Chapter 1
Maggie
Who knew a pair of jeans could make someone so happy? I think it's a great way to start the New Year. For years, my parents insisted my sister and I wear dresses and skirts, but no pants. At the time, I had no problem with it.
Then, my sister got married, and she married into a different kind of family than any of us would have ever expected. They not only welcomed Ella with open arms, but me and my whole family as well. So much so, that we moved from our small town of Mountain Gap, Tennessee to the even smaller town of Rock Springs, Texas to be around them and my sister.
The more time I spent on the ranch, the more I loved it. But dresses and skirts just weren't practical, so I talked to my parents about wearing jeans. I know I didn't need their permission. I'm twenty-five years old after all, but I'm really close with my parents and still live with them, so their approval made things easier.
So today, I stand in WJ's, my sister Ella and her husband's bar turned family restaurant, in jeans. It's also the New Year’s Eve party, and I’m doing something else for me. I'm here taking pictures of the couples. It's my first paid photography gig, even if it was my sister who booked me.
That’s the next battle I have with my parents. I want to start my own photography business, and possibly, move out and live on my own. I know they will support the photography business, but it's the moving out on my own they won't be a fan of. They are very conservative, and would rather I stay home, until I married.
Being that I have no marriage prospects and don't plan to any time soon, I'd really like to live my life and not feel like it's on hold, until some man comes into it. Though, I guess I should phrase it a bit better than that to my parents.
"Oh, our turn! Make the baby bump look good!" Megan sequels, as she and her husband, Hunter, step up to get their photo taken. She’s one of Ella’s sister-in-law’s, and now part of my family, too.
She barely has a baby bump and is only about sixteen weeks, but she swears everyone can tell now. She stands sideways with Hunter behind her, as they both cradle her bump. It's just so sweet, and with some strategic moves, I get the bump to stand out, while still making them both look like the cutest couple ever.
I show them the photos on the computer I have set up and soak in their huge smiles.
"Oh, Maggie, you’re amazing. I love this, and I can't wait to frame it for our room!"
"Now, let me spin you around the dance floor, before you get too tired to dance with me," Hunter says, as he starts moving her towards the dance floor.
With a break in photos, I take in the bar. I had such a blast decorating it with Ella. We spent a day taking down all the Christmas decorations, and then putting up all the black and gold New Year’s ones.
I shiver, as I think of that day. I took a walk to get some fresh air and ran into Nick. He asked me out, and I turned him down. Dating just isn't in the cards for me right now, but I still think of his response.
“I'm not giving up so easily, Maggie. You can count on it.”
It's all I've been able to think about, and I've decided that I don't I want him to give up. I just don't know how anything between us will work. I know my parents want me to go about it as Ella did with a courtship.
Courtship means very minimal physical contact, and you always have a chaperone with you. Ella didn't have her first kiss, until her wedding night. I'm not sure that’s how I see myself, finding my future husband.
I've thought about dating, like I’ve seen it on TV, with kissing on the first date, living together before marriage, and having sex so early on. I'm not sure that’s right for me either. There has to be an option in between, and there has to be a guy out there who is okay with it.
Nick's face floats through my mind again, and it’s almost like I conjured him up, as he steps out of the kitchen and takes a look around. Nick is an amazing chef. He's won multiple awards for his food, but most recently, would be the BBQ Championship Award he won in Dallas.
It was featured on national TV, and then, another TV show came and did a special on WJ's, and it brought in some business for the town. Nick could work in a huge kitchen in Dallas, Las Vegas, or even New York City, but he chooses to stay here. He and Jason went to school together and are best friends, so I know he's loyal to him, which means a lot.
He has those cowboy muscles, and a tan that mixes with his dark brown hair that’s just long enough to have a slight curl to it. He wears a very short beard that looks almost like a perfectly styled five o’clock shadow. I've never been a fan of beards on men, but Nick's is extremely sexy, and it definitely changed my mind on the matter.
His eyes land on mine, and his whole face lights up, as he starts making his way across the room.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
I barely hear the New Year’s countdown going on, because it's like his eyes are holding me in a trance. When he's right in front of me, the rest of the room fades away.
Seven. Six. Five.
He places a hand on my hip, and my brain shuts down. I should pull back. I should walk off, but all I can think about are the sparks of heat, where his hands are touching me.
Four. Three.
He takes a step closer, and his eyes scan my face. The soft look in them does me in. My eyes land on his lips. He isn't going to kiss me, right? Surely, it will be just a kiss on the forehead.
