Page 9 of Charmed, I'm Sure
The sound of the back door opening pulled me from my mental spiral, and I turned toward the kitchen as Jae poked her head out. “Hey, boss lady, where do you want these tables set up? The guys from the rental place offered to carry them in for us.”
Oh, blessed Mother, thank you.
“Umm, just have the guys bring them in here. Once we figure everything out, we can shimmy them into place.”
“You got it, boss!” she hollered, giving me a mock salute before turning back toward the exit.
I took a few deep breaths and pulled my crystal locket from beneath my shirt. The simple silver cage held a small rose quartz stone. It was meant to relieve stress and anxiety, and as I clutched it in my palm, it did just that. The negative energy surrounding my mental space seeped away as positive energy flowed in.
It hadn’t taken long for the guys to set up the high-top tables; they’d even stuck around to move them into place for us. Although I’m pretty sure it had more to do with Jae’s sultry smile than the tip I’d slipped into each of their palms before they left.
Jae took off shortly after they did, and I sighed in relief as I looked around my little shop. The tables were all covered in white tablecloths, with small pink rose arrangements gracing each center. I’d already spelled the lights to dim, giving the space a more intimate feel. My Spotify “Party Playlist” was cued up and ready to go, and even with nerves prickling against my skin, I was excited.
Glancing down at my phone to check the time, I blew out a relieved breath. Four-thirty. The event was set to start at six, so I had just enough time to get home and change before I had to be back to set out the charcuterie boards and drinks. Taking one last look around, a small smile pulled across my lips.
Perfect. It was perfect.
It was absolutely, one hundred percent,notperfect.
“How in the hell did he even get in?!” I whisper-yelled at Maddie, who was helping me put together another dessert board in the kitchen. The Meat-Cute was going off without a hitch. People were laughing and taking pictures in front of the photo wall. My phone had been blowing up nonstop with all of the tags on Instagram, and I couldn’tshare them fast enough. I’d even bookedCharCutieto cater at least three parties in November and one in December. It was amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better… at least until Taylor waltzed in. I hadn’t seen him in a week.Whywas he always around at inconvenient times?
“I don’t know, Mags. I didn’t see his name on the list the last time I checked, but it must be there if Mer let him in.”
Meredith, my baby sister and bouncer for the night. She was five-foot-five-inches of unicorns and sparkles most days, with gorgeous blonde hair that many women would pay an arm and a leg for at the salon and killer blue eyes that brought men to their knees. But if someone got on her bad side? They would have been better off poking a hornet’s nest.
Unfortunately, between her classes at the university in Baton Rouge and her job, she could only come home a few times a month. And I had been beyond grateful to see her little baby-blue VW Beetle in the driveway when I’d gone home earlier.
“What? Like, I’d miss seeing all of the cute guys and gals coming here tonight? In your dreams, Mags,” she’d said as she hugged me hello.
“What do you want to do about it?” Maddie’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back into the present.
Groaning, I looked back over my shoulder. There wasn’t much Icoulddo if he’d actually paid to be here. “Nothing, I guess. Plus, he’s here now. Throwing him out would cause a scene.”
Maddie nodded, but a small smile tugged at one corner of her lips.
“What?” I asked, my eyes narrowing as her lips curled inward.
“Nothing… just that, well… at least now we know he’s single.”
“Madison!” I admonished through a whisper, tossing a strawberry top I’d just cut off at her.
She chuckled and used a wisp of her magic to deflect it into the trash can at her side. “I’m justsayingit’s a good tidbit of information to hold on to, that’s all. I mean, Mags. You have to admit. He’s not bad to look at.”
Her eyes flicked up behind me, and though everything in me told me not to, I turned around.
Good god.It wasn’t fair, really it wasn’t. Taylor was a walking wet dream, and it pissed me off. He was in dark wash jeans that looked like they had been painted onto his body, hugging his thighs like they were holding on for dear life. The sleeves of his sky-blue button-down were rolled to his elbows, which did him far too many favors. It made his sapphire blue eyes take on a lighter, brighter hue… not that I noticed. And I never did understand why forearms were sexy, but his most definitely were… fine. They were fine. His dark chocolate hair was neatly mussed, and he was wearing his godforsaken glasses. Why were men in glasses hot?
Fuck. Me.
“Earth to Magnolia…” Maddie’s voice trickled into my mind, and when I turned back toward her, I wanted to wipe the smug look off her face. “See something you like, sis?”
“Fuck off. So he’s good-looking, so what?”
Maddie’s face paled slightly as she curled her lips inward and glanced back toward her board.
“Wha—”
“Who’s good-looking?” A deep timbre sounded behind me, cutting through my question and sending a chill down my spine.
