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    Virtual Surprise
    Virtual Surprise
    Virtual Surprise
    Ebook84 pages1 hour

    Virtual Surprise

    By Catherine Lynn

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Home is where your heart heals. And Anna’s moved on since her divorce. To convince her friends, Anna signs up for Virtual Match. A fake boyfriend is safe and easy...right up until their relationship feels real.

    Luke’s job with Virtual Match is just for extra cash, not for a relationship. Then, he starts falling for his assigned “girlfriend”. Is it worth the risk to make their match real?

    Will these two play it safe or take a chance on the real thing?

    A short, sweet novella of approximately 21,000 words.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCatherine Lynn
    Release dateNov 12, 2016
    ISBN9781370374687
    Virtual Surprise
    Author

    Catherine Lynn

    Catherine Lynn is an author of sweet romances and mysteries. She’s been married to the same wonderful man for many years, has two grown sons, and lives in southeastern Tennessee. Church and family are very important in her life. Her hobbies include reading, playing computer games, and enjoying time with family and friends. She also enjoys a good cup of coffee in the mornings.

    Read more from Catherine Lynn

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      Book preview

      Virtual Surprise - Catherine Lynn

      Virtual Surprise

      Catherine Lynn

      Copyright © 2016 by Catherine Lynn

      Smashwords Edition

      Cover Art by Anya Kelleye Designs

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.

      This book is a work of fiction. All people, places, or events are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

      Chapter One

      Anna Fletcher wasn’t sure she would make it home without throwing up again. This stomach bug had been going around at the office, and it had made its way to her. Hurrying to her car, she tamped down a wave of nausea that threatened to stop her in her tracks, and she rallied on. The insurance office, where she worked part-time for some spending money of her own, was enough to make her sick, anyway, but this was the real thing.

      She barely made it through the front door before things started taking a nasty turn. She rushed to the bathroom downstairs and managed to get to the toilet in time. After she had thrown up everything she’d eaten, she felt a little better. A Coke sounded really good right now, something to settle her stomach.

      She sat at the kitchen table, sipped the cool liquid, and sighed with relief. Maybe this thing wouldn’t last long. Something nudged at the back of her mind, and she frowned. What was it? Then she realized her husband’s car had been in the garage when she pulled in. What was Brian doing home this time of day? Frowning, she started up the stairs. For some reason, she didn’t want to call out to him.

      When she reached the top of the stairs, she heard sounds coming from her bedroom. With a sense of dread, she pushed open the door, which wasn’t closed all the way. Rage washed over her when she saw her husband in a compromising position with one of his personal training clients. In their bed! She rushed over to them with her hands extended like claws, leaned over the couple…and vomited.

      ***

      I can’t believe you threw up on me! Brian shouted. He was on his own in this fight since his partner in sin had grabbed her clothes and fled.

      And I can’t believe that’s the issue you want to bring up! Anna snapped back.

      He looked down at himself in disgust and started the shower. You know, I thought someone of your upbringing would have a little more class.

      As he stepped into the shower, she yanked the shower curtain back with such force she ripped half of it off the curtain rod.

      What the…! he shouted.

      "You’re saying I have no class? Was it me who was in bed with someone else besides my spouse? You have no idea what class even means!"

      Would you please get out and let me finish my shower?

      She looked at the man she’d lived with for five years and realized she didn’t even know him. She’d thought she did, but apparently everything she believed had all been lies. She had been living in a dream world.

      Stop staring at me and go away, will you?

      Go away? Yeah, I think I can do that.

      Anna closed the bathroom door and went to the closet, dragging out two large suitcases. She opened drawers and grabbed out her clothes, then she moved to the closet. Clothes went into the luggage quickly, with no regard to wrinkles. It wasn’t like her to have no care for her clothing or other possessions. She laughed bitterly when she realized this was how she had defined herself and been defined. Her clothes, her hair, the total package. How shallow it all seemed now. Her job at the insurance office was just something to pass the time and to make a little money of her own. She’d never had a real job, never had to work for anything, really. Who was she, anyway?

      With tears streaming down her face, she lugged the suitcases down the stairs and out the door. She packed them into her trunk, got into the car, and started to back out of the garage. As she was backing her BMW into the turnaround, she heard the front door open and turned to see a barefoot Brian picking his way down the hot walkway.

      Anna, what are you doing? he shouted.

      She rolled down her window. You told me to go away. I’m going away.

      That’s not what I meant! Please, can’t we talk about this?

      She hesitated a moment. Normally, she would give in and do what he wanted. It was so much easier that way. She thought back on all the times he had humiliated her in one way or another. She had forgiven him each time. But this had been the last straw. No more.

      Brian, you’ll be hearing from my attorney. Don’t try to contact me until then.

      As she drove off, she realized she didn’t have an attorney. They had an attorney. It was time to change that.

      ***

      I realize California has a community property law, said Brian’s attorney. "However, there is no community property."

      What? That can’t be! exclaimed Anna.

      Her attorney, Reese Edwards, held up his hand to silence her. What about the club? Your client may have to sell it to pay Ms. Fletcher her half.

      Wait, said Anna. There’s money in the bank, so I don’t think he’ll have to sell the club.

      "You don’t understand, Ms. Fletcher. There’s no money in the bank. There’s lots of credit card debt with just the minimum being paid each month. The club is in so much debt, the bank is about to

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