It had been Principal Sister Joy Margaret's idea for Lucas Krupke to ride in Kate Evans's economy car to the Regional Music Educator's Conference. Kate Evans sure hadn't minded the suggestion. She'd been thinking about "what kind of body hid under those saggy pants and oversized sweaters" of his since he had first started teaching at the Catholic school a mere thirteen weeks before.

To Kate, it seemed like a really good idea to be squashed together with the handsome bookish Lucas in her little car, even if he was nearly seven feet tall. She went out and had her car washed and cleaned up for him; and she had coffee waiting for him when she picked him up at the school at five a.m. It seemed like a really good idea even though she nearly ran a red light because she was fantasizing and staring at her passenger instead of the road; it seemed like a good idea-until the red engine light came on on the turnpike, and they were stranded in a car with no oil in the middle of nowhere. And after the tow, and several hours waiting for the car to be fixed, and the rest of the 400 miles of driving, the hotel had only booked them one room.

A series of problems and mix-ups plus a little deliberate sabotage from a mysterious perpetrator entrapped Kate and Lucas in a hotel room together in a strange small town with no other available rooms. Their situation was contrived, but not by the author-by a secret character. Although it's listed as a comedy, it is a little light on the humor. It takes its erotica pretty seriously. Lucas is a little dominant and Kate is a little submissive and they have a whole lot of chemistry together. Author Tawny Taylor injects fiery enthusiasm between the covers of her book (as well as the sheets of her characters' bed). There's a little twist at the end that answers a particular burning question. This is a short, quick read and about as steamy as it gets-just what you expect from one of Ellora's Cave's Quickies.

Reviewed By: Allie
© July 2004