“Orgasms are biological. Want me to prove it?” Matt asked Bridget laughed. And it made him smile. “Exactly what hypothesis would you offer to prove?” He took her into his arms. “The main physical changes that occur during a sexual experience are a result of vasocongestion.” “English, please.” She stepped back. “It means accumulation of blood in various parts of the body. Muscular tension increases and other—” “Correct me if I’m wrong, but in an experiment, doesn’t the scientist perform?” Matt grinned and pulled her close again. “As a scientist who’s very interested in experimenting on you, I can say I definitely can perform.” “Talk, talk, talk. How about some action?” And she twined her arms around his neck. He hesitated, recognizing the danger, but decided for once in his life he wasn’t going to plan things out. The bottom line was he wanted her. He wanted her badly. And he would now stop at nothing to have her. Dear Reader, People go to a lot of trouble to find themselves. Some walk a spiritual path, others go on the trip of their dreams and some find that what they were so desperately searching for is right in their own backyard. Bridget Cole can relate. She returns to Cambridge, Massachusetts, after losing key modeling contracts in New York City. But she’s convinced that she’ll return to the Big Apple to regain what she’s lost. She doesn’t bank on sexy Matt Fox, her childhood friend and the boy next door. At sixteen, she dared him to kiss her in an intimate game of truth or dare and she has never gotten over it. Now Matt’s back on the scene and looking to pick up where they left off…. I thank you for taking the time to read my book and hope it brings you much enjoyment. Let me know. Drop me a line in care of Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada, or visit my Web site at www.karenanders.com. Happy reading! Karen Anders Books by Karen Anders HARLEQUIN BLAZE 22—THE BARE FACTS 43—HOT ON HER TAIL 74—THE DIVA DIARIES 103—HERS TO TAKE* 111—YOURS TO SEDUCE* 119—MINE TO ENTICE* 154—MANHANDLING KAREN ANDERS Almost Naked, Inc. To Melanie Martin for her friendship and pink pop-ups. A special thanks to Marlies Durso for her invaluable help with all things relating to the fashion industry and to Liz Quigley for her insights on the inner workings of the garden club. All mistakes are mine. Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Prologue Truth or Dare—Twelve years ago B C RIDGET OLE’S FACE was classically beautiful, and even from a distance her skin looked creamy and flawless. Her hair tumbled down her back to her waist, the color of opulent amber—a budding woman who was all pink cotton candy seduction and mouthwatering honey. The focus of Matthew Fox’s fantasies stood at the bottom of the basement stairs talking to a dark-haired girl. He noticed every shift her body made as she smiled and nodded her head at something the other girl said. The short striped pink miniskirt left her smooth, slender thighs bare and fueled his imagination and male hormones. He knew it was one of her designs. She’d showed him the sketch of the skirt last week, saying softly that her mother thought it was just doodling. Deft with a needle and thread, she’d made the pink concoction from her own pattern. But it wasn’t the clothing that interested him as he took in the view, his gaze sliding upward. His mouth went dry as he took in curvaceous hips, a slim waist and a top that molded to ample, perfectly rounded breasts and showed the faint outline of her nipples pressing against the pink, stretchy fabric of her top. At sixteen, he was now quite well aware of what it meant to want someone in the physical sense, except he had all these pent-up feelings for her that were quite inconvenient. Hormones won out, a hard thing to swallow as Matt prided himself on his intellect. He cut himself a break, since he was, after all, a teenage boy. She had soft, full lips and a sweet mouth designed to give all kinds of erotic pleasure. The thought caused his stomach to tighten with awareness and made other parts of his anatomy leap to attention, as well. He caught her eye and she smiled like an angel. Matt felt everything inside him tense. A jumble of feelings and emotions only made him all the more confused, caught between his body’s needs and his mind’s awareness. Bridget was a complication Matt didn’t know how to handle. Bridget was his friend. A very beautiful and sexy friend who had grown from a petite blond dynamo to a sleek, sophisticated sixteen-year-old girl. They were worlds apart. She was on the beauty pageant circuit and he was headed for a prestigious college. Her parents were wealthy. His parents weren’t. He liked math and she hated it. A girl that was so far out of his league, he was crazy to even think he had a chance with her. Her party was in full swing and they were all in the basement to play Trivial Pursuit. With her no-holds-barred attitude, Bridget had convinced her aunt to host this teen party without her mother’s knowledge. He couldn’t blame her aunt. He was also under Bridget’s spell. Bridget had personally invited him. Since he lived next door, he was a frequent visitor whenever Bridget visited her aunt. He also tutored Bridget in math and let her look through his telescope. He stood off to the side, his back to the wall, his hands buried deep in his pockets. Her other guests started to gather in a circle. Bridget started across the room and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The way she moved was a sensual feast. She stopped in front of him. “Let’s play.” “Trivial Pursuit,” he said, getting lost in her big blue eyes. “Truth or Dare. It’ll be much more fun.” As effectively as if she’d thrown cold water on him, he shut down. Shaking his head, he said, “No. Not interested.”