Genre: Contemporary Romance Heat Level: 2 Word Count: 68, 000 ISBN: 978-0-3695-1161-4 Editor: Stephanie Marrie Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Playing with Fire by Sydney Scott

Heat Level 2
$4.99
SKU 978-0-3695-1161-4
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Applewood, 1

When sparks start to fly, someone is bound to get burned.

Beckett wants to spend his days protecting the members of his small hometown and his nights with someone special. As a firefighter, Beckett has never hurt for female attention, but he has never felt sparks with any of the women who give it to him. That all changes one day when he sees Willa, a woman who stirs a fire in his belly, and in his heart.

Willa wants to spend her days rebuilding her career and her nights refocusing on herself. Still dealing with the trauma of a toxic relationship, Willa doesn’t see the need to try and find love in her new town, but that’s a difficult position to maintain when she is constantly having meet-cutes with the gorgeous, strong, and incredibly patient Beckett.

Will their relationship catch fire, or be smothered by the troubles of Willa’s past?

 

Excerpt:

Swallowing the rebuke that was on the tip of his tongue at the man interrupting his conversation with Willa, Beckett smiled politely at Dale and clasped his shoulder. It wasn’t his fault Beckett was finally getting somewhere with the woman of his dreams only to be interrupted. “That’s great. I was just enjoying Willa’s sugar-coated cereal manifesto.” Beckett’s body turned toward the woman, only to find the aisle in front of him abandoned. “Oh fuck a duck.”

“What’s that?” Dale asked.

Beckett ignored the question as his eyes darted around the empty aisle. Willa was nowhere to be found and his shoulders slumped in defeat. If he believed in fate, Beckett would think it was against him for all the close calls he’d had with that woman without ever actually getting anywhere and wondered if he shouldn’t just give up the ghost. But he believed people were in charge of their own futures, and right now he wanted nothing more than to make that woman a part of his.

“Nothing, Banks. Let’s grab the last few things and head to the checkout.” Beckett’s eyes roamed the market as they gathered the rest of their necessities, and when they landed on a certain blonde at the checkout stand, he smiled again.

As Beckett pushed the cart toward her lane, he took a long look at Willa. Her hair was tucked up in a sloppy bun, giving him a peek at her swanlike neck. Her slender body was encased in a long dress made of a material so light that it swayed with every subtle movement she made. She was a little more than half a foot shorter than him, the perfect height to be able to tuck her head under his chin as he held onto her. Beckett had been attracted to women before, but none as strongly as he was her. Willa was everything he desired in a woman with the bonus of also being someone he found inherently fascinating despite not even really knowing her yet. Those sea green eyes had a story to tell. Beckett wanted to curl up on the floor at her feet and listen to every word.

Unable to hold back any longer, he moved up behind her, frowning when the panic in her voice as she spoke with the cashier became evident. “I swear I had it when I left the house,” she insisted shrilly. She reached into her woven purse and rifled around a moment before coming up empty. “I’m so sorry. Is there a way we can put this aside and I can come back later with my wallet?”

The teenage boy she had been speaking with looked more like a deer in headlights than a cashier at that moment, so Beckett decided to save them both some trouble and slapped his personal credit card on the small counter. “Here,” he told them, pushing it forward. “It’s on me.”

Willa looked over her shoulder to gaze at him, her expression a mix of gratitude and distrust. “You really don’t need to do that,” she insisted. “I can handle it.”

Nodding, Beckett held his hands up. “I’m not saying you can’t. Just trying to be friendly.” He was always friendly, always ready to help someone in need, but he definitely wanted to get into her good graces so that he could ask her out.

Willa’s eyes pierced through him like she was trying to get a read on his aura, or soul, or whatever makes people who they are. Finally, she sighed and smiled at the cashier. “I guess it’s on him.” When she turned back to Beckett, the smile was still there but he could see her guard was back up a little. “I’m not always such a mess,” she mumbled.

Beckett’s eyes came together as he watched her curl into herself a little. “Who said you were a mess?” Fury at anyone who ever made her feel bad for a simple slip up ripples through him as did the need to draw her into his arms for a comforting hug. “We all forget things from time to time.”

