LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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