Page 12 of Charmed, I’m Sure (Witches of Bellevue #1)

My head fell back as I rounded the corner that led to CharCutie. Instead of the nearly empty street I was accustomed to, I was met with a tall, lean, frustratingly gorgeous new fixture next to my door. I swear the Mother was laughing at me. Because that’s what this had to be, right? A cosmic joke?

Expelling a heavy breath, I kept my eyes straight ahead as I marched toward my shop.

“Good morning, Magnolia,” Taylor said a little too cheerily for a Monday morning.

“Taylor. To what do I owe this displeasure?”

“Ouch. I’m wounded.”

Tilting my sunglasses down to peer over the frames, I let my eyes run down his body before coming to settle back on his face. “I think you’re fine.” A sly smile pulled at his lips, and I rolled my eyes in response as I pushed the frames up onto my head. “You know what I mean.”

When I finally got the door unlocked, he skirted around my back and pushed it open. “After you.”

My foot paused over the threshold, and I cut him a glance. “We’re not open yet, Taylor.”

“I know,” he said, palming the back of his neck as a faint flush colored his cheeks, and he met my gaze. “But I wanted to talk to you about something, if that’s alright?”

With a resigned sigh, I pressed against the door to hold it open and gestured for him to enter.

Flicking on the lights, I leaned against the frame and watched as he slowly looked around my little shop.

He’d been there before, but it was like he was taking it in with fresh eyes.

And when his gaze landed back on me, my breath hitched.

Why? Who fucking knows… ok, I might have known.

The man was gorgeous… frustratingly annoying, like a weed you can’t get rid of in your garden…

but gorgeous, nonetheless. His deep teal Henley hugged every curve of muscle in his arms and was pushed up to his elbows, his jeans tight in all the right places, and those infernal glasses were perched on his nose.

He looked like Clark Kent without the stupid bang swirl.

Pull it together, Mags.

Mentally shaking myself for letting my mind wander, I pushed away from the door and started my opening duties.

I was earlier than expected, and Jae wouldn’t be in for another hour or so, but I liked it that way.

It was quiet and gave me time to think. But with Taylor hovering, I wasn’t going to be able to check my enchantments like I’d planned to.

“How was your Halloween?” he asked as he leaned against the counter, his sapphire eyes boring into mine.

Quirking a brow at his odd question, I turned my attention to my kiosk screen and booted up our POS system. “It was fine.”

In all honesty, it had been more than fine.

Despite the massive hangover that ensued, Jaelyn and I had a blast. I’d had just about enough of being around drunken idiots when a man dressed as Westley from The Princess Bride—arguably one of the best movies of all time—swooped in to rescue me from one.

And when he’d kissed me? Swoon. Technically, I kissed him first, but he definitely kissed me back, and it felt like I’d melted into the wall.

Maybe it was the mask or the hero act, I don’t know.

I didn’t care then, and sure as hell didn’t now.

We didn’t exchange names, and though it seemed like a good idea at the time, sober me was currently kicking inebriated me in the stomach over it.

No one—and I mean no one—had ever kissed me until my knees turned to Jell-O.

“Just fine?” he hedged, a sly smirk tugging on his lips.

I could feel the blood pooling in my cheeks and pulled my lips inward as I turned away from his intense gaze. “Yes… fine. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”

“No, I wanted to ask a favor, actually.”

“A… favor? From me? The person who is known for not caring for your presence?”

“Yep. The one and the same.”

“Alright, Hallows.” After loading the specials into the system, I propped my elbows on the counter across from him and rested my chin on my laced fingers. “You’ve intrigued me.”

“I need help finding a place.”

If I’d had a drink in my mouth, it would have sprayed all over his face like in a cartoon. “I’m sorry… what?”

“I’d like you to help me find a place, preferably a house. I just need to get out of my parents’ house.”

“I’m so confused right now,” I mumbled, pushing away from the counter and heading into the kitchen. “Why me? Why not your sister or your mom?” I asked over my shoulder as I pulled the order forms from their slots.

“They’re busy with Addy’s wedding and engagement party. Plus, you have good taste.” When I cut him a glance, he simply shrugged and gestured to the main area of my shop. “Look what you did with this place.”

“Sooo, you want a pink and teal, retro diner-style house?”

“Well, no.”

“Taylor,” I huffed out his name in a breath, entirely at a loss for words.

“Mags,” he said my name like a prayer, sending goosebumps down my arms. “Please?”

Please? Sweet baby cheeses. His eyes were pleading, and he looked like a wounded animal. If there was one thing I couldn’t say no to, it was a poor, helpless animal.

“You do know there’s a hurricane coming, right?” I asked, raising a skeptical brow as his lips began to pull upward.

“It’s just a tropical storm.”

“Right now.”

“I’m sure it will be fine. So, is that a yes?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that began to build in my chest as I watched him go from pitiful puppy to giddy. With an amused scoff, I nodded as I tongued a canine. “A house? What about an apartment? You’re a single guy; an apartment would work, right?”

“Yeah, I am, but hopefully not forever.” He chuckled to himself and shook his head slightly. “I’ve done the whole apartment thing, and it’s just not for me. Ideally, I’d love to have a big yard, and since I can afford it, then why not go for it?”

