Free kate storm 04 - witches dont back down by meredith allen conner

to think it was due to my keenly honed, witchy interrogational skills. Unfortunately, I think it was more due to it being lunchtime.
    Désirée Norma-Sue arrived two minutes after Nina left.
    "Hey, Sugah. Did I just see a nymph walk out of here? Is she the same one you told me about?"
    "She is indeed. Did you recognize her?" I figured Désirée would have mentioned it right away if she did, but I held out hope. I was striking out left and right.
    "No." Désirée shook her head. Her hair was a bright shade of pink today. She'd gathered her hair on top of her head and surrounded it with a glittery band. Her curls overflowed from the top of the band. It reminded me of a poodle I'd seen at a dog show once.
    Her phone beeped and she bent to check the screen. Her poodle-esque coiffure nodded in my direction.
    I couldn't take my eyes off it.
    "I thought that might be her so I snapped a photo of her when she left and sent it to Phil." Désirée looked up. "He doesn't recognize her either."
    "Uh-huh." I have to say I wasn't really paying attention to what my secretary was saying. I was mesmerized by her hair.
    It sparkled in the light and her curls sprouted so wildly from the top. Every time she moved it looked like her curls were all cheerfully waving at me.
    I couldn't decide; was it avant-garde? Or just plain odd?
    Désirée Norma-Sue continued to chat. I continued to watch her hair.
    I would not be surprised if she made it into the local paper with a hair-do like that. Or caused an accident. I've worn my hair up numerous times. But it never glittered. And it wasn't pink.
    And I doubted if my curls had ever looked quite so . . . Perky. Or happy.
    " . . . he'll be here on Friday, between one and three. You don't mind, do you?"
    I dragged my eyes away from her curls and re-focused. "Mind what?"
    Désirée frowned. "Didn't you hear me? Charles Clayton is doing a book signing on Friday at Oracle's Books from one to three. You don't mind if I go, do you?"
    It took me a minute to place the name. "Charles Clayton, the author of those self-help books you've been reading?"
    "Yes!" Désirée Norma-Sue bounced up and down. I kept my eyes glued to her face. I was almost afraid to see what response her curls had to her bounce. "I can't believe he's doing a signing here!"
    I still couldn't believe she thought she needed help. Désirée Norma-Sue is the most together fairy I knew. The fact that she is also the only fairy I know, does not diminish that statement in the least.
    "About those books, I would appreciate it if you didn't read them aloud to Al anymore."
    "Why? He seems to really enjoy them."
    "He's been watching National Geographic shows about wolves and talking about getting in touch with his inner beast."
    Désirée's brown eyes widened. She wore pink glittery eye shadow to match her hair and had on fake eyelashes with tiny clear rhinestones on the tips. When she widened her eyes, it looked like mini fireworks going off. "Oh, dear. I didn't think of that. When Mr. Clayton mentioned getting in touch with your inner beast, he outlined several steps to bring out a person's inner power. I don't think he meant it literally."
    I refrained from reminding my secretary that most people reading the self-help series were actually people. Human people. Fairies and Chihuahuas aside.
    "Al's been going through a rough time lately." We both had. I was gloriously happy with Ash, but it was still an adjustment for both Al and I. "I think he's a little vulnerable right now."
    The knowledge that I had a part in that vulnerability made my stomach roll.
    "You know, Phil has a friend who has a cousin he's looking to set up."
    "The cousin should come in to see me." I am not the only one who forgets Al is a Chihuahua. "I think Al needs someone more . . ." I searched around for a polite term for a female dog. I couldn't think of one so I settled for . . ."furry."
    "She's a rabbit."
    I blinked slowly. Huh. That wasn't quite what I had in mind.
    "I guess she