Demons Don't Always Tell The Truth (Kate Storm Series Book 3) (12 page)

19. A Few Answers.

Désirée Norma-Sue and I didn't get as far into our plan making as I would have liked. I'd written down as many details as she provided so I could make her the best protection charm I could.

A protection charm against a burglar wouldn't work if the creep didn't actually rob her. I planned to include several general spells, but having as many specifics as possible would make it a more effective charm.

Désirée had just finished telling me about the dead, black rose she'd found in her underwear drawer after the prince had broken in, when Phil showed up.

As much as I wanted to continue questioning her about the psychopathic prince, I knew she needed a break. Re-hashing the events from the past year had taken a toll.

Her hands shook and her lips had lost all color. Even the glaring yellow of her outfit appeared somewhat dimmed.

She'd brightened the moment Phil walked in.

It shamed me as a witch to admit it, but I envied her.

She had a serious threat against her, her very life was in jeopardy. The prince was a definite danger.

And she still blossomed when she saw Phil. As grave as the situation was, Désirée Norma-Sue trusted Phil. His feelings for her. Her feeling for him. And it made it easier for her to face the challenges in her life.

I wanted that.

I wanted to rely on Ash. To trust in him and the knowledge that he was with me every step of the way. To go home to him every night. To know I was loved.

I'd thought we were working towards that.

I'd thought I was preparing to battle for us.

I didn't know what we had anymore. If anything.

And it felt like my heart broke a little bit more every time I thought about him.

"You're sure you don't want to join us for lunch, Sugar?"

Désirée leaned further into Phil's bulk as she asked her question. Phil was dressed all in gray again today. Fedora, short-sleeved shirt, cargo shorts and sandals. Head to claws in charcoal, pewter and concrete.

Désirée Norma-Sue looked like a lone flower in a bleak - if rather cushy - desert.

"I'm sure. You two go ahead and have a nice time." No way was I going to be the third wheel. "I really need to go through my matches for Snake." And Désirée needed to come clean about the threat with Phil.

"You want us to bring something back for you?" Phil tugged Désirée closer. Concern darkening his eyes as he looked at me.

Damn it. Did I really appear pathetic and in need of someone to take care of me?

I sighed. I did. I knew I did. I had dark circles under my eyes and my jeans actually felt loose for once.

"I'm good." I was such a terrible liar. But I couldn't eat either. Just the thought rolled my stomach. "You two have fun."

The bell above the door tinkled as they left.

I set aside the notes I'd made on Désirée Norma-Sue. Once I had more information I'd create her protection charm. She was safe for the moment. I'd purchase tickets to see any psycho fairy prince go up against that gargoyle.

I pulled out Snake's file, glared at the still extremely organized papers and deliberately fanned the entire pile over my desk. Then I had to move several off to the side so I had a clear space to work on Snake's perfect mate.

I'd just opened his file when the bell rang over the door. I hurried out to the reception area almost expecting Désirée to have forgotten something.

Snake stood in my waiting area.

I wanted to curse.

The chained loop at his waist jingled as he strode towards me. It was about the only spot of color in his otherwise black attire. Black t-shirt, black jeans and black biker boots.

I glanced down at my dark green t-shirt. Snake, Phil and I should probably go shopping with Désirée.

"Hey, Kate." Snake stopped just in front of me. He had a habit of crowding one's personal space. It was the Dom in him. "Where's Désirée?"

"She's fine." I patted his arm. Snake wasn't one to parade his emotions around, but I knew he was worried about my secretary. "She just left a few minutes ago with Phil. They went to lunch. She's totally safe."

For the time being at any rate.

"Good." He frowned, not fooling me in the least. "I was headed to work and thought I'd swing by to check on her."

Both his motorcycle shop and his house were on the other side of town. He'd gone out of his way to check on Désirée. Despite his tough appearance, Snake had a soft heart.

"You found anyone for me to date yet?" He was also tenacious.

"I was just looking at your file. I'll call you as soon as I find someone."

Snake nodded. "Good. Great." He cleared his throat. "It would be nice to find someone." He stiffened as if he just heard his own words. "Life's good and all. I'm not complaining. I just . . ." His voice trailed off, uncomfortable trying to put his feelings into words.

"It's okay, Snake." I smiled at him. "I work with love for a living. I know exactly what you mean."

I worked with love and yet I couldn't figure it out in my own life.

"Good. Well, I gotta go." He patted my shoulder, stopped and tilted his head as he studied me. "Everything okay? You look tired."

Good Doms have to be extremely observant. I'd read all about it when I'd taken Snake on as a client. Doms give their subs safe words to use in case things get too intense, but a really good Dom keeps track of their physical tells as well.

I'm a terrible actress so I whispered a calming spell as I lied to him. "I'm fine. Just didn't get a lot of sleep last night." Finally. A tiny smidgen of truth.

"You need help with anything?" Snake's hand rested more heavily on my shoulder. I couldn't tell if he'd done it deliberately, a sort of reflex Dom action, or if my conscience was lashing out at me.

"Nope. All good. Nothing at all to worry about. I'm just a little tired."

It was definitely my conscience. Snake's hand felt like a boulder now. But I'd rather lie than take a client up on his "offer". Or admit my own personal love crisis.

Neither one was good for business.

"You let me know if you change your mind." Snake squeezed my shoulder, stared me in the eye and then left.

