Risky Investment.

Beth Moore.

To those special ones in my life who took the time to edit and critique for someone who does not take criticism well. And to Brewster, my Labrador retriever, who sat with me until all hours of the night while I wrote, and didn't complain once. I miss you.

Acknowledgments.

A special thanks to Pamela Berard and those at Bella Books who made this process such a pleasant experience. I have to admit, in the beginning, I was scared to death.

To all of those who love and support me continuously, I can never thank you enough.

Prologue.

Lynn sped down the freeway, her blonde hair blowing in the wind. She darted in and out of traffic in her dark blue BMW, a car that she considered to be a shining example of her successful business career. At thirty-one, she was one of the top investment a.n.a.lysts in her field. She had risen quickly through the ranks and was a partner in one of the most prestigious firms in the nation. But her financial success had come with a price. Many called her a "coldhearted b.i.t.c.h" when it came to her business reputation, a fact with which she could not disagree. Over the past couple of years, she had let that coldness envelop her personal life, as well. She was conscious of the problem and struggled with it daily. On this warm spring day she was speeding home after hearing news that would forever change her life.

Several months ago, Lynn had made an investment in an unlikely business venture. If it hit, it would hit big, leaving her financially set for the rest of her life. That morning she learned that the investment had gone through the roof. Now, she would be able to cut down on her working hours, giving her time to work on a much-needed att.i.tude adjustment. She traveled down the freeway to share the good news with Susan, her companion of eight years.

Lynn had met Susan at a fund-raiser for the local university. A history professor, Susan first caught Lynn's attention by speaking of little-known facts about lesbians in history. Later that same night, Susan captured Lynn's attention with her knowledge of little-known facts about erogenous zones. After only a few dates, Lynn asked Susan to move in with her. Several years later, they purchased a home together in an affluent area of Los Angeles.

The couple had their problems, like any other, but all in all Lynn thought their relationship was almost perfect. She felt a shiver when she thought of how they had made love the night before. After all of these years, Susan still made Lynn feel as if their love was brand new. Excitement rushed through her as she imagined Susan's face when she learned the news. Knowing that Susan would be finished with her cla.s.ses for the day, Lynn left the office early to surprise her.

Lynn pulled into the driveway next to Susan's red Ford Mustang. She heard the music as she opened the front door. It was a familiar sound; Susan always loved to play music in the house. Lynn called out to her as she walked through the rooms but stopped in her tracks when she entered the hallway and heard sounds coming from their bedroom. Slowly sliding the door open, she froze when she saw Susan and another woman in their bed.

After realizing that she had been standing there for more than a minute, she cleared her throat. That's when she saw the look on Susan's face. It wasn't an "Oh my G.o.d, what have I done" look. It was an "Oh my G.o.d, I've been caught" look. Devastated, Lynn was able to get only one sentence out*"I'll be back for my stuff in the morning."

Somehow she was able to walk out of the house that afternoon. By the time she had gotten to the front door, Susan had pulled on a robe and was pulling at Lynn's arm to stay and talk to her If Susan had been pleading, "Please stay. This was a mistake This is the only time*" maybe Lynn would have stopped. But all Susan would say was "I can change, I promise, this is the last time " These words stunned Lynn. When had been the first time?

Lynn spent the next several hours sitting at the beach reviewing the past months in her mind. She discovered that there had been many clues. Clues that she had chosen not to see. Lvnn had called many friends that day. She used the term "friends" loosely now as they told her that they had been aware of Susan's indiscretions but hadn't wanted to hurt her. All were hoping that Susan would get tired of the flings.

Lying on the bed in a hotel room, Lynn struggled with her feelings. Was she wrong to just walk away from their life together? Hadn't Susan already left their vows of commitment behind? Lvnn had always believed that if you were truly in love, you wouldn't want to be with anyone else. She knew she hadn't. The pain overwhelmed her as she questioned if Susan had ever really loved her at all.

After a sleepless night, she came to the numbing conclusion that there was nothing worth saving in Los Angeles. After all she had no lover, no real friends, and since she was set financially she saw no reason to continue the ridiculous hours at the firm. She felt a need to reprioritize what was important in her life. Calling a meeting of the partners in her firm, Lynn notified them that she would cut back on her workload. Reluctantly the partners agreed to her terms. She would keep a few of her most lucrative clients but would only come into the office when absolutely necessary Lynn pulled into the driveway of the home she had shared with the woman she loved. She breathed a sigh of relief, because Susan's car was not there. Lynn had been worried about the confrontation Susan was probably letting things cool down, she thought to herself. Lynn was known for her bad temper, but truth be told, at this point she wasn't sure if she was more angry with Susan or herself Angry at Susan for all of the lies and infidelities. Angry at herself for letting her career take over her life, for not giving Susan whatever it was that she needed, and most of all, for being oblivious to the situation.

