Page 19 of Weather the Storm
Simon: Everything all good?
Seraphine: Right as rain. She’s sweeping up. Doesn’t suspect a thing.
Simon: Perfect. Be there in five.
Satisfied with Seraphine’s reply, I shift my truck into gear and head toward Southern Roots. While the drive is short, my mind races with all the different ways Magnolia may react to what I have planned for this afternoon. If all goes well, she’ll be elated. If not…yeah, let’s not even go there.
I guide my truck into an open spot right in front and saunter inside. Immediately, my eyes find Magnolia chatting with Seraphine near the front desk, looking like a damn vision in her slim-fitting black jeans that hug the curve of her ass just right, and don’t even get me started on the black and white buffalo check button-down she’s wearing, the top few buttons undone and showing off just enough cleavage to get my mouth watering.
She looks up, her eyes catching mine. Her cheeks blossom with heat when she notices the way I’m eating her up with my gaze, but all the same, she greets me cheerfully. “Simon! What’re you doing here?”
“Came to get you.”
“What? No, I still have—”
“Nope,” Seraphine cuts her off. “You don’t. You’re all done for the day. Have fun!”
“Have fun doing what?” Magnolia asks, sounding perplexed as I guide her out the door.
The question is, do I tell her now or surprise her?
“Just wait and see.” I open the passenger door.
“You know I can get in myself, right?” she asks when I grip her hips.
Slowly, I slide my hands from her hips to her waist before snaking them around her and pulling her into me. “Sure do.”
She tilts her face up to mine, and the same desire I’m feeling is reflected back at me in her pool-blue eyes. I lean down slowly, giving her time to pull away from me, and press my lips against hers. She hums, deep in her throat, and I take that as an invitation to continue.
I draw my tongue along her bottom lip, begging her to open for me, and she does. Our kiss is soft and slow but so fucking full of passion. Surprising both of us, Magnolia nibbles at my lower lip before pulling me even closer. We’re lined up and touching in every way. I know she can feel my want for her, and I know she likes it with how her hips keep pressing into mine.
“Slow down, Goldilocks,” I murmur against her lips, pulling back slightly to gauge her reaction to this development between us.
When she speaks, her voice is breathless, and I love it. “S-sorry, Simon. Guess I g-got a little carried away.”
Despite her earlier protest, I lift her into the truck and watch as she secures her safety belt. “Nah, you were perfect.”
Magnolia doesn’t ask where we’re going again, but when I turn into the dealership’s parking lot, her eyes light up.
“Wh-what are we doing h-here?”
“Gettin’ you a safe, reliable car.”
“Simon, I…I don’t have the money for something like this. I thought…I thought we would buy something from a salvage lot or—”
I silence her with a kiss. “Stop worrying and trust me.” When she doesn’t budge, I shoot her the kind of puppy dog eyes my students use when asking for a due date extension. “Please?”
Finally, after several tense moments, she nods and gets out of the truck. I rush around to meet her. “Now, I’ve been doing a lot of research on cars lately, and the top safety picks are Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, and Honda Civic. Do you prefer one over the others?” She turns and looks at me like I’m crazy. “What?” I ask her.
“Simon, I’ll be over the moon with just about anything.”
“Good, then let’s go look at some cars.”
We don’t even make it within two feet of the door before a salesman approaches us. “Hello and welcome! My name’s Stuart. What are you folks lookin’ for on this lovely Friday?”
Magnolia looks from him to me, letting me take the lead. “I’m Simon,” I say as I smile, shaking his hand with a firm grip. “This is Magnolia, and we’re looking for something safe with good fuel efficiency, and lower mileage would be preferable.”
“Wonderful, so nice to meet y’all. Do y’all have a specific budget in mind? How about a down payment or…”