“In this economy? Must be nice,” I mumbled below my breath, but evidently, it had been loud enough for him to hear because his brows winged upward. “Fine, I will help you look for a house.”

Taylor’s smile made me pinch my lips together to prevent myself from returning the gesture. It was so bright and infectious, radiating all the way into the deep blue swirls of his eyes, making something warm fill my belly.

“But!” I held up a finger, dropping my smile just a smidge and holding his gaze, “That’s all this is. House hunting.”

With a slight incline of his head and a knowing smile, he pushed away from the stainless-steel table in my kitchen and began backing toward the door. “As you wish.”

My stomach dropped, and my eyes widened as I watched him slowly walk away, his gaze holding mine until he reached the door.

As… you… wish.

Son of a bitch.

Like wiping condensation from a window, memories from Saturday night came back to me with glaring clarity.

The man from the bar had been dressed from head to toe in black with a mask covering the top half of his face and head, just like Westley, but with those eyes.

Taylor’s eyes. Deep, rich blues boring into mine.

Strong hands gripping my waist. Hips pressing me into a wall while lips trailed over my skin.

Oh, fuck me.

Taylor Hallows had been two seconds from…

well, from doing exactly that against a Bourbon Street bar wall.

Which, in hindsight, was unsanitary and sober me retched at the thought.

It had been Taylor-mother-forking Hallows that had made my knees turn to Jell-O.

Who’d had his hand up against my… fucking hell.

This, indeed, was the Monday-est Monday ever.

And I’d just agreed to go house shopping with him.

Mother, save me.

Taylor

Watching the realization that I was the one who had her pinned against an—albeit gross and sticky—bar wall two nights prior would be ingrained into my mind for the rest of my life. And the flush that crept from her cheeks and down her neck was just the icing on the cake.

It had taken every ounce of energy I’d had to dodge Addy’s questions that night. Drunk or not, she had laser focus when she wanted information on something or someone.

Why are you covered in glitter? Where did it come from?

Who is she? Did you get her name? On and on, she peppered me with questions, all while Colin attempted to distract her with anything he thought would work.

News flash, it didn’t. Nothing ever did when she set her mind to something.

It wasn’t until we poured her into bed, and she fell asleep that I got a reprieve. Too bad it didn’t last.

Walking toward the small grocery store in town, my steps halted as my sister stepped out from around a corner. She had a knowing smile on her lips, and her blue-green eyes burned into mine.

“Whatcha doin’, Tay Tay?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she popped a hip out.

Damn it.

“Going to grab some stuff from the store, I hear there’s a storm coming. Need anything?” I asked, looping my arm around her shoulders as I stepped past her.

She staggered, but once she found her footing, she glared up at me as we walked. “Uh-huh. And where were you coming from, dear brother of mine?”

“That way.”

“Taylor.”

“Adelaide.”

“Don’t government-name me.”

“Then stop asking me stupid questions.”

“I will once you tell me who the girl is.”

My head dropped backward as I sighed. Relentless. My sister was absolutely relentless. “I’ll tell you when and if there is something to tell, alright?”

Her squeal pierced my eardrum, and I contemplated calling one of my audiology buddies for a consult to determine whether she’d caused irreparable damage.

“I knew it!” she squealed again, amplifying the annoying ringing in my ears.

“Would you stop that?”

“Sorry, I’m just excited! You’ve been alone for so long; I’m just happy that someone caught your eye.”

Jesus, that was a low blow. Yes, it had been a while, but I wasn’t a complete hermit. Years of medical school and residency weren’t really conducive to relationships, and I wasn’t a fan of dating in the workplace.

“Well, whoever she is, I’m sure she’s great, and you’ll have no trouble getting her to go out with you.” Addy leaned into me as she wrapped her arm around my waist. If only she knew how wrong she was.

When we got to the store, Addy gave me a hug and backed away. “I’m going to head back home. Mom has a list of caterers for me to go through for the party. Do you work tonight?”

“Yeah, I have a shift at seven. I’ll see you before I head out.”

After a nod and a quick wave, I watched her walk away and pulled my phone from my pocket.

I had planned on getting Magnolia’s number today so that we could set up a time to go house hunting, but unfortunately for me, my plan hadn’t gone the way I had intended it to.

Did I need her help to find a house? No, not really.

But I would use any excuse I could come up with to spend time with her, and I was still surprised she said yes.

I just hoped that ‘yes’ still stuck after I jumped the gun and let it slip that it was me Saturday night.

Annoyed and internally kicking myself, I pulled up Facebook and searched for CharCutie. Sending a whisper of thanks to whatever benevolent being was watching over me, I hit the button that sent a message to the page and crossed my fingers that I hadn’t just royally fucked up every plan I had.

TAYLOR HALLOWS:

Hey, Mags. You free this Wednesday to go look at houses?

My heart leapt into my throat when a response popped up, and immediately sank when it was the auto-reply for their page explaining their hours and the specials for the day.

As upsetting as it was to not have an actual reply, I was half tempted to turn around to grab their specials for the day—pumpkin tarts and cinnamon rolls? Yes, please.

Just as I was about to pocket my phone, three little dots popped up and disappeared a handful of times before her response finally filled the screen.

CharCutie:

*sighing emoji* What time?