Reaper's Darlin': A Side Story (Cape High Series)

"Why are you so willing to bend over backwards for us, Reaper? You're not even in our branch. We're not even in your league, honestly. We might both be villains, but you're the exit-only door and we're the fluffy entertainment."

"I sometimes wish I could be the fluffy entertainment," he says.

“You're lying."

"Yes, yes I am," he says. She laughs, dropping down in the chair. "But I do like you three. I don't have many people I can touch, Doris. I definitely don't have people that will greet me with hugs when I show up, either. Add to that the fact that you three love the most important person in my life, and what do you expect me to do?"

"Kiss me," she says. The room goes silent, the end of his cigar starts to fall, and he grabs it just before it hits the carpet.

"As much as I'd love to, my dear, I think we've missed a few important steps along the way," he says as he slowly drops the cigar tip into the tray.