Third Time Lucky
by Karly Lane
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Based on the Christmas novella, December’s Wish, Third Time Lucky is a full length, heartwarming novel about betrayal, ambition and the power of love.
After a disastrous marriage, December Doyle has returned to her home town to try to pick up the pieces of her life and start again. She’s also intent on helping breathe new life into the Christmas Creek township, so the last thing she needs is trouble.
Bad boy Seth Hunter has also returned to Christmas Creek, and trouble is his middle name. Wrongly convicted of a serious crime in his youth, Seth is now a successful businessman, but he’s intent on settling some old scores.
As teenagers, December and Seth were madly in love, and seeing each other again reawakens past feelings. But will Seth be able to overcome his destructive anger about the past, and can December conquer her fear of heartbreak to make their relationship third time lucky?
Excerpt from Third Time Lucky by Karly Lane
December dropped his gaze, unable to read Seth’s expression and maybe a little afraid that if she could she wouldn’t be able to unread it. ‘I wanted to speak to you about what’s going on in town.’
Seth stood with his legs spread slightly and his arms folded across his chest. ‘I take it you’re referring to the protests?’ he asked, but didn’t seem overly concerned.
‘Not only the protests … the way people are acting. The whole mood of the town is changing. Have you noticed no one’s smiling any more?’
His eyebrow hitched at that. ‘No one’s smiling?’
‘It’s true. Everyone’s so busy worrying about what’s happening with the damn meatworks that we’ve lost our … friendliness,’ she said, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration.
‘Friendliness?’
‘Stop treating this like some kind of joke!’ December snapped.
‘No, no, you’re right, this is serious—losing friendliness isn’t exactly good for the Christmas Creek spirit, is it?’
‘This is happening because of you!’
‘I’m to blame for people losing their friendliness?’
‘You’re dividing the whole town. Aren’t you worried about the employees you’re bringing out? Haven’t you noticed that there’s a real problem? They’re not going to be welcome here.’
‘But how can that be, December?’ he asked, suddenly sounding deadly serious. ‘Christmas Creek has always been such a welcoming, tolerant town.’
December’s shoulders slumped. It was true, Christmas Creek had never been the same friendly place for Seth as it had been for her. Once again this seemed to be all about making a point. ‘These people didn’t ask to be part of your little game of revenge. You should be ashamed of using them like this.’
‘I’m not playing any game,’ he growled menacingly.
December shook her head sadly and fought back equal amounts of disappointment and sympathy. What had they done to him? ‘Why do you hate my father so much?’ she asked bluntly.
The question seemed to catch him off guard but he recovered quickly enough. ‘Hate’s not an emotion I waste on people.’
‘What would you call it, then? You opened a hardware store knowing it would impact on his business.’
‘I saw a good business opportunity and acted on it. It had nothing to do with your father.’
She watched him closely as he crossed the room and took out two glasses from a cabinet, holding one up in silent invitation. December shook her head and watched as he poured himself a measure of amber liquid and took a long sip, watching her over the top of the glass.
‘Can’t you just meet us halfway? I know what your reasons are for bringing in workers, but surely you can find a compromise in the name of keeping the peace?’
‘So after they’ve harassed my workers, caused countless delays, started a hate campaign about me all over town and forced me to push back my start date, you want me to bow to their demands?
‘You wouldn’t be bowing,’ she started, but stopped when he pinned her with a doubtful gaze, then changed tactic instead. ‘Surely a savvy businessman like yourself can see the benefits to ending this standoff. Does it really matter who makes the first move?’
‘It matters,’ Seth growled. ‘I run a business, not a charity.’
‘This was obviously a waste of time,’ she said, turning and walking out of the room. ‘Silly me. I had some stupid idea that if I talked to you you’d come to your senses and stop this vendetta you have against Christmas Creek.’
‘Don’t confuse me with the kid you used to know,’ he called after her as she headed towards the front door.
‘Trust me,’ she said without turning, ‘there’s no chance of that.’
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