Two. One.
In the next instant, his lips are on mine, and they are soft and warm. I kiss him back without thought, because I want to kiss him. His hand tangles in my hair and pulls me closer, making me gasp. He slides his tongue into my mouth, and the second his tongue touches mine, reality crashes around me.
I push him away, and the shock registers on his face, as I take a step back. I bring a hand up to my lips, and they feel like they’re on fire.
My first kiss.
Oh God, what have I done?
"Maggie," Nicks says, as I rush by him, scanning the crowd for someone, anyone, and the first person I find is my brother, Royce, talking to Anna Mae. He sees me, before I fully make my way to him, and his face drops.
"What’s wrong?" He rushes over with concern on his face.
"Please, take me home, Royce. Please." I plead.
"Of course." He slides an arm around my waist and leads me to the door, no questions asked.
Before I step through the door, I turn my head and catch a glimpse of Jason, rushing towards Nick, his face full of rage. I guess, he saw what happened. Then, there’s Nick, watching me with the saddest look on his face.
As soon as the door closes behind me, I start crying. One of the many things I like about Royce is he doesn't pry. He just helps me into his truck and makes sure I'm buckled up, before closing the door and heading to his side to get in.
As we pull out of the parking lot, he looks over at me, but still doesn’t ask questions.
"I'm sorry," I mumble. I hate that I pulled him away from Anna Mae. He's been trying to get her to go out with him for months, but she keeps putting him off. I know they were having a good time tonight, and they even took a photo together. I instantly feel guilty for ruining the night for him.
"Don't be, Maggie. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you and Ella. Do you want to talk about it?" He asks gently.
"Not yet, but I promise I will, when I'm ready," I tell him.
He nods, because that's enough for him. He turns the radio on for background noise, as we drive back out to the ranch. Mom, Dad, Royce, and I are staying in the old family house on Sage's side of the ranch, until we find a place in town. Ella and Sage keep finding ways to keep us here longer, which is just fine by me.
I stare out the window, watching the north Texas landscape of mostly flat ranch land go by, as the night flashes through my head.
Nick kissed me.
Nick kissed me, and I liked it.
I don't know how I pictured my first kiss. For a while, it was on my wedding day, but over the last few years, I pictured something more. A declaration of 'I love you' followed by a passionate kiss. Maybe, it would be after he asked me to marry him.
Never once did I think my first kiss would be at the stroke of midnight in a bar, before I had even been on a first date with the guy.
But this isn't just any guy. It's Nick.
Nick who makes my heartbeat fast by just being in the same room. Nick who can look at me and make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. Nick who has asked me out and told me he won't stop fighting for me.
“I'm not giving up so easy, Maggie. You can count on it.”
Those words run through my head again. I only admitted to myself this evening that I didn't want him to give up. I want him to prove to me that he wants me, and that I'm worth it. I want him to be the one who is okay with my crazy dating rules, and okay with me figuring them out as we go. I want it to be him.
I bring my hand up to my lips again. I can still feel his lips on mine. Why did that one kiss shock me so much? I wanted to kiss him. I still do, but when his tongue touched mine, it was a feeling I wasn't expecting. My body wanted him in a whole new way. I was so turned on in the middle of a crowded bar, that I didn't know what to do.
I know I'm going to have to talk to him. I'm also going to have to explain and apologize for whatever lashing Jason is giving him right now.
I'm going to have to explain to Royce, Ella, and Jason. They will insist I talk to my parents as well. I know everyone at the ranch is there for me if I need them.
The problem is I have no idea how to explain what happened. Nick kissed me, and I liked it, but I pushed him away and hurt us both. Why?
I'm not sure. Part of me was waiting for my parents to yell and ground me, like a little girl, knowing they would be disappointed in me. Another part was upset I wasn't in control and deciding that moment would be my first kiss.
We pull into the ranch and pass the main house to our place a bit further down from the barn.
Royce, ever the gentleman, helps me from the truck and into the house. I sit in the chair by the fireplace, and Royce places a blanket over my shoulders, before he starts to make a fire.
Once the fire is roaring, he stands back up and looks at me.
"What do you need?" He asks me.
"Will you ask Jason, Ella, Mom, and Dad to come home? I know it's late, but I'd rather have this conversation only once, and I know I won't be able to sleep, until I do."
"Of course," he says, as he pulls out his phone and steps into the kitchen to make the calls.
I stare at the fire in the fireplace that matches the one, roaring inside of me, and dreading the conversation ahead.
