Dan shook his head rapidly. “No, no. It’s all right. I got this.” He turned back to the rightly confused officer and said, “I saw her, but that’s it. She left with some tall, balding guy just after happy hour last Friday.”
Stunned by the guy’s admission or maybe by my looks - hey it could happen - the police officer stood from his stool and hooked his belt with his thumbs. Why did all cops do that? Did their pants not fit right?
After a small adjustment, he gestured for Dan to stand up. “I think we need to take a ride downtown. You can give us a better description of the guy you saw.”
Dan begrudgingly stood and shot me the stink eye.
Can’t please everyone.
The police officer didn’t leave right away. Instead, he turned back to me with a suspicious glare. “I don’t know what you did to make him talk, but thanks.”
I gave him a two-finger salute and a grin. “No problem. All in a day’s work.”
He snorted but didn’t say anything more as he turned and followed Dan out of the bar. Shrugging, I didn’t let his reaction bother me. Most people didn’t get me or my sense of humor. Or my psychic powers. Which, by the way, are fake. Like, pay-by-the-minute fake. The only abilities I had were seeing sexy angels who really needed to get laid – oh wait that’s just me. Though, I wouldn’t complain if they were the ones doing the laying.
Sadly, though, they’re the ones with all the powers, I just monopolize on them for my own gain.
Fair trade in my opinion and that’s the only one that counts. Right?
So, yes. That’s why I put up with them. For the best cause, really. Me. And you know, for the spank bank.
2
“Hey, Jane, you have a second?’ Terry asked, shuffling uncomfortably as he finished locking the door.
“What’s up?” I asked, shoving my share of the tips into my pocket.
“I was wondering.” He paused and scratched behind his ear, his usual tell when he was nervous. He sighed, as if talking to me was a big effort. “Now, I’m a good Christian fella, so don’t go tellin’ my mama I asked you this, but is all your psychic stuff for real?” He glanced up at me as if I might shine a light on his otherwise meager existence. “The way you know if them folks is lyin’ or not. It’s really sum’thin’.”
I forced back the sigh that threatened to come out. I hated when people I knew and liked asked me this. The last time I’d told someone the truth about my abilities, I’d needed to change jobs. And I liked my job. Sure, being a bartender wasn’t anything special, but it was better than stripping. Which I could totally pull off. Seriously, I could. Check out my butt! Totally bounce-able.
But the point was telling people about my angelic admirers was never a good idea because no matter what I said, I wouldn’t really change Terry’s perspective on the world, and he would never look at me the same way again.
“No, Terry,” I said finally. “It’s not real. I’m just really perceptive.” My answer had the desired effect.
Terry’s shoulders uncurled, and he stood a bit taller like he knew it all along. “That’s what I thought.” He scoffed before turning back toward his car. “Well, carry on, Jane. I won’t keep you.”
I watched him for a moment, half tempted to call him back and tell him I was lying, but I didn’t. I knew what it was like to have your world so shaken up that you thought you were going mad, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
“What are you are looking at?” a smooth voice from my left said, making me jump in place.
I spun and glared at the brown-haired Adonis who had just appeared out of nowhere. The angel Gabriel gave an apologetic shrug. Out of all the angels I could see, Gabriel was the least full of himself, which was the only reason I didn’t get on to him for scaring the living daylights out of me. If it had been Lucifer, he’d have done it on purpose.
I shook my head and muttered, “Nothing.”
Pulling my keys out of my purse, I headed for my car, a five-year-old blue Kia. Sure, the battery needed to be jumped multiple times every winter, but it got great gas mileage… and it was paid off, so bonus?
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I didn’t bother waiting for the large angel to slide into the other seat before I started it up. I fiddled with the radio, though after two A.M. there wasn’t anything good to listen to.
“You should really put your seat belt on.” Gabriel’s chastising tone made me grin. I couldn’t be mad at Gabriel no matter how annoying he might be. Gabriel was like a surfer dude and a big brother all rolled into one. Though, I’d never seen him as a brother, because one doesn’t think of their brother’s abs as lickable. Not to mention he, like Lucifer, had more horniness in him than the entire student body at the local high school.
“You’re an angel. Aren’t you supposed to guard me against danger?” I shot him a grin and instantly regretted it. Lucifer’s teasing from earlier came back with a vengeance and looking at Gabriel’s chestnut colored locks hanging over pale green eyes only made matters worse. Damn, when God created the angels, he only used the good bits.
“Doesn’t work that way, doll.” Gabriel chuckled and draped an arm over the back of my seat, giving me a nice tingle as a result. “Telling you to put your seatbelt on is about as much as I can do as far as divine intervention.”
I snorted at that. “And trying to get into my pants isn’t?”
“That’s just fun.” A sinful grin covered Gabriel’s lips. A smile like that shouldn’t look so good on an angel of God.
“So, I’m just fun to you guys now?” I scoffed and shook my head. “Never mind Jane, who’s slowly going insane from permanent horniness. We’re just having a bit of fun. No big deal.”
“Aw, come on now, Jane, don’t be that way.” Gabriel tried to tap me under the chin, but all it did was set my teeth a-buzzing. I jerked away, keeping my eyes on the road. “We don’t do it to torture you.”
I snorted.
“Okay, so maybe Lucifer does, but he’s the Devil. What do you expect?” Gabriel shrugged from the corner of my eye, and I got an eyeful of his muscular chest straining beneath his t-shirt. Out of all the angels, he wore the most casual clothing. Jeans and t-shirts were his go to. Occasionally, he’d throw a plaid button up over it, but that was rare.
“So, if you aren’t here to torture me, why are you here?” I asked as I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex. A bartender’s salary didn’t cover much, even with the extra tips from my psychic readings, but I’d been lucky in finding this particular apartment. The area wasn’t horrible, and while the manager was lazy, he didn’t charge me more than my meager studio apartment was worth.
Gabriel shifted toward me, drawing my attention to his remarkable eyes once more. “Can’t I just want to enjoy your company?”
I leaned in as well, a hint of a smile on my face, causing him to smile as well. When his breath brushed mine, I said, “No.” I pulled away and got out of the car without waiting for him to follow.
Sadly, cheap rent came with downsides. Parking sucked most days of the week, and while safer, the apartment was located on the third floor. After a long day of serving drinks, those steps were killer on my short legs, but seriously, my butt has never looked better!
As I fumbled with my keys to unlock the door, Gabriel leaned against the wall beside me. I didn’t even bother to wonder how he had gotten up here so fast as I continued our conversation from the car.