Page 36 of Christmas In Love

“The costumes are all for girls.”

“Well, I never said I would be a PG elf.”

Against her own will, she laughed, shaking her head. “We’re alright, thanks.” She looked around for April, but she was nowhere to be found. “I’m just going to go then…”

In true Grinch slinking-from-the-room fashion, she made her escape.

Thirty minutes later, she was wearing a green elf dress and taking names for Santa—aka, Mr. Clarke, who’d been more than happy to play the part for the night. From her spot in the middle back of the massive room, she saw everything. The place was packed, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. A feeling of pride filled Natalie’s chest as she watched the crowd mingling, playing, and treating themselves to delicious food and treats. Maybe they would even change the yearly parade to a carnival.

It was from this vantage point that Natalie saw when Cade’s entire family entered. Though she’d tried not to, she’d managed to keep track of the attractive man the entire evening, and now watched as he joined his sisters and parents. Immediately, three of the kids ran up to him, and he crouched down to say something that made them all laugh.

Then he chose that moment to look up, straight at her.

She didn’t have time to look away, and once his dark eyes caught on hers—even from across the room—she didn’t want to. He winked, then turned back to the kids.

Heavens, the room was hot. She tried to fan herself with her bunch of candy canes, but they did nothing but waft peppermint through the air.

Wait. This was not a hot room feeling. She’d had this feeling before, just not lately… She hadn’t had a hot flash since her doctor started her on hormone replacement therapy. He’d decided it was important to try to stop them since she had a tendency to pass out during the really bad ones.

Like now.

She looked around for somewhere to set down the candy canes. She needed to leave before she—

A wave of dizziness made it hard to see.

Not here, not here. She dropped the candy canes and hurried toward the side door. Blackness entered the edge of her vision, and she had to pause to blink it away. Afraid to take another step, she scanned the room for April. She couldn’t find her.

But she saw Cade.

And he saw her. His face was serious as he stepped towards her. Natalie swayed, reaching a hand out to steady herself, but there was nothing there. The heat intensified, spreading through her chest and up her neck in a familiar, overwhelming feeling. She took a long, steadying breath through her nose, then tried to walk. One step. Two steps. Three.

The fourth wavered, but she was almost to the door of the prep room now. There was a couch in there. If she could just get some water and lie down…

Christmas music surged. Light and darkness warred.

Her fifth step was too much. The blackness and horrible heat took over. Her knees buckled.

Chapter 11

Cade

Hewasrunningnow,dodging small kids and Christmas trees.

Something was wrong with Nat.

He was steps away when her legs gave out. With a burst of speed, he managed to get to her just before she fell backward, catching her in his arms.

A few people in the vicinity gasped or jumped in to help. He waved them off. Nat wouldn’t appreciate an audience. He did ask someone to find April Miller and send her to the prep room, though. As soon as possible.

With ease, he lifted Nat into his arms and carried her through the doorway, feet from where she’d fallen. He laid her on the couch, and knelt next to her, grabbing her wrist and placing two fingers over her pulse.

It was too fast. He needed to get her to a place where she could be properly monitored. She might be dehydrated, or have an underlying issue she wasn’t aware of. Various medical possibilities flitted across his mind—most not positive.

April ran through the door. “Natalie! What happened?”

“She fainted. Maybe overheating or stress—has this happened before?” He was in full-on doctor mode and didn’t care that his words came out harsh. He needed to help, and he couldn’t help without more information.

“A couple of times, but her doctor said…” April bit her lip.

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