Free A Trace of Passion by Danielle Ravencraft Page B

recognized someone in the audience. Wish I could have seen who it was.”
    Ophelia bit her lip. Her friends still didn’t know. Would Trace confront her in front of them? Would he blurt out that they had sex? Why else would he have a bouncer stop them?
    “Ophelia, are you okay?” Lizzy touched the back of her hand to Ophelia’s forehead. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
    Alana laughed. “She gets like that around Trace.”
    Ophelia’s eyes widened. She wanted to tell Alana to shut up, but couldn’t find her voice.
    Lizzy nodded. “I’m excited too. I mean, can you believe we’re going to meet the Trace Curtis? And on your birthday.”
    Alana erupted in laughter. “Lizzy, don’t you know? Trace used to—” Ophelia kicked Alana’s shin. She jumped then bent to rub her leg. “What was that for?”
    Ophelia hesitated but was saved by the sound of footsteps. “Someone’s coming,” she murmured.
    Trace stepped from behind the curtain and descended the stage. He no longer sported the revealing vest, but the cotton T-shirt wasn’t much better, as the material stretched thinly over the planes of his chest. “Ladies, thanks so much for waiting.”
    Ophelia glanced away and shaded her face with a hand while Lizzy hiked up her skirt and Alana flashed a smile. Nausea knotted Ophelia’s stomach until she was certain she’d either vomit or faint. What would she say to him? What could she say to him?
    “Ophelia,” he whispered her name. “It’s been a long time.”
    “Wow, I didn’t think you’d remember us,” Alana said.
    Ophelia snapped her head in Alana’s direction. She glared at her friend, heat burning her cheeks. Trace glance at Alana as well, his brows pulled together in thought.
    Lizzy thrust her palm forward. “Wait, how do you guys know each other?”
    Beads of sweat formed on Ophelia’s brow. She wanted to deny that she knew him, but Alana would catch the lie in a heartbeat.
    “We went to high school together.”
    Trace’s brow rose. “The cheerleader, right? Alana…Thorton?”
    Alana placed a hand over her chest. “Aw, you remember.”
    Ophelia rolled her eyes. Of course he’d remember the name of the captain of the cheerleading squad. Alana and Ophelia had been best friends since the third grade. They somehow managed to stay close despite their differences but the student body never noticed. While Alana shook pompoms, Ophelia buried her nose in books.
    Lizzy gasped. “You went to school with us?”
    Trace blushed and ran his fingers through his hair. The curls immediately fell over his eyes again. “I lived in the States for a year.”
    “His real name is Mathew Curtis,” Ophelia mumbled. Trace narrowed his eyes at her. Oh no. Why did I open my mouth? She clenched her jaw and looked at the floor.
    “Mathew?” Lizzy said the name as if she could taste it. “Mathew…Curtis?” Her eyes lit with recognition. “Not the Mathew Curtis that was always hitting on the lunch ladies?”
    Trace blushed. “I only did it for the free pizza.”
    Lizzy’s squeal had everyone cupping their ears. When she finally stopped, Alana placed a hand on Trace’s arm and smiled. “Why don’t you come with us? It’s Ophelia’s birthday and we’re having a party at my apartment; nothing wild, just some friends and some beer. We can catch up.”
    What? Ophelia glanced at her friend in horror and wet her lips. “I’m sure Trace is busy.”
    “Actually, I’m not at all busy.” Trace narrowed his gaze and grinned at Ophelia. Her breath hitched. “Happy birthday, by the way,” he said, winking.
    * * * *
    Trace found himself seated on Alana’s couch, surrounded by people he didn’t know. Alana introduced her husband, Joel. Trace recognized the former football player and bantered with him about their youthful shenanigans. Trace enjoyed himself. The way they referred to him as Mathew made him feel at home instead of another disposable celebrity. But Alana and Joel had only known him for one