Page 5 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

What is it about this man that makes me fly off the handle?

“You know what? I don’t need your help,” I snap. “I can handle it myself.”

“Suit yourself.” Duke gives a shrug, turns, and ambles back towards the truck.

“That’s it?” I blurt, infuriated. “You’re just leaving me here, on the side of the road? Whatever happened to chivalry?”

He sends me another smirk. “You tell me where to find a lady, and I’ll start acting like a gentleman.”

My jaw drops. “You… you…” I stutter, trying to think of the perfect put down, but Duke doesn’t stick around to let me.

“Drive safe, princess.”

He climbs in the truck, revs the engine, and cruises past me. The last thing I see is him sending a mock-salute in my direction, before he turns back onto the highway and leaves me in the dust.

AARRGH!

I let out of cry of frustration. Of all the smug, arrogant, self-satisfied pieces of work…

I march back to the car, determined to prove him wrong. I can change my own damn tire. I don’t need him – or anyone – to help.

I shove my bags aside, and lift the floorboard to grab the spare…

And that’s when I discover, the wheel well is empty.

There is no spare tire.

Thunder rolls overhead. There’s a crack of lightning, and then the skies open in a sudden gush of torrential rain.

I shriek as the cold water hits my skin, soaking through my thin silk T-shirt in an instant. “Are you kidding me?” I cry, looking up at the stormy skies. “Are you seriously serious right now?!”

Unsurprisingly, the skies don’t talk back.

I dive back into the car, as the rain pours down, drumming on the windscreen. I stare out miserably at the deluge. I’d give everything I have to magically teleport back to Los Angeles right now, but clearly magic, and the universe, aren’t on my side.

Think.

I check my phone reception again to call for Triple-A, but there’s still no signal. It’ll be getting dark soon, and God knows if anyone else will be along to help me. And since I don’t feel like spending the night sleeping in my car…

I grit my teeth, grab my purse, and hoist one of my suitcases out of the backseat.

So much for a relaxing vacation. I’m stuck in a rainstorm, three miles from Blackberry Cove, already soaked to the skin…

And there’s nothing left to do but walk.

Walk, and plot my revenge.

Because I swear, Duke Hendricks is going to pay for this.

2

AVERY

Drip.

Drip.

DRIP.

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