Demons Don't Always Tell The Truth (Kate Storm Series Book 3) (4 page)

Ash growled, thrust one hand under my ass to lift me and used the other to dig his phone out of his pocket.

I crossed my arms over my chest and thought about growling back.

Ash swiped his thumb over the screen and checked his message.

My eyes just about popped out of my head. I was sitting on his lap and he was checking messages? Various spells for causing a plethora of irritations were running through my head when I happened to catch a glimpse of his screen.

I stiffened.

Ash ran a soothing hand up my back. "I'm sorry, Kate. I've got to go."

"You're leaving? Now?"

He ran his fingers down the side of my cheek. Pressed his thumb over my lips.

"I have to."

"I don't suppose you're planning to tell me where you're going or why?" I mumbled the question against his skin.

I knew the answer already. We'd played out this exact same scene countless times.

Ash stood and lifted me in the same motion. Comfortable in his strength and his power.

He set me down, kissed me hard. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Two seconds later he walked out of my apartment.

Usually, Ash argues with me more. He gets testy when I question him. I'd thought it was more male ego than anything. I didn't like it that he hid something from me, but I hadn't been overly concerned. I'd figured it would all come out as our relationship developed.

I'd have to reconsider that.

Ash had definitely been bothered about something.

And my name had been in that text.

4. My First Plan Fails.

I pressed the button to start the coffee maker, then leaned heavily against the counter.

My mind had been way too busy the night before to allow for sleep. I wasn't a happy witch.

1. I like my sleep. I don't function well without it.

2. I still didn't have a clue as to what kind of trouble Désirée was in.

3. I also didn't know how to track down my scary witch relative, break the curse and kill her.

4. I didn't know what to do to help Morgan.

5. I had absolutely no idea as to why my name would be in a text to Ash that would send him rushing out my door.

Basically, you could say I hadn't made any progress what-so-ever on the current issues in my life.

And I had lost sleep over it all too.

Like I said, I was not a happy witch.

"Mornin', Doll."

I grunted back at him as we headed out of the apartment and down the stairs. I'd greet him properly after I had a cup of caffeine.

Al nudged my leg when he was done and we headed back up the stairs.

The coffee was ready so I poured a tiny amount into Al's bowl and an oversized mug for me. I added a fair amount of creamer into both.

I sat in a chair at my kitchen table. Al sat on the table.

"Ya think Drake and Ash would take me huntin' the next time they go?"

I blinked at him. Knowing Al, he was envisioning himself with a gun, shooting along with the guys.

Most dogs on hunting trips retrieve the birds. I'm pretty sure Chihuahuas aren't considered your typical hunting dog. Plus, I figured most of the birds would outweigh him.

I took another sip of coffee. Stalling, while I tried to get my brain to function well enough for a response that wouldn't crush him.

I know he's a dog. I'm pretty sure Al knows he's a dog. I also know he is incredibly stubborn and totally resistant to reality. As in, he's a dog.

A really small one at that.

"Doll?"

"I, uh, well," I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. "I think you should ask Drake or Ash. I have no idea what their hunting plans are."

At this time, I would like to point out that I was not doing my usual ostrich routine and burying my head in the sand. Truly.

I had my game plan firmly in mind in regards to confronting issues head on. I was going to confront Désirée this morning and Ash when I saw him next. See? No ducking and dodging.

I was simply delegating.

****

I got to
Love Required
a good half an hour before Désirée Norma-Sue. I was on time. She was late.

I'm not a strict boss so I didn't sweat it. Although, I have to admit I didn't know that about myself. I've never had an employee before.

However, it did give me a good opening for finding out what exactly was going on and what had her so spooked.

When Désirée Norma-Sue did arrive, she was totally flustered and out of breath. A flustered fairy's sparkles wink and flash at different spots all over their bodies.

Désirée was her own disco ball.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, sugar." Even flustered her speech was slow and laid back. I sincerely hoped whatever was going on didn't involve potential bodily harm.

