Dying for a Cupcake Read Online Free PDF Page B

take all the necessary precautions.”
    “There’s no way I can talk you out of this?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
    “I’ll be home a week from tomorrow.” Noah put his arms around me. “And I promise to be extra careful.”
    “Humph.” I stepped out of his embrace. “It’s not so much that I don’t want you to keep your promise to your mentor, but I don’t understand why you have to rush off the minute you get a little free time. Time we could finally spend together.”
    “Two reasons.” Noah put his arms around me again and drew me close. “One, I haven’t fulfilled my promise of a week a year since graduating.” He smoothed his hand down my hair. “And two, the doctor who was originally scheduled had to drop out because of a death in his family. Without me, the team is one man short. It makes the whole operation more dangerous without the full quota of medical personnel because then everyone is more rushed and might get careless.” He leaned back and looked me in the eye. “As you pointed out, there are a lot of serious communicable diseases in Haiti.”
    “Fine,” I conceded. “But I’m still not happy that the first free time you get, you aren’t spending it with me.”
    “Will you save that Saturday night after I get back for me?”
    “We’ll see.” I shivered when his hands tunneled under my T-shirt and stroked my bare skin. Smiling, I relented and said, “It’s a date.”
    “Good.” He dipped his head. “You know, I’ve been daydreaming about doing this all morning.” He pressed his lips to mine.
    His kiss was slow and thoughtful, as if he was savoring every moment. I felt myself melting. We really weregood together. I wondered why it was so hard for me to decide between Noah and Jake. It all came down to whether I preferred floating on a cloud or riding a roller coaster. Did I want the prince or the cowboy?
    All too soon, Noah said, “I have to get back to the clinic for my next appointment.”
    “My late-afternoon rush will be starting soon, too.” I sighed. Both of us were always so busy. I was sick of snatching a kiss here and a hug there. We needed time together so I could decide if Noah was Mr. Right.
    Before I could move out of his arms, Noah wound a stray strand of my hair around his finger and said, “You know, I’ve always loved the color of your hair. It reminds me of cinnamon. My favorite spice.”
    “Aw.” I smoothed my ponytail. “That’s so sweet of you.”
    “And the blue-green of your eyes is going to haunt me while I’m gone.”
    “Good.” I never thought of myself as attractive, but it was nice to hear that Noah did.
    “I might not be able to call while I’m in Haiti. I don’t know if my cell phone will work there or not, so don’t be concerned if you don’t hear from me.” Noah stepped away from me, walked to the front door, and opened it.
    “Okay.” I followed him, kissed his cheek, and watched him disappear down the sidewalk.
    Terrific. Now both the guys I cared for were willingly putting themselves in dangerous situations. I scowled. Maybe I needed to start dating less noble men.

CHAPTER 4
    A few hours later, as I entered the Golden Dragon, Noah and Jake popped back into my mind. I’d had dates with both guys at this place, and wished at least one of them were with me tonight. But they weren’t, and there was no use mooning over absent boyfriends, so I forced the men from my mind and followed the hostess as she led me to the small private dining room in the rear.
    Ronni had arranged for the contest committee to have dinner with Kizzy Cutler and her entourage at Shadow Bend’s only Chinese restaurant. My mouth watered at the smell of ginger and garlic, and my stomach growled, reminding me that lunch had been a very small sandwich eaten many hours ago.
    I slid into one of four empty chairs, noticing that I was among the last to arrive. Ronni introduced me to the cupcake people. Kizzy was not at all how I had pictured her.