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WE STOOD ON THE road, staring up at the sign for the bar Reyfyre used to work in: the Stumble In Bar and Grille. I smirked and glanced at him with a tilt of my eyebrow.
Getting here from the marina had taken us through a maze of underground paths and the actual subway. Which, as a first timer, was quite the experience. I can’t say I liked being crammed into the space with umpteen other people, but at least Reyfyre had given our eggs and milk to a homeless person on the street before we headed into the subway tunnels. Reyfyre still had the suitcase rolling behind him like a bizarre extension of himself.
“Trust me. They pay well.” Reyfyre held the door open for me and stepped into the dark, bustling bar behind me with the suitcase in tow.
Before we even got to the bar, a screeching voice yelled, “Ray!”
I pivoted to see a rotund redhead nearly leaping into his arms.
Reyfyre caught her and grinned as he twirled in a circle with her in his arms, leaving me to man our suitcase.
My gut twisted in an unfamiliar way, and I scowled at the spectacle.
“Man, Charity, you’ve certainly grown up.” Reyfyre set her on her feet as he gave her the once-over. Then he turned to me. “Charity, this is my girlfriend, Karen. Karen, this is Charity, the owner’s daughter.”
I was still caught on him introducing me as his girlfriend when Charity stuck out her hand. I clasped it and let her pump it more than once and provided a cordial smile in return to her beaming one.
“Actually, I’m the owner now.” She pulled her hand away. Her shine faded with the words, like the fact she owned the bar was a burden.
“What happened to your parents?” Reyfyre asked with wide eyes.
Shock radiated from him enough to bring goose pimples to my flesh.
“They didn’t serve the gods quick enough,” she said almost too quietly as her gaze darted around the bar.
The combination of melancholy and fear in her eyes caught a swallow in my throat. I didn’t need any further explanation, and I stiffened as rage snaked through my veins.
Reyfyre’s face hardened, and he met my gaze with a small nod. He was just as infuriated by the news as I was, and I didn’t even know Charity.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Charity,” he said with a voice that held enough sadness for me to get these people had been important in his life. His hand shook as he took mine in his.
I squeezed to show him I was there for him, and the quick shift of his gaze he sent me seemed like an unspoken thank-you.
“It has been long enough that I don’t burst into tears anymore when I tell people.” She gave me a sheepish smile. “And they haven’t been in here in about a year. So, there’s that.” She seemed to regain her composure. “Can I get you a table?” Her gaze landed back on Reyfyre.
Reyfyre glanced at me before he spoke. “Actually, we’re both looking for jobs.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You’re not still schlepping boats around the world anymore?”
Reyfyre laughed. “No. Karen doesn’t take too well to water, so I’m landbound for a while until she finds her sea legs.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him in a possessive gesture before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Believe me, she’s worth it.” He grinned at Charity.
Heat filled my face, and I glanced at the ground, unable to form a clear thought with the burn of his lips still branding my cheek. But I was cognizant enough to refrain from brushing the spot he kissed me with my hand.
Charity glanced at the bar. “I am short bartenders and waitstaff.”
“Neither of us have any experience, in either position, but you know I learn fast, and Karen is a quick learner, too.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I’ve mixed cocktails before.” It was just on a different realm with different ingredients, but I was sure this wouldn’t be a problem. “If you have a mixology book for your drinks, I should be able to memorize them all within a week.”
Charity’s eyes widened. “Oooo, she has spunk, Ray.”
Her teasing tone brought a grin to my face, but Reyfyre just rolled his eyes.
“So, bartenders?” he asked.
“Sure. Are you at the same address here?” Charity asked as she led us to the office in the back and indicated for us to sit.
“No. We, um, don’t have a place right now.” Reyfyre shifted in the seat. “We’re going to check out one of the local shelters until we can get enough to put down a security deposit.”
Charity stared at him as she slowly sat in the chair behind the desk. “Nonsense.”
Reyfyre’s head snapped up.
“My place has been empty for the better part of a year, since I moved into my parents’ condo. I just haven’t gotten around to cleaning it out, or selling or leasing it. If you can help me clean it out and move the remaining things to my parents’ place, you can rent from me.”
“No. I couldn’t.” Reyfyre shook his head, but his tone wasn’t completely dismissive.
“Furnished and all.” Charity raised an eyebrow. “And I can take rent from your paycheck.”
“Paychecks. I don’t want Ray to pay my keep,” I interjected. A furnished apartment sounded fantastic, especially given his warning that we’d most likely be living on a cot in a room full of other people. I glanced at Reyfyre, wishing I could kick his shin.
He glanced between us and sighed, relaxing in the chair in a way that signaled surrender. “Fine.”
Charity beamed and reached into the desk to pull out a set of keys. She tossed them to Reyfyre and then pushed two applications across the desk for us to fill out. “Can I have your licenses?” she asked.
I reached into my pocket and handed mine over. Reyfyre did the same.
“Leave the address blank and I’ll fill it in after I make copies.” Charity waved the licenses at us and left the office.
Reyfyre leaned forward and started to fill out both forms. Which was a good thing, because I didn’t know what half the items were or what to put in the fields. He tapped the signature line. “Karen Johnson,” he whispered. “Sign it.”
He finished his form as I signed where he had indicated and handed him my pen. He signed his application just as Charity returned with our licenses in one hand and a book in the other.
“You can head up to the apartment and start cleaning up. I should be there in about an hour, and I’ll show you the things I need help with getting to my parents’ place on the West Side.” She handed us our licenses and handed me the book. “Those are the specialty drinks we offer, along with the usual drinks. I’ll expect you to know them inside and out before the weekend. I’m putting you two on the Saturday night shift to see how you do.”
I smiled, but Reyfyre’s grin didn’t reflect in his eyes. “Where is your apartment?” He jingled the keys.
“Two blocks down, hang a left and you’ll see the apartment building on the right. Apartment 351.” She collected the applications and scribbled the address on both and then smiled up at us. “You start Saturday.”
Reyfyre nodded. “I don’t know how to thank you...”
“Just bring in the crowds. We need some new energy to do that, and I have a gut feeling the two of you will bring some magic to this place.”
I nearly snorted a laugh, but pretended to cough to save face. Laughing at the boss-slash-landlord probably wasn’t a good thing. But whatever I had sounded like did not seem to offend my new friend Charity. However, Reyfyre sent me a glare as soon as we were on the street, headed toward our new apartment.
“I did not want Charity involved,” he muttered at me out of the side of his mouth.
“You have to admit, it’s a better offer than the shelter.” I cocked a challenging eyebrow at him.
“Yes. It is.”
His grumbled admission brought a smirk to my lips, and I dipped my head so my hair would cover it.
“I just hope it doesn’t bite us in the ass.”