Page 52 of Resurfaced Passion
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“3….2….1 aaand panic!” – Paige
Eggs. Bacon. Biscuits. Paige schlepped it all to the hungry before-work masses that morning for six solid hours without a break. She’d arrived at work at her usual four am after next to no sleep and her aching feet were feeling it.
“Girlie, what’s wrong with you? That’s twice you’ve served sugar in my coffee.” Paige held her tongue and grabbed the cup from her boss to replace his coffee.
Thankfully the man she worked for left a few minutes later and she could breathe easier knowing he wasn’t scrutinizing her every move while she tried to put last night out of her mind.
She was half sure it was all a dream if not for the satisfied feeling she woke with.
Not as satisfied as she’d hoped, seeing how Reaper had fallen asleep on her.
She told herself it was his medication; he’d been so tired and in pain … but she had that lick of paranoia that maybe he wasn’t so into having sex with her as she’d been.
She’d zombie-walked him to bed with great strength holding up a man twice her size hanging off her shoulder and muttering to himself about missing the bugs, and then she’d tucked him into his big bed, getting around thirty minutes sleep on his couch, before she sneaked out at three thirty for work.
It was a cowardly thing to do. She’d wanted to stay … of course, but knowing she had to get to work presented itself with an escape from the dreaded morning after.
Now every time the bell over the door tinkled, she froze, expecting to see him stride in. He was already later than usual; the breakfast rush was almost over.
Her stomach ached. Where was he?
Because all kinds of negative thoughts swirled through her mind she got several more orders wrong and had to apologize and offer free coffee.
And then there he was. As if conjured by the black arts or just her starving heart, he stepped through the door, his shoulders nearly brushing either side and he headed directly to his table and sat down.
What the hell?
No hello?
No thanks for last night, Paige?
No kiss?
Paige knew better by now that Reaper was an entity unto himself and she’d never been able to predict his movements.
Stung feelings, she glanced over in the process of pouring coffee and caught him staring at her, his features softer than usual but equally unreadable.
She sighed. He looked amazing still. Rested, she noted.
Pain sliced through her suddenly. The hot coffee splattered her inner wrist and Paige cried out and if not for quick reflexes the rest of the pot would have followed.
He was across the diner in seconds, leaning across the counter, he looked ready to jump over it. Reaper’s expression shifted, sharp angles morphing as he frowned looking at the wrist she held a towel to. His gaze swept over her. “What happened?”
“Damn coffee jumped out of the cup and attacked me.”
“Let me see.”
“It’s fine.”
“Paige.”
“I’m fine. See?” She lifted off the towel to display the red oval mark.
He frowned again. “Come here to me.”
“Reaper, I’m fine.” Her feet were already moving closer though.