Willa nodded, straightening herself again as the apprehension seemed to drain from her body. “Well, thank you.” She had all her groceries gathered and made to leave. Beckett knew that this might be his only shot, so if he was going to take it, he needed to move.

Passing the station credit card off to Dale, Beckett nodded for Willa to follow him toward the door. “You’re welcome.” Coughing into his hand, Beckett stood a little taller and decided to just go for it. “Earlier you said subtlety was overrated, so I am just going to go ahead and tell you that I like you and would love to take you out on a date.” Willa’s eyes widened with pleasure, but soon her apprehension returned.

Her teeth dug into the plush pink of her lower lip as she peered up at him. “I don’t know. I mean, we just met.”

Beckett reached up and started rubbing the back of his neck as he shrugged. “Well, how else were we supposed to get to know one another?” When he saw the wheels of her mind still turning, he smiled and tapped the department logo on my chest. “Tell you what. You know I’m a firefighter now. Why don’t you think about it, and come find me when you have your answer?”

Willa eyed him for a moment before nodding. “I can do that.”

No longer holding his breath, Beckett let the relief of making that first, small step fill his lungs along with some much needed oxygen. Smiling, he reached out to shake her hand. “Until then, it was nice talking to you Willa.”

Willa returned his smile and slipped her hand in his. Her skin was soft and smooth, and he couldn’t help but wonder if her whole body felt the same. “You too, Kemp.” Her fingers trailed lightly along his as she pulled back and turned to leave.

Beckett would laugh at the ridiculousness of her thinking his first name was Kemp if it weren’t for one thing keeping him silent and rooted to the spot. The sensations traveling all throughout his body at the brief touch had him staring down at the place their palms were just joined, searching for tangible evidence of what he felt so strongly, more than he had ever felt it before. There was no visible mark on his skin, but there was one currently being burned onto his soul.

“What’s up, Kemp?” Dale asked as he joined Beckett.

There was a cart full of groceries to get to the truck and a drive back to the station to make, but Beckett couldn’t be bothered with any of that. He stared blankly at his hand for another moment before he met Dale’s gaze, his lips pulling back into a grin. “Sparks.”

Series:
/series-applewood/

Product Reviews

Score: 5 out of 5 (based on 10 ratings)
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4/5
Sweet and spicy low-angst romance
Written by ikwi on 29th Jun 2025

This is an adorable small-town romance. Beckett is a dashing firefighter MMC looking for a true love connection, but hadn't felt real sparks with anyone before. Willa is new to town, having moved there from a big city to escape an abusive relationship. Their chemistry is instant and potent, and Beckett is ready to go all in right away, but reins himself in and goes slowly instead, patient and accommodating of Willa's triggers. The pair's sexual relationship is very hot, and it is through it that Willa becomes empowered to take charge of her new life and ultimately get her groove back. Despite dealing with the heavy topic of a controlling past relationship, the story is low angst and the two leads are likable and easy to root for. Beckett is one of five brothers, and I can't wait to read what Sydney Scott has in store for the other Kemp boys!

5/5
Loved this!!
Written by Jamee h on 3rd May 2025

I loved this book! It had so much chemistry and heat! It’s a small town sweet romance! I definitely recommend reading this

5/5
the meet/cutes ...
Written by Kimkim on 30th Apr 2025

loved it !! a great start for this new series in Applewood... it's OMG !!! cute !! adorable !! sweet !! and swoon worthy !!! all rolled into one !!! love , love, love Beckett !!! and poor Willa what she went though...this is their love story... for Beckett it was love at first sight... he's been hoping of finding his one and only.. and there she was... singing and dancing in her car at the stop light... he was in LOVE ... she's new to town, having escaped a toxic relationship... she just wants to work on her career and on herself... but, the meet/cutes... swoon... just might change her mind about him.... so good !!!

