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Alex, Astrid’s brother, snorts. “Why would you think cooking and baking was an application for a wife? You’ve never done much of either of those things.”

Astrid looks up at her husband with a sly smile. “Yeah, and I didn’t want to be a wife, either.”

Declan leans in and says something in her ear that no one else can hear. Astrid clears her throat and wets her lips. “Yes, well, I’ve changed my mind, of course.”

We all know she is very happy with her title of Mrs. now.

Of course, it’s also clear that Declan is perfectly happy as her husband without a single casserole in sight.

“I just think whoever it is that has a crush on me is a little new to this,” I say.

They all need to just lay off a little. This is a cute, harmless, delicious flirtation, and I’m sure when she figures out I’m not interested in anything coming from it, she’ll realize she’s wasted a lot of time and pasta on me, and she’ll find some new guy to seduce with melted cheese and breadcrumb toppings.

I’ll miss it, I’ll be honest, but it will be for the best.

“New to stalking?” Nora asks with a smile.

I grin and nod. “I think I’m her first. There’s just something kind of sweet, almost…endearing…about it versus being graphic and dirty.”

“Well, now I’m torn,” Patty says, wiggling her dollar bill.

Beckett leans toward her, eyes wide. “No. Come on. That dollar is mine.”

“Well, while I do give your girl kudos for being brave,” Patty tells Beckett. “Lawson’s right. His is putting a lot of effort in. If this is her first time going after a guy, that should be rewarded too. Women need to learn to go after what they want. To sometimes be the pursuer. To put themselves out there, even if it won’t work out.”

And there it is. That’s something that’s been bugging me about this. Especially as I feel more and more that my stalker is new to the art of seduction, possibly even new to dating. Clearly, she’s a little innocent.

I do not want to be someone who breaks her heart.

I also do not want to be someone who causes her any kind of embarrassment.

If I’m her first crush, or this is the first time she’s pursued a guy, I need to be mildly flattered and nothing more.

Kind. Respectful. A grateful recipient. Someone she can practice this flirting with, who won’t embarrass her or be cruel, but who also won’t lead her on.

I glance around and lower my voice, leaning in. “It has also occurred to me,” I tell the group. “That these women might hang out in here occasionally. I don’t want to them to hear us talking about them like this.”

I can tell by the flicker in his eyes that this hasn’t occurred to Beckett before.

Why not? It seems rather obvious that these women are from Rebel. If not right from this town, then very nearby. They stop at our houses every other day. And they’re bringing food, at least in my case. They can’t be traveling far.

“You would think she’d be kind of proud to be talked about, wouldn’t you?” Beckett asks, but I note that he did lower his volume.

“Not if they’re new to this,” I say. “Maybe she was hoping to keep it just between the two of you.”

There are chuckles around our table, and Alex says, “If she has been watching Beckett closely and paying attention, she knows that Beckett doesn’t keep things to himself.”

Beckett nods. “That’s a good point.”

“Okay, I don’t want to embarrass mine.”

Nora gives me a big smile.

I shake my head. “What?”

“I mean, I know this isn’t like super dangerous life-threatening stuff, but it’s pretty sweet that you’re worried about the feelings of the woman everyone here considers your stalker.”

I lift a shoulder, then lift my beer mug again.