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 table with Mother and Ralph."
Trace followed Ralph who was following Lynn. He gritted his teeth. This was going to be a long evening.
Chapter 9
Lynn sat in the chair across from her mother and met the older woman's condemning stare. “Hi Mom, imagine seeing you here.” She projected an ease that she didn't feel.
Lillie's voice rose in indignation. “Lynnie, what have you done to yourself?"
The scenario she and Trace had rehearsed over and over played through Lynn's head like a scene from a bad movie. “I did my hair and bought a new dress.” She winked at her mother and watched as Lillie grimaced. “Trace likes me to look sexy."
Before Lillie could reply, Ralph pulled out the chair next to her and sat in it. “Lillie honey, this is my son, Trace."
Lillie nodded in Trace's direction as he pulled his chair very near Lynn and sat down. “Hello.” Her gaze shifted back to Lynn. “You don't look sexy, you look trashy."
Trace's reaction to her choice of clothing had been enough to put a sizeable dent in Lynn's self-esteem. Her mother's comment further battered an already bruised ego. She tossed her head, causing the light from a neon sign to sparkle through the rich redness of her hair. “That's a matter of opinion. Trace thinks I look terrific."
Lillie said with open sarcasm, “Trace is wrong, and not, I imagine, for the first time."
It wasn't like Lillie to be so openly insulting and judgmental. She usually got her point across through subtle barbs and restrained innuendo. Lynn argued and not very convincingly, “Trace is never wrong.”
If you don't believe it, just ask him.
"Don't argue with your mother,” Lillie said before declaring decisively, “That dress is a disgrace."
Lynn lapsed into temporary silence. Her mother was right. She knew now, after the fact when it was too late, that she'd made a mistake listening to Ruthie's advice about what to wear tonight.
Even as she'd bought the slinky red scrap of a dress she'd had doubts. Ruthie assured her, “It's the kind of dress I'd choose if I wanted to look glamorous.” Ruthie with her slim figure and long blonde tresses could have worn this little creation and looked glamorous and seductive. Lynn, with her size thirty-six D breasts and voluptuously full hips looked cheap and shoddy.
It was too late now to correct her error. She'd have to make the best of a bad situation. Laying her hand on Trace's arm, she smiled into his eyes. “You like my dress, don't you darling?"
Trace's mouth pulled into a thin-lipped smile. “Sweetheart, you know how I feel about how you look tonight."
He was supposed to say that she looked very sexy. When they got out of here, she was going to break his neck. The band struck the first chord of a lively polka. Over the sudden noise, she answered, “Of course I do, dear."
Trace jumped to his feet, and taking Lynn's hand pulled her to a standing position. “You folks don't mind if we get a bite to eat do you?"
It was difficult to tell which parent had been more surprised by the actions of their children or more relieved to see them temporarily taking their leave. Ralph's face was a thundercloud. “We don't mind if you go and don't come back."
Lillie looked ready to explode. “Lynn, go yes, please, but remember I want to talk to you later."
"Yes Mother, later.” Lynn wanted to get away before her mother launched here and now into a lecture about dressing appropriately, decent behavior in public and God only knew what else.
Trace seemed in no hurry to go anywhere. “Would the two of you like something?"
In chorus the two parents answered, “No, go."
Lynn gave Trace's arm a tug. “Come along, darling.” Once out of earshot of Lillie and Ralph, she snapped, “You are not going along with our planned scenario."
Trace barked in return, “Am too.” They made their way to the snack bar and the back of a short line. The two couples in front of them turned to stare.
Trace stared back as he moved nearer Lynn and put his arm around her waist. “What do you want to eat?"
Lynn's stomach was too full of butterflies to accept food. “I'm not hungry.” What she needed was something to bolster her courage and help her get through this evening. “I would like a shot of whiskey, straight."
Trace frowned. “Do you think that's a good idea?"
Lynn hissed under her breath, “Order me a shot of whiskey and shut up."
Trace ordered the whiskey and a beer and handed the shot glass to Lynn. She downed it in two gulps. It seared a path all the way to her empty stomach. When she could find her voice, she said, “I have a few things to say to you,
Mister
Randolph."
"I have a thing or two to say to you, too.” Trace took a long swig of beer. “Come closer and smile as we talk. Dad and Lillie are both looking this way."
Lynn moved so near that her breasts pushed into Trace's chest and smiled a saccharine-sweet smile. “You rat, why didn't you say I looked sexy? If we are going do this thing right, you are going to have to be a little more cooperative."
"Why should I state the obvious?” Trace stared down at her with the strangest look in his eyes. “How could you wear such a revealing dress to a public gathering?” He ran his hand along Lynn's cheek. His touch was soft but his words stung. “Do you realize that half the men in this building are staring at you?"
