Page 21 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

He reaches past me. “The handle sticks,” he says, thumping the truck door before giving it a yank. “There you go.”

The door. He was only reaching for the door.

Idiot!

I scramble down, practically falling out of the truck in my hurry to get away from him.

Him, and my totally absurd kissing thoughts.

“Thanks for the ride!” I blurt.

“You already said that.” Duke looks puzzled.

“Right. But… I was being polite. Drive safe!”

I bolt up the path to the cottage– so fast, my foot catches on one of the overgrown pavers.

Just perfect, I manage to think, before gravity takes over and I go sprawling on my ass in the dirt.

Hard.

“Whoa, are you OK?” Duke calls after me. He looks like he’s about to climb out to come help, so I manage to scramble inelegantly to my feet.

“Fine! I’m fine!” I call brightly, even as my butt aches, and I’m pretty sure a bruise the size of France is forming over my thigh.

Duke looks amused. “I told you about that rum punch. Take two aspirin, and plenty of water in the morning!”

He drives away, leaving me just about burning up with humiliation– and ready to go get drunk for real.

What the hell was that?

I head inside – carefully this time – and make straight for the freezer for the box of Dove bars I brought in case of emergencies. Well, break glass now, because I’m pretty sure almost jumping Duke Hendricks is a sign of an impending apocalypse.

I take a bite of ice-cold chocolate, and then another and then go in search of my laptop. Clearly, I need to log into my account at Bloom sex store, and invest in some new toys – and fast, before these inexplicable, unthinkable impulses get me in some serious trouble.

Trouble with Duke. Naked trouble…

I break off another piece of chocolate, wincing as my sore ass hits the couch.

It’s going to be a long night.

6

AVERY

Thanks to the chocolate and erotic online shopping frenzy, I sleep in late the next morning. And when I finally roll out of bed around noon, there’s only one thing on my mind– and it’s not Duke’s kissable lips, and arms that look like they’re hewn from fine Italian marble…

Ahem.

Nope, I decide, as I pull on some shorts and a breezy blouse and set off towards town. All those… feelings floating around last night were just wayward hormones: my body’s attempt to blow off some steam after the stressful few months I’ve been having. But the attraction isn’t real. In fact, the only thing I need in my life to satisfy me is a massive plate of pancakes: fluffy, and towering, and drenched in maple syrup and butter.

And, hell, throw in a side of bacon, too.

Make it two sides.

It’s busy out on Main Street when I arrive, and I brace myself for a long line at the diner, but to my surprise and delight, the crowds part, and I get seated almost right away at a booth in the windows. “Coffee too, please,” I add, after placing my order. “Lots of it.”

“Coming right up.”

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