Page 18 of Magnus
It was an option that had caused Linus, who had done the checking for Magnus and who was already worried regarding his brother’s interest in Sapphie and Angel, to question Magnus’s behavior. Magnus had brushed off his brother’s concern. He had never been as sure of anything in his life before as he was that Sapphie and Angel were his.
“Have the two of you eaten today?” he now prompted.
Sapphie blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Just the juice and biscuit we had on the train. Angel’s had a nap since then and only woke up a short time ago. You arrived before we had a chance to go and look for food.”
Magnus nodded. “Then why don’t I take you both out to lunch? We can return to this other subject again once Angel is in bed later tonight.” He glanced about the small room, with its double bed and small en suite bathroom. He doubted he would even fit in the bed or the small shower unit he could see through the open doorway. “I’ll book all of us into a hotel until we’ve decided what we’re going to do next.”
“I’m perfectly happy where I am, thank you. And I already know what I’m going to do next,” Sapphie told him firmly.
“We could find somewhere better than this to stay.” He grimaced before conceding, “But as long as any plans you make also include me, I’ll happily agree to go along with them.”
She glared her frustration. “I don’t need you to agree, happily or otherwise, to anything I decide to do!”
“Never said you did,” he acknowledged.
“But— You just?—”
“I said it would make me happy. I didn’t say you had to do it.” He eyed her ruefully for several seconds before speaking again. “Angel, would you like us all to take Angus for a walk in the park I saw down the road, and then we can find somewhere to have lunch together?” He might have directed his words to the little girl, but the steadiness of his gaze remained fixed challengingly on the woman in front of him.
Angel looked up from playing with the dog. “Can Angus come to lunch with us too?”
“Of course.” If the dog wasn’t allowed in the restaurant, then they would find somewhere with a garden that did allow it. No way was he going to be responsible for putting a disappointed look on that cherubic little face.
Angel smiled brightly, the tears of a short time ago apparently completely forgotten. “Yes, please!”
“Outnumbered,” Magnus murmured so that only Sapphie could hear him.
“Don’t feel too triumphant,” she warned as softly. “I’m not agreeing to anything more than a walk for Angus and then letting you pay for our lunch.”
“Small wins often lead to bigger ones.”
Sapphie knew that.Just as she was starting to realize that dealing with this man was similar to facing down a moving steamroller that was gaining momentum. One that would flatten, without hesitation, anything that got in the way of where Magnus wanted to be.
And, incredible as it still sounded, one of the things he currently wanted to do was to marry her.
Something which had caused an avalanche of totally opposing emotions inside Sapphie.
They ranged fromabsolutely not, to a heartfeltyes, please.
The former was a knee-jerk reaction to the thought of marrying anyone after the heartache of her marriage to Marco.
The latter was in response to how protected and safe Magnus made her feel.
Magnus also kissed like a dream. Hungry, intense, his attention totally focused on her and ensuring she felt the same pleasure he did. A pleasure and arousal he had made no effort to hide from her.
It was a heady feeling to have that effect on such a ruggedly handsome man. A feeling she knew she could become addicted to if exposed to it, and him, for too long.
But…for the moment, she really was only agreeing to lunch, and she was only doing that because she knew how disappointed Angel would be if she didn’t.
Which Magnus had also known when he’d made the suggestion.
Her daughter was already overtired and upset from their abrupt departure from London. Angel had cried when she had to say goodbye to Henry! The long train journey here had made the young girl even more exhausted, despite her brief nap earlier.
Sapphie would willingly do whatever it took to take away that look of desolation lingering in the back of her daughter’s eyes. Even if it was only for a short time.
“It’s just a walk for Angus and a free lunch for us,” she warned Magnus again.
He grinned. “And I told you, small victories.”
