Page 89 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

I grab a soda, and drift over to where Brooke and Tessa are catching up with her friend JJ, who’s visiting from Scotland with her hunky artist boyfriend, Fraser. “Look at you, kicking back in Blackberry Cove,” JJ greets me with a hug, teasing. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

I laugh, relaxed and happy. “Some things, you don’t see coming.”

“Tell me about it!” JJ beams. “I never thought I’d be living in some remote cottage in the wilds of Scotland.”

“It’s a perfectly comfortable house,” Fraser objects, laughing. “And we’re barely an hour’s drive from town.”

“Hush you,” JJ grins, slipping an arm around his waist. “I’m selling a romantic story here. The tortured artiste and his fabulous muse. That would be me,” she adds, and we all laugh. “Did I tell you Fraser’s latest art show completely sold out?”

“Congratulations,” I tell him, as Fraser looks equal parts proud and uncomfortable.

“And I just got hired on as researcher for this great new historical movie,” JJ adds. “About Amelia Earhart.”

My head snaps around. “Not the Madeline Marrone project! That’s going into production?”

She nods. “In a couple of months.”

Brooke squeezes my shoulder supportively.

“Do you know who they’ve cast?” I ask, bracing myself. It’s been radio silent about the role, and as much as I’ve held out hope that maybe I still have a shot, I’ve always known that one day I would wake up to see that Jennifer or Scarlett or Sydney booked the role of my dreams.

But JJ shakes her head. “No idea. I hope it’s someone nice. The actress on my last project was such a nightmare, she made you look like a dream,” she adds, and I have to laugh in protest.

“I swear, I wasn’t that bad. And people change!”

“They sure do.” JJ looks past me, and I turn to follow her gaze. My old director, Reeve, has arrived, with his new wife, Ivy. I haven’t seen them since my disaster of a wedding, but I guess they took the whole event as a cautionary tale, because apparently, they eloped right after with three guests, no fuss, and just a lavish honeymoon in Italy. Now, Ivy has a book on the bestseller list, and Reeve just wrapped another buzzed-about movie.

Clearly, married life agrees with them.

“Look at this, the gang’s all back together,” Reeve grins, greeting Jackson with their usual backslapping, and giving Tessa a big kiss on the cheek. Duke comes to join us too, wrapping his arms over my shoulders.

Reeve looks around. “Man, I can’t believe it was only a year ago we were all here shooting the movie.”

“And you hated me at first sight,” I murmur to Duke, teasing.

He grins back, squeezing me tighter. “It’s a thin line, baby…”

“Actually, it’s eighteen months,” Jackson speaks up, giving Tessa a besotted look. “Sixteen days, and a few hours too. At least, since I saw you for the first time. The second time around,” he adds.

“Awww,” JJ teases them happily. “You’re sickening.”

“Literally.” Tessa adds, before giving a delighted smile. “I thought the morning sickness would go once I made it through the first trimester, but…”

There’s a beat, and then everyone explodes with congratulations.

“Oh my god!” I hug her happily.

Brooke celebrates. “This is amazing!”

“Amazing… and gross, and tiring, and did I mention all the vomit?” Tessa corrects me, but she’s beaming at the news, and Jackson is smiling just as wide.

“I was wondering why you told me to find another leading man for the next project,” Reeve says, shaking his head.

“I’m going to be taking some time out.” Jackson grins. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Miss what?”

We turn. Hazel has arrived with Josh, and I can see her kid, Lottie, already making a beeline for the buffet table.

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