Charade by Barri Bryan Page B

done."
    That seemed a reasonable request. “All right, but this has to look spontaneous and real, so don't overdo it.” As you have by wearing that damn dress trying to look sexy. Damn it, why was he so upset? Hell he wasn't just upset, he was angry too, and more than a little confused. Pulling into the Grange Hall's crowded parking lot, he quickly spotted a slot far from the hall and pulled his truck into it.
    Lynn seemed determined to find fault. “Can't you find a closer spot? I'm wearing heels."
    And little else, Trace thought, as he pulled his keys from the ignition. “There isn't another parking space. This will have to do."
    As they walked across the gravel parking lot, Trace caught Lynn's hand in his. “We're supposed to be lovers, so smile."
    Lynn didn't reply, neither did she smile, but she did allow Trace to hold her hand until they reached the walk that led to the entrance way. As they neared the double doors he put his arm around her waist. A jolt of electricity shot up his arm and danced through his body as a warning signal sounded inside his head. He released her, pulled the door open and then waited for her to enter before following her inside.
    The room was dim and the air was smoky. At the far end of the hall members of a five piece band tuned instruments. Trace gave his tickets to the doorman, and waited as the man tore them in half and handed him the stubs. “Sit anywhere you can find a table. The bar's open and so is the food counter."
    Lynn pointed, “Look, Mother and Ralph are sitting over there."
    Trace looked up to see his dad and a small nondescript woman sitting at a table near the bandstand. At last he was getting a view of the notorious Lillie McGuire. She certainly didn't look like a middle-aged sex-kitten. But then he was learning that looks could be deceiving; case in point, Lynn Evans. Until tonight, Trace would have bet a week's salary that she was a sweet but dowdy little woman. Now he didn't know what to think.
    Lynn took his hand and pulled him along as she threaded her way around tables and through groups of people. “Move it, the sooner we start, the sooner we get this over."
    They turned heads as they made their way across the room, a tall handsome man dressed in conventional jeans and a plaid shirt and a voluptuous fiery haired woman wearing a too-short dress and black stiletto heels. As they neared Ralph and Lillie's table, Ralph spied them. A look of shocked surprise shot across his face. He spoke to Lillie and pointed.
    Lillie turned and stared.
    Lynn whispered to Trace. “It's hit the fan now. Mother is not happy with what she sees."
    Good, that was what Trace was hoping for. “Neither is my old man.” He pulled Lynn nearer and put his arm around her waist. “Shall we proceed as planned?"
    Lynn nodded. “I suppose since we've come this far..."
    Before she could say more Trace drew her into his arms and kissed her full on the lips. It was like bringing his mouth in contact with exposed electric wire. The high voltage traveled into his mouth and exploded inside his brain. Shock waves rippled all the way to the pit of his stomach and jarred to the tips of his toes.
    Lynn responded as a breathless little gurgle caught in her throat. She clung to him and pushed her tongue inside his mouth to caress and explore.
    The embrace was broken by Ralph when he laid his hand on Trace's shoulder. “What's wrong with you Son, behaving like this in a public place?” His scathing glance raked over Lynn. “My God, you are Lillie's daughter. I didn't recognize you."
    Trace read in Lynn's glance the intent to give some caustic reply. He poked her in the back with his finger and felt her body tense and then relax. In a husky voice she purred, “Hello, Ralph darling."
    She was overdoing it again. Trace jabbed her a second time.
    Lynn jerked free of his embrace and with hips swaying walked toward the table where her wide-eyed mother was seated. “Come along, Trace, darling. We can share a