Page 24 of Reaper
“Are you sure?” she finally asks.
“Wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.”
She glances at the clock on the wall and groans. “I do need to pick up the kids and get them home for dinner.”
“Go, then,” I insist. “By the time you come back in the morning, things will be ready for business.”
Kyra nods before pushing her chair back and standing. “Thank you. And, uh, you all come by anytime for free meals.”
“Not necessary.”
“Yeah, it is. Please, let me at least do that to show my appreciation.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
14
Kyra
“Iforgot how good you can cook.”
Jason shovels a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth. Heidi and Hunter have been talking non-stop since he walked through the door, mostly about school and their friends, so we’ve both been taking bites when there’s even a hint of a break in conversation.
“Gee, thanks,” I mutter.
“I mean it. This is really good.”
“It is, Mommy,” Heidi agrees. “I wish we could have this for dinner every night.”
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. There wasn’t much time to cook by the time I got home so I settled for a simple meal of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
“Me, too,” Hunter chimes in. “Why don’t you cook like this all the time?”
I bite back the sharp retort. Theyareonly six after all.
“Maybe I should come over more often,” Jason suggests, and I stare daggers at him.
“Yeah!”
The twins cheer in unison, but before I can redirect their excitement, the doorbell rings.
“Excuse me a minute.”
“We’re eating,” Jason says. “Do you really have to get that?”
No, I don’t.
“Yeah, I do.”
Just as I reach the door, the bell rings again.
“Kyra, it’s me.”
Reaper?
“Hey,” I say when I open the door and see him standing at the threshold. “What’re you doing here?”
“Who is it?” Jason calls from the kitchen table.
