Tell Me You Crave Me (Search and Seduce #3)(17)

Well, that just got a bit more complicated. And judging by the continuous stream of duties Bridget was telling her came with the honor, Natalie was going to be way busier than she’d thought.

Which was a good thing. It would help keep her mind off a certain someone.

“Now, I know you’re worried about how you’re going to be able to handle all of this,” Bridget said. “But East agreed to help you through it all.”

Natalie’s heart seized, and she nearly dropped her phone. “Did you say East?”

“Yeah! He’ll be there every step of the way.”

Yep, she was f*cked.





Chapter Four


This cannot be happening again…

Natalie stared at the man across the table from her. He was droning on and on about his cocker spaniel, and even though he glanced at her chest a few times, there was no heat behind the look. He was just a jerk taking a peek.

Natalie tried really hard to follow what he was saying. But she felt zero chemistry and even less interest.

“Yeah, dogs are great,” she said. She’d kind of missed his exact words because honestly, she had gotten side-tracked by all the bustle around the restaurant. Yep, she was back at Honey’s. The same place she was at the other night. Only instead of sitting at the bar, she was at a corner booth for two.

Beaufort was small, and honestly, Honey’s Restaurant and Bar was where she felt comfortable. That her best friend was the owner was a plus. So she didn’t really care that this was her repeat location. However, last time in her cupcake shop had proven to be both convenient and not a great idea.

Not that she was thinking of last time. Or East for that matter.

But Honey’s was always busy, and so many people were laughing and having a good time. Meanwhile, Natalie sat there, wishing that the man she was with made her feel…anything.

But he didn’t.

“So, you bake?” he asked.

Natalie nodded. “Yes, I have a cupcake shop.”

“Aww, that’s cute,” he said, and looked at her like she was just as adorable as the dog he’d been going on about. What was it about her that couldn’t seem to spark up the hot and bothered emotions?

Speaking of hot and bothered, East walked in right then—with a giggling woman on his arm.

Literally.

The woman was literally hanging on him and patting his bicep like he was made of some sort of precious metal.

Natalie glared. It was her “I don’t care what you’re doing” glare, but she still gave it.

The blonde he was with was exactly his type, the kind of woman she’d seen him parading around for years, while Natalie sat there, boring date and new dress, round two. This was just not fair. And for whatever reason, just seeing East annoyed her.

Because he looked good. Didn’t even have to try. Jeans, black belt, and T-shirt. That’s it, and he was hot. The man didn’t even shave! He had at least three days’ worth of stubble. Just like the other night. Only the other night his accessories had been a brown leather belt and Stetson. Not that she was hung up on details.

The man still looked fine.

So. Not. Fair.

The woman was at least five ten with a skintight red dress that showed off her boob job.

Natalie glanced down at herself. She’d gotten over the fact a long time ago that she wasn’t the tallest or the thinnest. And her dress was simple, blue, and fit her well. She wasn’t spilling out of it or anything, but the zipper in the back went all the way down and made her feel sexy. With one swipe the entire dress would part. Not that there would be any unzipping of any kind.

She glanced at the tall blonde again. Natalie just wasn’t that kind of sexy. Not like her. Not like her mother. Not like her friends.

But she wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. She was finding out what she did like. And damn it, if she had to go on a thousand boring dates to find that passion, she would. Because she knew it existed. She just couldn’t have it with the man that gave it to her. But she could find another man. Could find passion with someone else. And at the very least she’d find a date for her brother’s wedding. Because Michelle was right—why not?

“You all right?” her date asked.

Natalie snapped her attention back to him. “Yes, sorry, I was just distracted for a moment.”

Her date followed where she was looking and she watched him ogle the blonde on East’s arm. “Yes. Distracting,” he muttered.

What the hell! Even her boring date was checking out another woman right in front of her? Now she really felt like a dweeb, and this guy was definitely not a winner. But dessert was on its way, so hopefully this experience would be wrapped up soon and she could get out of there before her pride took another hit—

East’s eyes met hers.

Too late. That ego she was worried about? Suddenly felt safe. And her body caught on fire.

She’d expected him to ignore her. Or scowl at her. But East took a long, long glance at her, and even though she was sitting, she could feel his gaze sweep from her mouth, to her breasts, then back up to her eyes. He was looking at her as if he found her…

Edible.

Goose bumps pricked her skin. She put her elbows on the table and threaded her fingers together. Not to push her cleavage up even more. Just relaxing…

Because East’s gaze wasn’t leaving her. Just one look and she was heating up for him. She couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate the tall, chiseled man. When she openly gave him a once-over, silently challenging him in this little across-the-room staring contest, she caught sight of something on his arm. Right below his shirt sleeve…