“Oh. Yes. The drawback of teaching in a small town. So much fun when I run into a student—or their parents—when I’m wearing no makeup, sweaty, and just ran two miles on the track at the gym.”

“I can imagine. There’s just nowhere to hide around here.”

“Not for me. Most of the kids I teach have worked at the grocery store, too. Try having a kid you just gave a C minus to smirk at you when you’re buying tampons.”

He laughed. “Every woman buys them. It’s not like it’s a secret, Chelsea.”

“Tell that to a fifteen-year-old boy. I don’t know which of us was more embarrassed. I guess him, because he had to put the box in the grocery bag.”

“Scarred him for life, did you?”

“You’d think so. It’s a good thing I wasn’t buying condoms, too.”

He feigned a look of shock and clutched his chest. “Why, Miss Gardner. You aren’t trying to tell me you have an active sex life, too.”

“I’d like to. Which is why I keep a supply of condoms around.”

“It’s good to be prepared, just in case that perfect man shows up.”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

The waitress brought their salads, and they dug in to eat.

“I’m still working on that, you know.”

She looked up. “On what?”

“Your list. And a guy for you.”

“Oh. Thank you. I’m sure he’s out there somewhere.”

“I’m sure he is, too. In the meantime, if you need someone to get you through that supply of condoms before their expiration date, I’m happy to help you out.”

She choked out a laugh. “Wow, Bash. That’s awfully generous of you.”

He waggled his brows. “I’m a generous kind of guy.”

“Such a sacrifice for you, too.”

He gave her a smoldering-hot look that made her forget all about how hungry she was, and directed that hunger in a new, more interesting direction.

“Believe me, Chelsea. There’d be no sacrifice involved. And I wasn’t exactly kidding.”

She laid her fork down. “You’re offering me sex.”

He shrugged. “Why not?”

Just looking at him tempted her, though she should be highly offended.

She paused, waiting to feel insulted. It didn’t happen. Maybe because it had been so long since she’d had actual sex that the offer appealed.

Bash definitely appealed. She hadn’t exactly forgotten his kiss or the way his hands felt on her.

But … no. Not a good idea. For … reasons.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll hold out awhile longer.”

His lips curved, and she had a sudden urge to repeat that kiss and see if it would be as hot as it had been the first time.

“Offer stands. Anytime.”

“Thanks.”

But that anytime wasn’t going to happen. Not with Bash. She was going to stand firm and wait for Mr. Perfect. She had a feeling he was out there, and it was going to happen for her.

Soon.

Chapter 8

“Are you picking me up, or am I driving today?” Jane asked when she called Chelsea that afternoon a week after her impromptu non-date with Bash.

A non-date that had her thinking a lot more about Bash than she ever wanted to. Especially since he’d offered to be her sex stud. She’d definitely spent a lot of nights tossing and turning, with sex on her mind. And Bash on her mind, mixed with sex. Which had made sleep a lot more elusive. And made her even more resolved to find Mr. Perfect. A Mr. Perfect she could have mind-blowing sex with, so she could stop thinking about Bash.

“You have the monster minivan, with more storage space for the dresses,” Chelsea said to her. “So you’re driving.”

“I’ll pick you up at about six. Then we’ll swing by and get Emma.”

“Okay. See you then. I can’t wait.”

She hung up, then sat at the table to work on grading papers for a while until it was time to get ready. She went into the bedroom to fix her hair, put on makeup, and change clothes, selecting an easy-to-get-into-and-out-of dress and the appropriately sized heels. Since it was a little cool today, April being unpredictable in Oklahoma, she grabbed a sweater and went back in the kitchen, where she spied her notebook. She’d been so busy this past week she hadn’t had time to focus on her list, or on what she was going to do about it. She flipped it open and stared at the list for the first time in a week.

“Yes, still perfect.”

Just like the man who was going to tick off every item on that list.

As soon as she found him.

Though, considering her dating history, she had no idea where the mystery man who met all her criteria was going to materialize from. But she refused to give up hope.

He was out there—somewhere. And all her thoughts about Bash—the wrong man—made her want the right man even more.

She pulled lip gloss out of her purse, opened her compact and applied it, then looked out the window to see Jane pulling up in the parking lot. She headed downstairs and climbed into the backseat of the minivan.

“Are we ready for this?” Chelsea asked Jane and Emma.

“I know I am,” Emma said. “The question is, is Des ready?”

Chelsea grinned. “You know she is. I’m so excited for her.”

The drive to Tulsa took about twenty minutes. They pulled into the parking lot, climbed out, and headed into the bridal salon.