instinctual, protective even. There’s an inflation in my chest as I breathe in slowly, controlling the intake of air like my life depends on it. “I’ll be here until you’re done.” I take another sip of my drink and nod with approval. “These are good.”
Her eyes light up, and I get the distinct impression that she’s proud of what she’s promoting. I wonder if there’s an insincere bone in her body. When Maggie hates something, she’s vocal about it. When she loves something, she doesn’t seem to hold back. There are so many qualities to her that I find sexy. Who would have thought? And to think she’s been holding back all this time, masking something so vulnerably beautiful. I want more of it. I want more of her.
“I’ll keep ’em coming, then.”
I tip my head, and she starts to walk away. I watch her sway as she goes, realizing my physical attraction to her is more intense than ever. I’m taking in every detail of her movements, of her body. She’s got length made for the runway and enough curves to make a fantastic lingerie model. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve given a proper assessment to her ass and tits, and I’ve determined they are the perfect size. I can almost imagine how they would feel in my palms. But imagining isn’t enough for the raging hard-on making an appearance in my jeans. He’s restless and hungry. Fuck that. He’s starved and triggered by the sun-kissed brunette beauty looking entirely too hot to be single.
By the time the opening act starts playing, I’m buzzing pretty well off of two drinks. I need to slow down, but Maggie brings me another one without me even requesting it. “Don’t worry, Chef, I’m counting your drinks. The first one was pretty weak, so let’s just say this is number two.”
“Uh, no.” I shake my head. “A rule is a rule.”
She narrows her lids and twists up the corner of her mouth. Adorable as fuck. “Okay, fine. But I’m more than happy to take one for the team and drive you home tonight if you have one too many.”
Her words are so innocent, and for the first time since my last shit-faced experience in high school, I’m tempted to test my limits just so I can have an excuse to let her take care of me. That would be something. Besides Coach and Zach, I feel like it’s been me taking care of the world for as long as I can remember.
But instead of saying any of that, I give Maggie a wink and lift my new drink to my mouth. “Sorry to burst your bubble, darlin’, but you’re not driving my car. In fact, I think you just gave me all the more reason to stop at number three tonight.”
She pushes away from the table with a huff and a laugh. “I’ll be back by before my shift ends, and then we can get closer to watch the show.”
I nod and watch her walk off again, but this time, I notice I’m not the only one. A group of guys a few tables away are following her movements with their beady little eyes. One of them reaches his hand out to stop her as she goes by. I sit up straight, ready to swoop in and pull his hand away if necessary, but I’m not needed.
Maggie takes an immediate step back, gives him a tight-lipped smile, says something, and walks away. The man shifts his stance, his cocky smirk dissolving into something resembling annoyance or discomfort. Maybe it’s a mixture of both since his friends are throwing jabs his way. Serves him right. And I should have known Maggie could take care of herself just fine.
The opener is on and off the stage within the hour, and just as promised, Maggie approaches me with not one, not two, but three drinks in her hands. Well, two of them are shots and the other is a vodka soda. I immediately start to reject them. “Whoa, Nelly.”
Maggie laughs. “Have one or none—I don’t care—but I’m taking a shot.” She reaches for a glass and lifts it to her lips while staring back at me, waiting. Before she can slam it back, I’m picking up the other shot and lifting it to my lips, mirroring her.
“This is number four. Who’s that drink for?”
She grins. “Me. I figure I have some catching up to do.”
“You figured right.”
We toss back our shots and set the glasses