Faithfully Yours

Part 3: Witches behaving worse

Chapter 19

"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means." 
 Oscar Wilde

Paige was not having a great day at work. She promised herself she was not going to look for pictures and think of sex or pretty male bodies', mostly because she had insisted to Mark that she was not out of control and was determined to prove it. From the time she came into the office she had fought the temptation to go look for more pictures, with limited success. She left her "spare" pictures in the car, she tried concentrating on clients and focused on their roles and still she was tempted. Usually concern for client made her forget all distractions but today was a battle.

She contacted Erin Gardner, a client who was a lawyer, an attractive woman of 37 who was divorced with two children and was the sad proof that not every dream had a movie fairytale ending. Erin, though from a poor family, had in school been inspired by school speakers who had told her life was what you made it, if you wanted it hard enough. Erin worked three jobs to save enough money to put herself through college. She had worked two jobs while she was at college. With excellent grades and hard work she had thought the dream was all going to hers when she met another law student and fell in love. Only for the dream to become a nightmare,

When you graduate closer to the bottom of the class than the top because the process of a miserable marriage, an ill child and a bad pregnancy, made it impossible to do more than get through, law firms are not even interested in employing you. Erin had finally scrapped through the bar a week after her husband walked out on her when she was eight months pregnant but the only job she could get after the birth of her child was a contract with one of the more sleazy law firms, well known for hiring attractive women regardless of competence.  They worked the women hard, used them then dumped them and were clever enough to base the dumping on competency issues.

Erin lasted the full five years of her contact, taking what came her way to support her children and then was unceremoniously dropped for a younger model. When  you were no longer 25 and your employment record includes being dumped from a well known sleaze law firm famous for hiring and discarding attractive females when the interest waned, and the legal world believed your reference was bed performance rating, jobs were few and far between.

Erin had not been able to get another job in a law firm but Paige believed her abilities were not represented by her employment history and she was determined whether Cole was happy about it or not he was going to take Erin on as an associate.

Erin, out of work for nearly 20 months was seriously concerned at Paige's promises that a job was about to present itself and just needed some salary negotiations. She realistically believed that any law firm that would take her on her employment history was not worth working for. She positively reeled when Paige told her it was a one man law firm.

"Man" Erin asked disgusted "I know what that means. I know lawyers."

"Not this one "Paige assured her. "He isn't a skirt chaser. He's a lot of things but he isn't that."

"Why is he gay? "Erin demanded.

"Married" Paige assured her.

"What's that got do with it? "Erin asked cynically

"Everything" Paige assured a clearly cynical Erin.

"I'm not a litigator" Erin told Paige" I'm good at the law and contracts but I'm not a litigator.'

"Its not necessary in this company "Paige assured her. "Cole's an arsehole litigator. Need some-one who will sit at a desk and do some work."

"When will you contact him?" Erin asked clearly sceptical. Paige feeling guilty said it may be a week or two before the position became available.  What she did not say was it would take that long before Phoebe calmed down chasing fantasy men and could talk Cole around.

Paige also tried to distract herself from pictures of pretty men by helping Alex out with two of his more difficult clients. They were sisters from one of the poorer parts of San Francisco, one eighteen and the other twenty. Both were articulate and well educated as their parents, their father a labourer and their mother a cleaner, had worked hard to give them an education.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, neither of the girls could be induced to hold down a job. Their parents were passionately involved in working in their community and their daughters were following their example and this occupied all their time. Regrettably for the sisters, social security did not see this as a reason for them not to try looking for jobs, so the girls had solved the problem by finding ways to be creatively fired from every job Alex found them.

Paige went over to help, and both normally intense and disdainful sisters suddenly turned into giggling teenagers who kept making jokes about how they would work if they could get some job where they could get close to certain boy bands. It seemed the girls had a hidden side where they were avid band groupies. However they regretfully giggled, telling Alex more than he wanted to know, the choices they made to help their community meant they were groupies from afar. They went into particular details about their latest crush, a band that was now playing in San Francisco.

Paige knew the band was playing in San Francisco. The expected profits from their gig at P3 had already been allocated to paying a proportion of the kid's college fund loan, and before the latest bathroom crisis, some was being put aside for Leo and Piper to take a 5 day trip to Barbados to celebrate Wyatt being weaned. In the face of these two serious girls enthusiasm Paige made a decision. She went to her desk and presented the girl's with tickets to P3 for them and 3 friends each, for that night's gig, given on trust that they held down the jobs for 3 months before they got themselves fired.

