by Lynn Cahoon
“You probably are. Your law practice couldn’t pay the rent on your swanky office if you did very much pro-bono work.” Parris decided not to take the bait. She just had to accept that everything she’d said or even thought last night, Ty knew. Even though reading minds was impossible. “I hope I won’t have to get a loan on the bar building to save the house.”
“I’m not taking your money.” Ty answered.
Parris turned to watch him, leaning against the car door. The moment Ty’d entered the bar last night she’d wanted him in her bed, straddled across him, running her fingernails down his sculptured chest. She’d experienced her share of lovers over the years. One night stands satisfying her body, not her soul. This man she wanted to drink in, to consume.
“Then why are you helping me?” Parris hoped the answer would be sex. She’d enjoy the exchange. In fact, she’d have to make a payment plan schedule. Her body tightened at the thought. No, one time with this Greek god would not be nearly enough.
“Maybe I’m a nice guy.” Ty parked the Mercedes in a rock-star space in front of the courthouse. “Ready for battle?”
Parris pushed away thoughts of ripping his clothes off, dragging him into the back seat and humping like rabbits. A quickie? What was the matter with her? Gran’s house was at stake here. She had to be serious. She straightened in the leather seat, adjusting the skirt of her dress. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Ty flashed her a brilliant smile. “Honey, every discussion is a battle one way or another. The only difference is how long it takes to demolish the enemy.”
Parris watched Ty leave the car. As he moved around the vehicle on his way to open her door, she whispered, “That’s the difference. With me everything is a negotiation.”
Even if she did enjoy him during a few encounters, days, or even months. Ty Wallace wasn’t the one. Her mind was sure about that fact. Now she needed to convince her body.
* * * *
Ty enjoyed watching Parris squirm during the drive. Her body sent waves of attraction. An attraction she wasn’t used to or totally comfortable with. Yet. He smiled. Parris McCall wanted him bad. For once, he wasn’t thinking how to use her desire to his advantage. The realization pulled him up short. He needed to keep his head on straight at least until he heard what Derek found out. Until he knew if he would have to turn her into The Council.
The idea turned his stomach. He looked at her through the glass in the car door. Putting her in front of the testers now would break her. He saw her look questioning at him as he paused at the door. He put on a game face, pulling open the car door and reaching out his hand.
Her touch jolted him. Sexual desire flowed through her fingers up his body, like a river of heat. Looking into her eyes, he realized she felt the connection too. Pulling her closer to him, he smelled her. Still vanilla, mint, sulfur, and now, a touch of orange from her grandmother’s tea. Add a new layer–sex. Musky desire filled his head. He breathed deeply wanting to keep this moment frozen in time forever.
They stood inches apart, yet he felt her heat. He imagined the firmness of her breasts, the curve of her waist, the wetness between her legs. His eyes grew dark. Finally trusting his voice, he said, “Maybe we should have stopped to take care of this issue.”
Parris groaned making him want to cover her mouth with his. “I’m not sure we’d be able to stop.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
Ty stood there, frozen. Trying to regain control. Trying to stamp down this desire threatening to overtake him.
Damn it, it was just sex, he chided himself.
Even his mind knew the statement was a lie. Whatever this attraction between them, he knew the feeling was far from merely sex. He’d never even come close to losing control, even with Rowena, his so-called soul mate. Slowly he stepped away from the source, immediately starting to feel normal again. “Well, we better take care of your grandmother’s problem.”
He softly shut the car door. He turned back to find Parris standing on the sidewalk, waiting. Time to be the white knight he pretended and come to her rescue.
“Let’s do this.” Together they walked up the courthouse steps, not touching.
After walking though a metal detector, nodding to the bored security guard who barely registered the newcomers, the couple headed to the information desk. Ty pushed Matilda’s final letter from the city’s Department of Lands and Water toward the young blond woman sitting at the desk. She had a bright, fake smile on her face and a black headpiece wrapped around her head. The effect made her look more like Madonna than a switchboard operator.
