A risqué book club inspires three women to be naughty...

THE DIARY

Sydney Tate is writing a fictional erotic diary inspired by the town’s mouthwateringly hot mayor, Matthew Stone. Then her “diary” disappears...and suddenly Matthew is bringing all of Sydney’s secret fantasies to life!

TALK OF THE TOWN

Armed with a seduction how-to guide, librarian Isabel Bennett is pulling out every trick in the book to tempt Sean Hawkins. The oh-so-sexy businessman is about to find out just how bad this good girl can be...

CRAVING YOU

Laura Dawson is desperate to get her gorgeous neighbor, Connor Adams, into her bed. So she turns to an aphrodisiac cookbook to serve up the most tantalizing, irresistible dish Connor has ever seen...herself.

“Seducing a man isn’t rocket science.”

Matthew tilted his head and crossed his arms. “Is that right?”

Sydney stared at his muscular arms, wondering how they would feel around her as he gathered her close to his chest...or braced on either side of her as he lay on top of her...or lifting her as he took her against the wall... She cleared her throat and focused on his eyes. “The how-to-seduce-a-man guide we’re reading for the book club described some male fantasies that seemed ridiculous to me.”

He gave her a thoughtful look. “Such as?”

“Such as having your lover meet you at your office wearing nothing but a coat and heels?” She scoffed. “Would you want your lover to do that?”

“Hell, yeah.”

SUSANNA CARR has been an avid romance reader since she read her first Mills & Boon book at the age of ten. Although romance novels were not allowed in her home, she always managed to sneak one in from the local library or from her twin sister’s secret stash.

After attending college and receiving a degree in English literature, Susanna pursued a romance-writing career. She has written sexy, contemporary romances for several publishers and her work has been honored with awards for contemporary and sensual romance.

Susanna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading romance and connecting with readers online. Visit her website at susannacarr.com.

Let Them Talk

The Diary

Talk of the Town

Craving You

Susanna Carr

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

I once heard someone say that books change lives. I agree that books have the power to make you look at the world and at yourself differently. Books have the ability to get you out of your comfort zone or take your future into a new direction.

When I decided to write a book about three women participating in a book club, I wanted the club to shake up their lives as well as the town around them. Not only do the provocative books they read challenge their preconceived ideas, but these women try out what they’ve learned with unexpected results.

Enjoy!

Susanna Carr

To my editor, Adrienne Macintosh, with thanks

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dear Reader

Dedication

The Diary

1

2

3

4

5

6

Talk of the Town

1

2

3

4

5

Craving You

1

2

3

4

Extract

Copyright

The Diary

Susanna Carr

1

SYDNEY TATE SWORE she was never going to do this again. She scratched out a sentence with her pen. Why had she accepted her friends’ writing challenge? And why had she thought she could write something steamy and make it sound confessional? It shouldn’t be this difficult! She sighed and tried again.

My chest rose and fell as his hand dipped beneath my collar, his fingers splaying against my breast. His skin was warm and rough. I was certain he could feel the heavy beat of my heart. And then—

And then...? Sydney paused and raised her pen. And then what?

She rubbed her forehead and stared at the lined notebook she favored as a journalist for writing down keywords and quotes. Ordinarily she had no problem putting down words. She bought notebooks by the pack because she was constantly running out of paper. But her job as a reporter meant writing down facts—what she was writing now was pure fiction.

She scowled at the page and twirled the pen around her fingers. She had been so confident that she could write a few fictional confessions and prove her point about how easy it was to fake an erotic diary. All because she didn’t think that a published diary was the real thing.

When Isabel Bennett, the town’s librarian, insisted that their book club read The Secret Diary of an Anonymous Victorian Lady, Sydney had supported the decision. It wasn’t her first choice of reading material but she had been curious about why it was a phenomenal bestseller across the nation.

Well, a bestseller everywhere except for the little agricultural town of Seedling, Washington. The Secret Diary was banned from the town’s library and the only bookstore in the area for its erotic content.

But Isabel had bought a copy online and it had become her favorite book. Sydney should have kept her mouth shut and not questioned its authenticity. Laura Dawson, the youngest and wildest member of the book club, didn’t have a problem with the book. Her only complaint had been that there was not enough sex. But Sydney couldn’t help but notice the inconsistencies in the diarist’s story.

It was impossible that Hazel, a sheltered, single Victorian woman, could have risked everything—and had sex with Ernest in so many public places—without getting caught. Sydney should know. She’d survived the crash and burn of a secret love affair of her own.

But she wasn’t going to think about her past mistakes and bad decisions. It had been six months since she’d lost her boyfriend and her career in one fell swoop. She had a new start in a new town. She was still working in journalism. It wasn’t investigative reporting, but she had proven to herself and others that she wasn’t cut out for that.

Okay, concentrate. You write for a living. You can do this. She pressed her pen against the paper. The story was about to get juicy. What happened next?

Her mind went blank. She tapped her pen against her bottom lip. And then...?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing! These characters were going to be stuck at second base forever. She gave a loud exasperated sigh that seemed to echo in her corner of the public library.

Sydney scrawled a big X across the sheet of paper and tossed her pen down. “Come on,” she muttered to herself. “It hasn’t been that long since you’ve had sex. You know what happens next.”

“Writer’s block?”

Sydney jumped when she heard Matthew Stone’s voice. She glanced up and saw him smiling at her. Sydney’s heart started to race. Keep it together, she warned herself, but there was something about Matthew that made her forget how to act like a normal human being.

When she first met him months ago, she couldn’t believe he was the interim mayor for Seedling. He was young, vibrant and sexy. He was always dressed in flannel shirts, faded jeans and boots, as if he was ready to work the land in his family’s orchard, and she soon realized it was because he didn’t need to wear suits to impress people. Mayor Matthew Stone had a commanding presence. People, mostly women, gravitated to him.

“Hi, Matthew.” She felt her face turn bright red. “Uh...how much did you hear?”

His smile widened.

“It’s a writing challenge,” she answered weakly. Sydney tried not to notice the interest in his warm brown eyes. “It’s... Never mind.”

“Too bad I can’t help.”

Sydney’s heart knocked hard on her chest. What was he suggesting? She had to be completely misreading his offer. Not that she didn’t wish he would offer himself up to research—she had the sense that one brief encounter with him would make her forget her previous boyfriends. But a guy as gorgeous and sexy as Matthew would not be interested in her. Unless he had an ulterior motive. She had learned that the hard way.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Matthew said. Her skin tingled at his low, rough voice. He rested his hand on the back of her chair and leaned forward.

Matthew towered over her. Surrounded her. He blocked out the world around them and yet she wished he’d move closer. She wanted to inhale his scent and feel his warm skin graze hers. Have him whisper sweet promises in her ear.

“Yes?” she asked hoarsely. Was he going to ask her out? Sydney’s breath hitched in her throat as anticipation tightened in her chest. She hadn’t felt this jittery and excited in a long time. She knew if he asked she should decline. No way was she going to mix personal and professional relationships again, but she desperately wanted to go on a date with Matthew Stone.

She had always been drawn to Matthew, even when she had sworn off men altogether. She couldn’t ignore his lean, muscular body or the earthy sexuality that made her very aware of her delicate femininity. But it was more than that. He was an intriguing mix of gentleness and strength. He never raised his voice or showed force to get his way. He took care of the town with pride, confidence and a playful glint in his eyes.

“Matty?”

The gleam in Matthew’s eyes dimmed and he took a step back as a small, elderly woman approached him. Sydney saw frustration flicker across his face before he offered a polite smile to the woman.

Sydney recognized her as Doris Brown, a retired nurse who made it her business to know everything that went on in Seedling. “I’ve been looking all over for you, Little Matty Stone.”

Sydney dipped her head and chuckled. She wasn’t sure why the townspeople insisted on calling him “Little Matty.” With his broad chest, powerful legs and impressive height, there was nothing little about Matthew.

“I have a complaint with the mayor’s office.”

“Of course, Miss Doris. Let’s talk about it privately.” He nodded to Sydney. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later,” she promised, trying not to let her disappointment show as Matthew escorted the woman to the other side of the room.

“Hey, Sydney.” Her friend Laura sat down across from her at the table. “What are you doing at the library at this time of day? Oh, the fake diary, huh? How’s that going?”

With her shocking bright red hair and wild print shirt, Laura looked out of place in the old library building. “What are you doing here?”

“Completing my community service hours.” She leaned in closer and glanced at the writing with a giant X through it. “I guess Isabel was right.”

Sydney slapped the notebook closed. “This is just a rough draft.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Laura called out over her shoulder, “Hey, Isabel. Come over here. You gotta see this.”

