Tell Me You Crave Me (Search and Seduce 3)

“What? I don’t need to look at her,” East said quickly.

Fuck, that had come out wrong. But he needed to just stop talking about her, because any minute Matt would see right through him and Jesus…when did it get so hot in here?

“Bridget is bouncing between here and Connecticut for the next two weeks, and I’m helping her move everything, so I’ll be back and forth, too. And one of her bridesmaids can’t make the wedding now, so place settings are off and the bridal party is uneven.” Matt shook his head like this was some dramatic devastation, and East couldn’t help but wonder if there was about to be some kind of Oprah moment here. Man, his buddy was like his brother, but the boy was whipped. “Anyway, it’s a mess, so Bridget is asking Natalie to fill in as the final bridesmaid.”

That last part registered real quick.

“Wait…Natalie is now a bridesmaid?”

“Yeah, and she needs a dress and all kinds of other stuff…” Matt pulled out a list from his pocket, one that was clearly written in feminine handwriting. Likely Bridget’s. Poor Matt just frowned at it and looked overwhelmed, then handed it over to East. “Here. Just do all this stuff.”

East looked over the list. “I can do…” He ran down the list of items again. “None of this.” Then he pointed at one of the line items. “What the hell does ‘get bodice fitted’ mean, anyway?”

“I don’t know,” Matt said and threw his arms up. “Something about the dress Natalie will have to fit into. Can you just help her? The switching of bridesmaids is freaking Bridget out the most. And you know Natalie. She’s…”

Right then, East looked up from the list and almost wanted to smack his best friend. He knew what he was about to say, and for some reason, he already didn’t like it.

“Natalie is just awkward with this kind of stuff,” Matt finally finished. And yep, East kind of wanted to smack him. Which was dumb. He also wanted to say that there hadn’t been a damn thing awkward about Natalie last night. Which would have, of course, been even dumber.

“Just look out for her,” Matt said. “I heard what you did last night.”

East’s heart stopped.

“You did?”

Matt nodded and smiled. “My mom was already chewing my ear first thing this morning about Natalie’s failed date. But rumor mill had it that you went after her to make sure she was okay.”

“Right…” East said. “That.”

“If I can’t be around to look after her, it helps to know that you will be. I don’t want her feelings hurt or some asshole manipulating her. I’m glad you were there last night. Man, the thought of some random guy taking advantage of her bothers me. Besides, you have all your tux stuff done, and she doesn’t know any of the other bridesmaids, and they aren’t even coming to Beaufort until the rehearsal anyway. She could use a big brother right now. My mom is on her ass about dating, and I know she’s having a hard time.” Matt stopped and seemed to realize how many words he’d just spewed. “Just…help me out. Help her out.”

East took a deep breath. He’d been through this with Matt before. It was their job to look out for Natalie. Had been doing it since Matt’s family had accepted East as one of their own. He’d be there for Matt, and he’d be there for Natalie. Always.

I’m such a fuck.

Because, yeah, helping was one thing, but now he was also lying to his best friend. Last night with Natalie, and now thinking of her the way he was, and then to be stuck with her? He wouldn’t let the family down, but he also couldn’t spend that kind of time with Natalie. God forbid they ended up alone again…

“I can’t, man.” East searched for a valid reason and thankfully came up with one. “I’m running the office these next two weeks and have CPR training this weekend.”

“Then you can help in the evenings,” Matt said.

“I have shit to do.”

“Well, now you have more shit to do.”

East shook his head. “There’s a ton on this list, and I’m supposed to—”

“I love you, bro, but man the fuck up. You’re like my brother. Which means Natalie’s like your sister. We’re family. And family’s always there for one another. Right?”

Now East really felt like an asshole. But he couldn’t come out and say, Dude, I’m trying to stay away from your hot sister because I just banged her and want to bang her again.

So instead he said, “All right. I’ll be there for Natalie.”

Matt smiled wide and tapped the list. “Thanks so much!”

“Yep,” East said as his best friend walked out.

Great. This was just great…