It's A Wonderful Midlife Crisis (Good To The Last Death #1) - Robyn Peterman Page 0,62

on in that fascinating mind of yours?”

“Are you the only one?”

“The only one of what?”

“Grim Reaper,” I said. “Are you the only Grim Reaper? Has it always been just you?”

He nodded, and then let his head fall back on his shoulders as he laughed. “I see where you’re going with this. The answer is no. I’ve never had a relationship with a Death Counselor.”

“Never?” I pressed.

“Never ever never,” he said, watching me so intently I grew uncomfortable. “I don’t exactly do relationships,” he admitted with a shrug. “Got over that many centur— Years ago.”

“Centuries?” I choked out. “Did you stop yourself from saying centuries?”

His sigh sounded put upon and I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t sure why the thought of him being older than dirt alarmed me. I was living with dead people. Anything was possible.

“I did. And there you have it,” he said. “Happy?”

“Not particularly,” I said truthfully. “Kind of freaked out. So, you don’t age?”

“I can choose my age,” he replied casually. “Would you prefer me younger? Older?”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I made a rude noise. “I don’t prefer you at all.”

“Liar,” he shot back.

“What kind of game are you playing?” I snapped, feeling like I wanted to cry. “I’m a forty-year-old widow. You should go hit on someone in their twenties. You could have anyone. Trust me on that.”

“What if I don’t want anyone? What if I want you?” he countered.

“Then you’re crazier than I am,” I informed him. “I’m damaged goods and I’m broken. Not to mention I live with dead squatters. I’m not good girlfriend material… or booty call material,” I clarified since he was clear about not being a relationship kind of guy or whatever he was.

“You’re beautiful.”

“I’m middle-aged,” I shot back sarcastically. What he was doing was mean. I wasn’t in his league and playing with me was vicious.

“Age is simply a number. I’m not exactly a spring chicken. You… challenge me,” he said, seeming truly surprised about the statement.

“Fine. I’ll stop.”

“Don’t think you’re capable of it, Daisy. It’s who you are,” he replied smoothly, looking like he wanted to eat me alive—and not like a zombie, thank God.

“Well, I’ll do my best to stop being fascinating,” I said, standing up and going to the front door. “This is not going to happen. You feel me, Gideon?”

“Would love to,” he said with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes and laughed too. “Not what I meant.”

“I know,” he said as he approached me and the now open door. “A man can dream, Daisy.”

He stood in front of me and stilled. His scent made me dizzy. My instinct was to lean into him and take comfort. Insanity should be my new name. With extreme effort, I stood as motionless as he did—not moving a muscle.

I was staring at his chest. He was incredibly tall and I wasn’t short. At five foot ten, I was on the tall side for a woman. Gideon was easily six foot three. I debated if I wanted to raise my eyes to his. We were in dangerous territory here. However, if I did have to interact with him on any kind of regular basis, I was going to have to man-up… or woman-up in my case.

Playing at a disadvantage with the Grim Reaper probably wasn’t in my best interest. I wondered if he had a colleague who did the opposite of what he did. Was another stupidly beautiful man going to show up in my sleepy Georgia town and send people into the light when the fate of a soul was in question? I considered asking, but right now I’d learned all I could handle without losing it.

I was forty. I had balls. I’d turned to a life of crime—albeit for the good of dead people I cared about. Not even an hour ago, I broke the Grim Reaper’s nose. I wasn’t a superhero, but I was damn close right now.

What was a kiss?

A kiss was proof that I was in control. Gideon couldn’t own me. I owned me. And I was about to show him.

“Fine,” I said, raising my eyes to his. “One kiss. And that is all you will ever get. Deal?”

“Whatever you say, Daisy,” he replied as his sinful mouth became a lopsided grin that took my breath away.

I was very aware that Gideon had just given me a non-answer. I’d done the same thing to Gram all through my teenage years… and still did it occasionally. I was onto the Grim Reaper’s methods and I would