Page 5 of Charmed, I’m Sure (Witches of Bellevue #1)

Smiling, I turned my attention to the other woman. “I suppose you hate me as well?”

She tilted her head, lips pursed in contemplation. “Hate’s a strong word, Mr. Hallows. I’d prefer ‘loathe,’ ‘despise,’ or ‘wouldn’t blink if you happened to disappear.’” Her smile curved like the Cheshire cat’s, sending a chill down my spine. I rubbed the back of my neck to shake off the feeling.

A nervous laugh escaped as my eyes flicked between the women. “So, uh, might I have the name of the person probably planning my demise?”

“Madison Bellevue.”

“Ah. Makes sense.”

An uncomfortable silence fell over our small group, but Magnolia’s gaze flicked up toward the ceiling as a new song started playing. A smug smile spread across her face as her eyes returned to me. “Fitting, don’t ya think?”

“What is?” I asked.

“The song,” she gestured toward the speakers. “It’s called My Bar by Priscilla Block.”

I couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips. That was the second time today she’d sassed me into silence.

Magnolia: two

Me: zero.

As people paired off and began two-stepping around us, two men I didn’t recognize swooped in to ask Madison and Jaelyn to dance.

They agreed, but only after Mags said she could handle me on her own.

The way she said it, with eyes lit with fire and a wicked grin on her lips, had my blood heating. I was in deep shit.

She turned on her heel to leave, but she didn’t get more than a few steps before I was in front of her again. I smiled sheepishly when my brain caught up with what my feet had done. “Dance with me?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” I flashed my best smile, but she only quirked her brow as if to say you’re joking, right?

“Aww, bless your heart—”

My heart dropped. Not bless your heart. I’d almost prefer her telling me to fuck off. Bless your heart was worse. So much worse.

“You and your cronies made my life a living hell. Why would I give you the time of day?”

“Ah-ha, so you do remember me.”

“Excuse me?”

“This morning, when Sophie introduced us, you said you didn’t remember me. Clearly, you do.” Magnolia crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head as her eyes rolled. “It’s just a dance, Magnolia. We’re already on the floor. Humor me.” I extended my hand and waited.

Her eyes narrowed, and just as she opened her mouth to respond, a large man came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Everything alright here, Mags?”

Something like shock crossed her face before she leaned into the embrace. “Yeah, Ray. Everything’s fine. Taylor here was just leaving.”

“Taylor?” Ray asked, not moving from Magnolia’s side.

“Taylor Hallows,” I offered, extending my hand.

Ray simply looked me up and down, sucking on his teeth. “Right. Well, let me know if you need anything, or if pretty boy here gives you any trouble, alright?”

Pretty boy? Good lord, did everyone in this town hate me?

“Don’t worry. He won’t.”

Ray nodded and returned to the bar.

“So, about that dance,” I said, extending my hand again before she could walk away.

Magnolia narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, holding a finger in front of my face. “One dance. One. And then you leave me be. Got it?”

A full-fledged smile spread across my face—the kind that made your cheeks hurt if you held it too long. “Deal.”

She slipped her hand into mine, and I wrapped my arm around her back, making sure to keep it loose. It had been a while since I two-stepped, but I still knew my stuff.

Guiding her across the floor was easy as we let the previous song play out.

But when it shifted to Lovin’ On You by Luke Combs, a grin spread across my face.

The faster pace of the tune gave me just what I needed to twirl her, and after the second spin, even she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.

We moved together like a well-oiled machine. She followed my every lead, never missing a beat, gliding with me like water across a smooth surface.

“Done this before?” she asked after I spun her back into my hold.

“Maybe once or twice.” I winked, and her eyes crinkled at the corners as if she was fighting back a laugh.

As the song came to an end, her icy exterior seemed to have thawed, and I was about to ask for another dance. But before I could, Kyle slipped in behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist.

Kyle LeBlanc, the guy who used to be my best friend, was now nothing more than a parasite who peaked in high school and never learned to take no for an answer. Not that he ever had to, with his daddy being the mayor of Bellevue.

“Damn, Maggie. When did you turn into such a fine piece of ass? Why don’t you give Taylor here a break and let me take you for a spin?” Kyle flashed me a grin over her shoulder that said he wanted more than to dance, and the possessive way he held her made my stomach churn.

Magnolia’s face pinched in rage, but she took a deep breath, then plastered a fake smile on her face as she turned in Kyle’s embrace.

“Kyle,” she said through clenched teeth, resting her hands on his shoulders, “back. The. Fuck. Off.” Each word was clear, and then she moved so fast, I barely registered she’d kneed him in the balls.

Kyle dropped his hands, clutching himself as he doubled over. “You’ll pay for that, bitch,” he spat as Magnolia turned back to me.

Her eyes scanned down my body before settling on my face. “Seems he’s not the only one who hasn’t changed.” A look of disgust crossed her features as she shook her head and sidestepped around me. Jaelyn and Madison, who’d seen the whole thing, weren’t far behind her.

Fuck.

By the time I pulled my head out of my ass and turned around, she was gone. Whipping back toward Kyle, I shoved his shoulder. “What the fuck, dude?!”

“What’s your problem? She’s a freak.”

Grabbing Kyle by his tacky-as-hell shirt—I mean, really, who still wore Ed Hardy?—I pulled him upright. “You need to grow the fuck up, Ky. This isn’t high school anymore; you can’t just walk all over people.” I shoved him away and turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem with it back then.”

I sighed, turning to face him again. “You’re right. I didn’t say anything in high school. But I should have. And unlike you, I’ve learned from my mistakes. Grow up.”

As I walked away, Kyle placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to regret walking away from me, Hallows.”

Shrugging him off, I headed to the bar to pay my tab and left.

The heat from inside the bar faded as I stepped outside, Louisiana’s weather finally cooling to welcome fall.

The crisp air stung my cheeks as I walked to my blacked-out Bronco, the wind biting through my thin button-up.

As I opened the door, my phone pinged in my pocket, and I groaned.

Only one person would be texting me this late on a Friday.

Settling into the driver’s seat, I pulled out my phone and opened my texts.

DAD

I need you to come in. We’re swamped and short-staffed.

TAYLOR

It’s my night off, and I was at the Firefly.

DAD

Did you drink?

Fuck me. I let my head fall back against the headrest, pinching my eyes shut as I contemplated lying. I hadn’t had anything stronger than Dr. Pepper since I drove, but… My phone pinged again, ending my window of excuse-making.

DAD

I’ll take that hesitation as a no. I’ll see you in fifteen.

Groaning, I fired off one last text before tossing my phone onto the passenger seat.

TAYLOR

Be right there.