Page 16 of The Grim, Me, and The Reaper Makes Three

When the smell of baking crust caught her attention, she returned to the kitchen.

“Morning, Tink.”

Tati looked over her shoulder, finding William, once again in his human form, leaning against the far counter. His hair was pulled back into a bun, and he had that beautiful, sleep-rumpled look of a man who’d just emerged from a deep slumber.

Finding his golden eyes, she offered him a hesitant smile. “Hi,” she said, unsure of where they stood after what they’d done last night. “Is the fact that I made food appear with my mind normal? Can everyone do that here?”

“No,” William said with a rough laugh. “Unfortunately, that is just a perk of living in this dark and depressing mansion.” He paused, sniffing the air. “It smells incredible in here.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the man continued, scratching absently at his bare chest. “Nice shirt, by the way.”

Her cheeks flushed hot as she glanced down at his shirt, noting where the soft fabric barely reached her upper thighs. “I hope you don’t mind, I–”

“Nonsense, Tink,” he said, his mouth curving up into a wide smile. “You look better in it than I ever could.”

She didn’t have a chance to respond before Atticus walked in, his hands busy fastening the button of his trousers. His dark hair was tousled, sticking up from his head at odd angles, and Tati took a moment to, once again, appreciate the smooth pale skin of his chest and torso.

It was impossible not to watch Atticus as he came up behind William, long fingers gripping the shifter’s hips as he planted a tender kiss on the spot where William’s neck met his strongshoulder muscles. She watched as William’s eyes drifted shut, a sweet smile on his face as he murmured just loudly enough for her to make out the words, “Good morning, Atti.”

Atticus’ response was to run his nose up the length of William’s neck.

“Tati is making something,” William said, voice low and breathy. “And I, for one, am starved.”

Atticus let out a low grumble, but then stood up and rounded the wide kitchen island toward her. She couldn’t look away from his discerning, penetrating stare, and she felt a moment of self-consciousness.Did he even want her there? What was she doing, making herself at home in the kitchen of these two men who obviously shared a deep and profound history together?

“What are you making?” he asked, leaning against the counter with a kind of feigned nonchalance that reminded her of a predator.

She smoothed her hands down the front of the borrowed shirt. “I’m making pie.”

Atticus frowned. “Tatiana, please know that you are under no obligation to?—”

“Oh, I know,” she interrupted. “It’s for me.”

William doubled over with laughter, while Atticus’ straight brows shot up his forehead.

Immediately, Tati tried to backtrack. “There will be plenty for you if you’d like, I didn’t mean–”

Her words died in her throat when a grin tugged at the corner of Atticus’ mouth.

“You guys are too much,” she muttered, bending over to look at the pies.A few more minutes, she noted, grabbing another handful of blueberries and popping them into her mouth.

“You look happy.” Atticus watched her with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“I am happy.” There was no reason to be anything but honest. “This was what I wanted to do, back on earth.”

“You should do it here.”

She glanced up at William. “What?”

“Your bakery. You should open it here in the Afterworld.”

Atticus nodded. “He is right, Tatiana. Many people fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams after their deaths.”

“How,” she began, shaking her head. She was dead, for fuck’s sake, and her plans and dreams had died along with her. She hadn’t yet fully made peace with that fact, but she would. Shehadto. “How would that even work?”

“You can select an unoccupied property or building in whatever community you decide to settle in. Or, you can submit an application for a custom property.” William reached over, stealing a few blueberries for himself. “For a business venture like this, you are more likely to find a customer base in the Urban or Suburban regions.”

“The Rural Region does have a reputation for supporting their small businesses though. While there is a smaller population, they are known for their loyalty.” Atticus looked down at his clasped hands. “Do you have a notion of where you would like to be?”

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