Sydney heard the chorus of shushing as Isabel walked over to their table. “What’s going on?” she asked in her “please be quiet: this is a library” tone.

“Seems you won the bet.” Laura pointed at the notebook. “Sydney is having trouble writing a fake erotic diary.”

“It’s only been three days.” Three days? It seemed much longer since she’d declared she could write a few entries and make it sound authentic. “I think it’s the historical stuff that’s slowing me down.”

“Then set it in today’s world.” Isabel’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Even better, place it in Seedling.”

“That’s not going to make a difference,” Laura said. “Quit now, Sydney, and admit that The Secret Diary could very well be what the publisher says it is—an authentic diary that was recently discovered in a hope chest.”

“I haven’t given up yet.” It had become a matter of pride. And maybe something a little more. The diary made a forbidden affair sound exciting and worth the risk. From Sydney’s experience, a secret love affair led only to disaster and regret. This so-called diary suggested that a woman was missing out on a grand love if she didn’t throw caution to the wind and indulge in a sexual escapade. What about the loss and devastation, especially when the man had so much more power and privilege than the woman? Sydney had to prove that this diary was fake and that love affairs weren’t all rainbows and unicorns.

“Sydney, why is it so important to you that this book be fictional?” Isabel asked as she sat down next to her. “You really questioned everything about The Secret Diary.”

Sydney didn’t want to advertise her lack of judgment or the affair that had cost her her job and her reputation. Only one person in town knew the details of her inglorious fall from grace and that was her editor. She and Wendy had been friends since college, so when Sydney had run into trouble, the other woman had offered her a job and a place to lie low.

“You question everything, Sydney. It’s why you got kicked out of our old book club,” Laura said.

“I was encouraging discussion,” Sydney said. “And I got kicked out because I questioned the book selection process. It wasn’t transparent or democratic. Plus, the president of the club thinks I’m a troublemaker.”

“You’ve been determined to tear this book apart,” Laura said. “Instead of analyzing everything, you should try reading a book for entertainment.”

“You got kicked out of the other book club, too, Laura. You didn’t like what they were reading, either. Why were you part of the club, anyway?”

“My mom made me. She put my name on the waiting list and she didn’t want me to turn down the ‘honor’ of getting invited to join the club. The Seedling Women’s Reading Circle has been going for decades and it’s a big deal. It’s practically a rite of passage in this town.”

“I had no idea.” The reading circle hadn’t vetted Sydney or made her wait to join. They’d invited her when she first moved to Seedling. But then, she didn’t have a reputation like Laura’s—that they knew about, anyway. If the president of the book club had discovered her history, Sydney probably wouldn’t have been asked to join the club in the first place.

“I think my mom and sisters worked behind the scenes to get me invited. They’re regretting it now. I’m the only Dawson woman in the family tree who’s been blacklisted from the reading circle,” Laura proudly added.

“Well, now it’s not the only book club in town,” Isabel said. “There’s the Seedling Women’s Reading Circle and the Blacklist Book Club.”

“The Blacklist Book Club?” This was the first Sydney had heard of a name for their impromptu reading group. “Is it because we read blacklisted books like The Secret Diary, or because we were blacklisted from the book club?”

“Both,” Isabel said with a smile.

“Perfect! I get to choose next month’s book,” Laura said. “And, oh—” she rubbed her hands together and gave a wicked laugh “—it’s going to rock your world.”

“What about The Secret Diary?” Isabel asked. “Didn’t that rock your world?”

“I love it, and you know why, Isabel?” Laura rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “You had the guts to recommend the book to the Seedling Reading Circle and you got kicked out because of it. That is the only reason I joined the Blacklist Book Club and read this book from cover to cover.”

“It’s the reading circle’s loss,” Isabel said defiantly, as if the book hadn’t caused her trouble with her job or her good-girl reputation. “I love this diary. It changed my life.”

“In what way?” Sydney asked. She had noticed a few subtle changes in the librarian recently. Isabel had always been the epitome of elegance and grace. She often wore tailored clothes in quiet colors, but these days she no longer wore cardigans and scarves to cover up her curves. In fact, she had also started choosing bolder colors and her shoes were downright sexy. “Wait a second. Are you saying it inspired you?”

Isabel blushed and nodded.

Laura gasped. “You reenacted a scene, didn’t you? The staircase one, I bet.”

“I’m not telling you,” Isabel said as her blush deepened. “And lower your voice. We’re in the library.”

“Who were you with?” Laura whispered fiercely. “I want details.”

“I already said too much.”

“This book really changed your life?” Sydney bit her lip with worry. She was trying to disprove the book, to show that the affair between Hazel and Ernest was fictional and no forbidden love could be that beautiful and life affirming. Hers certainly hadn’t been. But Sydney had never thought about the consequences of successfully proving that the diary could be fictional. Would Isabel retreat back into her shell? “How would you feel if you found out this diary is really a work of fiction?”

Isabel looked away as she considered the question. “Disappointed,” she said. “Disappointed and betrayed. But I really do believe this happened. Hazel and Ernest are very real to me. What do you think, Laura?”

“I believe Hazel and Ernest were real people, but did all those things happen to them? I don’t know. It could be...what’s it called? Artistic license. If Hazel didn’t do all this, she definitely fantasized about Ernest. Ernest may have been her muse more than her lover.”

Muse. The writer had probably had a muse. Someone she knew but couldn’t touch. Sydney understood what that felt like. She glanced over to where Matthew stood on the other side of the room. How many times had she imagined unbuttoning Matthew’s shirt? She shivered as she daydreamed about dragging his clothes off and revealing his muscular body.

“No, this happened. I’m sure of it,” Isabel argued. “She wouldn’t have risked everything by writing down her fantasies.”

“Sure, she would,” Laura shot back, “if it was the only way she could explore the things she wanted to do.”

Sydney pulled her gaze away from Matthew, her pulse skipping a beat. Maybe she had approached this diary challenge the wrong way.

She sat up straight. Instead of making up Victorian-era characters she didn’t understand and couldn’t imagine, she should write down all the things she had dreamed of doing to Matthew Stone. She bit her lip as fragments of several fantasies crowded her mind.

“We’ll discuss this later.” Isabel glanced at her watch. “Come on, Laura. We need to get back to work.”

Work. Sydney flipped open her notebook and grabbed her pen. This idea could work. But she didn’t dare use Matthew’s real name. She couldn’t have it get around town that she had the hots for the mayor. She would be accused of showing favoritism to a man she had to report about in the paper.

“Already?” Laura slumped in her chair and groaned. “When will this community service end?”

“You only have a few more hundred hours left,” Isabel said in an encouraging tone. “They’ll go by fast, I promise.”

Laura reluctantly stood and followed Isabel to the shelving carts. “All this for damaging my ex-boyfriend’s stuff when I threw it out my window.”

“See you later, Sydney,” Isabel said. Sydney gave an absent wave as she wrote. In her mind, the buttons on Matthew’s shirt were flying off.

* * *

AS DORIS BROWN interrupted her tirade to greet one of her friends, Matthew glanced over her head and saw that Sydney was still at the table. Her writer’s block was clearly gone as she was writing furiously.

He liked watching her work because she put her whole body into it. Sydney would tuck her tongue in the corner of her mouth if she was thinking about something. She’d flip, twist and push her curly brown hair. If she wasn’t muttering to herself or gesturing with her hands, her eyes would widen and narrow as she worked out an idea.

And then there was what she did with her pen. She’d tap and rub it against her lips. Bite down on it, draw it into her mouth or nibble on it. He knew she didn’t mean anything suggestive by her actions, but he still found her incredibly distracting.

At first he had considered pursuing her but she was a sophisticated woman who wouldn’t be interested in a guy like him. He hadn’t traveled the world; he didn’t wear designer brands. A fling, a one-night stand, was all he could hope for.

But even as the attraction grew stronger, he’d held back, knowing that one night would not be enough for him. And he couldn’t afford to have a wild, passionate affair while he was the mayor of this conservative town.

So it was a good thing he hadn’t asked her out. It was. Definitely.

“Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Matty,” Miss Doris said. She gave him a kindly pat on his arm. Matthew was sure she would have ruffled his hair if she could reach that high. “Now you can go flirt with that pretty reporter.”

He looked at Sydney again. Her head was down and she was mouthing the words she’d written on her notebook. She pulled her hair into a messy ponytail as if she was getting down to business. “My charm doesn’t work on her.”

“Your charm works on every female in town,” Miss Doris said with a cluck of her tongue. “You know, when you were appointed the interim mayor, I thought the townspeople had lost their minds.”

