A Member of the Council Read Online Free

wore a soft flowing peacock blue dress hugging each curve. The heels on her shoes were so high he wondered how she’d walked to his office from the underground parking garage.
    He swallowed, stepping forward to greet her. He kissed her cheek, waving his arm to propel her forward. “Come in. Did Sally offer you coffee?”
    “I don’t want to be a bother.” Parris saw Derek and froze. “I didn’t realize you were busy. I’ll wait outside.”
    Derek stood running a hand through his hair. “Not to worry, lovely lady. On my way out.” He glanced down at his rumbled clothes flashing an apologetic smile. “Need to clean up before I start my day.”
    Parris slipped into the chair Derek had vacated. Watching her, Ty wondered if he’d been wrong last night. She seemed nervous, scared even, not qualities he’d ever seen in a witch of her strength. Could there have been someone else there he’d picked up on?
    “I’ll call you tonight when I complete my reports.” Derek slapped Ty on the back.
    “You’ll be done that soon?” Ty asked, keeping his voice down walking Derek to the office door.
    Derek looked over his shoulder back at Parris. “I’ll have a preliminary report. There’s definitely something there. I’m intrigued.”
    “And it’s powered down today.”
    Derek hesitated, his hand resting on the doorknob. “You sure you want this off book? If I find something, The Council may not like not knowing.”
    Ty glance at Parris staring out the high rise window. “I’ll deal with The Council if we find something.”
    Derek opened the door. “I think the word is when, not if.” He shut the door after him, leaving Ty alone with Parris.
    Swallowing again, he put on his lawyer’s mask. There she sat, hands folded neatly in her lap. Looking more like a job candidate or potential client than the sexy bartender he’d met last night. Derek saw right through him. This woman tied him in knots. He needed to cut the cord before he surrendered.
    He slid back behind his desk, leaning back in his leather chair. “What can I help you with today?”
    She met his gaze. “I need a lawyer.”
    “I don’t handle small business issues. I can give you a good referral. There’s another member in our firm who’s well versed in these issues.” He took a slip of paper off his notepad. Easier than he’d thought.
    She stilled his hand. A surge coursed through him.
    “I don’t want a referral. I want you.” Parris’ voice was hoarse, close to tears.
    “I can’t represent you if I don’t know the problem. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on before we decide if working with me is your best option?” Ty knew he would regret those words. A referral would have been a clean cut.
    Parris struggled to speak, emotion hanging on every word. “It’s my grandmother. She raised me after my parents died. I owe the woman everything. Now they’re trying to take her house.”
    “Who’s trying to take her house?” Ty doodled on the paper. This problem might work in his favor. Meeting the grandmother could reveal the level of Parris’ power. Confirming once and for all if he needed to report her to The Council.
    “The city. She owes back irrigation fees. There’s not even an access to the irrigation water at her place. The ditch was buried years ago” Parris sighed. “It’s a long story. She’s been fighting with the water department off and on for years.”
    “And still getting charged.” Ty took a sip of his coffee. A sign the two weren’t exactly powerhouses. He couldn’t believe any witch would have let a few bureaucrats in a tiny city office beat them. A good witch would have removed her name and any traces of her property off the water master’s rolls. Not fought this fight in human courts.
    “Exactly. Of course, she refuses to pay. I’ve even called to pay the back taxes. The office won’t let me. I think they want to take her home.” Parris sat back in her chair, defeated. “I don’t know what to