Page 32 of Resurfaced Passion

“He’s banned for life.” Reaper said, scowling, heading towards the counter, he all but threw himself onto a stool, both arms coming up to rest on the top.

She noticed both of his brows were drawn so far down on his face he was going to need Botox to straighten out his skin.

“Is this your new thing, running off guys who are interested in me?”

His head flew up and his eyes flashed. “He’s not interested in you.”

Paige swore her heart fell right out of her fucking chest.

“Thanks. You can leave now.”

“Paige.Fuck. I didn’t mean it like that. Every guy wants you.” He about hissed. “Tag was fucking with me. He knows I’d cut every finger off with a blunt knife if he came on to you.”

What? The? Hell?

And to make it worse? Better? Hell, she didn’t know, he added quietly. “They all know.”

She had to find her voice among the rushing water in her ears and the sloshing of her kidneys, or she might have done something girlie while she held a saltshaker in each hand. Suddenly the temperature in the diner had nothing to do with the hot plates.

The back of her peach dress clung to her spine.

“Because they’re not good for me either, right?” She bit out.

Reaper looked like he wanted to vault over the counter and show her why no one else was good for her and for a second she willed him to do that.

He sat there, unmoving, saying nothing and it just pissed Paige off.

She slammed the saltshakers down and decided she was tired of this conversation.

Right as she was about to push through to the kitchen, she heard. “Don’t be mad at me anymore, Paige.”

Her heart sank and crawled across the floor to get to him.

Stupid heart.

CHAPTER NINE

“Wife of ghost past.” – Paige

“I’m not,” she whispered, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

Too much exposure to Reaper was like glaring directly into the sun.

“You’ve scowled at me all afternoon.”

It was true.

“You kissed me and then avoided me for three damn days, Reaper!” she burst out louder than intended.

The two lone customers over by the windows looked across and she blushed, shuffling closer to where Reaper, so it was for his ears alone when she said.

“You made me feel like I’d done something wrong.”

His head bent down over his clasped hands. When she looked closer at him, his knuckles were strained white.

Instantly, she felt silly about being butt hurt over him being a no-show at the diner.

“Look, it doesn’t matter, okay. Don’t fuss. Forget it happened. But whatever the other night was, you can’t do that again. I know we’re friends, I value your friendship, Reaper, but who I date is my choice.”

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