Lynn looped her arms around his neck. A tingle danced down her backbone. “That doesn't matter..."
Trace brushed his lips across her cheek. “It matters to me. What must they think of you?"
Lynn couldn't imagine why Trace would care what other people thought. “It's what my mother and your dad think that counts.” She ran the tips of her fingers down the side of his face. It was difficult to concentrate when she was touching him so intimately. “Let's get this over so I can go home and get out of these shoes."
The bartender called from the other side of the counter. “Hey, you two love birds, move along. The people behind you are waiting to be served."
Trace caught Lynn's hand and pulled her to a shadowy corner. “Let's give Mama and Daddy and all the other gawkers out there something to talk about.” He was furious and Lynn couldn't imagine why.
On an answering spark of anger she replied, “Yes, let's."
Trace pulled her into his arms and held her so close that it was difficult for her to breathe. Slowly and deliberately he brought his mouth down to cover hers. Leisurely and very gently he used his tongue to tease open her lips. A shiver of desire danced down her backbone. He smelled of some exotic aftershave and tasted of beer and mint. His tongue swept into the recesses and crevasses of her mouth, stirring need and igniting little flames of desire.
Lynn's anger transmuted to something far more combustible and explosive—and dangerous. Heedless of the warning bell that sounded inside her head, she gave herself over to the unexpected magic of Trace's kiss. The Grange Hall and the people in it receded as she was transported to another world filled with bliss and promise.
How long they stood there locked in a passionate embrace, she would never know. Ralph's gruff voice barking, “Stop this lewd behavior this instant,” brought Lynn back to reality with a start. She pulled her reluctant body from Trace's embrace and smoothed the front of her now-infamous red dress.
"Shame on you,” Ralph shook his finger in Trace's face before pointing it in Lynn's direction. “Young woman, don't you have any pride or shame? How can you behave in such a despicable manner in a public place?"
He drew a long breath and was set to launch into yet another tirade when Lillie came bounding across the long hall and stepped between Lynn and Ralph. “You can't talk to my daughter like that.” She put both hands on her hips and glared at Ralph through narrowed eyes. “Your son is the one with no pride and no shame. He's turned my Lynnie's head with his sweet words and beguiling ways."
If the situation weren't so grave it would be hilariously funny. Trace didn't know how to speak sweet words and his ways were about as beguiling as a skunk with his tail over his back. Lynn pleaded, “Mother, please..."
The tension in the room rose and sparked as Lillie turned to confront her daughter. “You.” She wagged her finger in Lynn's direction. “Stay out of this."
Lynn had never seen her mother so angry. Maybe it was time she told Lillie the truth. “Please, this is not what it seems. I can explain..."
Lillie snorted, “I thought after Joel you'd learned your lesson. Obviously you haven't.” Before Lynn could come to her own defense, Lillie rounded once more on Trace. “You low-class varmint, how can you be so disrespectful of my daughter?"
Trace lifted one hand. “Mrs. McGuire, Lillie, I do respect Lynn.” He twisted his neck and ran his finger around his shirt collar. “Can we sit down and talk about this?"
Ralph moved to stand beside his son as he said to Lillie, “Your daughter comes here with my son in that dress and you expect him to respect her?” He swung one arm in an all-encompassing gesture. “Do you think any man in this hall respects her?"
Lillie, the usually meek and mild Lillie, lashed out with a fury that startled Lynn and caused Ralph to take a step backward. “My daughter never behaved like this until your son came along. It's his fault. He has corrupted her completely."
By now every person in the long hall was staring at the arguing foursome. Lynn could never remember being so embarrassed. She wanted out of there and the faster the better. She put her hand on her mother's arm. “I'm going home. We can talk tomorrow.” Nodding to Trace she said, “Let's go."
Lillie shook her arm free. “You can't leave with that depraved man."
Lynn sidled toward the door. “I'll be all right. I'll call you tomorrow.” She hurried away with Trace following close behind.
She should be elated. She and Trace had done what they'd set out to do. But all Lynn felt was a sense of restless remorse.
Lillie called after the departing couple, “Come back here."
Ralph added an emphatic, “Right now."
Lynn quickened her pace. She didn't look back until she was out the door. When she glanced over her shoulder Trace was a few paces behind. Neither Lillie nor Ralph were anywhere in sight. She quickened her steps and traveled across the parking lot as swiftly as her stiletto heels would let her move.
They were in Trace's pickup and far down the road before either of them spoke again. Finally, Trace glanced briefly in Lynn's direction. “Do you think we did the right thing?"
It was too late to worry about that now. Lynn leaned her head against the seat. “Right or wrong, what's done is done."
Chapter 10