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And there is the reaction I was waiting for.

Her expression is definitely I’ve been caught for a second.

“My stalker brought these mini pumpkin cheesecakes last night,” I say, wiggling it a little. They’re tiny circular cheesecakes that take only one or two bites to finish. They have graham cracker bottoms, a pumpkin cheesecake filling, and are topped with cinnamon whipped cream.

They’re decadent and delicious, and I thought of Sutton as I ate four of them in a row last night.

She wets her lips, then says, “I love pumpkin flavored things.”

“I do too. I don’t know how she knows that, but she’s brought four pumpkin flavored things in a row and I’m in heaven.”

I was also looking for that little flicker of pleasure in her gaze. She loves to be praised. And when she takes care of people with food, that praise means even more.

“So you’ve liked all of it?” she asks.

“I would consider dating this woman just for this food,” I say.

And there is the little flicker of pleasure turned to jealousy. Because I’m not supposed to know this is her.

I love all of these reactions. Probably too much.

“It’s funny,” I say. “Here she is, sneaking into my house, leaving me food and notes, but…that’s it. She’s bold enough to do that. To go out of her way. To spend that kind of time and energy on me. But she isn’t brave enough to really tell me how she feels. To do more than flirt in her notes. Or, of course, to tell me who she is.”

Sutton swallows. “You don’t like the flirty notes?”

“I do. They’re cute. But they don’t really help me get to know her. I’d love to know more about what she’s thinking and feeling. Beckett’s definitely lets him know. His named her indoor Ficus tree Beckett. She wanted something in her house named ‘Beckett’. Something she could talk to until he’s there. She moves it from the kitchen to the living room to the bedroom with her. And apparently it’s grown two inches.”

Sutton’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”

I nod. “That’s what her notes have said. Clearly she wants him in her personal space, having conversations, and spending time together.”

“Well, isn’t that a given?”

I shrug. “It’s a change from just the sexy stuff. It shows that she’s moved from wanting to have a one-night stand or whatever, where she has body wash stashed at his house, to something more substantial.”

Sutton nods slowly. “O-k-a-y.”

I think it’s all a little nuts, but that’s what the guys decided sitting around at Perks and Rec the other night when Beckett told us about the Ficus.

“Mine says things like she’s thinking of me or hopes my shoulder feels better after a hit in a game—so I know she’s around and watching—but what does she want?” I continue. “She’s giving me all of this—” I gesture at the cheesecakes. “But it feels like a stalker would be more…selfish. Would want to get something out of it for her. Mine is just so sweet.”

Sutton wets her lips. “Sweet can be good.”

“It can,” I agree. I decide to let this go. For now. “For instance, you have to try this.” I hold a little cheesecake up to her mouth.

I want to see how she reacts to eating her own treats. Will that give anything away?

“Oh no, that’s okay,” she says, holding up a hand. “Those are for you.”

I smirk. She’s probably eaten half a dozen herself at home.

But I’m not supposed to know that.

“No, I insist. You have to try it.” I press the treat against her lips.

With no other option, she parts them, and I slide the cheesecake past her lips, finding the whole thing far more erotic than I probably should.

Her lips brush over my fingers, and I can’t believe that I feel my cock stir at that light contact. But it definitely does.