Page 18 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

“You came!” Tessa looks almost surprised when she opens the door, and my heart sinks. It was just a pity invite. Crap.

“Sorry, am I early…?” I ask, already backing away, but Tessa grabs the quiches and ushers me inside.

“No, come on in, you’re right on time. I was half-expecting you to stand us up though,” she admits. “You’ve been so elusive, hardly anyone’s seen you around town. Very mysterious.”

I stifle a laugh. Me, alone on the couch every night with the latest chapters of that wanton pirate king?

Sure. Super mysterious.

“Wow, this place looks great,” I say, following her into the main lobby. The last time I was here, the Sandpiper was still a work-in-progress. We used it for a ton of filming locations, so the place was always cluttered with power cables and equipment cases. Now, it’s airy and chic, full of mismatched antiques and patterned wallpapers: a warm, homey vibe.

Just like Tessa herself.

“Thanks,” Tessa beams with clear pride, leading me down a wide hallway, trimmed with sailboat-print wallpaper. Except when I look closer, I can see the ships are sinking, and the tiny sailors are flailing around, trying to escape a sea monster. I grin.

“At first, everyone was just booking to try and get close to Jackson,” Tessa continues. “You know, come for the Cape Cod charm, stay to catch a glimpse of a movie star rinsing off sand in the outside shower.”

“A-list ass is always a draw,” I agree.

“But then the reviews starting coming in, and now people visit because they actually want to.”

“You’ve done an amazing job,” I tell her, impressed.

We reach a big lounge room, full of comfy couches and breezy sea views. And a small group of people who turn, curious, when we enter. “This is Avery,” Tessa announces, before rolling off a long list of introductions to the other half-dozen people in the room.

“Hi.” I give a friendly wave. I recognize one of the group, at least: Suze, the woman who was with Duke the other day. She smiles at me, friendly, as the others make room.

An older woman with grey curls beams at me happily. “Oh my gosh, I promise I won’t be a nuisance, but I just loved you in that last movie of yours, the one with the love story. Just precious.”

“Thank you,” I give her a warm smile. Linette, I think her name was.

“And what a shame about that wedding,” she adds with a cluck of her tongue. “But don’t you worry, hon, you’ll find the one soon enough. Maybe that nice man you were seeing, Chris whatshisname?”

I’m about to tell her I never actually dated a Chris – or Ryan, or Jacob, or any other of the hot celebrities linked to me in the press, but thankfully, Tessa cuts in.

“Kirk, weren’t you telling us about the latest garden club drama?” she says loudly.

“Indeed I was.” Kirk takes a long sip of tea, then launches into a long story about begonia sabotage and potting mix deception.

Tessa sends me a wink. I let out a breath of relief, and get comfy on one of those couches, relieved for the change of subject.

At least, until Kirk pauses for breath, and Linette jumps in again.

“My nieces won’t believe you’re here, in the flesh,” she exclaims, leaning closer. “I don’t suppose you could take a photo of us, and write them a little note?—?”

“You know, I’m going to get a serving plate for those mini-quiche,” I interrupt her, leaping up. “Kitchen? That way? Be right back!”

I escape down the hallway, to the calm of the blue-tiled kitchen at the back of the house. I pour a glass of water, and take a gulp, feeling a pang of disappointment in my chest.

So much for blending in and having a relaxing evening.

“Sorry about Linette.” Suze joins me in the kitchen. She’s dressed in a comfy print sundress, and sets about unpacking what looks like home-baked muffins from a bag. “She usually limits her interfering to family and friends. Lucky us.”

“It’s OK. I’m used to it,” I say with a shrug.

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Really? I don’t think I’d ever be used to complete strangers being all up in my business like that.”

“It’s the price of fame.” I explain. “And I get it. I mean, you see someone on your social media feed every day, and on the movie screen, and in the newspapers… It’s only natural that you start feeling like you know them. You care. But that’s never the whole story.”

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