Désirée could be seriously harmed before she ever got the cry out for help.

"Don't worry about it. I was just going over some files." I paused significantly. "Everything all right?"

My significant pauses need a lot of work. Désirée Norma-Sue strolled over to her desk, placed her peacock blue handbag on the desk and picked up the mail I'd placed there.

If she noticed my significant I'm-waiting-for-a-response
hint, hint, hint
pause, she gave no indication.

In fact, I'm not even sure she heard my question.

I studied her as I debated on whether I should attempt another question with a significant pause or if I should simply whack her with her purse while yelling "what the hell is going on?".

She'd divided her hair into two pigtails. With the amount of hair she had and the ferocity of her curls, the pigtails were thick and kinked. The left one hung down then veered right towards her breast. I wasn't sure about the right one as it had zig-zagged behind her shoulder.

They were both green. Emerald green today. With sparkles.

She wore a classic long sleeved, button down shirt that matched her handbag. She'd rolled the sleeves to her elbows and tied the ends in a sassy knot at her small waist.

She had on a rather short skirt in pale blue. The length made me wonder if we should discuss the office dress code again.

Désirée bent over to pick up an envelope that dropped on the floor. The skirt turned out to be a skort and my worries were put to rest.

She couldn't get arrested and the clients I had scheduled for today were all women. Heterosexual women. We were safe.

To top off her outfit, Désirée wore flat gladiator boots with leather straps that matched her handbag within a couple of shades. Rhinestones lined the leather.

I would have thought she'd dyed the boots to match her bag, but I'd eyeballed the exact same gladiator boots online just a week ago. I'd finally decided they were gaudy, probably uncomfortable and just too damn expensive for my checkbook.

I'm pretty sure Désirée added the rhinestones.

I made a mental note to consult with Désirée Norma-Sue the next time my witchy practical sense outweighed my consumeristic yearning.

Those boots were AWESOME!

Maybe I should go shopping with her? My biker's boots and wrinkled, green button down didn't have the same savoir faire.

I still hadn't washed my jeans. And I'm just not going there.

"So, Désirée," I decided to try the significant pause again since mine obviously needed more work. "How are things?"

If it didn't work, I'd whack her with her handbag and pin her down.

"Good. Fine." She gave herself a little shake. Her right pigtail didn't move. Her left slapped her breast. "Just dandy."

Dandy? Seriously?

I'd just picked up her purse when the little bell over the front door tinkled brightly.

Désirée Norma-Sue gasped loudly, jumped and whirled around with a pencil gripped in one hand and held out like a dagger.

Mmm-Hmm. Just dandy indeed.

I swiveled in a more relaxed manner. I knew who it was. I'd placed a warning spell around the shop that morning. And extended it down the street and into the alley as well. I'd done about as much as I could with what little info I had.

"Hey, Phil." I waved at the gargoyle walking through the doorway.

A couple weeks ago, Désirée had asked for a charm that would allow Phil to remain mobile during the day. I didn't blame her, having a boyfriend available at night but not during the day - as in turned-to-stone unavailable - would irk me too.

Sort of like having a boyfriend who disappeared periodically.

Grrr.

Now, I was extra glad I'd made the charm. Based on her pencil weapon, Désirée needed as much muscle and protection as she could get right now.

Although the muscle part was a bit in question. I knew Phil had them. All gargoyles did. His were just buried. Deeply, deeply buried.

I did a few more mental calculations for my dinner party as Phil strolled towards us. Phil moved the same way Désirée spoke - languidly and with his own sense of time.

A dark gray, straw fedora perched on his head. The hat didn't quite cover the points of his ears. Or the three loops in the one ear. Phil didn't appear to care.

His black eyes were completely fixed on Désirée. I'd first thought his nose was exceptionally wide, and it was a bit wider than the norm, but mostly it was his nostrils that were larger.

The gargoyle sense of smell is legendary in the HC.

He wore a large - three or four XL - shirt done in a lovely shade of Mediterranean blue with tan palm fronds scattered across the linen material.

