Tell Me You Want Me (Search and Seduce, #2)(4)

Which was why he took his job and his life seriously. He wanted his mother, his friends, everyone, to be independent. And he made a living teaching just that. Trekking around with socialites who wouldn’t know poison oak from tree bark was frustrating. Because they were never looking to learn or survive. They were looking for a good time in an outdoor scene. But he kept doing it, because it was all worth it when that one in a thousand students came to class truly needing his help.

The wealthy were a different breed. Always had been. Especially wealthy women. Dex had learned quickly as a teenager that women only wanted him as a novelty item. He was “a bad boy from good stock,” and whenever the debutantes of town wanted to piss off their daddies, they came calling on Dex. He was good enough for a night of wild fun, down and dirty, maybe even a prom date here and there. But never more. Never serious.

Which was fine with him. Because he knew exactly how Perfect-Ass Barbie in front of him operated before she even opened her mouth. Her designer clothes and upscale attitude were a dead giveaway.

“Well, let’s get going then. We have over three miles to hike and camp to set before dark, so we need to hustle.” He looked her over once more and adjusted his belt slightly. Not because his dick was being a dick and deciding to get hard just from looking at her. Okay, maybe that was why. He might know her kind—poor little rich girl looking for “an experience” to blog about later—but goddamn it, she was gorgeous. Fresh and so soft looking that he wanted to touch her milky skin and taste those plump berry lips.

She didn’t have to try. She was delicate. All woman. And exactly his type. Which was the wrong type. But he’d gotten lost in women like her before. And it was during those times he felt a little less lower class and a little more dominant.

“I’d suggest getting your jacket and putting on your hiking shoes,” he said.

She frowned and adjusted her bright blue bag on her shoulder. “These are my hiking boots,” she said. “Well, actually they’re Jimmy Choo booties from last fall’s catalog, but they’re really comfortable.”

Dex raised a brow at her saying those shoes were “comfortable.”

“You ever walk for longer than thirty minutes in them?”

She didn’t say anything, he knew the answer to that.

“Jacket,” he repeated. “Put it on. Now.”

She smiled and opened her purse— It was a purse, just a rather large one. She pulled out a light white sweater complete with pearl buttons.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said.

“What?” She looked down the front of herself. “It’s not hot out. And this is light and breathable.”

“Uh-huh,” he said. “It’s going to get cold in the next few hours, princess. We’re out here all night, remember?” He shook his head. “Look, why don’t we just call this quits. I’m sure I can get you a refund before you get yourself into something you won’t enjoy.”

He could get his training hours a different way, even if pulling out would bring him sizable amounts of hell from Gage. But come on. Anyone could see that this woman was not meant for the great outdoors.

Except her auburn brow furrowed, and he saw something flash in her eyes that made him take a step back. It was fierce and determined. More than he’d seen in any other woman.

“I can manage just fine,” she said. “I brought all the supplies I need to survive, just like Gage told me, and I’m fully capable of taking care of myself.”

She rummaged through her purse, and Dex saw flashes of aisle twelve at the Bass Pro Shop lining her bag. Christ, was that fishing lure and an inflatable life vest?

“We’re not getting in the water,” he informed her.

She clearly saw him eyeing the contents of her bag. She raised her chin. “The store clerk told me everything I needed for surviving the wilderness. I’m prepared for anything.”

He barely restrained a chuckle, but he still felt it in his gut.

This was worse than he thought. Still, he faked an annoyed smiled and said, “Super.” Fighting with her would get him nowhere. She wanted to test him? No problem. He just had to outlast her, and when she was ready to cave, he’d get her back to her car. And she would cave. “Let’s head out then.”

As he took off in the direction of the camp point, he heard Perfect-Ass Barbie huffing and struggling behind him in those “boots” of hers. He flexed his hands thinking of her cleavage encased in that “light and breathable” sweater.

And he was stuck with her all night.

He was going to kill Gage.





Chapter Two


Michelle wiped the back of her hand across her forehead and tried to tamp down her panting. Hiking through the wilderness was putting her Pilates video to shame. She didn’t appreciate the attitude she was getting from the overgrown G.I. Joe. She also didn’t appreciate that she’d been walking behind him for the past hour and a half, and all she could focus on was his obscenely nice butt.

The thing daunted her. Every time she looked up, there it was. Hard and perfect, those tactile, dark pants hugging him in all the right spots. His biceps didn’t seem to care that a shirt was trying to contain them. Instead, they just bulged out, like nothing, not even that pathetic cotton, could hold them.

Her whole balance shook, like there was an earthquake happening inside her. The man was fine. Beyond fine. So fine that she’d lost her center, and when she took another step forward, she stumbled and barely caught herself.