“Yes, you’ve made that clear.”

“Can you blame me? We had just lost a mayor who ignored his duties while having an extramarital affair with his secretary. And then he runs off with her before his term is over.”

Matthew nodded and wondered when people would stop talking about the former mayor, who had run away with his secretary six months ago.

“And then the town has to follow the line of succession and appoint the council member who acts as deputy mayor. And it happens to be you, the most eligible bachelor. It seemed to me we had stepped out of the skillet and into the fire.” Miss Doris lowered her glasses and gave him a stern look. “Is it true that you dated all of the Reed sisters?”

“Not at the same time,” he insisted. That was the problem with living in a small town. He’d dated half the women and was related to the other half. “And that happened years ago. I shouldn’t be held accountable for who I dated in high school.”

“But you will be held responsible for who you keep company with these days,” the older woman warned. “Rumor has it that you’re not dating anyone.”

“That’s true.” Considering his reputation and his predecessor’s actions, Matthew knew he had to be on his best behavior. He could not give his opponents any ammunition against him, especially since he planned to run for mayor in the next election. He hadn’t thought his love life would be an issue until he met Sydney at her first town hall meeting.

“No one believes it,” Miss Doris declared. “The women in my book club say you’re dating someone in secret. We’ve taken bets.”

Matthew wasn’t surprised. The people in Seedling took bets on everything from the first frost to whether a pregnant woman would have a boy or a girl. “Who’s in the lead as my secret lover?”

“Isabel Bennett.”

“Izzy? The librarian?” He had known her since kindergarten. They’d gone on one date when they were teenagers and they hadn’t even held hands much less shared a kiss.

“She’s showing a little more spirit and a lot more skin lately. It has to be a man.”

“It’s not me,” Matthew said. “I recommend you change your bet or you’re going to lose your money.”

“You’re telling me you’re not interested in any of the women in Seedling?” Miss Doris watched him closely. She gave a cackle when he tried to keep his expression blank. “Oh, you are. She must be off-limits if you’re not already dating her.”

Yeah, Sydney Tate was definitely off-limits for the next six months. Even longer if he won the next election. But he wasn’t sure he could wait that long. “There’s no one,” he said.

“Yes, there is,” Miss Doris said as she walked away. “You are flirtatious and charming to every female over the age of twenty-one, but I’m going to figure out which one of them is special to you.”

“Don’t you have something better to do with your time?” Matthew asked, his voice tinged with exasperation.

“Everyone is curious why you are being so secretive about your love life. You’ve never been secretive before. It can’t be good.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m focusing on my job.” And maybe he didn’t want unfavorable comparisons between him and the previous mayor.

“Matty, there are only two kinds of entertainment in Seedling. You either have your own sex life or you’re discussing someone else’s. Most of the bets made in town are about who is in whose bed.” She looked over her shoulder. “And I was the only one who bet correctly about the previous mayor. I’m going to get this one right, too.”

2

X LEANED BACK in his red leather chair as he waited for me to come to him. The sexual hunger that tore through him stole his usual easy smile, and a ruddy color streaked across his cheekbones. He was holding back...for now.

I could tell it wasn’t easy for him, but this time I was in charge. He clenched the chair’s armrests with his large fingers as his uneven breath echoed in his office. I couldn’t wait to straddle him in that chair and have the ride of my life.

I stripped off my dress and tossed it on his cluttered desk. I stood naked before him. I should have felt nervous. Anyone could walk in on us. The open windows behind him overlooked the busy town square. Anyone could see. But I didn’t care. I loved the way he stared at me. It made me feel desirable. Beautiful. Invincible.

Tilting my head back, I allowed my hair to fall past my shoulders. I had nothing to hide. I arched my spine as if I was offering my bare breasts to him. My nipples were tight, my breasts heavy, as anticipation flowed through me.

X parted his lips and said—

“Morning, Sydney.”

Sydney yelped and jumped in her seat, her heart lurching at the sound of Matthew Stone’s voice. She dropped her pen and glanced up, just as Matthew set his coffee mug on the table.

“Uh, hi.” She blinked and looked around. The scent of coffee and baked goods suddenly hit her. Multiple conversations overlapped as the clink of silverware sounded loud to her ears. She’d forgotten that she was at Dawson’s Diner, the most popular meeting place in Seedling. Today it was even more crowded than usual as people grabbed their morning coffee or had breakfast with friends.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Matthew said as he sat down across from her.

“It’s okay. I was just working on something until you arrived.” Sydney stared at Matthew, noticing every detail of his white T-shirt and blue flannel shirt to his jeans and boots. She wished she didn’t feel so hot and jittery. Why had they set up this meeting? For an interview. Right. She was writing an article on the proposed walking trail and he’d agreed to comment.

“Is that your writing assignment?” Matthew gave a nod to the notebook in front of her. Words covered every inch of the page, crowding each other and spilling past the margins, as if she had too many ideas for the paper to hold.

“Uh, yeah.” She quickly closed the cover and stuck the book under the short pile of notebooks she kept for taking notes. Sydney wondered why she kept writing the fake erotic diary when she was in public. Someone could easily lean over her shoulder and read her work. Maybe it had something to do with the reoccurring theme in her diary—exhibitionism. In almost every scenario she had written in the past week, she and Matthew were so overwhelmed with desire that he’d taken her between the stacks in the library, over a desk in his office or in the park after midnight.

“What kind of book club has a writing assignment?”

“It’s not your typical book club,” she muttered as she grabbed her cup of tea and took a big gulp. It had grown cold and she had to choke it down.

“So I’ve heard.”

Sydney froze and glanced at the counter where her friend Laura was working. Some of the discussions they had at the book club were frank and personal. She couldn’t imagine Isabel or Laura describing them to someone else. “Really?” She carefully set down her teacup. “What have you heard?”

His smile was slow and sexy, and she wiggled uncomfortably in her seat. Matthew Stone’s smiles always teased her senses.

“I heard about the book you’re reading now.” He frowned as if he was trying to remember the title. “It was written by a madam who owned a brothel. Tips on seducing a man, or something like that.”

Sydney nodded. “Laura recommended it. She chose it because it’s being challenged at the library and a few people want it banned. I’m not really sure why they are suddenly making it an urgent matter since the book has been in the library for almost twenty years.”

“They probably didn’t know it was there until now.” Matthew leaned back in his chair. Sydney stiffened as she noticed it was the same move she had imagined him making in her fake diary. “What do you think of the book so far?”

She shrugged. “It’s written to shock the reader, and it doesn’t offer a lot of insight or information. Then again, seducing a man isn’t rocket science.”

Matthew tilted his head and crossed his arms. “Is that right?”

Sydney stared at his muscular arms, wondering how they would feel around her as he gathered her close to his chest...or braced on either side of her as he lay on top of her...or lifting her as he took her against the wall... She cleared her throat and focused on his eyes. “Although the author describes some male fantasies that seemed ridiculous to me.”

He gave her a thoughtful look. “Such as?”

“Such as having your lover meet you at your office wearing nothing but a coat and heels.” She scoffed at the idea and tossed her hands in the air. “Would you want your lover to do that?”

“Hell, yeah.”

His gruff voice pulled at something deep inside her. “Really? Why?”

“What’s not to like about that scenario?” His eyes glittered as he considered the fantasy. “A woman is taking the initiative and making it clear that she wants you right here, right now. That’s always a turn-on.”

“I don’t think that’s the thing that’s turning men on.” At least, that hadn’t been her personal experience. “It’s the fact that the woman is exposing herself to a great deal of risk.”

“The guy wouldn’t let her get caught. It’s for his eyes only.” From his tone, Sydney realized Matthew would take care of his woman even in the throes of passion. “That’s part of the fantasy.”

“No, the most important part of the fantasy is that everyone knows what you are doing. If I visited a man at work and was wearing a trench coat, all of Seedling would be aware that I didn’t have anything on underneath. And that’s the turn-on for men.” She frowned and looked away. “They want to show how much power they have over women. Show the world that they can make normally reasonable women take stupid risks.”

Matthew took a sip of his coffee. “How many men have you played out this fantasy for?”

“None,” she said with a proud tilt of her chin. “I’m not into power plays.”

His mouth tilted into a lopsided smile. “It’s supposed to be a fun fantasy.”

Sydney pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose. “If a guy I’m dating showed up at my work in nothing but a trench coat, I’d worry he was a flasher.”

“Women have different fantasies,” Matthew said, his smile widening. “Some want the romance, others want it rough and dirty.”

“And what do you think I want?” Sydney winced. She wished she could take back that question. It was too personal. What if Matthew got it wrong? Her chest tightened. What if he got it right?

