She hesitated. Retreat would be the best option. She should come up with an excuse for a quick exit. But she’d regret not following this through. She had to give this crazy idea her best chance. “Thanks,” she muttered. She was clumsy in her stilettos though she tried to stride confidently into Matthew’s office.
“Nice raincoat,” he commented as he closed the door behind her.
“It’s Laura’s.” She gripped the sash.
“I should have guessed,” Matthew said as he walked to his desk.
“The shoes are Isabel’s. Who knew, right?” she said with a nervous chuckle as she shifted from one foot to the other. “She said we were the same size. She lied.”
He sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. “Why are you here, Sydney?”
Her hands flexed at her sides. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Matthew’s jaw clenched as his gaze traveled down the length of her body. “No.”
“Really?” She thrust a hand in her curly hair. “Wow, I really suck at this. You see—”
“Are you setting me up for something?” Matthew asked coldly. “Trying to take one of my fantasies and use it against me?”
Sydney’s mouth gaped. “No! I wouldn’t do that. Do you think I’m the kind of person who would?”
“No,” he said with a weary sigh. “But you were really angry when you found out I had your notebook. I know my apology wasn’t enough and that you don’t trust me.”
She took a step closer to him. “Matthew, I’m the one who is sorry. I’m embarrassed that I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I know you’re not the kind of person who would use my personal information against me. You would never play those games.”
“I should have given you the notebook the minute I got it from Miss Doris,” he said.
“And I should have given you some indication of how much I wanted you,” Sydney said. “I should have told you.”
Matthew shook his head and gripped the edge of the desk with his hands. “No, you did nothing wrong. Don’t take any of the blame. You had to keep quiet for your job.”
She swiped her tongue along her bottom lip and took another step toward Matthew. “If I have to hide the fact that I’ve fallen for you, then I need to rethink my job.”
He frowned. “You are not quitting your job. I’ve already decided that I’m not going to run for office in the next election.”
Sydney’s mouth dropped open. “Why? Because of me? Don’t do that.”
“I want to be with you and I want you to have a chance to rebuild your career. This is the perfect compromise.”
“But...”
“I don’t want you to think that I would use you or work against you for my own gain.”
Sydney weakly closed her eyes. “Matthew, I don’t want you to give up anything for me. Don’t change your life. Don’t change the direction of your future for me.”
“Sydney, my life changed the moment I saw you at your first town meeting.”
She wasn’t sure how to take that. She wanted to be important in Matthew’s life but she didn’t want him to regret giving up something for her. “You’re the clear winner for this upcoming election.”
“How about this,” Matthew said softly. “When the next election comes around, you and I will discuss the idea of me running for mayor.”
Sydney’s heart gave a lurch as she opened her eyes. Matthew was already planning for them to be together for years?
“Tell me you’re not going to quit your job,” he said.
“I’m not quitting,” she promised as she played with the sash of her raincoat, “I’ll make sure Wendy covers town politics. I’m not going to let gossip get in the way of us.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said gruffly as he watched her hands. “Everyone knows that I’m in love with you. You seem to be the last to realize it.”
Sydney clasped his jaw in her hands and kissed him as a sense of joy washed over her. Matthew loved her and he wasn’t going to allow anything to come between them. She wasn’t alone in feeling this way.
When she broke the kiss, Matthew rested his forehead against hers. “Are you wearing anything under that?”
Sydney chuckled and took a step back. “Everyone in town has asked me that, and I’m pretty sure they all know the answer.”
“Did you tell them that it’s for my eyes only?”
She smiled. “I think it was implied. I wouldn’t show up in public wearing nothing but a raincoat for just anyone.”
His mouth tilted in a wicked smile. “I remember you didn’t understand the appeal of the fantasy. Should I explain?”