The girls without hesitation nodded and took off giggling hardly able to believe their fantasy come true. Alex was furious. He did not believe in bribery and he was in middle of telling Paige when he thought of the tactic when the Archbishop and his assistant Father Jo arrived unexpectedly at the employment centre.. Paige tried to pretend the argument had not happened as she did her best to answer the questions asked by the Archbishop, a dour ill humoured man.

She was painfully aware Jean one of her colleagues who had been a fairly recent addition to the centre, stopped work and staring at Father Joe. Father Joe was a good looking man, with an excellent body, in his early thirties. Jean drooled over him but as far as Paige was concerned he was excellent proof that pictures made better fancy men than real ones. Father Joe, for all his good looks had some extremely irritating hand movements that always distracted Paige mid sentence and he had a high shrill voice that grated completely on Paige's nerves. So as the archbishop intoned on about where the joint project was going, Paige decided that the only way Father Joe could be her fantasy man was if he posed with his hands through his belt so they had to stay still, and maybe without his shirt and just his collar, and especially so his voice could not be heard . Only then she just may fantasy him.

Paige managed to bring herself back to reality as she found herself agreeing to something the Archbishop said he would confirm in writing and she had no idea what it was. She showed the archbishop and Father Joe out and came back to find Alex shaking his head and Jean positively glowing as she described just how gorgeous Father Joe was and what a waste it was him being a priest and how unfair it was to women.

"Probably turn out to be gay anyway" Alex said because he was still cranky and watched Jean's face fall.

"I could make him turn" Jean declared.

Alex informed Jean gay was not a matter of choice and her mouth pouted.

"For god's sake, "said Paige  "He's a priest. If he's not getting any male action, or he's not getting anything female action, he's still not getting any action, so what does it matter."

"Who got up on the wrong side of the bed" said Jean "I still think Father Joe is gorgeous.'

Paige was saved from answering by a call from a client who was having issues with shift requirements on the new job. Paige yelled out to Ella, the only person in the office who was speaking to her, that she was going out and grimaced a little as she noticed Ella, a prim type barely, noticed her. Ella was flipping through channels on the TV they had acquired for the waiting room from the Archbishop's funds, stopping at any sport's contests that involved tight clothes on male bodies. Paige thought it odd. Ella was devoted to her work and really only let her hair down over victories on the job. That morning she had caught Paige in an excited hug because after a huge support effort bone of their most difficult clients had lasted three months in a job he loved and been given an outstanding report by his new employer.

As she left Paige called out, "Ella don't forget you're talking to the young Christian women's movement about what we do here. And Jean, remember you're visiting Chinese Business women's association.'"

Both of them nodded but did not seem enthusiastic, which was not like them at all, and Paige guiltily wondered if Mark may have been just a little right about the spite curse being contagious to non magical females.

Paige fighting the urge to pull over and look at some more pictures went to her client's employer, a dour tough woman, and witch, who employed a large number of other women in a catering firm. She was a regular user of the employment service as well as a witch who led a coven devoted to creating and recording spells for protection against poltergeists. Paige was able to sort out the shift problem with a lot of tactful but firm negotiations and inwardly cursed the toughness of the witch, a quality she admired when they had worked together as witches.

She shook hands with the witch, who nodded and showed Paige to the door. The witch who was normally so focused on her work and witchcraft she was impossible to distract,  stopped to step back and allow a bicycle courier into the office. She watched the young man with an intensity that usually accompanied her witchcraft.

Paige eyed her suspiciously.

"Nice buns" said the witch then giggled.

Paige opened her eyes wide, shaking her head as she left, noticing several of the women in the kitchen had stopped working and were standing around watching a chef bent over a stove, his black and white check pants stretched tight.

In the car on the way back her cell phone rang and Paige pulled over, and reassured a client nervous before an interview. She had barely moved into traffic again when the phone went and she pulled over again, this time dealing with an enquiry from the Archbishop's office. She determinedly turned the phone off and drove away and somehow without realising it found herself parked outside a bookshop she had used in her media investigation. It was a shop Paige knew new stocked many and interesting magazines and euphemistically called coffee table art books.

