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The thumping bass was a familiar one, and Theo smiled. He loved working at Haven. From behind the bar, he could ogle all the many forms humans came in: from young to old, dressed to the nines, or casual chic. Makeup to natural, happy or restless or burdened with sadness. He celebrated with those engaged, with brides and grooms having one last night of fun. He listened with an attentive ear to those working through some troubling dilemma and commiserated with those dealing with loss, whether it be from death, divorce, or a romantic falling out.
He pulled out his wallet and thumbed through its contents. Employee ID, cash, and credit cards. The driver’s license showed an address on the same street as Ari and Gabriel, Judah and Locke. It’d been a year since he’d last seen them.
Ari and Gabe’s foster son, Elijah, had to be closing in on eighteen now, and Theo gave a moment’s thought to Judah’s brother, Nate, who seemed to have developed a bond with Elijah when last they’d dealt with a demon issue in Atlantic City. He wondered if Adonai would bestow his blessing on the two of them soon. Theo had seen Nate in passing, but they hadn’t spoken. The warrior angel’s mood had turned inward, and he’d barely acknowledged Theo’s greetings. He made a mental note to speak with Judah about him, assuming they’d cross paths soon.
The door to the back room swung open, and the bear of a man coming through jerked to a stop.
Theo grinned. “Still here I see.”
“The fuck, Theo. It’s good to see you.” He stuck out his hand and Theo grabbed it, pulling Con, his former-now-current-again boss, forward into a back-slapping hug.
Haven’s manager shoved him away after a moment and eyed Theo from head to toe. “You still look the same. How do you do it?” Con scratched at his hair, which sported a few more grays than the last time Theo had seen him.
“Good genes, I guess.” Theo laughed.
“Bastard. So… you working?”
“I am. Where do you want me?”
Conner rolled his eyes. “The bar, of course. Those Tweedly-Dees out there don’t know their Saxons from a Savoy.”
“Boss, nobody does. Even I have to look those up.”
“Yeah, well, at least you always got the orders right.”
Theo shrugged. It wasn’t rocket science, but he did mix a mean cocktail. As he pushed through the swinging door, the music blasted his eardrums. He stuck his hand in his pocket and sent up a little thank you for the earplugs he withdrew. Theo stuck them in, muffling the bass but still allowing him to hear his coworkers’ complaints and his customers’ orders.
He jumped right in, introducing himself to the two other men and one woman already working. The brunette female had her hair artfully piled high on her head, and her tight shirt showed off all her assets, which assuredly brought her bigger tips. She nodded at him when he said his name.
“I’m Zoe. Con mentioned you a time or two, mostly wishing you’d come back. Called you God’s gift to bartending.”
Theo threw his head back when he laughed. “I don’t know about gift, but I’ve got some divine providence helping me out.”
She chuckled as she grabbed an ice-cold bottle of Yuengling from below the counter and popped the top for a patron.
“At least somebody’s got decent taste.” Theo motioned to the beer.
“Here you go.” Zoe handed him the bottle. “Sad-looking guy at the end. Go make his day.”
It can’t be that easy...
Theo made for the far side of the bar, taking in said sad guy’s slumped shoulders within a rumpled white button-down. The rolled sleeves revealed muscular forearms, and with the top two buttons open, Theo noted his naturally tanned skin and the sharpness of his clavicle. Shorn, dark hair covered his head except for a spiky bit in the front. When the man raised his head, eyes of the darkest brown, nearly black, caught Theo in their surprised gaze. The guy licked at his bottom lip before those full lips pinched inward, making his cheekbones more prominent on his oval face. A straight and narrow nose and manicured eyebrows made Theo wonder what this hunk did for a living under Lucifer’s thumb. With those model-perfect looks, sexual favors turned extortion topped the list, though he was probably a lawyer because Adonai loved to tease Theo.
“Here you go, sir,” Theo said, placing a fresh coaster on the bar and setting the bottle on top. “Anything else I can get for you?” He leaned forward, letting the man caught in the devil’s web get a good look at him.
“I’m good, but can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“I’ve been coming here for almost a year, trying to meet up with you. How is it that you can breeze in and out of here like you own the place?”
Theo grinned. “That’s because I do.”
“Seriously?” Stunned was a cute look on the human. Wide eyes and parted lips like they were just waiting for something tasty. Theo’s imagination turned wicked. It’d been a decidedly long dry spell.
“Fuck no.” Theo laughed. “I’ve worked here off and on for years since the place opened. If I’m not here, sometimes I work security or fill in at one of the retail stores. Recently, they moved me to one of our other casinos, but now I’m home.”
“Home?”