He sort of looked like his own hurricane aftermath in motion.

Gray shorts and tan sandals rounded out the view.

The first time I'd met Phil he'd been dressed head to toe in leather. I'd taken him for a gargoyle biker. Turns out he's more of a beachcomber.

When I'd questioned Phil about his lack of camouflage, he'd explained he wore another charm for glamour. Humans saw his exposed skin in dark brown and regular feet and hands with normal - for humans - nails.

My magic let me see his gray/blue skin, slightly oversized hands and feet and the dark claws prevalent on each digit.

Phil had always wanted to live in the Keys. Too much heat and moisture gives gargoyles a rash, so he lived in Idaho and dressed like he lived in the Keys.

He'd even unbuttoned the first two buttons on his shirt exposing a hemp rope with his two charms. The glamour charm was in the shape of a glittery green palm tree. The one I'd made looked like a sun.

It was brown.

I'm not exactly a very creative witch.

"Heya, Baby." Phil sounded just like Barry White.

I'd pay to hear him sing karaoke.

"Oh, Sugar." Désirée Norma-Sue dropped her pencil and rushed toward Phil. I was pretty sure they had just seen each other the night before, but you'd never know it.

They met in the middle of my waiting room. Désirée launched herself at him when she was about three feet away.

She sort of bounced/landed on his belly. The palm fronds swayed. Phil's beefy arms wrapped around her tiny waist securing her against him.

I had to look away after several minutes. PDA doesn't bother me. I'm a total romantic. I think there should be more PDA. Mandatory kissing and hugging.

But I'd begun to feel slightly like a voyeur. I didn't want to be in the bedroom with them.

I gave it a couple minutes then coughed. Loudly. When I didn't hear a break in the moaning, I started to whistle. I'm not the best whistler out there. I sounded more like an irate teapot.

Didn't matter. It worked.

"Oh, my." Désirée more or less breathed the words. "We didn't mean to get so carried away. I just can't help myself around my Sugar Bear."

I smiled as I turned back around. They were truly enthralled with each other.

A little too much so.

"Uh, Désirée?" I decided to admire the paint job on my ceiling. "You might want to fix your shirt."

Sheesh. Give them five minutes . . . I really should make a point to find out where Désirée did all of her shopping. That teal bra would look fabulous on me.

And Ash would certainly appreciate the see-through material. Hopefully they made it in double D's.

"I'm good now, Kate."

I cautiously lowered my eyes.

She was indeed. Phil's presence had gotten rid of all her jittery energy. Her skin sparkled evenly.

Her breath was still slightly off, but I figured that had more to do with the passionate make out session in my waiting area than any nerves.

"Kate, do ya mind if I take Désirée out for lunch?"

Damn it, I did. I needed to know what kind of trouble was following my secretary and friend.

Désirée Norma-Sue sighed heavily and leaned further into Phil. Actually, she more or less slanted into him. With his large belly, she looked like the leaning tower of Désirée.

Well, hell. I couldn't very well say no. I wasn't sure how much Phil knew, if anything, and I didn't want to bring up something this serious until it was just the two of us.

I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable exposing my secrets with witnesses. I had a witchy feeling Désirée hadn't said a word to Phil about her problems.

"Go ahead." I'd corner her after lunch. "We don't have any appointments until 3."

I handed over her purse. Phil opened the door and escorted Désirée out.

I headed into my HC office and picked up my phone. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hello, Kate." Oh, I loved his sexy growl.

"Hi, Ash. Are you free for lunch?"

The rather long silence didn't bother me. Typically, Ash  calls me after one of our little fights. Okay. Fine. After every single one of our fights. The no-more-ducking-and-dodging Kate was facing things head on.

Go me.

"How about Madge's in ten minutes?"

If he was in town, Ash could make it. You could drive from one end of Dominion to the other in a maximum of fifteen minutes.

"I'll see you there."

I hung up and grabbed my purse.

If I couldn't corner my secretary, I'd corner the demon.