Neither did Nari, but she sure enjoyed it.
Wolfe was the first through the door, with Dana right behind him. The massive soldier balanced three trays of whipped-cream-topped lattes. “I got extra sprinkles for everyone because it’s gonna be a long day.” He reached the kitchen and set them down on the counter. “What’s burning?” His brown eyes scouted the entire area.
“Nari can’t cook,” Angus said, reaching for a latte and eyeing the mountain of whipped cream.
“Really?” Wolfe’s eyebrows rose. “There’s something you can’t do?” He sounded genuinely surprised.
Nari shook her head. “Knock it off, you guys.” She also reached for a latte, though not sure her system could take that much of a sugar jolt. But hurting Wolfe’s feelings was off the table, so she’d just sip it slowly. The guy showed love by giving sugar, and so far nobody had been able to ask him to spare the toppings.
Pippa came in next with several heavy-looking bags in her hands. “Was there a fire?” The tall brunette wore spectacular, cream-colored boots over her light jeans.
“What did you bring?” Angus hustled over to help her with the bags.
“Cinnamon rolls, a breakfast quiche that just needs a quick heating in the microwave, a couple of casseroles, and cookies.” Pippa angled her head toward the sink. “What’s that?”
Angus reached in for a cinnamon roll, humming happily. Actually humming. “Nari burned the eggs,” he mumbled around a huge bite.
Pippa’s blue eyes widened. “You can’t cook? You can do everything.”
Nari shoved Angus aside to reach for a cinnamon roll. “Obviously not.” It smelled so good, she wanted to go outside and just push the entire thing into her mouth.
Malcolm stomped inside carrying a folding table and a couple of chairs. “Thanks for the help, you guys.”
“Oops.” Wolfe looked around and then walked over and shoved the sofa to the far wall. “There. I helped.” He nodded at the one cushioned chair left. “That’s Dana’s. In fact, you should sit down, Dana.”
The blonde was studying the murder board. “I’m fine,” she said absently.
“That’s Dana’s chair,” Wolfe reminded everyone. “She gets the comfortable one. We have folding chairs for everyone else. She’s pregnant, you know.”
Dana sighed heavily.
Nari smiled around a full mouth of cinnamon roll. “Pregnant women work in fields all around the world before giving birth, Wolfe.”
“Not my woman,” the soldier returned easily, stalking out the front door, probably to fetch the rest of the chairs.
Dana turned around and smiled. “Please ignore Neanderthal man. A blow to the head—several, really—might’ve returned him to the Dark Ages. We’re working on it.”
Roscoe barked once.
“Oh, you sweetie. I didn’t forget you.” Pippa dug into one bag and brought out a bag of homemade doggy treats. “I cooked the ones you like best.” She took out two and held them for Roscoe, who happily bounded forward.
Wolfe returned, along with Jethro, each hefting a bunch of chairs. “I found a Brit outside,” Wolfe said.
Jethro sniffed the air. “Did somebody burn cinnamon rolls?” His accent seemed thicker this morning.
“No. They’re good.” Nari licked frosting from her finger. “Phenomenal, actually.” Who needed to know how to cook with Pippa around? The woman was a miracle. “If you weren’t engaged to Malcolm, I think I’d propose,” she mumbled.
Pippa laughed and put the casseroles in the avocado-colored fridge. “Where’s the rest of the team?”
Wolfe snagged a cinnamon roll. “Raider and Brigid had to report to work at DHS and HDD today but will join us tomorrow. We haven’t been able to find Millie Frost, but she was going on a walkabout, or so she told Dana. I didn’t call Serena in because she has classes today and I wasn’t sure if she was part of the team or not.”
The brilliant woman taught game theory at the university and had helped the team with code breaking for a case earlier that summer.
“Let’s hold off on Serena,” Angus said, taking another roll. “No need to put her in danger right now.”
Wolfe nodded. “Also, I talked to Brigid, and she looked over that mail you got from the ex-boyfriend of the first victim. As you noticed, the dog pamphlets didn’t go through the mail, but there’s nothing there. Just a hint to mess with you.”
“Okay,” Angus said, standing still as he looked at a picture of a blond woman to the right on the murder board. The one who smiled so brightly at the camera and had Angus’s eyes. “I’d rather have a smaller number of targets for this guy.” His jaw hardened and his shoulders went back. “Everyone get settled, and I’ll be back inside in a moment. Just want to double-check the perimeter.” He turned abruptly on his boot and strode outside.
