Page 68 of Offsides Attraction

“I’m not sure how to answer,” Penny said, bringing her eyes back to his.

“You don’t like it, do you?” He sounded upset. He’d been jittery ever since they’d arrived. She knew he was nervous about Sunday’s upcoming season opener—the last of his career—but that shouldn’t impact this. He’d looked at several properties with Alison over the last few months, complaining that Penny’s apartment was unlivable for more than a week at a time. He needed more space. The rental house solved that problem during the season, but once he was done, Bash wanted space. This was the first property she’d visited with him, and she felt at a disadvantage.

“How can I gauge its potential when I don’t know your plan, and you always have a plan. Would it be a great spot for the new rescue center? No. Investment property, maybe? A family home? Yes, if there were kids, otherwise it’s too big for two people.” Penny sounded slightly hysterical by the time she finished. Had he been looking for a home for them?

“But you can see the potential as a family home?” He asked, and she felt him relax next to her as she nodded, afraid to speak. “How about converting the bedrooms over the garage into offices?” Penny remembered his flippant comment from last year about VV Pub being pretentious and opening a West Coast office in Cascade City. Was he serious? An office here? A home here? Her hopes soared.

“What’s your plan, Bash?” she asked, before he swooped her up and set her on the island, stepping between her legs.

“Marry me.”

“What?” She fought the smile that tugged at her lips. After his botched proposal, he owed her a decent one.

“Marry me. We can renovate the house and have VV Pub offices here. It will be perfect.”

“Why?” She held her breath as she watched his bright blue eyes darken behind his glasses.

“Because I love you. You make everything better and I want to start and end each day with you and fill all the in-between times with more of you.” He kissed her knuckles, and she melted.

“So, it’s not because we suit?” She tossed his words back at him and he scowled.

“I deserved that, and I know I don’t deserve you, but I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you and working to be the man you deserve.”

“Yes,” Penny said, feeling the sparks grow inside her. The witches would need to protect the house and the property with a covering spell. Soon.

“Yes, I don’t deserve you?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you, and we’ll renovate this house and work above the garage together. Tiny can have free run of the house and someday we’ll fill it with little Vander Vetters.”

“Why?” he asked, as Penny wrapped her legs around him and dragged him closer.

“Because, my dear challenging man,”—she kissed the corner of his lips—“you’re the magic in my life and I love you.”

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