Page 10 of A Reaper's Devotion
Willow laughed.“No, you brought them for us to enjoy, and I wasn’t just going to eat them myself.Now, if you’re asking if I was tempted to eat them all, that is a whole other story.”
She loved watching him laugh.
After they ended their hug, she wasn’t sure if it extended longer than was appropriate.She had never hugged a guy before.Not even kissed a guy.It always made her laugh that she wrote such elaborate, in-depth sex scenes and had never been touched by a man.
“I can’t guarantee the coffee is going to be good,” she said, and took a sip of her own.“It’s not bad, but you’ve got to actually like cold coffee.”
“I drink it iced from time to time.”
She waited as he took a sip, and then handed him the wrapped cinnamon rolls.There were grease stains on the packet from where it had been sitting for the last few hours.The cold cinnamon roll was still as delicious as before.One bite, and her mouth was still watering.
“Damn, that is a good cinnamon roll.”
“They are good, but you know, my mom’s were amazing.”
“They were?”
“Yeah, they were, and her lasagna.”
“Don’t say any more, I know how good your mom’s lasagna was.Trust me, I would have happily eaten it all to myself.”
This made her happy.
“Yeah, she was a damn good cook.”She laughed.“She would often say I would miss her for her cooking.”
“Are you okay?”Cyrus asked after a few moments.
“Yeah, I’m good.I know it’s crazy but she got me ready to handle it all.We knew it was coming, and she wasn’t afraid.Or if she was, she didn’t show it.I think she was ready.”She laughed.“She would often say that was why Dad had to leave so soon.He was going up there to get everyone in tip-top shape for her.”
He saw there was still sadness in her eyes.
“She was a good woman and your dad was a good man.”
“Thank you,” she said.“I know Mom adored you.She would tell me I would have to snatch you up before anyone else did.”
“Consider me snatched,” he said.
Willow took a deep breath.“I’m ...uh, I’m not used to this.”
“I know,” he said.
“I know you haven’t dated, Willow.Trust me, in a small town, we all know each other’s business.”
Not all of their business.She had been able to keep it a secret about what she did to earn money.Not that there was anything wrong with writing erotic books.They had kept her entertained through some of the most painful times of her life.
She looked at Cyrus and it was strange as she wanted to tell him so badly.It was her little secret, though, and she didn’t know how to blurt out what she did.
“Are you looking forward to going dancing tonight?”he asked.
“Yes, I am.I think after all this excitement, I’d like to go out.”
“What do you think then?”He pointed toward the screens.
“It’s ...good.I mean, I’m not going to say it is the most thrilling job on the planet, but I like it.I feel like I’m contributing to the town.”Especially after the last decade of feeling like she hadn’t done a damn thing.
“You know you don’t owe anyone anything, right?”he asked.
“I know.I know.I just, I want to do this.Like today, I helped with that woman, or young woman.She needed help, and I was able to help.Today has been a really good day.”Cyrus’s cell phone went off, and he glanced down with a grumble.“I’m needed at the school.It looks like some asshole kids have decided to mess with the damn electrical points.”He rolled his eyes.“You know, I was a kid in high school, why can’t they just do shit, like looking bored?”