5/5
Awesome read
Written by Laura Ann on 22nd Apr 2025

Beckett has been working for the Applewood Fire Station for years and the Chief, Mason Trilby is like a beloved uncle, when he isn’t yelling. lol. I like the chief’s taste in music as well as Beckett’s. The probie’s, Dale’s not so much, lol. Beckett has an older brother, Aiden who is a chef, while he has a three younger brothers: Nate, the Mayor; Felix, owner of the Branch & Brew, and Travis, who helps their father, Nolan run the apple orchard/farm. Lottie is Willa’s bestie from college. Now that Willa needs a place to go and stay, she decides to drive from Florida to Applewood and Lottie is more than willing to take her in. Beckett Kemp, sees Willa for the first time when she gets into town while at a light. He is entranced by her light and how wild and happy she is while dancing in her seat and singing to the music. Finding out about Beckett’s life when he was a kid was interesting. He was defo supposed to be a fireman. Seeing that Willa has panic attacks made me sad that she goes thru that, but also happy that someone is talking about it. People need to take people’s mental health more seriously. My father has severe panic attacks and doctors and nurses are kinda blah about that until I tell them that one led to a heart attack. That’s when they finally take it seriously. But, I digress. Sorry, but this book just hit me hard during some serious stuff in RL. Finding out why Willa has panic attacks and what her ex did to her- made me livid and made me curse him out- a lot. I love how patient Beckett is with Willa once she tells him about her past. Of course, she will have triggers and he needs to be careful, but they are so good for each other. I love them together. They are so cute and sweet and romantic. I want to see who Felix and Nate end up with and I want to know more about Travis as he is very quiet. I laughed a lot, chewed on my nails, cursed, and things were steamy with Willa and Beckett. Egads. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

5/5
Sweet & Heartwarming
Written by JeniT on 22nd Apr 2025

This is a small town sweet romance with a whole lot of heart and spicy fun!! Willa was beat down emotionally and mentally by her ex and with his lingering words popping up to bring her down a new relationship is a scary thought. Beckett is a firefighter and a good man who sees through her pain to the beautiful woman he wants. He’s sweet and patient with her and the road to their HEA will have you doing a happy dance. His brothers are amazing characters and her best friend is a kick in the pants with a heart of gold. I seriously need more from Applewood sooner than later.

5/5
Meet cute with fire
Written by skgillman29 on 19th Apr 2025

We have small town antics with a local fireman trying to find the woman who makes his heart spark like an electrical storm once had. Beckett Kemp has his work cut out for him as he has brief encounter with a newly arrived to Applewood, Willa. While Beckett has fallen head over heels with Willa, we find Willa is first trying to piece her old independent self back together after a toxic relationship back in her hometown of Orlando Florida left her feeling used by her ex-boyfriend. Willa is finding a new breath of life in Applewood Washington with her old college roommate, Lottie, and her introduction to small town Americana, but doesn't know if she is able to jump back on the horse with a new relationship with a lonely fireman who believes he has finally found the woman he wants to make his one and only. I enjoyed this well written look into the the characters of Applewood with the Kemp brothers in their small town. The story had me wishing for the sparks to fly between Beckett and Willa and found me flipping page after page to see where their encounter might lead as well as the side characters we are introduced to in Applewood. There is plenty of love to go around in this small community that I very much hope for a whole series revolving around the Kemp brothers in the future.

4/5
Hot, hot, hot
Written by MamaBear1016 on 19th Apr 2025

Hot heat and spice. LOVED the sizzle between these 2 characters! So can't wait for the other brother's story

5/5
Great read
Written by Another world awaits on 19th Apr 2025

Great read. Wonderful characters that take your heart. This is a wonderful family and I can wait to read the rest of the brothers story’s. Wonderful Instalove read that warmed by heart great HEA

5/5
Beckett and Willa
Written by Chmhowel on 19th Apr 2025

This is the second book I've read by this author. I love the story. Beckett’s character is so sweet and caring. Willa is a woman with a past and Beckett doesn’t care. When the two get together, there is fire. I love all of the supporting characters which made this book a fun read. Great book!!

4/5
Sweet Story
Written by Kimmijane on 19th Apr 2025

This book has a lot of charm and the meet cutes were adorable. This book is romantic and spicy. ?️ If you like small town romance then you’ll like this book.

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