Not breaking eye contact with Ty, she took the paper. “How can I help you today?”
“We need to talk to whoever’s in charge there.” Ty tapped the letter.
Slowly she glanced down. The smile left her face. Clearly, she’d sent other angry residents down the hall to this office. Ty was always amazed at how much a person’s reactions to a question, a letter, or even a look, told the story before the person even open their mouths. He’d caught many a witness in the duplicity of their look versus their words. Instantly, he knew how to play this woman.
“Look, I know we don’t have an appointment. The women who owns this parcel of land is getting older. My wife and I recently found problems with her bills.” He pulled Parris closer. “Her grandmother hasn’t been paying any thing. Not for weeks. We have several stops after this.”
He felt Parris beside him, her body hot. Her next words surprised him.
“I blame myself for not realizing something was wrong after I called last Sunday. She sounded fine.” Parris choked on the words. “I guess I wanted everything to be the same.”
The woman glanced up at Parris, a look of understanding and compassion filling her face. “Dear, my granny was on her third round of chemo before she mentioned she might need a ride to the hospital the next week. Old people get stubborn.”
Parris nodded, wiping at her eyes. “I appreciate your kindness.”
The woman was good. Really good. “So, we have to get moving here. We’re only in town a week.”
“I completely understand.” The receptionist handed the paper back to Ty. “Third floor, ask to talk to Mr. Stone. Ray Stone. He’s the new department head.”
Again her words bellied an unspoken truth. Mr. Ray Stone may be the department chair, but he wasn’t much liked by long-time staff members like this woman.
“Thank you.” Ty shot the woman a smile usually saved for juries, either before closing or at the end. What good was having magical powers if he didn’t use them to ease the path? He’d won many a court case by shooting positive energy through his words to the unsuspecting human jury. He put his hand on the small of Parris’ back, gently leading her to the bank of elevators. “Honey, this way.”
Only after the elevator doors closed did she take a step away from him. “You’re quite the actor for a lawyer.”
Ty grinned, looking at her through the polished silver on the elevator doors. “Your most successful lawyers are classically trained actors. You’re amazing at improv for a bar owner.”
“Quick thinking comes in handy,” she admitted, smiling back. “You should see my sobbing widow routine.”
“Keep the waterworks at ready we still might need them.” Ty held the elevator door open for Parris. Stamping down a wave of desire to sweep a loose hair off her shoulder. Damn, he had to get his emotions under control. He wanted to take care of the woman standing in front of him, waiting for his exit, a bemused smile on her lips.
“Coming, cowboy?”
Ty followed. He’d follow her into hell. Which was where The Council would send the two of them if he didn’t get control of this desire. Smiling, he stepped toward her.
He felt the change crossing the elevator threshold. Damn, he’d been surprised again. Either The Council hadn’t updated the registration list, or more undocs ran around his part of the country than he ever imagined. Ty’s last assignment from The Council six months ago was trackin
g a runaway, one of The Council’s concubines. What the hell was The Council doing? His concern grew stronger. Ty pushed the problem away. Determining The Council’s politics weren’t his immediate problem.
He had to find the witch on the third floor.
Chapter 5
“May I help you?” The woman sitting at the gatekeeper desk glared at Parris and Ty. Her words might have been welcoming but her tone told a different story. Parris knew their presence was one more unwelcome interruption in a busy day filled with disgruntled tax payers.
Parris waited for Ty to speak then noticed he scanned the room, distracted. Men. “We need to see Ray Stone.”
The woman looked over her half glasses, strands of her long gray hair falling loose from a wild bun held haphazardly by a clip on the back of her head. Her glance appraised the two visitors for a mere few seconds. Her gaze dropped down to a calendar open in front of her. “I don’t see anyone scheduled on his calendar. Unless you have an appointment, Mr. Stone is busy. You should have called first.”
