Page 27

“That makes sense. But I guess that means whoever she is she shops here in Rebel.”

“I’m sure these pans are sold everywhere.”

It is a common brand, and it’s not like I’ve ever paid attention to what they look like before.

“You cook a lot, right?” I ask.

She’s not looking at me as she moves to another pan on the countertop. This one is glass. It has a small spatula resting inside, and she uses it to lift something out and onto a plate.

She comes back to me, setting the plate on the table in front of me. “I do.”

I look down. It’s a cinnamon roll. And it looks amazing.

“Thanks.”

She gives me a little smile.

I regret not grabbing one of the rolls at home, so I immediately dig into this one. I moan as I take the first bite.

She looks pleased as she brings my cup of coffee to the table. She’s holding one of her own as well.

I notice she’s added a small splash of cream to the one she sets on the table by my plate. Exactly how I take it.

I am touched that she knows that. We haven’t had coffee together very often. Probably a few times at Perks and Rec with the team, though those meet-ups usually involve beer rather than coffee.

But of course, she would’ve noticed and remembered. And I don’t think it’s just about her crush. I would be willing to bet she knows the coffee order of every single person on the hockey team.

Hell, probably most of the regulars at the café.

On the other hand, I know she uses two creams and two sugars, and that’s entirely about my crush. I have no idea how any of my teammates drink their coffee.

“So this person bringing us casseroles every couple of days,” I comment after I’ve swallowed. “Do you think she’s local? To be making food like that and bringing it over? She can’t be traveling from too far away, right?”

Sutton props one hip against the table and crosses her arms, keeping the hand holding her coffee cup near her mouth. “You’re trying to figure out who’s coming to your house too?”

“Yep,” I say. I pick up my coffee and take a sip. It’s also perfectly delicious.

Sutton tips her head. “Does she make you nervous?”

“No. It does feel a little weird,” I admit. “But…”

“You said you were worried about the woman coming here. Yours too?”

I nod. “It’s just not a good idea for this woman to be going in and out of our house if we’re strangers. And what if she comes in when one of us is there but she’s not expecting that?”

“Well…” Sutton frowns. “Nothing. Right? I mean you and Brewser won’t hurt her or arrest her or anything.”

“But she doesn’t know that.”

“Right.” Sutton nods. “But, maybe she does. Maybe she knows you and knows you’re great.”

I shift on the seat of the chair. I don’t miss the compliment. “Maybe,” I agree. “I’d just like to know. She can’t really think this can go on for too long without us finding out.”

“Right.” Sutton lifts her cup and takes a sip of coffee. “That’s true.”

“Or maybe she wants me to find out who she is.”

Sutton swallows her coffee wrong and coughs. It takes her a second to answer. “Do you really think so?”