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Page 7 of Panther’s Magpie (Mountain River MC #1)

CHAPTER

SIX

MAGGIE

S tepping out of the shower, I dry off. Quickly I get dressed and begin getting ready for the day even though I know I won’t be leaving the clubhouse again anytime soon.

After drying my hair the best I can with a towel, I study myself in the mirror.

I can’t help but wish I had some makeup with me.

In our hurry to get on the road, it must not have made it into my bag.

I shake my head and try to push my vanity to the side.

I guess some of the things I heard my mother say when she was present stuck after all. I just wish it was something more meaningful than making sure I’m presentable before I leave the bathroom. Looking down, I get to work and apply some more ointment to my hand and put another bandage on.

I flex my hand, making sure the bandage sticks.

It’s kind of crazy to think that I only went back to the bar yesterday.

It still aches from where the glass was embedded, but it’s better than it was.

What bothers me the most is that I know even after it’s healed over and the scab is gone, I’m going to have a red line.

Anytime I get hurt, it takes forever for the wound to fully disappear.

One of the disadvantages of being as pale as I am.

As soon as the thought hits me, guilt sets in.

What the hell is wrong with me, and when did I become so superficial?

How can I be worried about a fucking mark when Aspen is out there needing me?

This isn’t like me at all…or is it? Is that why Aspen kept so much to herself?

Sighing, I leave the bathroom and head down the hall to the main area. I pause when I see Panther sitting at the bar with a glass of water in front of him.

What is he doing here?

Yeah, this is his place, but he seems to avoid it, or should I say avoid me. I fully expected to see Meek or Eagle, but not him.

“Morning,” he rasps.

His voice makes my skin tingle.

Has it really been that long since I’ve had sex that a simple good morning turns me on now? Or is it the way he so fiercely took care of me last night?

I think I’m emotionally confused. I don’t know how to handle all this stress I’ve been under.

Yeah, that’s got to be it.

“Morning. What are you doing here?” I ask as I approach.

He raises a brow. “Last I checked, this was my place.”

“Sorry,” I say quietly.

“How’s the hand?”

“Good. It doesn’t hurt.”

“Need help putting on a new bandage?”

I shake my head. “No, thank you. I put one on after my shower.”

I don’t know why it surprises me that he offered to help with a bandage, but it does. I figured last night was just a one-off. I thought that maybe he felt a little guilty that I got hurt on his watch, even though it wasn’t his fault at all.

It was a risk I knowingly took, and I don’t regret it.

“You hungry?” he asks.

“A little.”

“I grabbed some food from the diner. I hope you don’t have any allergies or anything.”

“I don’t, and I’m not picky. Thank you,” I say softly as I grab the to-go container.

I open it up and see that he got me some pancakes, hash browns, and sausage.

Reluctantly I sit down next to him and begin to eat. We eat in silence together for a few minutes, and while it should feel awkward, it doesn’t. For some reason, I feel at ease around him, which is kind of a first.

“How is it?” he asks.

“Delicious. I love breakfast food.” I swallow after taking another bite. “Have you heard anything?”

He shakes his head. “No, and it fucking kills me.”

“Me too.”

“I hope you aren’t missing too many classes,” he says, making me wince.

“I actually withdrew Aspen and myself from school yesterday. I thought it was for the best until all of this settles down.”

Panther freezes and very slowly turns toward me. “You did?”

“Yeah. It was pretty easy, actually. Aspen has used the same password for everything since we were kids.”

“Huh.” He wipes his mouth with a napkin and then tosses it into his to-go container.

“You off to work? Or do you work?” I stumble, feeling embarrassed.

Panther smiles as he looks down at the bar. “Yes, I work, but I’m taking some time off.”

“And you can afford that?” I ask without thinking about it. “Shit, don’t answer that. It’s none of my business.”

He chuckles. “Yes, I can afford it. The club owns several businesses, so we do quite well for ourselves.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you didn’t.”

He raises a hand. “I know.”

“That’s awesome, though. That they do well. It’s kind of amazing what you’ve built here. I don’t necessarily understand it, but I can respect it.”

He looks over at me with a look that I can’t quite name. He stares at me for so long I can’t help but shift under his gaze.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I tell him softly.

“How would you feel about getting out of here for the day?” he asks, catching me off guard.

“Wait, what? I thought I was supposed to stay here. That yesterday was a fluke,” I ask, surprised.

“It was, but I have something else in mind.”

“Are you sure?” I move my thumb up to my mouth to chew it.

He raises a brow. “I mean, you don’t have to, but I figured it would be better than being stuck here all day.”

Pulling my thumb away at the last minute, I say, “No, you’re right. I’d love to go with you…to wherever.”

“Then go get your shoes on.”

I grab a napkin and wipe off my hands and mouth. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“I’ll clean up,” he says as he pulls the container closer to him, ignoring my thanks.

I jump off the stool and go to get ready. As I walk down the hall, my heart races. I don’t know what he has planned for me, but I can’t wait to find out.