It made me wonder if my spells were even working. My calming spell should have completely fooled a suspicious Dom.

They had to still be working. My magic was about all I felt I had left at the moment.

I straightened my shoulders and headed over to my desk. At the very least, I was determined to find a match for Snake today.

An hour later I found her.

No wonder it had taken me so long. And, honestly, of all people, I should know better than to judge someone by their appearance. But I had.

If I hadn't, I might have found the kindergarten teacher's file sooner. Instead she had been at the bottom of the pile. And nearly made me doubt my magic again.

Brown hair, brown eyes and worked out. All boxes checked on Snake's preferences. There was nothing in her file about being a submissive, however, she was one of the clients I'd taken on before I met Snake. There was nothing in her file about her sexual preferences - other than heterosexual - period.

My magic begged to differ.

Again, I couldn't get a perfect read from their photos, but every time I nudged them together, they glimmered. Just a slight sparkle. Enough for a matchmaking witch.

I wasn't entirely sure how she would hide her nipple piercings from her class of six year olds, but that also wasn't my problem. And Snake seemed like a thorough Dom. I was sure he'd figure out a solution.

I called him right away.

Then I called Martha, the kindergarten teacher, and arranged a date for the next night. I'd already given Snake the parameters for his behavior, which I doubted he'd listen to, so I described him to Martha as "confident, take charge and determined".

I didn't worry after that. Her sigh told me all I needed to know.

I'd also like to say it made me feel better. More positive. A teeny tiny bit happy.

Something.

Anything other than the knot in my stomach and ache in my chest.

My determination to ignore things with Ash was slowly being eaten away. I couldn't continue on this way. I knew this. But I wasn't ready to dig at that wound. The only thing holding me together, allowing me to function, was the band I had wrapped around that bubbling turmoil inside.

Once I cracked the lid, the cauldron would overflow.

It terrified me.

I didn't know what would happen. It could truly mean the end of Ash and I. And while the hurt and enraged part of me was almost ready for that, another part of me still held out hope.

The crazy optimistic side that pushed me to open a business based on love, the side that encouraged me to get involved with Ash despite being cursed to Fail in Love. The hopelessly romantic part of me that still believed in happy endings.

In my own happy ending.

Our big confrontation would change the course of my life forever.

And that scared me as much as anything.

****

I liked Désirée Norma-Sue's charm. It suited her.

We spent the rest of the afternoon making it after she and Phil returned from lunch.

I'd added every protection spell I could think of, plus a few extras, just in case, and then Désirée added a glamour spell.

It could change colors to match any outfit she wore and was the shape of a glittery disco ball necklace.

I'd thought it was perfect for her.

Désirée Norma-Sue thought she needed an outfit to match the lavender shade we discovered when we tested the color scale of the charm.

I was now alone once more in the office.

As an employer, I knew I should insist on more work being done. However, Snake's match had satisfied my matchmaking ethics and Désirée had offered to find a bright t-shirt for me in a non-wrinkling material.

It was a win win as far as I was concerned.

I was reviewing some current files when the bell jingled over my front door.

The god was back in my waiting area.

His muscles had multiplied since I last saw him. I knew his dimples had grown deeper and more adorable and his midnight hair made my fingers itch to touch it.

He wore a black button down embossed with shimmery silver scrolls, black chinos and black loafers. The same wide black watchband on his wrist.

Handsome didn't begin to describe him. Luscious, temperature-heating and divine came closer.

He spooked me.

I wanted to avoid the hand he held out, but, unless I planned to run off my clients, even the ones I didn't want, I didn't see any options.

This time visions of a warm summer evening picnic flooded my mind. Bubbling glasses of pink champagne perched on a wooden tray next to ripe, red strawberries coated in melted chocolate so realistic, I swore I could taste them on my tongue.

The scents of nature called to me, filled my lungs. Tangy evergreen, sweet lilies, heated, musky bark. The fresh scent of a soft breeze just ruffling the leaves.

It whispered my name, beckoning me with the promise of safety and peace. The lull of a happy childhood. Loving times spent casting spells and playing games with my mother and aunt in the woods.

The pull was so strong I actually moved towards him. Reached out with my other hand as if to hold him to me.

The phone rang.

And the spell was broken.

I moved back several steps. Then an extra one just as a precaution.

I didn't want to get close to any magic that powerful.

I could still smell the hint of evergreen hanging in the air.

I took another step back and hit the wall next to my HC office.

The frown over Adam Night's face came and went so quickly I might have imagined it. He gestured gallantly towards the ringing phone, teeth blinding white as he smiled, "Please, feel free to answer it."

I had no plans to either turn my back to him or split my attention. Like a beautiful cobra just waiting to strike, he held my full awareness.

"The answering machine will pick up and I'll call them back."

"You should consider hiring a secretary." His deep blue eyes twinkled at me and urged me to move closer.

I gripped the edge of the doorway until the pain overrode my  sudden desire.

"I do have a secretary. She's out running some errands right now."

"We're all alone then?"

He was slick, I'd give him that.

I knew I should kick him out. To hell with any bad press he might spread as a rejected client, but frankly, I was down right scared witch-less and caught between bad magic and my equally terrifying common sense.

Adam Night had some sort of hidden agenda. And he wasn't afraid to use black magic to achieve whatever it was he wanted.