Page 75 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

My heart sings.

“I am accepting applications,” I tease. “But I have to warn you, it’s a pretty rigorous interview process.”

“Oh yeah?”

Duke grips my waist, and suddenly lifts me up to sit on the island. My pulse kicks as he shoves the mess of vegetables and pans aside, laying me back right there among the mess. “You’re already familiar with my… skills,” he growls, pushing up my skirt and spreading my knees wider.

I shiver with anticipation. “I don’t know… you might have to remind me.”

Duke runs his hands up this inside of my thighs, easily tugging my panties aside. His thumb brushes lightly over my bare clit, and I can’t help but gasp. He strokes again, dipping into my wetness, looking down at me with a hungry, possessive stare. “That’s right, baby. I’ll show you, I’m more than qualified for the job.”

And then he buries his head between my legs and proves it.

Twice.

19

AVERY

“Where are the swords?”

“Right here, Suze,” one of the cast rushes over, brandishing the props– pointy end out.

“Whoa!” I leap back to avoid getting slashed. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you, don’t run with scimitars!”

“Sorry!”

I catch my breath. It’s the day of the big Shakespeare Festival, which has taken over the whole town square in Blackberry Cove. Amateur theater groups from across the state have been giving their performances all morning, there are booths and vendors on every corner, and the place is packed with tourists– not to mention actors wandering around in full Elizabethan costume like they’ve just stepped out of a time portal. We’re clustered in the roped-off backstage area, aka, the diner parking lot, and it’s ten minutes until showtime for our teens…

Which means everything is in total chaos.

“You can’t come in too early on my line.” One of the kids wails, clutching script pages.

“Because you forgot to pause!”

“Where’s my boot?” Our Romeo comes crashing through. “I can’t find my boot!”

I stand well back from the mayhem. “Those are some realistic looking props,” I tell Suze, still eyeing the swords.

Suze winces. “Well, technically, they’re real. Everything looked so fake!” she protests quickly, “So we borrowed Blake’s older brother’s samurai collection. It’ll be fine!”

“Duke!” I look around, and find him helping a group of 70-something veteran actors hauling their set to their van. “Electrical tape?” I call, and he tosses me a roll. I hand it to Suze. “Tape the blades, unless you want a very realistic death scene for poor Mercutio.”

“Good idea.”

I smile, watching the actors pace, nervously muttering their lines. It takes me back to my own student theater days– or even just showing up on the first day onset for a movie, full of anxious butterflies. There’s nothing like the buzz a few minutes before the cameras start rolling– or the curtain goes up.

“Let me guess, you’re regretting ever stepping foot in this ridiculous town?” Duke jokes, coming up behind me. He wraps his arms around me, kissing the back of my neck. “I know I am.”

“Hush you!” I laugh, leaning back against him. “You’ve been going out of your way to help people all morning. You love the crazy.”

“I’ll love it even more when it’s over,” Duke mutters. “And Suze isn’t texting me at two a.m changing her mind on the backdrops again.”

I smile. I’m not fooled by his grumbling, Duke’s been in his element today: hammering, and hoisting, and looking damn good while doing so.

“OK, huddle up,” Suze calls, when the props are no longer a major health hazard. The cast all gathers. “It’s time to get out there, and have fun. And whatever happens—” She stops, looking around in panic. “Wait, where’s our Juliet?”

Everybody looks, but there’s no sign of her.

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