PANTHER

For two hours we just ride. The air is crisp, but it reminds us that we are alive. Her arms tighten around my waist, and I can’t help but reach down and squeeze her hand.

Maggie.

I don’t know what made me offer to take her somewhere, but I’m not mad that I did. Hell, I didn’t even realize how desperate I was for a ride and to have someone else with me. Well, it just feels right.

Outside of Aspen, a woman’s never been on the back of my bike until now.

With her it felt like an obligation. I was worried about making sure she leaned with me and didn’t let go.

Aspen’s a loose cannon, so putting her on the back of a bike isn’t something I do willingly.

With Maggie, though, it’s different. I might not know her well, but not once during our ride have I even thought that she would do something that puts her and us in danger.

Is she like this with Aspen too? Does she hang out with her to try to keep Aspen in line? To make sure she doesn’t get into too much trouble?

Her hand flexes again, so I reach down and touch it, only to realize it’s cold.

Shit.

I forgot to get her a pair of gloves before we left. I made sure she was dressed in an old pair of Rain’s leathers and had a helmet, but I never thought about gloves.

An overlook comes into view, and I slow down as I approach. I pull over and shut off the bike.

“Don’t move,” I tell her as I take off my helmet.

Carefully, I get off the bike and then help her. I can’t help but smile as her legs shake as she stands for the first time in hours. She looks like a newborn foal, all wobbly.

“Holy shit, that was awesome.”

When she takes off the helmet, her smile hits me like a gut punch.

Goddamn, is she gorgeous.

I thought it when I saw her for the first time in years, and I’ve been trying to ignore it ever since. I’m too tired to even try today, though. I can admit that she’s beautiful and not act on it. I have more control than that.

“Hey, are you okay?” she asks as she touches my arm lightly.

I shake my head. “Yeah, sorry, just thinking. You liked it, though?”

“Like it, try love it,” she says, making me laugh.

“Yeah, I felt the same way when I got on a bike for the first time.”

“My legs feel like Jell-O.” She holds out her hands as she walks as if she’s trying to keep balanced.

I could make your legs feel like Jell-O in another way.

I shake the thought away as I move to my saddlebag. I pull out two bottles of water and hand one to her.

“I was wondering what you kept in there. Thank you,” she says as she takes it.

“Just some basics in case I break down somewhere or need to pull over for a night,” I tell her.

I brush past her and head toward the bench that overlooks the valley. Maggie falls into step next to me, and when we come to a stop, we stay silent for a few moments. Just admiring the scenery.

I’ve traveled all over the States, been to another country or two, but nothing compares to our little slice of Colorado. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is where I’m supposed to be. It’s home.

“You know, I love California, but it doesn’t compare,” she says softly.

“Nothing is quite like this.”

“You love it here?” she asks, her voice low as if she will disturb the nature.

I like that. I like that she respects Mother Nature and all that comes with it.

“I do.”

“Me too. Even with the less-than-stellar memories,” she says as she takes a seat.

I sit down next to her. “What do you mean?”

She chews on the corner of her lip, and I have to stop myself from reaching out and removing her lip from between her teeth.

Jesus Christ. The last thing we need is for me to come on to her.

“My childhood wasn’t bad, at least not compared to yours or Aspen’s, but it still wasn’t great. I was lonely. So fucking lonely.” She smiles softly. “And then I met Aspen.”

“And you never had a chance to be lonely again,” I murmur, making her laugh.

“Exactly. She forced her way into my life, and I haven’t had a moment of peace since.”

“Yeah, she has a way of doing that, doesn’t she?” I muse.

“We love her for it, though.”

“That we do.” I kick at the rocks. “She seems to like it out in California, though.”

Maggie tilts her head from side to side. “Yes and no. She likes the people, but she misses you.”

I close my eyes as my stomach sinks.

Shit. If only I hadn’t pushed her away, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.

“I miss her too,” I admit.

Maggie turns toward me. “At the risk of making you mad, I need to talk about something else. Anything else other than Aspen. My nerves can’t take it.”

I shift my body and put my arm along the back of the bench. “Tell me about you.”

A little line forms between her brows. “What?”

“You’re my sister’s best friend and have been for over a decade. The way I see it, it’s time we got to know each other, yeah?”

“Yeah, what do you want to know?” she asks as she begins to smile.

Goddamn, does she have a nice smile.

“Everything. Tell me everything.”

Maggie opens her mouth, and everything flows out of her. She tells me her favorite color, food, and places to go. She tells me about her hopes and dreams. How she loves school and never wants to stop learning.

Somehow she even manages to get me to open up to her, answer for answer.

Somewhere along the conversation, I realize she’s not the one to blame for the shit storm Aspen has found herself in. My anger and resentment fade and are replaced by intrigue and infatuation.

The entire time she talks, I can’t help but become more entranced by her.

By the time I get her back on the bike, I know I’m in trouble. I only spent a couple of hours with the girl, and I am already thinking about how to spend even more time with her.

Margaret Ellis is mesmerizing, and if I’m not careful, she will pull me under her spell.

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