Page 85 of Charmed, I'm Sure
“Why not?” I asked, fighting back a grin as I put the car in park.
“Because it’ssomeone’s house! You can’t just show up at someone’s house uninvited!” She was whisper-yelling, as if the homeowners might overhear.
“Itissomeone’s house, sunshine.” I pulled the keys from the console, dangling them in front of her. “It’s mine.”
Her eyes went wide. “You…you bought the house?”
“I did.”
“But why?”
Instead of answering, I stepped out of the car and rounded to her side, opening her door. Magnolia stayed rooted in her seat, staring at me as if I’d just told her I was the heir to a secret kingdom.
“Taylor, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Sliding my hands up her thighs, I let my thumbs brush the hem of her dress. Her breath hitched, and I leaned closer, steeling myself for what I was about to say.
“I bought this house—thishouse—because you fell in love with it,” I said, my voice low and steady. “Because I couldn’t picture anyone else in that kitchen. I couldn’t imagine anyone else swinging on that porch swing, watching the sunset with me. I want you here, Magnolia. I wantushere. I’m all in.”
The words hung between us, heavy with meaning. My heart pounded as I waited for her response.
Magnolia launched herself at me, her arms wrapping around my neck as her lips found mine. The force of her kiss knocked me back a step, but I recovered quickly, my hands locking around her waist to hold her close.
Her kiss was everything—fierce, desperate, and all-consuming. Weeks of pent-up tension ignited between us, burning away every doubt, every hesitation.
When I finally pulled back, it was only because I needed to hear her say it. Needed to know where she stood when it came tous.
“Everything okay?” she asked, her voice breathless, her hands resting over my thundering heart.
“Mags, what are we?” The words came out rougher than I intended, but I didn’t care. I needed to know. “Are we just…seeing what happens? Are you my girlfriend? Are we—”
“Do youwantme to be your girlfriend?” she interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Do you want to be?” I countered, my heart hammering in my chest.
Her cheeks flushed, and she dropped her gaze, but I wasn’t letting her hide. Tilting her chin up, I held her gaze.
“I want you to be myeverything,Magnolia,” I said firmly. “I told you—I’m in this. Both feet, firmly planted, with you.”
“You really bought this house because I loved it?”
“I did.”
Her lips curved into a slow, radiant smile. Then, like a magnet, she leaned into me, her hands fisting in my shirt.
“Well,boyfriend,” she murmured, her voice teasing but her eyes shining, “I guess you’d better show me inside.”
Fucking hell.
22
Release the kraken
Magnolia
We’dbarelymadeitthrough the front door before I was trying to climb Taylor like a goddamn tree.
The front door of the house he bought because I loved it.