Walking through the rooms of the house, she picked up a few items, then put them back in their place. She could find little that she wanted to keep. With suitcases and garment bags loaded, she set the note that she had written to Susan on the table. To prove that this was permanent, Lynn placed her set of keys next to the note. She took one last look at the house that now brought her only tears, and shut the door.

Chapter One.

One year later.

Lynn climbed into her ae57 Chevy truck and slid behind the steering wheel. She unb.u.t.toned her overshirt to prepare for the drive home. The truck had no air-conditioning, and only an AM radio, but for some reason she felt more comfortable in it than in the BMW! Soon after leaving her former home, she had purchased the pickup and stored her BMW in a garage in Los Angeles. Putting the truck into reverse, she flipped on the radio and hummed to the music.

Suddenly, a red Mercedes appeared out of nowhere. The driver pressed on his horn as he sped past her, spitting up dirt and gravel in his wake. Shaking her head, she felt irritated with the man. What could be so important that he would risk driving so recklessly? Catching herself in the thought, she laughed. She used to be just like him. How things had changed in the past year.

The first few weeks after leaving L.A. were a blur. Lynn drove up and down the California coast, stopping at every lesbian bar that crossed her path. Falling into a deep depression, she found many a port in her dark storm. She wasn't sure how many women she had slept with, just that almost every morning she woke up in an unfamiliar place. The remainder of the day was usually spent escaping the situation, both mentally and physically.

Lynn looked into the rearview mirror and ran her hands through her now shortly cropped hair. Running her finger down her ear, she examined the many earrings that had mysteriously appeared one dark and fuzzy morning. That same morning, she realized how out of control her life had become.

Pain turned to anger. Lynn couldn't believe that she had let the situation get the best of her. She was always a strong and self-sufficient woman. Refusing to dwell on the pain any longer, she channeled her emotions out of the bottle and into something positive. Lynn had always kept up a vigorous exercise regimen, but during the next few weeks she brought new meaning to the term "blood, sweat, and tears." The weight lifting, running, and rowing machine not only helped drive out her pain and anger but gave her body back the muscular tone that had disappeared over the past few years.

Lynn did a lot of soul searching in that time. It was during those hours that she realized she had become so focused on her career that she hadn't taken the time to enjoy life or relationships. She was tired of being pressured to maintain the standard of excellence, the standard that had been set not only by her peers but also by herself. What she really needed was to simplify her life.

Turning onto the main road, she looked back and smiled at the roadside restaurant, which she had grown to love. The shingle-sided restaurant was only open for breakfast and lunch, which meant that Lynn's workday began at five-thirty a.m. and ended at two p.m. She worked as a waitress alongside seven employees. No one was aware that she actually owned the Blue Moon Cafe, a fact she kept hidden to avoid the day-to-day problems of owning a business. She made all transactions through a CPA friend of hers. Lynn didn't need the money but worked basically to keep an eye on the place and to keep herself busy. She was hired, as explained to the manager, because she was a friend of the owner's.

Lynn turned onto the road that led closer to the beach line and her house. Although it was nothing in comparison to her former residence, she felt like this place was really home. The two-bedroom, two-bath house was right on the beach and Lynn loved living near the water. She shared the house with Matt, a friend she had made along the way to her new life.

Lynn thought back to when she and Matt first crossed paths. She had climbed out of the truck that had towed her BMW and wandered into the office of his repair shop. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she heard Matt on the phone. Not wanting to eavesdrop she cleared her throat to let him know that she was there, but the conversation was not going to be interrupted.

"Just like that, after all this time, you want me out?" Matt was shouting. "Peter, can't we at least talk about this? I thought you cared about me!" Turning around, his face red with anger, he saw Lynn standing there. Holding up his index finger, he motioned for her to wait one minute, and walked farther back into the parts area. Calmer now, Matt questioned, "Okay, okay. I don't understand, is there someone else? Is it Stan? Is that who you're leaving me for? What do you mean it doesn't matter? It matters to me!" His voice got louder but then panicked. "Don't hang up, no, don't hang up. Can I come by and pickup a change of clothes? Okay, I'll come by after I close the shop. Fine, you don't have to be there. Bye."

