Page 6 of Just Can't Fall for the Enemy

“I just remembered something. You said a red Tesla?”

“Dark red and without a single imperfection.”

She made a clicking sound with her tongue. “I think I know who that was, but you aren’t going to like it.”

“Who?”

“Tanner Carmichael.”

It sounded familiar, but again, I couldn’t place it. “Okay, but who’s that?”

She gave me an incredulous stare. “Really? You haven’t seenTanner Carmichael Travels the Worldon YouTube?”

I strained to remember. “I think I’ve seen an episode or two.” My job kept me too busy for TV. A memory of the stranger at the restaurant rushed back to greet me—his practiced smile, his too-perfect outfit, the way he’d thrown around money like it was nothing. “So he’s popular, I assume.”

“Only one of the hottest stars on YouTube. And I do meanhottest.The entire town is buzzing about him since he went inside the gas station, asking if they had a way to charge his car. I think he ended up using the charging unit in McPhearson’s garage.” She laughed.

“Wait,” I said, remembering something I’d recently read online. “He’s the star whose fans follow him around, right? Like, they race to a city he’s just featured and consume it. I’ve heard horror stories.”

Carmen shrugged. “I guess. I can totally see crowds of women chasing him around. I can’t believe he flirted with you at the restaurant!”

Hehadflirted with me. Just like Alan had a few years ago, sweeping into my life and charming everyone in town . . . before delivering a blow that we still hadn’t recovered from. If I stayed away from big events with men, fromstrangers,it was because I’d learned my lesson.

I would never subject my town to someone like that again.

Shaking my head, I shoved my—Carmen’s—salad away. “No. Not a chance. He isnotruining our little town with his millions of followers and piles of cash.”

Carmen hesitated. “I mean, I would take the cash part—”

“Who does he think he is?” I snapped, rising to my feet. “I know his type. He won’t be happy until every mountain is paved over in expensive resorts, all paying him a hefty percentage for a single mention on his show because he has a pretty face and a charming voice. Our lakes will be too filled with entitled tourists to go boating ever again. They’ll overrun the national forest and destroy the ecosystem. This is a disaster.”

“A disaster? And you say I’m the dramatic one. You should have chosen a career on stage.”

I barely heard her. The last thing Huckleberry Creek needed was another ladies’ man who took what he wanted and left a trail of destruction and broken hearts in his wake . . . including mine.

Carmen saved the salad from launching off the edge of the table and carried it to the countertop for safety. “Well, they said he charmed most everyone at the gas station. He left Gwynn positively fanning herself. He probably went to get dinner right after that.”

“Well, I hope he enjoyed the show.” Where was my plastic knife when I needed it? “If I see him again, I’ll send him and his Tesla packing. As in, I will pack him into the Tesla myself—the trunk if I have to.”

“I’m sure. Just get his autograph for me first, will you? I may have seen a few or, you know, forty of his episodes.”

When I whirled on my friend, she laughed. “Come on. You’re going to look him up after this, and you know it.”

Maybe I would, but only because I needed to know what I was dealing with—find his soft spots, his weaknesses. His very presence meant a threat to my sanctuary and everything that brought me happiness. Tanner could find another town for his travel show, far away from here. Huckleberry Creek was sacred. Mine.

All I had left.

I’d driven one obnoxious outsider out of my town tonight. It wouldn’t take any effort at all to drive away a second.

Four

I slept verylittle that night, too wired for any real rest. After taking a lukewarm shower and skipping the shave, I grabbed breakfast downstairs. Minutes later, I sat on the lopsided bed with my laptop open to Guy’s latest episode about a child with leukemia in Detroit. Though I didn’t want to admit it, he certainly knew how to pull on a person’s heartstrings.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.It was a text from Jill.Guy emailed again to say he’slooking forward to seeing your next video. Don’t let yourself get distracted this time. There’s a lot riding on this one. Get it done, Tan!

I disliked when she or anyone called me Tan. And I wasn’t a fan of extra pressure. “Thanks for the pep talk, Jill,” I muttered as I texted a quick thanks.

My first order of business was returning to the Italian restaurant. Someone there had to know the woman’s name and where I could find her. But when I pulled up later that morning, all the lights were off, the cheap Closed sign in the window hanging by a thin chain.

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