Rationalising down guilt at the time she was taking, by counting out the extra overtime she had not been paid for, Paige busied herself in the human art section of the book shop. There she entertained herself by surreptitiously sneaking looks at some of the more interesting books, sighing deeply at a particular sculptured body that was of course not porn because it was art. She was lost in admiring the suppleness at an art picture of a swimming champion. She lifted the book close to her face carefully examining the picture and wondered if the art photograph which was based on illusions of skin tone and shadow had been retouched when she jumped as some-one tapped her on the shoulder.

Paige almost screamed as she spun around slamming the book shut swallowed hard as she found herself face to face with the Charmed Ones neighbour, Nosey Mrs Taylor.

Paige wished her good morning, her voice quavering slightly, and Mrs Taylor caught between a snort and curiosity, eyed the book suspiciously.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Mrs Taylor demanded not even pretending to make small chat.

"Just looking at art books for a …client," Paige tried to explain, and then flushed guiltily.

Mrs Taylor snorted "A client "she said "Who?"

"I can't tell you that" Paige said finding escape in outrage.

"Can't or won't" smirked Mrs Taylor "Like you can't or won't explain things that happen at your house."

"What things? Paige asked nervously.

"Light's said Mrs Taylor deadly serious

"Lights are normal." Paige answered awkwardly.

"Not the ones I've seen" Mrs Taylor told her bluntly "Bright, all over the house, on the roof. And don't try to tell me its electric lights."

"You know Phoebe likes to burn incense candles" Paige explained thinking quickly.

Mrs Taylor eyed Paige with total disbelief "People just appearing and disappearing." Mrs Taylor persisted.

"I'm sure you just missed them walking up the street" Paige said trying to make a laugh as if the idea was ridiculous and failing.

"Very strange looking people?" Mrs Taylor pushed.

"This is San Francisco" said Paige.

Mrs Taylor considered this. "Tell me who the new visitor is" she asked bluntly.

"Which new visitor" asked Paige awkwardly.

"I saw this large man "Mrs Taylor insisted. "Sort of dark but not really dark." she said inquisitively.

Paige wondered if Mrs Taylor had binoculars on the front window because she did not think that Glock had left he house. "Just a friend of my brother in law's" she explained, opting for a half truth.

"'That's what you grandmother used to say" snorted Mrs Taylor crossing her arms. "When she had all these peculiar looking visitors."

"Grams used to say they were friend's of her brother in law?" asked Paige playing dumb

"No she always said just a friend and the next thing you know there was another wedding going on, or the house looked like it was on fire, only it never burnt down" Mrs Taylor informed Paige. "Don't play games with me young lady" she said peering hard at Paige's pile of books. "Which brother in law?" she demanded clearly trying to read the titles of Paige's books. "I am not a fool" she said "I know things."

"Um, "said Paige hiding the books behind her.

"Piper's husband" demanded Mrs Taylor moving close and catching Paige's arm to stop her hiding the books. "The visitor's a friend of Piper's husband?" she insisted.

"Um no" said Paige.

"That client has very bad taste" said Mrs Taylor told Paige as she got a good lok at the books.

"Its art" Paige said uncomfortable.

"Its not what I'd call art" Mrs Taylor snorted and then to Paige's horror her eyes glazed over and took on a soft sexuality.  "A friend of Phoebe's husband?" Mrs Taylor asked in a throaty sexual drawl.

"Yes" said Paige relieved to get away from the subject of the books.

"Hmm " said Mrs Taylor "I saw him" she said.

Paige gulped "Saw him what?" she asked nervously.

"Who?" said Mrs Taylor.

"Cole's friend?" Paige asked.

"Who?" said Mrs Taylor

"Our visitor" Paige said getting exasperated

"Phoebe's husband " said Mrs  Taylor answered. Her eyes suddenly went dreamy which for a plump 60+ women was a little ridiculous, "I saw him the other weekend when it was hot. He was hot."

"Yes" said Paige nervously "doing what?"

"I saw him playing with children. With a hose, in the paddle pool." Mrs Taylor said a catch in her voice.

"They like to do that it when it's hot" said Paige wondering what Cole or Melinda or Patsy had done to get her attention.

"He had his shirt off "Mrs Taylor said

"Did he?" said Paige. "Well if he was playing with the kids with hose, it's likely."

"He had those cotton shorts on" said Mrs Taylor, "very low."

"Did he?" said Paige.

"They were wet "said Mrs Taylor.

"He was playing with the hose" said Paige.

