Page 29 of The Casanova Complex

I turn back to the man, Amos, and smile, nodding toward the case. “Can I get one of those strawberry beignets? Actually, no, make that two, please. Oh, and one of those cinnamon rolls too.”

“You got it.” He laughs. “Those are everyone’s favorites. We’re a bit famous for those.”

“I’m about to drool just looking at it, so I can’t imagine how good they are.”

A blonde woman breezes through the door from the kitchen and shakes her head, smiling at him. “Famous? That’s an extremely bold claim.” She stops beside him, placing her hand on her hip.

Amos lifts a shoulder. “Well, Cher, that’s the truth, and you know it. People come from all over the city for these.”

Yeah, that I believe.

The woman turns to me. “Hi. Thanks for coming in. I’m Addie, and this is our bakery.”

“Hers,” Amos says, shooting her a look. “Don’t let this girl fool you—she is the brains and beauty behind all of this. All I do is roll the dough.”

“Nice to meet you both,” I say with a chuckle, pulling out my wallet. “This is my first time here, but I’m going to have to come back with some of my teammates because they’d love this place. I play hockey at OU.”

“Oh, my husband, Grant, and I are both OU Alumni. He used to play for the baseball team. Grant Bergeron?”

What? I’m about to fanboy all the way the fuck out.

Grant fucking Bergeron? That’s her husband?

“No shit? I mean, wow. He’s like a legend at OU.”

Addie laughs softly, nodding. “Yeah, he is pretty incredible. Maybe you’ll meet him sometime. He brings our little girl in some days.”

“Cool. I’ll be back for sure, at least for the beignets.” I laugh. “Actually…” Leaning in, I say quietly over the case, dropping my gaze to it, “Can I have that chocolate croissant too?”

Amos adds it to my overflowing box and hands it over after I pay and tell them both goodbye and that it was nice to meet them.

Unexpected, but still cool that I just met Grant Bergeron’s wife.

I carry the box over to where Merritt’s sitting and slide into the booth beside her as she shoots me a pointed look.

I already know she’s going to tell me to fuck off, so I lift my hands in surrender.

“Look, before you yell at me, I got you something delicious. And you literally cannot be mad at a man who brings you baked goods. It’s like a universal law or some shit.”

Yeah, I just made that shit up on the fly, but guess what, it should be.

Merritt raises an eyebrow. “You’re ridiculous, has anyone ever told you that?”

“Of course they have.” I grin as I open the box. “But to that I say, I know. I’m ridiculously handsome. Ridiculously irresistible, with a ridiculously large co—” I snap my mouth shut before I finish that sentence.

Whoops.

It slipped out because I was listing my most desirable qualities.

I don’t miss the way her brown eyes have widened or the tinge of pink staining her cheeks though.

Hm.

“Now, do you want to see what I got you?” I ask.

For a beat, she stares at me like she wants to say no, but finally relents, clearly enticed by my pastry bribing. “Fine.” She blows out a breath.

I pull out the chocolate croissant and present it to her like it’s the Hope Diamond. “For you, my stabby queen.”