Matt walked back to the front of the shop, hung up the cordless phone, wiped his face with his hands, and looked toward Lynn. Not really looking at her, but everywhere else, he asked if there was something he could help her with.

"Yeah, I was the person who called for a tow truck, my car is right outside." Lynn paused. "Are you all right?"

"Just peachy, my whole life is falling apart, but let's go take a look under the hood," Matt replied sarcastically.

"I don't know what happened. I was driving along, and it just quit. It's done plenty of things before, but never just quit."

"Are you out of gas?" Matt quipped.

"No, I am not out of gas. I may be blonde, but I know when I'm out of gas," she snapped back. "Look, I'm sorry that my timing isn't convenient, but don't take it out on me."

Matt sighed. "Sorry, I'm really not a jerk. Obviously, you heard my telephone conversation. You know what's going on. Just give me a minute." He opened the hood of Lynn's BMW and started tugging and tightening miscellaneous hoses and bolts, looked in the radiator, checked the oil, and examined the battery. "Okay, try to turn her over."

Lynn climbed behind the wheel and turned the key, but nothing happened. Matt asked her to wait at the cafe next door.

Lynn offered to buy Matt lunch after her car was repaired. She listened to his sad story, and feeling connected to him somehow, told him about Susan, They talked for hours and as she was leaving she noticed that the restaurant was for sale. Deciding that she must have broken down there by fate, she made a few calls. Within days, Lynn had a new business, a new home*and since Matt desperately needed a place to stay*a new roommate.

Since that day, the two had commiserated, fought, teased, cried, and celebrated together, making them more like siblings than friends- He was the one who brought her back to reality. She was the one who helped him aim a little bit higher in life. He was the one who humbled her. She was the one who gave him a little more confidence. He was the one who scolded her from time to time for being too promiscuous. She was the one who scolded him from time to time for never going out. He was the one who egged her on the night that she drank a little too much and auditioned for the band at their favorite bar. She was the one who rubbed it in his face when she got the job.

With a sigh of relief, Lynn pulled into the driveway at the house. She was exhausted. In a moment of insanity, she had agreed to work both Sat.u.r.day and Sunday for a waitress at the restaurant who wanted to go away with her boyfriend for the weekend. Lynn hadn't worked during the weekend since she had accepted the position as lead singer with the band. She now played Thursday through Sat.u.r.day night along with rehearsals on Tuesday. Usually her schedule conflicted only with singing on Thursday night and waitressing Friday morning. But this week she found herself working on Friday night, and after working this morning, she was managing on only three hours of sleep. She needed to get some sleep before it started all over tonight at nine.

Lynn walked into the house and threw her keys on the table. Noticing that the sliding gla.s.s door which led out onto the deck was open, she wandered over and looked out. Matt was leaning on the railing with his head in his hands.

"Hey, are you all right?" she asked, stepping out onto the wood.

Matt turned around with a look of relief. "I'm glad you're home. I need some help with something."

"Make it quick, okay? I've got to get some sleep."

Matt nodded, motioned for her to have a seat at the patio table, and began. "My parents are coming to visit."

"Great! When are they coming?" Lynn responded excitedly. She loved Matt's parents. Then, seeing he was annoyed that she had interrupted, she signaled for him to continue.

"They may have the idea that I have a girlfriend." Matt paused, then admitted, "Okay. I gave them the impression that I have a girlfriend. Actually*a fiancee."

"What?" Lynn exclaimed. She was aware that Matt hadn't told his parents that he was gay, which Lynn didn't agree with, but she was confused by this new development.

"Lynn, I know what you're thinking, but they just keep bugging me about it!" Matt mimicked his parents' questions, "aeAre you seeing anyone special?' aeHaven't you found anyone that you want to settle down with yet?'"

Lynn shook her head. "So how are you going to get out of this one?"

Matt scooted out a chair and sat down. "This is what I need your help with." He paused for a moment to organize his thoughts then began again. "I thought that if I could find someone to pretend that she's my fiancee, you know, just for the week that they're here* then when they've left, after a couple of weeks or so, I could just say that it didn't work out."

"Matt, this sounds like a bad episode of Three's Company or something! What are you going to do? Hire a call girl or something?" Lynn asked with irritation in her voice.