"Phoebe did well for herself": said Mrs Taylor spitefully her eyes squinting. "I always thought she was going to get into trouble that one. Do you know how many times the police came knocking at the front door?

"No" said Paige sweetly. "I grew up with my mom and dad."

"I always thought worrying about that girl helped kill Penny" said Mrs Taylor really nasty. "Funny it was Prue who was around when that policeman was killed in the house. 'Funny it was Prue who got killed in the manor." Mrs Taylor said her eyes going sharp. "I always thought it would be Phoebe who came to a sticky end."

'"Phoebe is very happily married" Paige said trying to distract Mrs Taylor.

"I know "said Mrs Taylor her eyes glazing over a gain "and even though she was not ….well it didn't look to good when she first married him, she did well for herself" said Mrs Taylor, distracted but not pleased with the idea of Phoebe being happy.

"I have to go" said Paige.

"I've been watching that brother in law of yours and what goes on" said Mrs Taylor her eyes still dreamy. "Say hello to him for me will you."

"Good-bye" said Paige hastily.

She gathered the nine books she had selected. All expensive art photography books from the human art section and barely swallowed when the cashier told her the cost was 946 dollars

"Credit or cash?" the cahier asked

"Credit "said Paige.

"I don't like the pictures "said the cashier. "What really turns me on is videos."

………………………………………………………………….

Phoebe slammed her office door shut as she went in glaring at her assistant's empty desk. Cheryl her assistant was never late for work. She was always there before Phoebe answering mail, sorting Ask Phoebe letters and organizing appointments. Today none of that had happened and Phoebe had nearly missed the morning meeting she was having with the editorial staff of the 'human interest' section of the newspaper, presided over by Elise.  She was having a miserable day, feeling sick with guilt about her crush on John Cotton and by this stage wondering what she had seen in him. She was angry at Cole for being angry at her, even when he understood, and angry at herself for hurting Cole when he loved so much, when she loved him more than she could almost bear.

Phoebe just wanted to forget  the John Cotton thing ever happened, to make sure the only man she dreamed about was Cole and find that corner of the world where they lived in perfect harmony with lots of sex, and enough excitement to satisfy her sense of adventure. She wanted to find the place where no nasty evil magic came along to probe the darker corners of her soul, and awaken her self doubt and tempt the worst side of her nature.

Only she could not forget or push the John Cotton thing away because every woman in the building had stopped her to ask some how her meeting with John Cotton had gone.  Some did it for spite, some out of curiosity ,some out of sheer unadulterated jealousy and some because they were hoping that maybe just maybe Phoebe's gorgeous, dark haired, tall husband was now on the market and they wanted to get to him before some-one else did.

Phoebe between her teeth told them truthfully that she had found out John Cotton's opinion of women which would be useful for her column on fidelity and had gone home. And had nearly bitten off her tongue when Jasmine the Arts reporter had sighed. "I know you did. I saw you leave with that dreamy husband of yours. You know if you ever want to get rid of him. Drop a word in my ear."

And to Phoebe's disgust several other women had sighed in agreement.

She decided the women in the office were just going nuts and totally driven by fantasy lives, dreaming about unattainable men. Fortunately Cole, at least, was in the unattainable class. And she shuddered a little in fear that she might push him into the attainable for some-one else if she could not control that damned spite magic.

The atmosphere was in the office was also made worse by the fact that several men who were not in the fantasy class had been very clearly made aware of it. Three of the men there had also complained about lack of work being done and one had said the whole place was turning into a teenyboppers pajama party the way the women were talking. Another level Phoebe was amused that apparently no woman in the building was interested enough to find any of the journalist types fantasy men, regardless of their own estimation of themselves. Phoebe had no doubts the case of several egos around the Bay Mirror was going to take a great deal of healing and flattery when this was all over

"Sadly" she thought to herself "I know men."

Phoebe sat down at her computer and with more determination than enthusiasm was opened up the article she was writing and looked at the line she had quoted from Oscar Wilde

Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect - simply a confession of failures

Phoebe had been going to use the quote to explain why some people found it impossible to be faithful and then compare it to her own experience that being faithful in the face of all temptation was expressing that she had finally succeeded in being the person she thought she ought to be. Only the trouble was that seemed to apply only to Cole now. Not her.

Phoebe was  trying to formulate a line about fidelity and maturity, and the joys of  being a real grownup when her assistant Cheryl breathlessly rushed into the office. Cheryl's face was flushed and her eyes were bright and she looked like a girl who had recently had great sex.