Instead of dismissing the question, Matthew gave it some consideration. He leaned forward and propped his chin on his hand as he studied her. He was very near and she was tempted to move back. The intensity in his gaze unnerved her but she refused to look away.

Matthew suddenly dropped his hand and grabbed his coffee cup. “You’d want it in public.”

Sydney’s lips parted as her heart skipped a beat. “Say what?”

“You’d like the trench-coat fantasy as long as the guy was taking an equal risk.”

She vigorously shook her head. “The risk is always unequal. If the couple gets caught, the man gets a pat on the back and the woman’s reputation is torn to shreds.”

“I’m thinking you’d want a public place with an element of danger,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. Matthew tapped his finger against his chin. “Two people who are so hot for each other that they forget where they are.”

Sydney stared at him. It felt as if she’d been found out. Caught. Her heart pounded against her chest as adrenaline sizzled through her bloodstream.

“Am I right?” he asked.

“I don’t have any fantasies,” she lied as she straightened in her chair.

His eyebrows rose. “Sure you do. You have to have at least one.”

“I acted out my list of fantasies years ago,” Sydney declared. She grabbed her pen and opened up a new notebook. “Some of them just weren’t worth the effort.”

“Maybe you did them with the wrong guy,” he said softly.

“That’s quite possible.” Sydney gave her pen several clicks. “I’m not sure how we got on this topic. I’m supposed to be asking you about the new walking trail you’re proposing.”

Matthew smiled. It was confident and knowing.

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

“Nothing.” He spread his arms wide. “Ask me whatever you want.”

* * *

SHE WANTED HIM. He wasn’t imagining it. This had just gotten real.

And he couldn’t do a thing about it, Matthew decided as excitement, frustration and the call of the hunt swirled inside him. He silently watched Sydney scrawl something in her notebook and took the opportunity to study her.

Sydney Tate, dressed in trendy black clothes, didn’t blend in with the other townspeople. She wasn’t glamorous or refined, but she possessed an urban edge. He hadn’t believed she’d be interested in a guy like him until he’d sat down at the table. When lust had flared in her eyes and sharpened her features, he’d known he had a chance. He’d been tempted to drag her out of the diner and find the nearest bed.

He still hadn’t ruled it out.

“Okay, that’s about it,” Sydney said as she crossed out the last question on her list. “I just have one more thing to ask.”

He quickly schooled his face before she glanced up.

“Why are you running for mayor in the next election?”

“I want to take care of Seedling,” he said. He loved his hometown and always had. While some of his classmates had left the moment they graduated, he’d stayed behind with no regrets.

She frowned as if she didn’t believe that was the full answer. “Is this a stepping stone for something else? Do you want something at the state level?”

“I have no interest in leaving Seedling,” Matthew explained. “My family and friends are here. My family’s business is here. This is my heritage and my future.”

Sydney leaned forward. “I don’t understand.”

He’d known she wouldn’t. Sydney was from the big city, where people craved money, power and influence. “I’m doing my civic duty. That’s it. If I wasn’t mayor, I would volunteer or participate in local government the same way I’ve done for years.”

Sydney glanced around before she lowered her voice. “You realize you’re going to win by a landslide.”

The suggestion of an easy victory didn’t mean that much to him. “That’s not why I’m running for office. I’m interested in protecting Seedling and watching it grow.”

“Is civic duty the only reason you work with local government?” she asked. “This isn’t jury duty.”

Matthew should have known that Sydney would sense he had a deeper motivation. “If I do a good job as mayor, I hope people will see me differently,” he admitted. “I’m thirty years old and half of the town is still convinced I’m a reckless Casanova.”

“And the other half calls you ‘Little Matty Stone,’” Sydney added, pressing her lips together as she tried to hide her smile.

“Exactly,” he said with a sigh. The moment someone had called him that at the first town meeting Sydney had attended, Matthew knew any chance he had of creating a sophisticated image of himself in her mind was shot. “They remember all of my mistakes and mischief from years ago. I admit, a lot of the stuff I did was stupid, like drag racing tractors on Main Street and crashing into the old bandstand in the town square, but I’ve changed. And this is my chance to show what I’m capable of.”

“You’ve already proven your leadership skills with your family’s orchard. It’s one of the most successful businesses in the region.”

“I can’t take credit for that. The orchard has been in my family for generations. My job was to bring it into this century.”

“I’m sure that was more difficult than you’re letting on. And what about the fact that the town loves you? Or how the council members look to you for direction? You have great ideas, and I believe you could be the future of Seedling.”

Matthew’s skin heated under her praise. He’d had no idea she thought that highly of him. Her opinion mattered a lot. “Thank you.”

“I have a feeling Seedling will keep reelecting you as mayor,” she said.

Despite her assurance of the town’s goodwill toward him, Matthew knew he couldn’t pursue Sydney while he was mayor. This town would not take kindly to the idea of a mayor who got involved with the local newspaper reporter. They would complain that it was a conflict of interest and would not let up unless either he or Sydney resigned.

Sydney’s phone vibrated on the table and made a loud chirp. She jumped and her elbow knocked the pile of notebooks to the floor. “Oh, shoot! I didn’t mean to keep you this long.”

He saw a notification on the phone’s screen. “You have another meeting?”

“At the medical clinic,” she said as she bent down and scooped up her notebooks. “They want to promote summer safety tips. I swear, I don’t know how Wendy did all this by herself.”

“Here, let me help.” He crouched down and grabbed the notebooks that were out of her reach. “Have you considered getting rid of these and taking notes on a laptop or tablet?”

“No, I tried. I work better this way,” she said as she collected the notebooks before getting up from her seat. “Thanks.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” he offered as he rose to his full height.

“Oh, there’s no need.” Sydney suddenly became flustered as she shoved the notebooks into her bag. “I’m parked on a side street because I couldn’t find any spots out front.”

“I insist.” Matthew fell into step with her. He automatically placed his hand at the base of her spine as he led her out of the diner. She tensed under his touch but she didn’t pull away.

* * *

SYDNEY’S HEART THUDDED in her ears as they walked to the car. Her movements felt awkward and stiff. Awareness was thick and heavy around them. She suddenly couldn’t put words together.

It had to be her imagination. Matthew always flirted and teased her, but this was different. Every erotic scenario she’d dreamed up rushed through her mind. But suddenly she didn’t just want to imagine how his hand would feel against her breast—she wanted to know. She wanted to taste his mouth, experience his kiss and find out how to drive him wild.

She felt as if she was breathing hard by the time she reached her car. She had no idea if Matthew was conversing with her or if she’d replied. Sydney opened the driver’s door and tossed her backpack on the passenger seat. She cautiously turned around and found Matthew standing right beside her.

She saw the need in his eyes. The need for her. Pleasure darted inside her. She shouldn’t have talked about fantasies with him. Now she couldn’t get them out of her mind.

Dragging her gaze up his muscular chest, past his broad shoulders and to his handsome face, Sydney noticed the restraint sharpening his features. She’d never seen him like this. She sensed he was trying to hold back as much as she was.

“Thanks.” Her voice was hoarse and low.

He swallowed hard as he stared at her mouth. “Anytime.”

Anytime. The tip of her tongue swept along her bottom lip and his intent gaze followed the movement. She wished she could have him anytime. She wanted the right, the privilege, of touching him whenever she wanted.

His proximity, his rough promise, was too much for her willpower. One kiss, that was all she’d give herself. She grabbed his flannel shirt and pulled him forward, slamming her mouth against his.

Matthew cupped her face with his hands and deepened the kiss. His mouth was rough and hard. She’d never been kissed like this and she found it addictive.

Sydney parted her legs and Matthew leaned into her. Being this close to him, surrounded by his heat, his scent and his body, was better than she’d imagined. She hadn’t expected his large and calloused hands to be so warm and gentle against her skin. His possessive touch made her feel protected. Cherished.

She wanted to climb his muscular body and explore. Slide her hands under his T-shirt, reveal his chest and lick her way down to the impressive arousal that was pressing against her.

Sydney heard the squeal of car tires in the distance and she went still. She broke away, gulping for air, and stared at Matthew. She wasn’t sure what to do or say. His touch shattered her carefully constructed facade.

“I...” Sydney dropped her hands abruptly and stared at the telltale creases on his shirt. She couldn’t believe she’d thrown herself at him. That wasn’t like her. She was more cautious than that. She didn’t allow her sexual side to rule her actions anymore.

“Don’t say you’re sorry,” he whispered as his mouth grazed her cheekbone.

She blushed. How could he predict her every move?

