Read A Trace of Love for Free Online

walking the edge of the sidewalk. She scoffed and wavered to the right to give him more room. “Do you usually walk alone at this hour?”
    She shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
    “Do you think it’s safe?”
    She grinned and faced him, walking backward. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I know this place like the back of my hand.”
    “That doesn’t make it safe.” But Trace was grinning, his voice light.
    “It’s okay. I have a big, tough rock star to defend me.”
    Trace cocked an eyebrow and scoffed. “You know, I used to live near here when I was a kid”
    She nodded. “You moved after your father passed away, I know.”
    Trace furrowed his brow. “How did you know?”
    Ophelia faced forward and bit the inside of her cheek . Damn, I almost stuck my foot in my mouth . “I read about it. I’m sorry.”
    Trace sighed. “Nah, it’s fine. I guess I still forget my life is plastered all over the Internet these days.”
    Ophelia nodded.
    “So,” his voice became playful again. “That big, tough guy you were talking about before, do I know him?”
    Ophelia laughed as they neared the hotel. They purchased a room and raced each other up the stairs. Ophelia won, but she was certain Trace let her. She didn’t care. She gasped for air and laughed so hard her sides hurt. But her bubbly mood subsided when Trace opened the door.
    The room had two beds. Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to ask for one without turning bright red. Trace, much to her surprise, did the gentlemanly thing and asked for two. But Ophelia wasn’t dumb. You don’t rent a hotel room with a rock star to sleep in separate beds unless…unless Trace was one of those guys who refused to literally sleep with his groupies. Is that how he sees me, as a groupie? He recognized her face, but didn’t remember her enough to make the connection. She reminded herself it was better that way.
    Ophelia swallowed her doubt and entered the room. She sat on the edge of the bed nearest the window. Trace glanced around the plain room and opened the mini refrigerator to survey its contents. “Want a drink?”
    She shook her head. Trace took a beer for himself and sat on the edge of the other bed, directly in front of her. Without meaning to, she blurted out, “I’d rather do this sober.”
    Trace glanced at the drink and then at her. He wet his lips. “What exactly are we doing?”
    She glanced at her hands, folding them in her lap, and whispered. “You know.”
    Trace set his beer on the counter, unopened. “Nothing has to happen tonight if you don’t want it to.”
    Ophelia winced and hoped she wouldn’t sound pathetic. “I don’t want you to leave.”
    “Who says I’m leaving? We can just talk, get to know each other a little,” he shrugged.
    Ophelia narrowed her eyes. He must be joking. “I don’t understand?”
    “What’s to understand? You do talk to people, don’t you?” His tone was light, still teasing her.
    Ophelia scowled. “Why are you doing this?”
    Trace blinked in confusion. When he spoke, his voice was no longer playful, but deep and serious. “Why am I doing what ?”
    Ophelia looked him straight in the eyes. “Why, Trace Curtis, lead singer of Molten Silk, are you sitting here talking to me when you could be with any girl in world?”
    He was very still for a long time, staring at her through narrow eyes. Just when she thought he might recognize her, he said, “Is that all I am to you? A famous name?”
    Ophelia sighed, her heart breaking at the new direction the night headed. “Trace, we’re strangers. We don’t mean anything to each other.”
    “Maybe I meant to change that. Maybe I wanted to mean something to you,” he mumbled.
    Ophelia stared, momentarily shocked. Trace sighed and stood. “I should go.”
    Ophelia shot to her feet, grabbed Trace’s shirt with both hands, and yanked him toward her, planting her lips on his mouth.
    Trace didn’t miss a beat. He placed one hand on her waist and one behind her head, his