Free Charade by Barri Bryan Page B

together in a firestorm of need and desire. Their bodies moved in exquisite harmony as they climbed higher and higher until they reached a peak of fiery delight that exploded in a shower of sensuous fulfillment.
    Afterward Trace wrapped Lynn in the warmth of his sheltering embrace. “Sleep now,” he whispered softly. The words were scarcely out of his mouth when he fell into a slumber reserved for those fortunate individuals who have experienced complete sexual satisfaction.

Chapter 11
    Lynn woke with the feeling that all was right with the world. A bright sun shone through her bedroom window, spilling its brightness across the bed and onto the floor. Even before she stretched and turned to look, she knew Trace was gone. She wasn't surprised.
    Pushing a pillow behind her shoulders she leaned against the headboard as a smile spread across her face. Last night she had behaved like some wanton seductress, taking a near stranger into her bed and letting him make passionate love to her; not once but over and over again.
    Despite the possible consequence of such a foolish act, she couldn't stop smiling. She had responded by meeting his amorous advances more than halfway. Until last night Lynn had not imagined such deep and satisfying sexual experiences existed outside the realm of romantic fantasy. Was last night some mystical one-time happening, or was it possible that such intensely passionate encounters could occur on a regular basis?
    How sad that she would never know, because as wonderful as last night had been, she must never let it happen with Trace again. She reviewed in her mind all the reasons why. Trace was a man she hardly knew and what she did know, she didn't particularly like. He's stubborn, opinionated, arrogant, and egoistical. Her foolish heart argued that he was also gentle, thoughtful, sensitive, and kind.
    Sitting up she spied the note atop the pillow next to her. Catching it in her hand she read the message scrawled in bold masculine cursive across the back of an envelope. You are amazing! I'm looking forward to our date tonight.
    Lynn slipped from her bed and headed for the shower as her mind shifted to thoughts of her class reunion and seeing Joel again. Interestingly enough, the idea of him showing up with some curvaceous blonde seemed hardly worth worrying about.
    Twenty minutes later she emerged from her bedroom and was almost to the front door when the telephone rang. Lynn's heart skipped a bear. Was it Trace? She hurried to answer the clanging instrument. “Hello?"
    It was not Trace but Lillie on the other end of the line. Without bothering with so much as a hello, she demanded, “Where have you been? I've been ringing your phone for the past ten minutes."
    Lynn swallowed her discomfort. “I was in the shower.” This was not a conversation she looked forward to with any degree of eagerness. “Mother, could I call you later? It's past time for me to open the shop."
    Lillie's reply scorched across the wire and into Lynn's ear. “It is not, and you cannot."
    There was no point in hedging any longer. “If this is about what happened at the Grange Hall last night I can explain.” She bit her tongue to keep from adding, even though it's none of your business .
    Lillie replied “I don't need an explanation. I know what I saw.” Her tone shifted from demanding to wheedling, “Please promise that you won't see Trace Randolph again."
    Despite her resolve not to argue with her mother, Lynn found herself doing just that. “Mother, I am twenty-nine years old. I can make my own decisions about whom I go out with.” She shifted the receiver to her other ear. “What would you say if I demanded you not see Ralph again?"
    Lillie asked indignantly, “After what happened last night, do you think I would ever even speak to that despicable man again?"
    Quite suddenly Lynn knew that she had to confess to her mother what she and Trace had done. “I'll be over tomorrow afternoon. I have something important to