Page 14 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

I roll my eyes. “The leak’s in the bedroom. Try not to rifle in my underwear drawer while you’re up there.

Duke snorts. “If they’re anything like what you’re wearing now, I’ll be just fine.” He hoists his toolbox and heads upstairs.

I wait until he’s out of sight, and then dash to the powder bathroom.

“Noooo,” I stifle a wail, seeing my reflection in all its smeared, goopy glory.

No wonder Duke couldn’t keep from laughing, I look like a freak!

I quickly scrub and rinse, until I’ve gotten most of the products off me, then I smooth down my wet hair and find a T-shirt to throw on over my sports bra. Not that it matters, I remind myself. He’s the one walking around in scuffed boots and faded flannel. He probably wouldn’t know a pore strip if it gagged him.

Now, there’s a tempting thought…

My phone sounds in the kitchen. I go scoop it up, my heart leaping when I see it’s my agent, Max.

“Hey!” I exclaim hopefully. “Did you talk to the producers about the audition for Madeline? What did they say?”

“Madeline?” Max echoes, sounding confused.

My hopes bump back down to earth. “You know, the director, Madeline Marrone? You were going to find out when she’s casting her next project.”

“Oh, yeah, no we didn’t connect just yet. But I have great news,” he continues quickly. “The Motel Nightmare people have upped their offer. They’ll get you shot in three weeks, executive producer credit, all the bells and whistles. Isn’t that great?”

“I said ‘no’,” I answer flatly. “I’m not doing it.”

“At least meet with them,” he urges me, “Hop on a video call. These movies are box office gold, and the director’s a great kid, really visionary. He wants to subvert the usual horror expectations and make something really quality.”

“Oh yes?” I ask, skeptical. “And this subversive vision wouldn’t happen to include me running around in my bra and panties, covered in blood, before some guy brutalizes me with a pickaxe?”

Max coughs. “I, uh, haven’t seen the final script just yet.”

I figured.

“Look, I hate to be blunt, but the market’s tough right now,” Max continues. “Do you want to book a role or not? I know we had a plan, bigger and better things, but this is the only offer we’ve had all month, and everyone else who was interested isn’t returning my calls since…” He trails off, but I know what he’s not saying.

“Since I ran out on my wedding and turned into a tabloid joke.” I finish quietly, feeling a a pang.

Who could have known that saying "I don’t” would tank my once-promising career?

Max sighs. “Look, if you want to hang tight and wait this out, I’m with you. Maybe it’ll all blow over soon enough and things will swing back around. But you should know, there’s a risk we wait too long. I don’t want you calling me a few months from now, begging to get a meeting with the horror folks, but they’ve already moved on.”

I swallow hard. “We wait,” I tell him, sounding more confident than I feel. “I’m not taking five steps back now, not after how far I’ve come. It’ll all be fine.”

“You’re the boss,” Max agrees, then hangs up, while I stand there in the kitchen with the bitching I overheard at the gas station echoing in my mind again.

She should have married him when she had the chance.

“All set.”

I startle, whirling around. Duke is leaning in the doorway – and he’s stripped off his anchovy-covered flannel, so he’s just wearing a white T-shirt with his jeans.

A soft-looking, threadbare white T-shirt that clings to his thick, muscular torso and stretches to breaking point over his biceps…

“Really? That’s great!” I snap my eyes away and flash a breezy smile.

“Turned out to be a roof tile loose. I patched it up, so you shouldn’t have any problems in the next storm. Not from that, anyway,” Duke takes a dubious look around. “Can’t promise you don’t have dry mold or termites elsewhere though.”

“They can stay the summer, as long as they keep to themselves.” I beam, nonchalant, trying to pull myself together, but Duke just gives me a suspicious look.

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