Page 69 of Scorched

Chapter 11

Maggie paused as she left her room and tried not to stare as Declan walked out of the bathroom, bare-chested. The bruising on his ribcage had faded, coloring the skin shades of yellow and brown now as it healed. Without the more intense discoloration, his well-defined muscles stood out. She curled her fingers and forced her hands to stay at her sides.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, stepping around her to the bedroom he was using. They were at her house now. After the car bombing, they’d all decided the ranch, with its cameras and fencing, was the safest place. Declan was staying with her, and Macy moved into the main house with Maggie’s parents. Thomas and Rayna were staying in his house with Mason and Emma until things settled down. Rayna even convinced her parents to take over Seb’s old place, worried about them staying on the Double Moon by themselves with the threat looming over them all. Only Seb and London were living elsewhere.

She cleared her throat. “Are you about ready? We have a lot to do today.” Tara had a list ten miles long of things for them to do before the rehearsal tonight. Maggie was sure they were going to be working up until it was time for that and then probably after as well.

He looked over his shoulder. “Yeah. I need to grab a shirt and eat something, then we can go.”

“I’ll scramble you some eggs.”

“Sounds good, thanks.”

She gave him a quick nod and scampered away before she walked toward him and laid her hands all over those rippling muscles. The last thirty-six hours had been torture. He refused to leave her side, but he also hadn’t made any move to turn their relationship into something more. In fact, after he hugged her at Peppy Brewster, he hadn’t touched her. She was rapidly coming to the conclusion Rayna was right; she needed to take the direction of their relationship into her own hands.

After Tara’s wedding. She didn’t have the energy to navigate both.

Maggie took four of the fresh eggs from the basket on the counter and cracked them into a bowl, adding a dash of milk and salt before whipping them with a fork. She melted some butter in a skillet, then added the eggs, stirring them as they cooked. Declan walked in while she worked. He started the coffeemaker and set the table, then poured two mugs of coffee. Once the eggs were done, she split them between the two plates he laid out, then grabbed two bananas and two yogurts, knowing they were going to need the fuel for the day ahead. Declan made himself some toast, too.

They ate fast, putting their dirty plates in the dishwasher when they finished, then hurrying out the door. Birds chirped their morning song as they walked up the lane to the barn. Maggie let it wash over her and eat away some of the stress she woke up with. Today and tomorrow would be happy times. They would celebrate love and life and family. She wouldn’t let her troubles intrude on that.

As they got closer to the barn, she heard hammering and her brothers yelling directions at one another.

“What are they building?” Declan asked.

“Probably a stage. Brady was in charge of music, and knowing him, I’m betting there will be live entertainment.” Her brother loved music and was even in a band in his teens until the demands of college and running a ranch took away most of his free time. Now, he just played for himself, singing and playing guitar in the evenings and at casual family gatherings.

“You don’t know who he hired?”

She shook her head. They entered the barn to see a platform going up at the far end. Brady carried a two-by-four toward a frame on the ground. Thomas and Seb stood at the far corner, Seb holding two boards while Thomas screwed them together. A saw started up off to the right where Jace cut more boards to use as crossbeams for support.

“Wow. They’ve been busy,” Declan said.

Maggie smiled. “Brady probably started on his own at sunup. It looks like he put some support columns together to string lights on.” She motioned to the four-by-four posts leaning against the barn wall, strung together in twos by a length of two-by-four. She imagined he was going to attach them to the stage base on three sides, then add some lighting and other decorations.

“About time you two showed up.”

Maggie turned to see Macy standing behind them, carrying several folding chairs.

“Decide to sleep in?” She grinned. “Or do other things?”

Maggie’s face flamed even though she had no reason to be embarrassed. “Tara said eight. It’s seven fifty-three. We’re not late.”

“You are when Brady’s in charge. He woke me up at five-thirty.”

“Wait,” Declan said. “I thought you were staying with Lee and Jenny?”

Macy set the chairs down and waved a hand. “Oh, that. I was, but I was sleeping on the couch. The kids take up all their extra bedrooms now. Brady has a spare room and offered it to me when he found out.”

Maggie couldn’t help the grin that spread over her face. “Yeah? How’s that working out?” She knew Macy had a crush on her brother. Everyone did. Except Brady.

“Fine, except he’s an early riser. Like ungodly early. I hear his shower come on at four every morning.” A flush crept up her neck, and Maggie knew she was thinking about Brady in the shower. Macy cleared her throat. “We’re setting up tables now. Why don’t you grab some chairs? You can carry those, can’t you, Deck?”

He nodded. “Most likely. I got cleared for light lifting and driving at my appointment yesterday.”

“Sweet. Everything’s in Lee’s truck outside.” She pointed back the way they came. London and Rayna entered the barn with their own stacks of chairs. The foster kids living with the Archers followed them, carrying tables.

They followed her out of the barn to get to work. For the next few hours, they set up tables, chairs, and decorations. With all of them working, they accomplished much more than Maggie thought they would. It helped that Tara put Brady in charge of setup. The man could organize anything to within an inch of its life. She had the final say on everything, but Brady knew her well enough to know what she wanted, and she made few changes to his plans.

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