You’ll Understand When You’re Dead: Broken Heart Vampires Book 12 by Michele Bardsley Read Free Book Online Page B

wedding.
    “How would you feel about ‘breaking up’ before the wedding day?”
    “We have a wedding day?”
    “The twentieth. Of this month.”
    “That’s next Saturday.” He should be feeling a lot worse than he did just now. He should be annoyed that Natalie had carried the charade so far, but Matt couldn’t work up sufficient anger. He frowned.
    “Matt?”
    “Okay, Natalie. We’ll break up before the big day.”
    Her gaze softened. The gratitude in her dark eyes wrapped around him, and he wanted to kiss her stupid. He wanted her naked, writhing, and coming apart in his arms.
    “We’re going to have to sneak out,” she said.
    Matt guided Natalie out into the hallway, and they hurried toward the exit. Just as they reached the double doors, Matt heard, “There’s the lovebirds now.”
    Natalie tensed then turned around, her troubled gaze colliding with his. He took her hand and held it tightly.
    “Hello, darlings,” Mrs. Smith trilled as she marched toward them. “Natalie, we must speak about the photographer. And I talked to Lenette at the Three Sisters Bed & Breakfast. She can host the reception. Isn’t this wonderful?” She turned to Matt. “Our Natalie is quite a catch. Good thing you snatched her up when you did. I heard she’s had men just knock, knock, knocking at her door!”
    “Yes, well...” Matt noticed Bettie’s smile had the force of a laser beam. It was bright and steady and aimed right at him. Natalie looked as stunned as he felt.
    Bettie stood in front of them, her hands on her hips, looking at Natalie then Matt with narrowed eyes. “We’ll need pictures of the reception, too, I think. Matt, do you like purple? I’m terribly fond of purple ... do you like orchids?”
    “What?” Matt asked, staring at the tiny, elderly woman. She looked remarkably like a Drill Sergeant—despite that peach hat covered with baby’s breath that matched her peach dress.
    “She’s a black hole,” Natalie warned in low voice. “She’ll suck you in, and your will to live disappears.”
    “Of course, Kimmie will be the maid of honor,” Bettie was saying. Her bird-like gaze landed on him. “Who will be the best man?”
    Sweat broke out on his brow. He leaned down and said, “Let’s run for it.”
    “It’s not going to be that easy,” Natalie whispered.
    “The hell it’s not.”
    A crowd of elderly women formed behind Bettie. Some held bridal magazines like shields. Where in blazes had they all come from? Matt eyed the old lady in front of them with a growing respect. The sergeant had called in the troops.
    “I’ve gathered some of the girls to discuss the wedding arrangements. Natalie, do you have a few hours? We need to choose the music. How do you feel about the harpsichord?”
    “What are you waiting for?” Natalie hissed in his ear. “Run!”
    And Matt did, pulling his fake bride after him.
----
    N ATALIE AND MATT sat in the booth at the darkest corner of the café. The cracked vinyl seat wasn’t comfortable, and it didn’t help that Matt had squeezed beside her. He wore shorts, and the warmth from his flesh crept through her dress. She felt bathed in lava even though the air conditioner vent above their heads emitted an ice-cold breeze. And she didn’t have blood circulation, so obviously her attraction to the psychic had reached nuclear proportions.
    They each held a plastic menu to hide their faces.
    “Did they see us?” asked Natalie.
    “I think we’re safe.”
    Natalie looked at Matt and shared a conspiratorial smile. His thick-lashed green eyes had flecks of gold around the pupils. Beautiful tiger-eyes. She finally managed to tear her gaze away from Matt’s only to find it riveted to his sexy, full lips.
    Matt leaned against the seat. His muscled, tan arm slid along the worn wood edge of the booth until she felt his fingers in her hair. His touch was light and disturbing. And wonderful.
    “They’ll find us in here,” she said. “There are only two eating