Page 9 of A Reaper's Secret

“That’s what I was going to ask you.”

“Me? Why me?” Amy frowned.

“After last night.”

She thought back to last night and thenher mouth opened in anO. “Yeah, you know, I had totally, completely forgotten.” Shenibbled her lip. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not every day you get a guydetermined to dance with you, but it does happen from time to time.I did keep it all in stride.” She tried to play it cool. The guylast night had been an irritation.

“Martha has also warned me you haven’teaten.”

“Ah, has she?” Amy smiled. “I’ve not evengotten to lunch.”

“It’s past three,” Daniel said.

“What?” She’d been so focused on cookingand the constant flow of orders, and hadn’t noticed the time. “Holy crap, I didn’teven realize.”

He clicked his fingers and pointed towarda chair. “Sit. Any orders that come in, you can tell me what to do. You need to eatsomething before you pass out.”

“Okay, the pass-out thing was a one-time deal,” shesaid.

“Don’t care. You have proven one time toomany that you don’t take care of yourself, so you need others tolook out for you.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re being a pain in the ass. You doknow that, right?”

He winked at her, and she didn’t want tothink of him as sexy, but he did look sexy and hot. She watched as he put on anapron, as well as a hairnet. It shouldn’t look good on anyone, butthen Daniel wasn’t just anyone. He never had been.

“Did you pack your lunch?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s in the fridge.” She went to getto her feet, but Daniel was already there, holding out the lunch for her totake.

He clicked his fingers, pointed at thespot, and told her to eat lunch. Amy was completely taken aback by the fact she’dworked through lunch. Yes, she loved her job, but she always foundtime to eat. Only in rare circumstances did she not eat.

Taking a seat, she watched as Penelopecame in, and Amy noticed the orders were for some cakes. Danielexpertly cut the cakes, serving up ice cream, custard, or creamwith each order. Amy found herself relaxing, because she knew herjob was in very capable hands. The man before her knew what he wasdoing. Just like last night, when he was helping herget away from thattourist.

She finished her lunch, and then brushed offher apron and went to stand with him. “I think if I’m not careful,you’re going to push me out of a job.” She gave a little tut.

“I doubt you will ever allow that tohappen.”

The rest of the day went by without anytrouble. The last of the customers left, and it was slowfor a Saturday. Daniel hadstayed with her, and now as she glanced at the time, she saw it wasa little after eight.

“Aren’t you late opening the bar?”

“August has it handled.”

“Right, August, of course. Well, in thatcase, to thank you for helping me today, I think it’s only fair that I cook you somedinner.” She glanced around the kitchen, which she had alreadycleaned. “At my place.” She felt her cheeks heating, but she hopedthey weren’t showing, that somehow she was not blushing at thethought of inviting Daniel to her place.

“You know what? I’d love that.”

Her heart raced just a little. She had neverinvited anyone to her place. “It’s not too far from here.” Shenibbled her lip.

“No problem.”

They walked out of her café, and she closedand locked the door. It seemed so odd to be walking side by sidewith Daniel. Martha had been the first to leave a couple of hoursago. She had gotten too tired, and called it a day. Penelope hadleft with that look of excitement that suggested she was going tohave some fun.

Amy had done this walk so many times overthe years. When she was a kid, and nearly every single day as anadult. Only, this was different. As a kid, she’d walk with her grandparents or herparents, then as a teenager with Penelope, and now as an adult, sheoften walked alone.

This was the first time she had walkedwith Daniel, with a man, and she couldn’t help but admit itfelt really nice.

****

---