I didn’t know if it was Belle Musique or being away from Chicago, or maybe it was all the orgasms I was having, but my words were finally flowing. Freely and beautifully, they flowed onto the page as the story of Kade and Amber came together. Never had two characters been through so much drama and bullshit even before they touched one another. It was coming out longer than I had originally intended, but it was good.

It was good news for me, since everything else in my life had turned into a big ol’ crap sandwich. That’s probably why I’d spent the past—almost—week hiding out in my own personal space. It was good news for Sweeter Nothings but it meant every morning I woke up and made a conscious decision to be a coward. And I was totally okay with that.

For now.

The time would come when I could no longer hole up in my house and avoid my neighbor who also happened to be my husband. Either I would run out of food or Nash would run out of patience. But that was a day off into the future and for now, I was free to hide behind my laptop in the comfort of my backyard. With fresh salsa.

“I thought I heard the distant clicking of erotic romance being created nearby.” Maddie’s voice rang out, interrupting my nonstop thoughts and I looked up with a small smile.

“Maddie. Come on in. What are you doing here?” Even my promise to make connections here as I settled in, had gone by the wayside when Aunt Mae had revealed my new relationship status.

“At first, I thought you were avoiding my calls and ignoring me. But then I read this morning’s Gazette.” She held up the town newspaper which was more of a town schedule and gossip rag, but everyone subscribed to it out of fear they’d be left out of something really juicy. “Now I know you must be having lots of honeymoon sex. Right?”

I sucked in a breath at the same time I reached for my sunglasses. “What are you talking about?”

Arms crossed in her most intimidating mom stare, Maddie waited me out. I hadn’t said a word out loud to anyone but Lollipop in days so really, she just hadn’t realized she was outgunned. “News of your marriage made the front page of the Gazette.” When she was close enough, Maddie tossed the paper my way. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

My eyes scanned the front page but they didn’t need to go far because there was a photo of Nash and me during the would-be prosperity ceremony. Our lips scant centimeters apart, the shot taken a breath before they met. It was hot. Sensual, even. And my worst nightmare. “Because I only found out a few days ago myself.”

“Damn,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”

“Yep, hiding in my house like the coward I am. On the upside, I am making really good progress with Sweeter Nothings.”

Maddie’s brown eyes lit up and she leaned forward, waiting for more details. “You’re not gonna tell me that too?” She leaned back with a fake pout. “I need to rethink this whole friendship thing, then.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I haven’t had any real friends in a long time, Maddie, so you’ll have to be patient with me. Now that I think about it, I should have called you instead of freaking out alone.”

“That’s what girlfriends are for. But seriously, what do you plan to do about the marriage?”

I scooped up a big helping of salsa on a chip and shoved it in my mouth like the lady I was raised to be. “Sowwy,” I apologized with a full mouth. The one time in my life when I actually listened to Aunt Mae’s weird advice and recited the entire alphabet as I chewed, had really come in handy. But it was a stalling tactic and we both knew it. “We can’t get an annulment because we’ve been sleeping together. I know, I’m seeing a pattern myself,” I told her before she could scold me again about keeping secrets.

“So you have been bumpin’ uglies? How is it? Can you answer that now that he’s your husband?”

I grinned. “It’s so amazing that I’m thinking about continuing to do it while we figure out the whole marriage thing.” The truth was that Nash’s naked body was all I thought about in my free moments. Well, that body and his big strong hands cupping my breast or stroking my leg. His perfect mouth pulled into a twisted grimace in the moments before his orgasm crashed over him.

“That good huh? Well honey, I’m happy for you. Now don’t screw it up.” Her smile took the sting off the words but my curiosity got the better of me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Did she really think I couldn’t keep a guy like Nash? “You ever think that maybe he can’t keep me?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I meant don’t screw it up by pretending you two don’t want each other. I saw that kiss at the Solstice Celebration but more importantly, I saw you two at the barbecue. Laughing and joking with that light in your eyes. I even saw the tension after some lover’s spat.”

“Oh.”

Maddie burst out laughing. “It’s clear, I hit a spot?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “The people I was closest to over the past almost decade screwed me over and it takes a while to shake that off.” That was something else I refused to waste more energy on. “We can’t stay married just because we like each other, Maddie. That’s crazy.”

She shrugged and stole a chip, swiping it through the salsa. “This is delicious, did you make it?”

“Yep. First yield from my salsa garden.” I pointed over to my summer hobby with a proud grin.

“People get married for way worse reasons all the time and those people don’t have things like chemistry, attraction and actually liking each other, going for them. You guys do. At least give it a try.”

Her advice sounded appealing but unrealistic. “I don’t know. I’ll consider it but not until after my book is complete.”

“Hmm, well that’s the other thing I came to talk to you about. There are rumors swirling that the town is getting together for a potluck celebration for Belle Musique’s resident artistes.”

I thunked my head on the table, thankful I’d shoved my laptop aside. “Why me?”

Maddie leaned over the table and reached for my hand, brown eyes earnest as she looked at me with her blonde hair haloed by the sun. “This is something most of us wish for, Vivi, to find someone who likes us just the way we are. Who thinks we’re gorgeous and smart and funny. Nash thinks that about you, give it a shot.”

“We’re friends,” I insisted but the words were starting to sound weak even to me. “We’re not dating.”

“You eat dinner together two or three nights a week,” she shot back.

I glared. “This is why I don’t have friends.”

“Because you don’t like the truth?” Her eyes sparkled and I could see her fighting a grin.

“Absolutely.” I stuck out my tongue and she laughed.

“Fine, I can see you have your stubborn hat on so I’ll let it be. For now. But think about it before you miss out on something great.” She stood with a wistful look in her gaze. “Just ask yourself why this can’t work. And don’t come up with candy ass ‘he’s my neighbor’ answers.”

“You’re bossy.”

She grinned. “I’m the boss at work and at home.”

“The perfect set up for a dom-sub love story,” I told her jokingly, but the way her skin flushed told me maybe I was right. “Thanks for stopping by, Maddie. I promise to do better.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Newlyweds need plenty of alone time.” Then with a wave, she tiptoed through my yard until she reached the gate. “See you later, Vivi!”

“Not if I see you first, Maddie.” She laughed and I returned to my laptop. Well I tried, but all this talk of Nash had him fresh on my mind.