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Sydney dragged her hands over her face. No, she wouldn’t think about that. She just had to find it. Immediately.
3 (#ulink_191b2c6f-333d-52f1-865a-b0d16c8bea1d)
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 The outdated dark green carpeting muffled her footsteps as she searched around the circulation desk for the notebook.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?”