"Not exactly." Matt folded his hands on the table. "I think that I've found someone who will play the part. She came into the shop needing some repairs done. She doesn't have much money, so I asked her what she thought about the idea of trading my services for her services, so to speak."

"You just happened to run across some girl willing to do this?" Lynn asked. Upon thinking further, she asked with suspicion, "How long have you been thinking about this? When did you find out that your parents are coming?"

Matt lowered his eyes and pretended to sc.r.a.pe at something on the table. "I found out several days ago. I've been trying to think of a way out of the predicament, and this woman just kind of fell into my hands."

"Yeah, I bet. Who is she?" Lynn questioned.

"Her name is Chris Newman. She's a student at the university. We had lunch together. She seems really nice. She's not too crazy about the idea, but I think if we both beg her, she'll come around."

"What's this we business?" Lynn said. "I inch around the truth too much as it is with your parents. Now you're asking me to out-and-out lie to them?"

"Please, Lynn. I'll owe you big-time. You always say that you'll do anything for me*" Matt whined.

Lynn knew that it was true. She would do anything for him. But this? This was really stretching it. She slowly walked to the door.

"Let me think about it for a little bit, okay?" she asked as she turned around.

Matt nodded and watched her disappear into the house.

Lynn walked down the hail and into her bedroom. Glancing over at her computer, she saw the small envelope on the corner of the screen signifying that she had awaiting e-mail. She clicked on the envelope, which brought up the message: Funds sent to Mercy Hospital in the amount of $5,000 as per your instructions.

The message brought a smile to Lynn's face. She knew these funds would lighten the financial burden of a very dear man and his companion. Curling up on her bed and pulling a blanket over her weary body, Lynn felt a deep sense of contentment. She learned during the past year that her greatest happiness came from sharing her newfound wealth with those in great need, and remaining anonymous was important to her.

Several hours later, after a nap and a shower, Lynn reappeared in the living room. Leaning over the back of the couch to look Matt in the eye, she conceded to the arrangement. "When do I meet her?"

Matt sat up with a smile in his eyes. "Tomorrow at four."

Lynn nodded, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door to the long night ahead.

Arriving a half-hour ahead of the band's scheduled starting time, Lynn slid onto a bar stool and scanned the dimly lit s.p.a.ce.

"Looking for your next conquest?"

Lynn turned to find Sam, the owner of the bar, who also doubled as her good friend.

"Anyone interesting?" Lynn asked.

"Since when did you care about interesting?" Sam kidded. "You're not exactly looking for a good conversationalist, are you?"

Lynn laughed. "You know me, as long as she can p.r.o.nounce my name*"

Sam shook her head and leaned on the bar. "When are you going to settle down?"

Lynn's face sobered. "I tried that already, remember?" Finished with scanning the room, she turned on the bar stool, grabbed her bottle of beer, and stood. "Oh well, I need some sleep tonight anyway. Early shift tomorrow."

Sam reached for Lynn's arm as she began to walk away. "Why do you do this to yourself? You could have such an easy life."

Lynn turned back toward Sam and looked her in the eye. "Sam, remember, you're my friend, not my mother."

"h.e.l.l, I remember! I'm too young and too beautiful to be your mother!"

Lynn smiled as she made her way to the stage. "I'd have to agree with you there!"

Chapter Two.

Pulling into the driveway, Lynn saw Matt's El Camino parked alongside what Lynn recognized as the loaner car from the garage. She remembered their discussion last night, and decided that this must be the woman he told her about. Taking in a deep breath, she got out of her truck and made her way to the door.

Lynn unlocked the door and stepped into the living room. Matt stood near the fireplace with a young woman. They were looking at the photographs displayed on the mantel. The woman was thin, with straight shoulder-length brown hair. Lynn guessed that she was about five feet four. She was clad in a white V-necked T-shirt, b.u.t.ton-fly jeans, and white tennis shoes. All in all, pretty attractive. Lynn guessed Matt's parents would believe the two as a couple, a very cute couple.

"Chris, this is my roommate, Lynn," Matt said, motioning to Lynn.

The woman had a surprised look on her face. "I thought Lynn was a man. I mean, I thought you were living with a man! Why can't she pretend to be your fiancee?"

Lynn answered quickly, "I'm a lesbian."

"So let me get this straight*no pun intended. Your parents think that you're straight and that Lynn is gay?" Chris asked.

"No, they think Matt is straight, and they know that I'm gay," Lynn responded before Matt could answer the question.