Feeling unwelcome and dismissed, Parris tried again. “I’m only in town a couple days. I need to help my grandmother solve this issue. I have to speak with Mr. Stone.”
“Miss…” the woman drawled out, questioning the term, “you can’t walk in here demanding to see Mr. Stone. I’ve told you, he’s a busy man.”
Frustrated, tears started to fill Parris’ eyes. She took a step forward leaning over the desk. “Now you listen to me, you paper-pushing bureaucrat. Your precious Mr. Stone is trying to steal my grandmother’s house. He will darn well speak to me before he does.”
Parris felt herself being moved back away from the desk. Ty’s hands felt warm and calming. “You have to excuse my wife. She’s emotional on the subject of her grandmother. The woman raised her.”
“Oh, I understand.” The woman changed from pit bull to kitten with three sentences from Ty. Parris glared at him. Why did everyone listen to him? She’d been nice at the beginning, too. She’d only turned to bitch mode after she’d been completely rebuffed and lectured by a desk troll. Ty’s hand pressed against her back, a gentle warning to keep quiet. “Is there any way Mr. Stone can see us, only a few minutes?” Ty batted his eyelashes at the woman. “We would be grateful.”
The woman blushed, glancing down at the schedule again. “Well, he does have a free half hour before his three PM staff meeting. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you snuck into the last office on the right. I must have been on my break when you got off the elevator.”
“We didn’t see anyone at the desk.” Ty winked at the woman. He glanced down at the gold name plate. “Thanks, Harriett. You’re the best.”
Parris waited while Harriet scurried away toward the elevator bank before she whispered to Ty. “I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
Ty kept his head straight, not looking at her, casting his perfect smile at the women sitting at desks lining the room. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t stop. Pretend like we should be here. No one will even question us.”
Parris jerked her head toward him. “You know why I’m mad. You made me look like a raging lunatic while you played white knight come to save everyone.”
“Sometimes you use what you have to work with.” Ty stopped in front of the last door. He took a big whiff of air before touching the doorway.
Parris sniffed. Fresh wall paint filled her senses. Glancing over at Ty, she watched him slowly open the door. He acted like he expected something to explode.
She peeked around the door, seeing an old wooden desk with two maroon wing chairs. A chestnut brown leather chair was turned away from them toward the wall. She heard a male voice call as they entered the room.
“Ty Wallace. How the heck are you?” The chair spun around, revealing a heavy set man, dressed in a fuchsia, flowered Hawaiian shirt. His bald head shined with sweat. Gold chains hung around his neck. Parris was certain if the man fell overboard, he’d sink right to the bottom of the ocean.
Ty walked directly to the desk. “Raymond, I didn’t know you retired. When did you get here?”
Parris frowned. Retirement? Maybe ex-military? Being in the same business would explain how the men knew each other. Hopefully, this was a good thing.
The man at the desk didn’t stand. He held his hand out flat, palm down, expecting homage rather than a handshake greeting. Ty slipped his hand under the man’s palm turning it slightly, giving a quick shake.
Raymond Stone’s eyes flared. The look disappeared quickly making Parris not quite sure she’d seen anything.
“You always were good in the normal world.” The words sounded like an insult, cloying and sweet.
Parris crossed ex-military off her list. This guy would have never survived boot camp, not twenty years of the regimented lifestyle. Yet, he knew Ty from another life. The explanation seemed to be slightly off in Parris’ mind, she pushed away the nagging discourse.
“I’ve been practicing longer.” Ty responded. His gaze didn’t leave Raymond’s face, as he waved Parris to sit in one of the wing back chairs. She sat on the edge, not wanting to sink back into the chair which seemed quite comfortable.
An ease flowed over her immediately. The oddest memory of being home in grandma’s library, reading a romance novel, curled up before the fire, swarmed over her thoughts. The smell of baking ginger-snaps filled her nose. She fought to stay in the present.