"Where have you been?" Phoebe asked not sure she wanted the answer.

"Talking to Jasmine" Cheryl said giggling.

"I was just with Jasmine at a meeting." Phoebe said curiously.

"So was I" said Cheryl dreamily "before your meeting.'

"Before you came to work?"Phoebe asked.

Cheryl nodded and then clearly made up her mind. "John Cotton" she said slamming the door and leaning against it.

"I'm sick to death of hearing about John Cotton" Phoebe told her bitterly

Cheryl looked at Phoebe in disbelief. "Why?" she asked suspiciously.

Phoebe swallowed. "I guess because on further acquaintance he wasn't such a fantasy man" she admitted.

"Got to disagree on that one" smirked Cheryl

"What do you mean?" Phoebe demanded suspiciously.

"Man I didn't even know sex could be like that?" Cheryl sighed letting her breath out in a self satisfied wheeze.

"When?" demanded Phoebe. "You're married." she added sanctimoniously.

Cheryl smiled. "Jasmine and I went back for an … autograph. We thought we had run out of luck but we saw you leave with that dreamy hubby of yours so we decided to try our luck anyway. John Cotton offered a drink and well wouldn't you if the man you dreams asked." Cheryl sighed.

"Both of you?" Phoebe asked faintly.

"Well its not like an affair "said Cheryl "It's… it’s a dream come true. Bet you'd have done it if he asked" she said

"Its adultery" said Phoebe "and its betrayal "and she flushed.

Cheryl looked at Phoebe suspiciously and sighed deeply "It was wonderful" she said sliding out the door "and tonight is going to be just as wonderful. Like before this morning. When Jasmine was not there. That's what I was talking to her about. She was as jealous as hell"

"Oh" said Phoebe.

"Well "said Cheryl bitterly "You don't need to have fantasy lovers do you. You have the perfect man. He's even willing to take on Elise just to protect you. All I have is a damned man who can't find the toilet bowl when he pees after he's been drinking, and bitches when the kids make a noise while he's watching baseball."

And Cheryl resentfully glared at Phoebe then left slamming the door.

Phoebe stared at the door and then she thought about it and picked up the phone and dialed Cole's cell.

"What?" he said, in a voice was not quite as warm as it could be. Waiting for me to yell Phoebe thought because she knew him well. " I have to be in court in five minutes." Cole told her.

"Once you would have been late just so you could talk to me" Phoebe told him.

Cole suddenly laughed. "What do you want baby?' he asked.

"About last night" she said.

"What about last night" he asked his voice suspicious and getting hard.

"I'm pretty mad at you "she said.

"Well it's always easier to blame the innocent party "he answered tightly.

Phoebe took a deep breath "Ask me why I'm mad at you" she ordered him.

"Why?" he asked his voice getting dry.

"You didn't hit John Cotton hard enough" she said. "Bastard screwed around with two other women from here. Married women."

'"Pho-ebe "Cole sighed. He was silent for nearly 20 seconds and Phoebe waited. Finally his voice soft he said "Do you know you are the most irritating annoying, unpredictable, unbelievable ..."

"It's why you love me "she whispered.

"One if the reasons" he agreed.

"Aren't you going to tell me you're sorry." Phoebe asked sweetly.

He was silent for another 20 seconds before he finally said "I promise next time I'll hit harder.

"Good she said. "Are you late for court yet?" she wondered.

"Yes" Cole replied, his voice amused.

'"Good" she whispered "baby "and caressed the word.

'Pho-ebe" he said "You want me locked up for contempt."

"I'll bust you out" she sighed.

"I have to go "he said.

"You wouldn't have said that once" she said "You're acting like an old married man."

"Ν am an old married man" he said

"Demon" she said 'Old married demon. Shimmer over and we can slip off to Fiji and make love on a beach

"Okay" Cole said without hesitation.

"Once you'd have said yes without even thinking….Oh "said Phoebe as she realized he said yes while he laughed

"Won't you come to Fiji with me and make love in the beach" he asked.

She hesitated.

"You'd have said yes without thinking once" he said

"But I didn't need to pee every few minutes then "she answered.

"Poor Phoe-be "Cole told her "Once she didn't even know how to be a wife and now she can't stop being one."

"I'd hit you if you were here" Phoebe told him her voice husky.