He leaned his forehead against hers. “And don’t say this was just a onetime thing.”

Sydney closed her eyes. He really did know what she was going to say next. It made her feel vulnerable, as if he was always one step ahead of her. “You’re the mayor,” she whispered. “I’m a journalist who reports about you.”

“No one needs to know,” he said as he gently stroked his fingers along her jaw. “We can keep it just between us.”

She was sure Matthew believed what he just said, but she couldn’t go through that again. She needed to retreat into the safe little world she’d created in Seedling that was devoid of passion.

With that in mind, Sydney splayed her hands against his soft T-shirt and gave a little push. He didn’t move. The man was solid muscle. “I have to go.”

He reluctantly withdrew, as if he sensed retreating was his best option. “Okay, but this is not the end of this discussion. Tonight—no, I have to attend a meeting. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

“I’m reporting on the junior baseball game.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m not going on a date with you. The whole town is going to be there.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior. No one will think we’re together.”

She wanted to decline. She should decline, Sydney thought as she shivered with expectation. Instead she gave a quick nod. She didn’t trust herself to say anything. She wasn’t graceful when she got into her car and her hands fumbled as she started the engine. Sydney drove away, her gaze drawn to the mirror as Matthew watched her leave.

What had she done? Curiosity had gotten the better of her. She’d wanted one taste. Just one. But now that she’d experienced the explosive chemistry she shared with Matthew, she wanted so much more.

His kiss was better than she’d imagined. She brushed her fingertips along her reddened lips. It was better even than she had described in her fake erotic diary.

She should write down her experiences now so she could clear her mind and focus on her next work assignment. Sydney drove a few blocks and slid into an empty parking spot on the worn cobblestone street. Her hands were still jittery as she reached for her backpack. The pile of notebooks spilled onto the seat and she searched for the one that she’d reserved for her erotic diary.

It wasn’t there. She froze, her chest squeezing with panic.

No, no, no! She opened and shut the notebooks, one by one. Where was the diary? She’d just had it. She’d been writing in it at Dawson’s.

Sydney dipped her head and closed her eyes as the panic washed over her. Dawson’s Diner. She’d lost her erotic writing in the most populated place in Seedling.

Sydney leaped out of the car and raced down the blocks until she reached the diner. She barely noticed the curious stares she was receiving. It was nothing compared to the stares she would get if someone read her notebook! She bolted inside the diner and glanced around frantically.

“Hi, Sydney,” Laura greeted with a curious look. “Weren’t you just here?”

“I forgot something,” she said breathlessly as she hurried through the diner. She spotted the table where she’d been sitting and exhaled sharply with relief when she noticed it hadn’t been cleaned yet.

“Was it your purse?” Laura asked as she followed. “You don’t have to worry about that. It will still be there. This is Seedling.”

Sydney didn’t see the notebook on the table or on the seats. She crouched down and looked on the floor. Nothing. Her stomach twisted with dread. “Did anyone find a notebook?”

“No,” Laura replied.

It was gone. Her throat closed up with panic. This couldn’t be happening. Her erotic diary—the one that described every scandalous thought she’d ever had about Matthew Stone—was missing.

If anyone reads it...

Sydney dragged her hands over her face. No, she wouldn’t think about that. She just had to find it. Immediately.

3

THE NEXT MORNING Sydney rushed into Seedling Library. The moment she crossed the threshold, she braced herself against the chill of the air-conditioning and the scent of musty books. The outdated dark green carpeting muffled her footsteps as she searched around the circulation desk for the notebook.

“Good morning, Sydney,” Doris Brown said. Sydney stopped and saw the older woman seated at the end of a scarred wooden table. Doris’s glasses were perched low on her nose as she flipped through a magazine.

Sydney halted her search and gave a polite smile. She had been in a panic for the past twenty-four hours as she’d searched everywhere for her notebook, hoping she had left it at home or at the office. But she didn’t want to show her concern and have people start asking questions. “Hello, Miss Doris. How are you doing today?”

“Finished reading a scorcher and now I’m trying to find something else to read.”

Sydney frowned. “A scorcher? Really? That doesn’t sound like something from the reading circle’s book list.”

“It’s not. Just something I...picked up.” Miss Doris’s eyes twinkled.

“You’ll have to tell me about it sometime. Right now I’m looking for Isabel and Laura. Have you seen them?”

Miss Doris nodded. “They went upstairs.”

“Thanks.” Sydney hurried to the stairs but paused on the first step when she had the odd sensation she was being watched. Studied. Evaluated. She was all too familiar with that feeling. She glanced around the library but no one was paying attention to her. Sydney gave herself a mental shake. Losing the notebook had made her paranoid.

She went to the second floor of the library. The high ceilings and large windows made the building seem larger than it was. As Sydney walked past the rows of bookshelves, she noticed very few patrons today.

She spotted Laura in the last row wearing a bold purple top and black miniskirt. It took a moment to notice Isabel next to Laura, wearing a white sheath dress. Sydney sagged with relief at the sight of them. She had to confide in someone and her two friends were the only ones who would understand.

“There you guys are,” Sydney said in a fierce whisper as she approached them. “I really need your help.”

Laura paused in the act of shelving a book. “What’s going on?”

Sydney glanced around to make sure no one could eavesdrop. “I lost my fake diary. I have looked everywhere and I can’t find it.”

“Is that what you were so upset about at the diner yesterday?” Laura asked as she continued her task of shelving books. “It’s no big deal. The diary was just a challenge.”

“No, no.” Sydney waved her hands around. “You don’t understand. The diary sounded very real.”

Isabel scoffed at that proclamation. “Sure it did.”

“And I didn’t write it in Victorian times,” Sydney explained. “I took your advice and wrote it as if it was happening in today’s world...in Seedling—” her voice got softer “—with someone from Seedling.”

“You didn’t.” Isabel’s eyes widened with dismay.

Laura leaned forward, her arms resting on the book cart. “Did you name names?”

“No.” But that decision wouldn’t be enough to hide Matthew’s identity. “I called him X but it’s not going to take much to figure out who it is. I described him in detail.”

“Is it Matthew Stone?” Laura asked.

Sydney gasped as her heart gave a jolt. “How did you know that?”

“I see how the two of you are when you’re together,” Laura said. “You light up when he’s around. And he kind of gravitates toward you. It’s more than the fact you are hot for each other. You and Matthew enjoy each other’s company.”

“Oh, then everyone who reads the diary is automatically going to assume that Matthew is my lover.” Sydney shoved her hands in her hair as the panic fluttered inside her. “The rumors are going to fly. I’ll lose my job.”

Isabel placed her hand on Sydney’s arm to comfort her. “Matthew isn’t going to be upset,” the librarian insisted. “He’s used to these kinds of rumors. He’s a good guy but he has earned his reputation as the local lothario.”

Sydney winced. That made it even worse. Matthew wasn’t a playboy and he was trying to prove it. After the last mayor’s sex scandal, Matthew didn’t need rumors circulating about him before he went into an election. She didn’t want to ruin his hard work because of some fantasies she’d written down.

“So what is in this erotic diary of yours?” Laura asked, propping her chin against her hand. “Neither of us got to read it.”

“Uh...well...you see...” Sydney found herself stumbling over her words and felt her face turn bright red.

“Really?” Isabel drew out the word. “I hope I get a chance to read it. Although I may never look at you the same way again.”

Sydney motioned at Isabel. “That’s my problem! You two know this diary is fiction, but everyone else will believe I’m having a red-hot affair with the mayor. My professional reputation will be ruined. I can’t go through that again.”

“Again?” Isabel prompted.

Sydney squeezed her eyes shut. She hadn’t meant to let that information slip. “It’s kind of the reason why I moved to Seedling.”

There was a beat of silence before Isabel spoke. “You have to give us more than that.”

Sydney looked around again. She still hadn’t forgiven herself for getting into that situation. But these women were her friends and she knew they wouldn’t judge her.

“About a year ago I was dating a political aide. We kept our relationship secret. I thought it was to protect what we had from our colleagues.” She shook her head at her naivety. For ignoring her intuition. “It turned out he was using me for his own agenda. It blew up in my face and my reputation as a reporter was seriously damaged. No one but Wendy would hire me.”

“Matthew wouldn’t do that to you,” Isabel said. “He might have a reputation as a playboy but he’s really very trustworthy and honest.”

Sydney knew that was true. She had watched Matthew at every meeting and event. She’d noticed how dignified he’d acted in difficult moments in the spotlight or alone when he thought no one was watching. He wasn’t perfect but his strength of character impressed her. But that didn’t mean she was willing to take another risk with her career.

