Tell Me You Crave Me (Search and Seduce #3)(38)

“Dex mentioned you were taking the big S and R van to transport the cupcakes? I think it’s so sweet you’re making more for the wedding. Seriously, everyone loved them at the party the other day.”

“Thanks.” Matt had called her yesterday to ask if Natalie would make more for the wedding, since they’d been a hit with Bridget and everyone else. “Yeah, I need the van to move all of them, and was going to borrow the S and R one, since it has enough room for that many cupcakes.”

“It’s down at the search and rescue office, but I think I heard that East was using it to transport groomsman gifts or something.”

“What?” Natalie exclaimed. “What the hell is he getting them all?”

“Knowing East? They could all be getting ponies.”

Natalie let out an annoyed breath. She’d have to face this because she needed the van to move all the cupcakes without messing them up, and the surface area in that vehicle was perfect.

She took her bag of red lace and silk and thanked her friend. It would appear that she had one more stop to make before she could be done with today.



East let out a long breath and looked over the crowd. The place was packed for CPR class today. It was pretty basic, a couple of straightforward hours, but a ton of people had shown up. All of whom were women.

He set up his demonstration as everyone was chatting and finding a seat. The door opened once more, and he didn’t know if there was room for anyone else. But when he saw it was Natalie, he did a double take and smiled.

She was a brunette in a sea of blondes…or a sweet, pure face in a sea of heavy makeup. Whatever. Metaphors weren’t his specialty. But she was lovely. So fresh and honest-to-god pretty it made his chest twitch.

She stalled, looked around, then her eyes were back on him. For a moment she looked uncomfortable, but she walked toward him and pushed her glasses up her nose, her mouth set in a determined line.

Ah hell, he knew that look. She was going to chew him out about something.

“I don’t mean to interrupt—” she said as she reached him.

“You’re not,” he cut in. He glanced at the table in front of him and the bag of medic gear he was prepping. “Haven’t even started the class yet. You’re just in time.”

“Not here for that. I’m here because there’s a rumor you’re taking the S and R van the day of the wedding?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, I already reserved it. I need it for cupcakes.”

“Reserved?” he asked. “I work for S and R and last time I checked, we weren’t Enterprise.”

She glared at him. Damn, he loved her fire. “It’s for the wedding,” she said in a low tone.

“My reasons are, too. I have the groomsmen’s gifts to transport.”

“And you need a whole van?”

“Well, five kegerators is a lot.”

She closed her eyes and ran her fingertips along her temple. “You got everyone kegs?”

“Kegerators, very different. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

She shook her head and glanced around. People were still bustling to find their seats but it was quieting down.

“Look,” she whispered. “I need the van. So just figure out something else for your kegs.”

“Why don’t you figure out something else?”

“Because I don’t know anyone with a car that big. And I can’t put the cupcakes in the back of a truck, for Christ’s sake.”

“Sounds like you’re in a pickle,” he said.

She was pissed, but he couldn’t say he wasn’t enjoying poking at her a little. She was damn sexy when she was riled up. “Why don’t you stay for the CPR class, and we’ll talk after?” he offered.

“I don’t need a CPR class, and I think you already have the entire female population of Beaufort here, so I’m good.”

He didn’t miss how she said those last words and wondered if she was a tad jealous. Not that he wanted her to be…exactly. He just liked the idea that she cared. What he didn’t like was how she couldn’t see she was so far beyond all these women.

“You want the van or not?” he said. He knew how to get Natalie, and that was by irritating her. But it got her to huff and stay, so he’d take it as a win.

“You’re a prick,” she muttered.

“You haven’t had any complaints,” he countered, under his breath but loud enough for her to hear. That got her to glare harder. But she did find a seat and sit down, so he was pretty pleased with himself. He turned his attention to the class.

“Okay, everyone. We’re going to get started,” he said in an authoritative tone.

He walked along the front of the room the way he’d seen professors do it in the movies.

“Normally, I have my CPR dummy to show you some basic skills on, but I thought today I could demonstrate on a real woman. That is, if I have a volunteer?”

Everyone’s hand shot in the air. Everyone but one.

“Natalie,” he called out. She was slouched in her chair, clearly hating life and likely hating him even more. She looked like she was ready to kill him. “Can you come up here, please?”

She made her way back to the front of the room to join him, and he couldn’t help but feel like he’d won a small victory. Or like she’d chop off his nuts at the soonest opportunity. It was a toss-up.