ahead, the dark SUV a few cars back a constant reminder of what’s at stake.
I’ve been on many dangerous missions, but the possibility of anything happening today strikes a fear so bone deep, I worry it may leave a permanent mark.
When I see the sign for Jacksonville I’ve been looking for, I say, “Only about thirty more minutes.”
She looks up and takes in our surroundings. With an expression of befuddlement, she glances back in my direction. “I’m officially so confused. I thought I had it figured out, but I’m truly stumped as to where we are going.”
“You’ll know soon enough.”
My stomach is in knots. I need this to go the way I’ve been hoping it will. I want this to be the most positive experience for Maggie. I can’t stand the thought of this memory being anything but the best.
By the time I’m pulling into the parking lot, sweat dots my spine despite the air conditioning blasting through the car. I pull into the parking spot and notice an SUV pulling in a few spaces down from us.
“Ian?” Maggie’s eyes are darting around, taking in the nondescript office building before us.
I capture her hand and place a soft kiss on the back. “Do you trust me?”
Without hesitation, she replies, “Of course.”
Forcing a smile, I say, “Alright, let’s go.”
We climb out, and I take her hand as we cross to the front door. By the time we get to the third floor, my heart is racing. I lead her down the hall and stop at the door of the conference room that has Maggie’s surprise inside.
I turn Maggie toward me and gently cup her cheeks, searching her questioning expression before lowering my lips to hers.
The kiss is filled with emotions that I’d have a hard time vocalizing, so I’m grateful the action can communicate them for me.
When I finally pull back, her features are even more confused.
“Time to go in, beautiful.”
I grab the doorknob and push the door open. Silence greets us as Maggie slowly turns to enter before she freezes. A soul-wrenching sob breaks free from her chest, and my arm instantly goes around her waist to catch her in case she collapses.
A woman who I assume is Maggie’s mom practically sprints across the room and gathers a crying Maggie into her arms.
“Mom?”
“Yes, baby. It’s me.”
The woman looks up at me over Maggie’s shoulder. The grateful yet broken smile she gives me rips my heart out.
Maggie’s dad joins the duo and gathers them in his arms. Her arm snakes around his side, holding them both tight.
The younger woman and man stand to the side, watching.
Maggie’s sister has her fingers steepled and pressed against her lips.
Tears stream down her cheeks. Her brother stands stoic next to her, his arms crossed, trying to look as unaffected as possible, but it’s obvious he isn’t.
When her parents release her, Maggie launches herself at her siblings and wraps an arm around both of their necks. Her brother loses the facade as a few tears slip onto his cheeks.
I swallow down the emotion the scene is stirring within me, forcing myself to be strong for Maggie.
After a few more minutes, Maggie steps back to my side, wiping her nose with a tissue her mom handed her.
Pure and unfiltered joy radiates from her as she looks up at me.
She grabs my hand in both of hers, and when she looks back at her family, she says, “I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Ian.”
Any fear I felt about my feelings for her vaporizes.
I love this woman.