“I can’t let rumors spread that I’m romantically involved with someone in public office,” Sydney explained as she crossed her arms tightly against her. “My reputation is already tarnished.”

“Take it from me, having a tarnished reputation isn’t all bad,” Laura said, dismissing the statement with the wave of her hand. “Sure, I’m the first to get blamed, which is annoying, but after a few years I learned how to work it to my advantage.”

“A good reputation isn’t that great, either,” Isabel said. “There are definitely some benefits that I’ve taken for granted, but it can box you in. You don’t have a reputation to worry about, Sydney. No one knows about your past.”

“And because they don’t know me, they will think that diary is the real me.” She’d planned to stay in Seedling for at least a couple of years while she restarted her career. How could she live in a small town where everyone had the wrong idea about her? “I can tell everyone otherwise, but I doubt they’d believe it.”

“Okay, this is what we’re going to do,” Laura announced as she retrieved her cell phone from her skirt pocket. “I’m going to call the diner and see if the notebook turned up.”

“Good idea.” Isabel paused as she gave the situation some thought. “Sydney, you will need to stay away from Matthew.”

“I can’t do that. It’s my job to report on local government.”

“You know you have to keep your distance.” Isabel gave Sydney another pat on her arm. “Email or text with Matthew until this blows over. Trade off assignments with Wendy and let her know why.”

She ignored the disappointment radiating through her chest. She wanted to be around Matthew Stone constantly. And she’d wanted to avoid saying anything to Wendy, but she agreed it had to be done. Sydney hoped her boss would understand. “I dread that conversation. She took a chance on me.”

“Knowing Wendy, I bet she’ll get a laugh out of it,” Isabel said. “Don’t worry, it’s just temporary until we find the notebook.”

“You’re right,” Sydney admitted with a tight smile. All they had to do was find the notebook.

But what if someone has already discovered it?

* * *

MATTHEW CROSSED THE town square and strode to the city hall. He should be tired, having spent yesterday working on his mayoral duties and last night dealing with business for the family orchard, but the anticipation of tonight whipped through him—he would see Sydney.

“Good morning, Matty.” Father Evans wore a bright green tracksuit as he jogged past him. “Are you going to the kids’ baseball game tonight?”

“I can’t wait.” Matthew’s smile was wide as he called after the other man. “I’ll see you there.”

His phone vibrated, indicating he had received a text. His pulse kicked hard when he realized it was from Sydney. Matthew slowed to a halt and frowned as he read the brief message. She was canceling on him.

He exhaled sharply as his shoulders sagged. It may be true that Wendy had to change Sydney’s assignment but his gut said otherwise.

Matthew glanced up just as the teenage Turner brothers gave him the thumbs-up as they strolled past him. What was that about?

He was about to reply to Sydney’s text but decided to wait. His first instinct was to convince her to meet with him tonight. He could use all of his persuasive skills. But something told him it wouldn’t work this time. He’d scared her off.

Matthew closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as he considered where he’d gone wrong. Sydney Tate was a city girl, used to sophisticated men, and he had proven how rough and primitive he could be. It was just as well. He had his own reasons for staying away.

Matthew was jerked out of his thoughts when someone gave him a friendly slap on the back. “Attaboy, Little Matty,” one of his grandfather’s friends said. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do.”

Matthew stared at Mr. Martinez. The elderly man wore his usual T-shirt, baggy shorts, black socks and sandals. “Excuse me?”

“I was worried all those uptight voters would try to stomp out your spirit. I’m glad you proved me wrong.”

What was he talking about? “Thank...you?”

“You surprised me.” Martinez gave a cackling laugh that turned into a cough. “Definitely surprised me.”

Matthew scratched his head as he watched the man shuffle away. It was an unusual and random vote of confidence, but he’d take it.

As Matthew walked into the old brick building, he became more aware of the sly winks and wide smiles. He recognized those looks. Everything from the pinched glare of disapproval from Miss Fisher at the information desk to the comical wagging of the security guard’s eyebrows. He used to get those looks all the time when he ran wild, caused trouble and earned his reputation as a ladies’ man.

But he hadn’t done anything lately to deserve it. Matthew frowned. Had someone seen him kissing Sydney yesterday? That was possible. Nothing was secret in Seedling. But it had only been a kiss.

A wild kiss. A hot and passionate kiss that had turned him inside out. A kiss that had made Sydney back off.

The kiss would raise some eyebrows, but it wouldn’t cause this reaction.

Or would it because he was the mayor? He wanted to growl with frustration. With the last mayor leaving amid a Seedling-style sex scandal, Matthew had to be on his best behavior. This was as good as it was going to get.

He saw his administrative assistant leaving the mayor’s office suite. The woman was as formal as he was casual with her tight bun, brown pantsuit and polished shoes. “Tanya, people are acting strange today,” Matthew said as he approached her. “Do you know what that’s about?”

Tanya didn’t even blink. “No. Define strange.”

“A lot of winks and smiles. A few thumbs-up and a slap on the back.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. That’s every day around here.”

Now that he said it out loud, he realized Tanya had a point.

“You have a visitor waiting for you,” his assistant said as she walked past him.

Matthew frowned and glanced at his phone but there was no reminder. “I don’t remember anything about that on the schedule.”

“She’s not on the schedule,” Tanya said over her shoulder. “As if that would stop her.”

Curious, Matthew peeked inside the office suite and froze when he saw Doris Brown waiting for him. She sat primly in her chair, arms crossed and staring him down over the rims of her eyeglasses.

Her look of disappointment set off alarms in his head. It was probably nothing. She may be upset about the proposed walking trail being named after one of their most prominent citizens, or she wasn’t happy with her next-door neighbor’s yappy dog. “Good morning, Miss Doris,” he said with his most charming smile. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Her glare deepened. “You are a sneaky one, Little Matty Stone.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” It had to be about the kiss. But why would that require a visit? Just a week ago she was encouraging him to flirt with Sydney. “Why don’t we go into my office?”

Doris Brown’s eyes lit up. “Yes, definitely. I would like to check some things out.” She rose from her seat and grabbed her oversize bag before Matthew ushered her inside his office.

The older woman stood in the middle of the room with her fists planted on her hips. She pursed and twisted her mouth as she studied every inch. “A view of the town square.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Matthew walked around his desk and gestured for Doris to sit.

She ignored his offer and frowned as he sat down. “Red leather chair.”

“It came with the office.” He knew the mayor’s office was supposed to impress visitors, but he found the decor too grand and old-fashioned.

“Messy desk, just as she described it,” Miss Doris murmured as she stared at the stacks of files on his desk.

“Just as who described it?” he asked.

Miss Doris shook her head. “I thought you had changed, Matthew Stone.”

His eyebrows went up. It was the first time Doris Brown had used his proper name. “As you’ve told me.”

“But you couldn’t keep it in your pants,” she said with the cluck of her tongue. “You are still being led by your penis.”

His mouth dropped open in shock. It had been a kiss. Just a kiss. “Miss Doris, I’m not sure what prompted this, but—”

“This is what I’m talking about,” Miss Doris said as she pulled out a notebook from her purse. “She described everything.”

“Isn’t that one of Sydney’s?” he asked, pointing at the speckled black-and-white cover.

Miss Doris reared her head back. “So you don’t deny it?”

“Why would I deny it?” Matthew asked. “She uses those all the time for work. And she also had one for her writing challenge.”

Miss Doris pulled her glasses down to the very tip of her nose. “What writing challenge?”

“I don’t know much about it. It has something to do with her book club.” He reached out his hand. “May I see it?”

While his smiles didn’t work on Miss Doris, his authoritative tone did. She handed over the notebook and Matthew flipped through it. He recognized Sydney’s handwriting. Words were crammed together on the pages just as he’d seen yesterday morning.

A phrase leaped off the page and caught his attention. “X drove into me with one smooth thrust. My body welcomed him, gripping him tightly, as I tilted my hips, ready for more.”

Sydney was sleeping with someone? His eyes widened as bitter jealousy and painful loss slammed through him. Who the hell was X?

He flipped to the front of the notebook.

The park was quiet this late at night, but I knew we could get caught at any moment. I was kneeling on his discarded flannel shirt and arching my spine. My silent offer was blatant and shameless, but X had other plans. He leaned over me and I inhaled the scent of his woodsy aftershave. He captured my breast with one hand and sought my clitoris with the other. I couldn’t hold back the guttural cries as he caressed me. Short, fast strokes that made my flesh slick and swollen. For him.

Flannel shirt? Woodsy aftershave? That didn’t narrow it down. Even he wore those things. Who was this guy? He flipped through a few more pages.

