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I roll my eyes but chuckle. “I don’t think that’s exactly how I said that.”

“I love you, Lawson,” she says, her voice still light, but sobering slightly. “I’m really glad you called.”

“Me too, Lyd. Me too.”

CHAPTER 13

SUTTON

Sexier notes.

I know this one, but easier said than done. I literally just looked up “how to write a really sexy note” online and…it wasn’t helpful. Everything that came up was designed for notes between two people who know one another. I wanted to avoid using the word “stalker” for fear of ending up on some watch list.

Spritz his bed with my body spray.

Lawson keeps saying he loves the scent and taste—I squirm on my chair—of cinnamon, and the body wash and spray I use this time of year is a brown sugar cinnamon scent. Plus, I’m guessing I get some cinnamon and maybe sugar in my hair or on my skin and clothes when I cook and bake.

I love this. It’s so sexy to know that he smells cinnamon and thinks of me. I’m going to start using these products year-round instead of the peachy scent I use in the spring and summer. But…that seems really on the nose if I don’t want him to guess it’s me. And going into his bedroom seems so…hot. I mean creepy. It seems creepy.

Photos of me in lingerie with my head cut off.

Beckett’s stalker did this recently, and he seemed to like it. And that’s all I’m going think about that specifically.

But for Lawson and me, this one seems difficult.

For one, I would have to buy some lingerie.

For another, how would I take that photo? I’d have to get one of those selfie sticks or something, right? I add selfie stick? to the list I’m making.

And then I would have to get brave enough to put on the lingerie and take a photo of myself. And then send it to Lawson Landry.

And he has my number. So he’d know it was from me. So do I print it off? That’s what Beckett’s girl did. But where would I print it? I know all the people who work at the photo counter at the pharmacy. I’d have to go to New Orleans for this. And still people besides Lawson would see the photo. Then see my face when I picked them up. And that’s a long way to go for⁠—

“Are you ready?”

I jump, nearly leaving my seat. I jerk my head up and click off my phone screen, trying to act as if I was working and not brainstorming ways to become a better stalker.

I smile at Nora. “Yup.”

I have no idea what I’m supposed to be ready for. Crap.

Lawson distracts me even when I don’t see him in person or speak to him one-on-one, but doing both and having him in my house, then in my personal space, then sucking on his finger, has made my system go completely haywire. I am not myself today, and whatever it is that Nora needs or wants me to do is going to be a mess.

I sucked on Lawson’s finger.

God.

And that was three days ago, and I’m still feeling hot and bothered by it.

I should probably tell Nora that I’m sick or something.

“Are you okay?” She stops in front of my desk. “You’re flushed.”

I lift a hand to my cheek. Great. It’s not just that I can’t concentrate on my work, I’m actually showing physical signs of my emotional chaos.

“Actually—”

“Great news!” Astrid Olsen O’Grady sweeps through the door to our offices with a bright smile, carrying a plastic bowl with a lid. “Patty brought me something! Already fully prepared! With multiple ingredients!”