BENNETT
CHAPTER SEVEN
STABBY GIRL : Hey. I know we’re supposed to meet at the library today, but can we possibly meet at this bakery/coffee shop that’s near my house? My little brother was sick all night, and I need to be close by in case he needs me. If not, we can reschedule for another day
STABBY GIRL : Yeah. I’ll send you the location
ME: Yes ma’am
She texted me, so obviously that means she’s seen what I saved my name as in her phone.
Fuck, I would’ve given anything to see her face when she saw it.
Made her extra stabby, I bet.
Extra hot as fuck.
I’d planned on going straight to the library from the arena after a quick skate in between my classes, but if her brother was sick, then I don’t expect her to come all the way back to campus just for our study session.
And plus, I don’t want to reschedule.
Maybe… I’ve been looking forward to seeing her again.
Because unfortunately for Merritt and me both, she’s captured my attention.
You know what, actually? Let’s just be real: she’s got me in a fucking chokehold with those dainty little fingers wrapped tightly around my throat and a wicked smile on her face.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, maybe even ever, I’ve met a girl who’s completely immune to my charm.
No matter how many smirks I throw her way, how much flirting and teasing… she couldn’t give a single fuck less. Unmoved by that charm.
And that makes me want to try harder to win her over, knowing that she’s not falling for any of it.
I know, I know, I’m supposed to be in recovery. Fuck, I know.
Trust me, I know.
But… it’s not only that she’s insanely beautiful or that her body makes my mouth water. It’s not only that I’m physically attracted to her because obviously I am. It’s… I don’t know how to explain it.
I want to know her. I’m dying to know everything I can about her.
What’s her favorite movie? Does she hate pickles on cheeseburgers like me?
Is she a sweet or savory kind of girl? What does she think of cats? Or is she more of a dog person?
I want to know it all, even if I never get the chance to touch her.
I don’t know what that means, but maybe it means something. Or nothing.
The location she sent takes me to a small bakery that’s about twenty minutes south of campus called Ever After. It’s in a part of New Orleans that I rarely go to, so it’s the first time I’ve been here.
I park my truck in the lot beside the building and walk inside. The scent of warm bread and sweetness hits me as I step through the front door, and it makes my mouth fucking water.
The bell above the door jingles loudly as it closes, and an older man walks out from the back wearing a wide smile, stopping in front of a large glass case full of various pastries.
Holy shit, is that a… strawberry beignet?
My eyes widen. Yeah, I’mma need a couple of those.
“Welcome to Ever After. What can I get for you?” He grabs a pair of plastic gloves and slides them on. He’s got an assortment of colorful bracelets around his wrists and a blue apron that says Ever After on the front in a bright white flourish of letters.
“He’s with me, Amos.”
I look to my right and find Merritt at a table along the back wall with her laptop already open. Aside from her, there’s only one other person occupying the tables. A man in the opposite corner booth, reading a book.
Ah, so that’s why she chose this place. It’s quiet, not bustling with tourists the way places in the Quarter are.
Easier for her to focus.
“Woman, you are not standing between me and these baked goods. Sorry,” I scoff, tossing her a playful grin that she immediately rolls her eyes at.
Did I just catch… Was there a hint of a grin on her lips?
Nah, obviously, I’m just seeing shit.
Impossible.
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.”
Her eyes flare as she stares at the croissant before eagerly taking it from my hand and immediately biting into it.
Her eyes flutter shut, and the softest, sweetest moan escapes past her lips—
—and shoots straight to my dick.
Motherfuuuuuucker.
DOWN, BOY. WE ARE NOT GOING THERE. OFF-LIMITS. WALK AWAY SLOWLY.
“Holy shit, this is soooooo fucking good,” she murmurs around a mouthful. The sounds leaving her are heavenly, and I greatly underestimated how much flaky bread stuffed with chocolate would please her.
Damn.
I hope she doesn’t look under the table because that’ll be real awkward to explain.
Jesus Christ.
I’ve got to get my shit together.
I chew at the inside of my lip, forcing myself to think about grandmas. That time I cut my finger on a hockey skate when I was a kid and almost threw up on the doctor.
Smelly socks. Jockstraps.
“See? Can’t be mad when you have buttery goodness,” I quip, taking one of the strawberry beignets out of the box.
Merritt’s gaze tracks me as I do. Once she swallows her bite, she says, “Wait, all of that is for you?”
“I mean, I’ll share with you. Maybe. If you ask really nicely.”
She narrows her eyes, and I chuckle. “What? I’m a growing boy, okay?
” I take a massive bite out of the beignet, which leaves only a small piece remaining.
Holy fuck, that’s good. Jesus. I shrug, adding, “Plus, do you know how many calories I burn playing hockey? A whole fucking lot. I need to save my energy for extracurricular activities, babe.”
Merritt shakes her head. “Spare me the sordid details of those, please. My ears might bleed, and I’m trying to enjoy my food.”
“Nah, I’d have to show you anyway.” I smirk. “It’s the kinda thing you have to experience firsthand, not hear about to get the full effect.”
Her eyes roll. Shockingly, she doesn’t have a smart-ass response. She simply takes another bite of her croissant.
In the time it takes her to finish hers, I scarf down the other beignet and half of the cinnamon roll. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Sometimes. If I’m having trouble focusing at home and nothing is working, then I’ll come here as a change of scenery, and it’s literally only like two minutes from my house.
I never leave my brother for very long.” I watch as she tucks a piece of long, dark hair behind her ear, noticing for the first time the scattering of earrings along the shell in various different sizes and styles.
Some silver hoops, others small studded gems. The biggest in her lobe is a purple gem that gleams when the light hits it.
Not going to lie, it’s hot for some reason.
I have no fucking clue why.
But I like that she expresses herself in jewelry, like her cute little pierced nose and the stacks of rings she’s always wearing.
It’s sexy, and I have no doubt that’s completely unintentional.
For the first time since I stepped into the bakery, I give myself a few seconds to drink her in. Sitting this close beside her, I find the small beauty mark that’s dotted on her smooth, pale cheekbone and notice how dark her eyelashes are as they frame her deep brown eyes.