I sat on the edge of his desk and faced the open window. I was naked but X was fully dressed, lounging in his red leather chair. I should have felt vulnerable but I saw the need in his brown eyes. The desperation. I felt powerful as he spread my legs with reverence and bent his head. I glanced out into the town square before his mouth covered my sex. He moaned from the first taste of me. I gripped his hair with my fingers, urging him closer as he pleasured me with his tongue.

He went very still as his fingertips pinched the paper. Sydney was talking about him. The flannel shirt. The office. But they hadn’t done any of this. He’d thought about it, sure. Every time he saw her, stood close to her or heard her voice. It seemed she had the same ideas.

Something close to triumph surged through him. Matthew tried to maintain a blank expression as his blood was pumping hard through his veins. “You realize this is fiction, right, Miss Doris?”

“Is that the excuse you’re going with? Really?” Miss Doris drawled. “You know, there was a time when you confessed after you got caught. I guess a job in politics will make a man dishonest.”

Back then he’d admitted his wrongdoings because he had been guilty of every accusation.

He suddenly recalled how everyone had reacted today when they’d seen him. “Where did you get this?” Matthew dropped the notebook on his desk.

“I got it from a friend who got it from another friend who found it lying around.”

Matthew sighed and dragged his hands down his face. So basically all of Seedling had heard about the contents of this notebook. “If you knew it belonged to Sydney, why didn’t you give it back to her?”

Miss Doris gave a defiant shrug. “I wanted to confront you with the evidence.”

Evidence? Matthew wanted to roll his eyes. Instead he opened the bottom drawer of his desk and tossed the notebook inside.

“What are you doing?” Miss Doris asked. “I haven’t finished reading it.”

“And you’re not going to.” He kicked the drawer closed. “I’m returning it to Sydney. Immediately.”

4

MATTHEW PARKED HIS TRUCK across the street from Sydney’s home. As he cut the ignition, he settled back in his seat and looked at the small house. It was one floor and made of brick. Sleek patio furniture obviously from her former life sat on the front porch. He noticed she had a big fenced-in yard and not many neighbors.

He became aware of the silence on this warm summer night and realized there weren’t many people out. It wouldn’t get dark for another couple of hours but no one was sitting on their porches or walking around. They must all be at the baseball game. He could hear the lazy buzzing of the bees and the music from an ice cream truck several blocks away.

As he got out of his truck, one phrase kept repeating in his head. You shouldn’t be doing this... You shouldn’t be doing this...

There were a lot of things he shouldn’t have done. Reading Sydney’s notebook would be on the top of that list. Matthew rubbed the back of his neck as he considered his actions. He had tried to convince himself that he’d needed to know what people were talking about, but he hadn’t been prepared to read Sydney’s most erotic fantasies.

Sophisticated and imaginative fantasies. Fantasies he could not compete with.

While his reputation was legendary around here, it was exaggerated. He’d had satisfying physical relationships with women, but that was because his needs were simple. His whole focus had been giving and receiving pleasure.

He shouldn’t have read that notebook.

Matthew saw motion and a flash of black through the slats of the fence and realized Sydney was in her backyard. He walked to the gate and knocked before opening it. “Sydney?”

“Matthew?” He heard the surprise in her voice before she walked into his line of vision. His body tightened as his gaze drifted over her messy topknot, black tank dress and strappy sandals.

Yeah, he shouldn’t be doing this. But he couldn’t stop himself. Not since he found out that he starred in her erotic fantasies. Not since he discovered that they wanted the same thing. The town already believed they were having an affair. And he wasn’t going to let Sydney’s overestimation of his stamina and creativity get in the way.

“What are you doing here?” Sydney asked as she crossed her arms.

“I didn’t see you at the baseball game so I thought I’d drop by and ask if you wanted a ride.” It wasn’t a good lie but it was the best he could come up with.

“Didn’t you get my text?”

“Text?” He reached for his cell phone and acted as though he was scrolling through his messages. “No...what text?” he lied. He was sure he didn’t sound convincing. He was just a farm boy who was known for being too honest and Sydney was used to city guys who lied for a living.

“Wendy and I traded assignments so I’m not going to the baseball game. I had a tight deadline for this other article.” She motioned at the laptop computer on her patio table. “I’m sorry you came all this way.”

“No big deal,” Matthew said as he pocketed his phone. Remembering how much Sydney had written about his smile in her notebook, he gave her a lopsided grin. “Seedling’s baseball team isn’t going to offer an edge-of-your-seat game against Springfield anyway.”

“Yeah...” Sydney bit her lip and looked away. “Well...”

She was acting nervous and uncomfortable around him, and he didn’t like it. He was used to the sexual tension between them, but this was different. She was keeping her distance from him. He needed to change that. If he confronted her about the notebook too soon, she might get spooked again. No, he had to be cautious, even if it meant stretching the truth a bit.

“And if we had sat together at the game, people wouldn’t have left us alone,” Matthew said as he slowly approached her. “They mean well, but my friends and family can be nosy.”

A reluctant smile pulled at her mouth. “Gossiping is Seedling’s favorite pastime.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Matthew said as he watched her closely. “Right now everyone at city hall is acting as if I’m having a red-hot affair.”

Sydney gave a guilty start and her eyes widened. “Really? With who?”

Matthew shrugged. “Don’t know. I’m just getting a lot of winks and nudges.”

She pressed her hand against her chest. “I am so sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault.” Embarrassment flickered across her face. He didn’t want her to feel guilty or embarrassed. He wanted her to be brave enough to voice her dreams, reach out and grab him. Tell him about the notebook. Act it out instead of writing it down and hiding it.

“I...I know you’ve been working hard to improve your image.”

“I must have been crazy thinking I could change everyone’s idea about me. I’ve been on my best behavior and no one has noticed.”

She reached out and rested her hand against his arm. “I’ve noticed. I’ve seen how much you’ve accomplished since I’ve been here.”

He stepped closer. “But you don’t know what I was like years ago.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she said and smiled. “I know who you are now.”

Matthew liked the way she gazed up at him. He felt powerful. Important.

“I can’t keep my hands off you,” he confessed as he curled his hand around her waist. “I tried but it’s not working.”

Her smile widened. “Good.”

“Good?” His eyebrow went up. “What was it you said yesterday? Something about how this was a bad idea.”

“I remember saying something about that.” She looked away. “The details are fuzzy.”

Matthew cupped her cheek with his hand. “Sydney, I don’t want to hear any excuses about why we can’t be together.”

Her eyes narrowed. “They aren’t excuses. They’re—”

He bent his head and covered her mouth with his. He kissed with a slow gentleness but it didn’t hold back the hunger inside him. Matthew drew Sydney close to him. “I don’t want to wait anymore,” he confessed.

“Come inside.” She grabbed his wrists and pulled him toward the screen door.

“No, let’s stay out here.”

“Here?” Her eyes widened. Matthew noticed the naughty gleam in her eyes before she banked it. “Someone might see us.”

“I won’t let that happen,” he promised. “Trust me.” He remembered what she’d written in her notebook. Most of the scenes had been outdoors. He had gotten that right about her. She wanted to feel wild and free, bold and daring.

Sydney glanced around as her skin flushed. “O-okay.”

He kissed her and felt her hesitancy. She wanted this but she didn’t completely trust him. Trust that he would protect her. In her fantasies, she’d given him her absolute trust. What could he do to prove she could rely on him in reality?

He gathered her closer, enjoying how soft she felt against him, but she took a step back. Her lips parted as if she wanted to ask a question. She let her hands fall to her sides. Her fingers clenched into fists.

“If you want to go inside, I’m all for it,” he said. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”

“No, I want to do it here,” she replied, her voice high and tight. “Like this... With you.”

“I’ll be honest, I want whatever it takes to be the focus of your world,” he admitted. “I want you to rely on me, cling to me. Forget everything and let go. Feel and not think. Surrender completely.”

She flinched and for a moment Matthew believed he had pushed her too hard, too fast.

“I will do whatever it takes to earn your trust,” he said softly. “I want you to feel safe so you can lose all control around me.”

Her breath hitched in her throat. “I already do,” she whispered.

Triumph swept through him. That was what he’d needed to hear. No qualifications, no bargaining. He wanted her to accept him, no questions asked.

* * *

SHE COULDN’T BELIEVE she was doing this. Excitement clawed through her as her heart pounded. This was risky. Too risky. So why had she agreed to this?

She tilted her head as she listened. No one was around. She heard a slight wind tugging at the leaves on the tree and the chirping of a bird. They were in her fenced backyard; no one would see them. Why not indulge in one of her fantasies?