“Charms?” Ty snapped his fingers. Parris found herself focused on the man sitting behind the desk. Ty laid his hand on her knee. His warmth steadied her, making her calm, not catatonic like she’d been a minute ago.
“Can’t blame a man for trying.”
Parris touched Ty’s hand, and he turned his gaze to her. “What the heck is going on here?”
“Just breathe.” He squeezed her leg giving her a quick smile before pulling the letter from his jacket pocket. He slid the paper across the desk. “We’re here to clear up this problem.”
Parris noticed that Raymond seemed to watch them intently. He pointed together his index fingers pressing them against his lips. He leaned back in his chair, not even looking at the piece of paper. “Interesting.”
“Don’t even start with me.” Ty growled. He tapped the paper. “Focus.”
Raymond Stone took one more pointed look at Ty before he leaned forward in his chair. Picking up a pencil, he moved the page closer.
“This is a letter from our office. Apparently someone has been very naughty.” Raymond looked at Parris. “Is it you, darling girl? Have you been naughty, not paying Caesar what is due him?”
Parris shook her head. “My grandmother, I’m afraid. She’s stubborn. I’m willing to make up the old taxes. I called, trying to get this settled. The woman who answered the phone said I was too late.”
Ty growled under his breath. “You brought an attorney, let me do my job.”
Parris frowned at him. She’d answered the man’s question. Did he want her to sit her like a lump and let Ty fight the battle like some simpering female? Ty was right so she clamped her lips shut, even though she wanted to scream she wasn’t a child. Ty had a way of pushing buttons she didn’t even know she had.
He searched her face with a glance and after she gave him a tight smile, she saw a glint of humor in his eyes. Parris felt positive he’d known she wanted to say so much more.
“You two done playing footsie?” Raymond asked, clearly amused at the short exchange.
His tone made Parris wary. There was something else going on here. Something even the feeling emulating from the soft, inviting chair couldn’t hide.
“I’m conferring with my client, Raymond.” Ty responded evenly.
“And I’m clearly a fat bureaucrat who likes to throw around his weight.” Raymond tapped a pencil on the letter sitting in the middle of the desk. “Give me a break, Wallace. We both know you wouldn’t be here on a water dispute.”
“I am a human lawyer.” Ty said slowly. “I handle disputes. That’s my job.”
* * * *
As Ty watched Parris close her eyes, giving in to the chair’s spell, he shook his head. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to talk to you alone. Your girlfriend seemed too interested in our conversation. Where did you find her, anyway?” Raymond’s question seemed casual. Ty knew nothing interested Raymond Stone besides his own career advancement in The Council. Ty chose his words carefully. Not a lie, just not an info dump.
“She’s an acquaintance of my secretary who needed a lawyer since your office stonewalled her on this problem. Why didn’t you let her pay her grandmother’s taxes?” Ty leaned back watching Raymond’s reaction. He felt the wards on his chair trying to get past his guards. He waved his hand, stopping the niggling feeling.
Raymond cursed. “Damn it, Ty, do you know how long it took to set those spells? You come in and wipe the chair clean.”
“Sorry.” Ty didn’t mean the apology and Raymond knew it. Formalities. “So the taxes? She can pay them and we’ll be done?”
Raymond leaned back tapping his pencil on the desk. Finally he sat up, clearly having made a decision. “When I found the file, it was mislabeled, misfiled, with a large payment posted out of an undisclosed, untraceable source on the record.”
“Sounds like you have some administrative issues with your department.”
A rather rat-like smile crossed Raymond’s lips. “Sounds like some tampering going on with the record.” He tapped the letter again. “The item aroused my curiosity. It took some doing but I finally got my hands on the physical file.”
“Again, why are you telling me this?”
Raymond tapped his desk again.
“You can’t think there’s anything except human error in this case. Her grandmother’s a flake, old and forgetful.” Ty watched a pigeon tapping at seed on the window sill.