Page 12 of A Reaper's Secret

“You’re still here,” Amy said.

He was shirtless, but she saw he wore hisjeans, even though she had removed them in the main doorway lastnight.

Daniel chuckled. “Yeah, I’m still here. Ifigured you would be feeling hungry seeing as you and I didn’t getto eat last night.” He rested his knuckles on the counter and leaned over to look ather. “Are you ready for breakfast? It’s nearly done.”

Amy opened her mouth, closed it, and thenglanced down at herself. She’d not even used the bathroom.

“I’ll go and get dressed.” She had no ideawhat to say to him. Hewas still in her home, even after he had sex. According toPenelope, most men were out the door the moment they got what theywanted. She didn’t know what Daniel wanted, but it didn’t matter.He was still here, and she needed to get her head back in thegame.

Rushing upstairs, she returned her batto its resting place.She had never had a break-in, but her father and grandfather hadalways taught her to be prepared. They didn’t want her to be caughtunarmed.

She walked back into her bedroom and wentstraight to the en suite. Amy didn’t linger. Using the toilet, she washed herhands, brushed her teeth, and then combed her hair before goingstraight to the bedroom.

Amy opened her wardrobe, and even though itwas early, she knew it was going to be a hot day. It was Sunday,and she always considered this a slow day. She loved taking it easyand relaxing, even at the café.

She opted for a dress thatwas fitted at the bust andwaist, but then flared out into a full, floaty skirt to her ankle.She wore a pair of flats, and quickly tied her hair back. Nomakeup, and she was on her way downstairs to where Daniel wasplating up the food.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” she said,taking a seat at herdining room table, which overlooked the kitchen.

“I don’t cook often. But I know my wayaround the kitchen. I wouldn’t dream of doing this as a business,but everyone has to cook once in a while.”

Amy smiled as he presented her withbacon, eggs, sometomatoes, and lots of toast. She picked up the knife and fork he’dput on the table, and began to eat. She couldn’t believe he’dcooked for her.

Daniel sat opposite her, and she couldn’thelp but watch him as he began to eat the food as well.

There was silence between them, but itwasn’t uncomfortable. Amy was not a big fan of the morning after.She didn’t have a lot of sexual experience. In her thirty years,there had been one guy, when she was younger. He’d been much olderthan her, and she had thought herself in love with him, but he’dbeen committed to his career. A job offer overseashad changed everything. He didask her to go with him, that he didn’t love Lost Creek, and theycould make a life together.

Amy did love Lost Creek, and didn’t want to leave her home, herfamily, her life behind. They hadn’t come up with a compromise, sohe left. They ended things, and he’d called her five years ago tolet her know he was getting married, that he had a couple ofkids.

There was no pain or regret.

He’d been a young crush, that was it, butthey had never gone public with their relationship. Mainly becausehe’d been thirty years old, and she had been eighteen when theyfirst got together. Tosome people, it might have seemed seedy, but Amy hadn’t beenmanipulated. She’d been with him because she wanted to be. Shedidn’t want her first time to be a horrible experience in the backof a car. Instead, she had told this guy, Easton, what she wanted,and they had enjoyed a relationship until he left when she wastwenty-three.

She hadn’t mourned him, though, or felt crushed, which told herit had just been an experience rather than a relationship. Eventhough she had never told her granddad about it, she did tell hergrandmother and Penelope. They were the only two who knew. Everyoneelse hadn’t been any wiser, or if they did, they never saidanything.

Daniel had been her first experience sincethen.

She’d not been pining for along-lost love, she hadjust known what it meant to be with someone, and she didn’t likethe thought of going to bed with any random stranger.

“Talk to me, Amy,” he said.

Amy chuckled. “Do you think you know what I’mthinking?”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation, just assuranceand confidence. Daniel wasn’t cocky with it. He was just … exuding… confidence. She didn’tknow exactly what it was, but it was addictive.

“You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

“Amy, unlike your friend, I know you don’tsleep around. You don’t entertain the tourists, nor do you havetime for anyone or anything else. I get it. You’re a busy woman andyou don’t like to give men the wrong impression. Last night, we hadsex. I’m going to give it to you straight, I’ve never given a shitabout women. I’m not some kind of monk. I’ve been with a lot of women, and none of themhave mattered to me.”

“Wow,” Amy said.

She wasn’t liking this conversation at all. She couldn’thelp but feel the spike of jealousy that rushed through her at thethought of him with anyone else, which then made her pause. Thiswas kind of scary. Her previous lover had partners before her, andshe hadn’t cared. He was older than her, as was Daniel. Herfeelings about Daniel’s previous partners were a lot different. Shehated the thought of him being with anyone but her, and yet shedidn’t have a right to feel that way.

“Let’s not talk about previouspartners.”

“I like you, Amy. I’ve wanted to be with youfor a long time, and that is not going to change,” Daniel said.“You and I both knew where this was leading, and I’m not going toturn my back on you. You expected me to be gone this morning,didn’t you?”

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