"Want me to come over?" Cole asked.

Phoebe glanced at her watch. "I have to go  work" she said.

"I have to go to court" he said.

"Bugger" they both said.

"Lunch" she asked.

"Okay" he said laughing. "I'll call when I finish up here"

"Can't wait "she said, and meant it as he hung up.

Phoebe looked at her quote from Oscar Wilde. "I'm sorry Oscar "she said out loud "But that presumes failing is bad. We learn by our failures and it is our ability to recognise them, confess to them that makes us win next time.'"

And then she swallowed, she had not won because she could feel the spites magic catching her breath and her mind and she knew she was just as close as last night to doing something very stupid if her fantasies took hold of her. Because god knows Cole was no fantasy. He was real. True he did not miss the toilet bowl when he peed even when he was drunk, which may have been a deal breaker but he was no fantasy damn him. Regardless of much the women working with her wanted him to be a fantasy man.

"If they really knew what Cole was like, "she thought. "Dreamy he's not. He's a pain in the butt."

If he was what they thought, if he was a perfect fantasy man, instead of bitching at her because of the effects of a harmless bit of magic, even if it was evil magic, especially because he knew it was evil magic, he would have been sweetly understanding of her crush on John Cotton. His rescue would have been, well... more heroic than just getting angry. He would have jumped between her and Cotton even producing his demon sword and threatened to decapitate Cotton, while Phoebe, good witch that she was, nobly pleaded for Cotton's life. Which Cole would have listened to because he loved her so much, as any good fantasy man would do.

And he would not have walked out leaving her naked in another man's room. He would have put his jacket around her tenderly; cuddling her and his eyes would have been misty with emotion as he understood the depth of her soul. Like he had been when he rescued her from being a mermaid. Instead of being pissed at her, like last night.

And if Cole was the fantasy man those damned women she worked with thought he was, he would not behave like such a brat about Therold's crush on her.  If Cole was a fantasy man he would pet her and admire her for being the sort of woman that Therold put on pedestals. In fact if he was a fantasy man he would put her on a pedestal himself.

And no matter what time of the night it was, no matter how much he had fought to hold the balance between Good and Evil in Africa or struggled to stop the war In Burvjara he would get up to the kids, when they cried. Actually Phoebe thought if Cole was a fantasy man he would have fantasy kids who went to bed when they were told at 8.00pm, fell asleep at 8.15 pm, woke up at 8.00 am chirping and smiling, never needed diapers changed during the night or had accidents, and never ever, ever cried when they were teething.

And if he was a fantasy man he would get her breakfast in bed, bring it to her with a red rose on the tray. And it would be every morning because he would always make sure he was back from where he was in time to do it.  And he would never want sex just to forget the pain of things that were to hard to deal with. He would always make beautiful love that was totally about her and not him, and be perfectly satisfied with it. He would always treat her as if it was privilege to be with her and every day he would get down in his knees and thank her and all other higher beings for being allowed to have  her. And he would never say the word my in front of her name like he owned her. And instead of rolling his eyes and shaking his head, or worse agreeing, when her sisters took sisterly privilege and criticized her, he would defend her. And he would never bitch when they bitched at him.

And if he was a fantasy man he would keep his beautiful old fashioned manners in the bedroom, at all times and not put them aside when he was pissed, like last night and threaten to drive off without her. In fact if Cole was a fantasy man he would never be pissed at her. He would be supportive and gentle and kind and never criticize her and never be patronisingly amused at her. He would listen to every word she said and agree with her. He would never spend to much time at work, and certainly not put a little thing like a client and risking being thrown in gaol for contempt of court before taking her off to make beautiful love. If he was a fantasy man he would do everything she told him and never ever bitch or complain or criticise her, even when she kept him waiting two hours while she got dressed, because she was so beautiful it would be worth it. Just to see her.

Phoebe pushed back a small realistic feeling that such perfection would bore her silly in a very short time no matter how good looking the man was. Phoebe also pushed down the thought that she loved and admired and respected Cole for his determination to be true to himself and that he loved and respected her enough not to give into her worst instincts.

Phoebe who loved Cole smiled to herself at the advantage of being married to an arsehole lawyer who because he had once been a demon, knew how to protect her from evil. Then she remembered she was pissed at him for not being very understanding because she it was magic that had forced her into considering adultery. And she looked forward to telling him so over lunch.

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