But this was insanity. How far could she trust Matthew? How far could she trust any man? She’d never really allowed a lover to take care of her. Never let them take charge. In journalism, she had to push, dig and go after a story. She was the same in her personal life. Now Matthew wanted her to follow instead of taking the lead.

She reached out and flattened her hands against the solid wall of his chest, noting how his heart beat under her palm. As she explored his lines and angles, Matthew gently cupped her jaw with both hands and kissed her. She shivered with anticipation and deepened the kiss. Soon she was clinging to Matthew. He bunched her dress in his hands and pulled it off her.

She stood before him in only a bra and panties. The look of wonder on Matthew’s face made her feel extraordinarily beautiful. She felt his hot gaze on her, and her breasts became full and heavy. It excited her but she wasn’t ready to give up all control. Sydney reached for the back clasp of her bra. Matthew covered her hands with his.

“Let me,” he whispered in her ear.

She reluctantly let go and was rewarded with a kiss just below her ear. Matthew trailed a series of kisses along her neck as he pulled the bra straps from her shoulders.

Matthew kissed her collarbone and continued down her chest as her bra fell away. He captured her tight nipple in his mouth. The pleasure was so exquisite that she grabbed his hair and drew him closer. She felt his knowing chuckle against her breast.

She wiggled her hips when his fingertips grazed her panties. Then she heard a car backfire in the distance and jerked away.

“Shh,” Matthew murmured against her bare skin. He rubbed his hand against the small of her back, bringing her into him again. “No one will see us.”

“But...” She knew it was true, but there was always that risk of discovery.

“I won’t let anyone find us.”

She believed him. He would do everything in his power to keep them hidden. Somehow she knew she didn’t have to worry. Matthew wasn’t going to let anyone interrupt or stumble upon them. He would take care of her. All she had to do was let go and focus on the pleasure.

Sydney forgot everything but Matthew’s mouth. He kissed a path from her ribs to her hip as he dragged her panties free. She kicked the scrap of silk free and stood before him naked.

His hands were everywhere, caressing, stroking and cupping. He knew just how to touch her, knew exactly what she liked. Sydney shook with desire as he pulled away to take off his flannel shirt before yanking the white cotton T-shirt over his head.

Sydney swallowed roughly as she stared at Matthew. His arms and torso were tanned and muscular. She wanted to drag her fingers through his chest hair and follow the path that dipped past his low-slung jeans.

He gathered her close, her body fully against his. “Hold on tight.”

Sydney wrapped her arms around his shoulders and suddenly her world dipped. Sydney held on tighter until her back rested on his soft flannel shirt. The scent of him mingled with the grass.

Sydney lay before him, her legs parted, her arms out wide. She felt brazen but unsure. Exposed but powerful.

She watched as Matthew knelt between her legs. His strong hands rubbed her thighs before sliding underneath her ass. Her heart galloped as she felt his breath against her sex before he plunged his tongue into her wet heat.

Sydney groaned and hooked her legs over his broad shoulders. She was tempted to grab him by the hair and drive him closer. Instead she kept her arms spread out wide as the flicks of his tongue made her hips buck wildly. Matthew moaned, his enjoyment obvious as he pleasured her.

Her hands drifted to her breasts. Her skin was tight and tingly. She played with her breasts, pinching her nipples. The scent of her sex filled the air. Her hips twitched as intense desire coiled inside her.

Matthew teased her clitoris with his mouth. The light pressure was all she needed. The white-hot orgasm ripped through her like a crashing wave. She arched her body, opened her mouth, but no words came out as the pleasure scorched her body.

She lay on the ground, limp and spent. Matthew was suddenly on top of her, blocking the sun. “We should go indoors,” he encouraged.

“Don’t stop now. I want you inside me,” Sydney murmured as she arched against him. “Deep inside.”

He hissed between his teeth. “If I do that, I—”

“I won’t let anyone find us,” Sydney promised before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Trust me.”

Matthew quickly retrieved a condom from his wallet and shucked off his jeans. She watched breathlessly as need pulsed deep in her pelvis while he rolled on the condom.

He settled between her legs and she watched his expression as he surged into her. The intense pleasure on his face made her heart stop. Their moans mingled in the air as he stretched and filled her.

Matthew grabbed and tilted her hips and she wrapped her legs around his lean waist. His measured thrusts drove her wild. A muscle jerked in his cheek as he clenched his jaw.

“Don’t hold back, Matthew,” Sydney said in a low growl as her flesh gripped him.

Her words cracked his restraint. His thrusts became urgent. Untamed. There was a primal quality, a possessiveness, in his touch that Sydney couldn’t get enough of. She climaxed hard, her body shaking. Matthew tilted his head back, the cords in his neck straining, and cried out as he found his release.

* * *

SYDNEY HEARD THE HARSH beep of her alarm clock. She was about to reach over and hit it when the sound suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and saw Matthew’s muscular arm above her.

“Could you have found a more annoying alarm clock?” Matthew asked in a husky growl.

She grinned. “You should hear it when I keep hitting the snooze button. It gets worse.”

“I can’t imagine.” Matthew gathered her into his arms and she tucked her head against his shoulder. She wanted to hold on to this quiet moment. She still couldn’t wrap her mind over what had happened last night.

It had been illuminating. Amazing. Freeing. Even better than the fantasies she’d written in her fake erotic diary. Matthew was exactly what she wanted in a man. A lover. A partner.

Sydney tensed as the idea floated in her head. She was getting way ahead of herself. If she wanted to restore her professional reputation, she shouldn’t be with Matthew.

“Let me take you to Dawson’s for breakfast,” Matthew said.

She stroked her hand along his arm. “That’s not a good idea.”

Matthew lifted his head. “Did you already forget what I said last night?”

“I remember perfectly,” she said primly. “You said please...yes...just like that...”

He laughed and slid his hand down her back before resting on the curve of her hip. “Before that. No more excuses. So what if people question our being together? It might get difficult but I’m willing to deal with it. In fact, I think it’s better for us to be out in the open.”

Her smile dipped. It would be better for him. Let everyone talk and dissect their relationship months before the actual election and by then it would be old news. But she wouldn’t get the same treatment because she was a woman and an outsider. And a journalist was supposed to remain impartial. She’d lived this story before.

“I can’t, Matthew. I’ve been in that kind of situation before and I can’t go through it again.”

He gently caressed her back. “What happened?”

“I dated a political aide while I was writing about local government. I trusted him as a source when I shouldn’t have. I don’t know if he started dating me just to push his boss’s agenda or if the idea came later. It doesn’t matter. I lost my credibility and my job,” she continued. Her explanation came in short bursts. “That’s when I moved down here. No one else but Wendy would give me a chance to rebuild my career. I don’t like talking about it. Please don’t tell anybody.”

* * *

MATTHEW CONTINUED TO SLIDE his hand along her back as his mind churned with the information. Why would she believe he would advertise her mistake? What kind of guy did she think he was? “Why would I tell anyone? Who would I tell?”

She shrugged uncomfortably. “There are no secrets in Seedling and I’m worried someone will use this information against me.”

Matthew pulled back. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

She held out her hand. “I know, I know. That’s not what I meant. I have tried my best to show Seedling that I’m a good reporter, but no one is going to remember that if they find out about us. They’ll dismiss my work and say I play favorites.”

“Most people already think we’re dating,” he felt it necessary to point out.

“They can think that all they want,” she declared. “We aren’t confirming it and they have no evidence.”

He remembered the notebook locked in his desk at his office. He couldn’t say how many people had read it but a lot of people had heard about the content.

He had decided not to tell her that the diary had gotten out, or that he had it. Saying anything now would only make things worse. He would give it back, but the timing wasn’t right. He wasn’t sure when it would be.

“You should tell Wendy about us if you’re worried about a conflict of interest,” Matthew said as he got out of bed.

Sydney grimaced and sat up. When she flipped her hair out of her face, he noticed she was blushing. “Not yet. It’s too difficult to explain after...well, after everything. Right now I think it’s best if I don’t cover local government.”

“So when will I get to see you?” He lifted her up and held her by her waist. “I don’t want to sneak around.”

Sydney clung to his shoulders. She pressed her naked body against his and wrapped her legs around his waist as he started to walk to the bedroom door. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the shower.” Her eyes glowed with interest. Sex in the shower wasn’t one of the fantasies she’d included in her notebook, but it was high on his list. “And then you make me breakfast.”

She arched her eyebrows. “Oh, can I?”

Matthew squeezed her buttocks. “If you can’t be seen with me at Dawson’s, then you’ll have to take care of me.”

“Don’t worry, Matthew. I’m going to take very good care of you.”

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