A Man to Trust (12 page)

Her heart clenched. “I’m sorry, Ross. I just—”

He turned and held up his hand. “Don’t say it. And don’t tell me you didn’t feel anything. You kissed me back.”

Her face flamed. “Okay. I admit I’m attracted to you, but it takes more than emotion and chemistry to build a lasting relationship.”

“Of course it does. But it starts with attraction, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

She chewed her lower lip as painful memories rose to taunt her. She’d followed her attraction to Adam, and look where that had taken her—straight into the worst betrayal of her life. She could not survive another heartbreak like that.

But Ross was different than Adam, wasn’t he?

“Adrie, listen to me. I’m not playing games. I care about you. I think we could have the kind of relationship we’re both looking for. But we’ll never know unless you give us a chance.”

She plunged her trembling hands in her jacket pockets. “I don’t know, Ross.”

He stepped toward her. “I’m not asking you to make up your mind right now.” He reached out and gently ran his hand down the side of her cheek. “Just say you’ll think about it.”

His touch spread a comforting wave of warmth through her. She leaned into his hand and looked up into his eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’ll only hurt me if you say no now.” His sincere, steady expression pushed away her last excuse.

“Okay, but I can’t make any promises.”

“That’s enough for me.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

A small flicker of hope burned in her heart, but as she tried to imagine combining her dreams for the future and a relationship with Ross, the flame wavered and died.

Chapter Thirteen

R
oss trudged across the bookstore, his heart sore from the beating it had taken at the beach that morning. But he had no one to blame but himself. He’d made a mess of things by kissing Adrie. Why hadn’t he prayed and waited for God’s direction instead of pushing ahead with his own plans?

Adrie had barely spoken to him on their ride back to town. When they had arrived at the bookstore, she had dropped him off, telling him to open the store without her. She had planned to drive to her grandmother’s to drop off the clams and wouldn’t be in until that afternoon.

He released a heavy sigh and unlocked the front door. As he flipped the sign to OPEN he glanced outside.

George Bradford crossed the street headed toward the bookstore.

Ross held open the door. “Morning, George.”

“Hey there, my friend. How are you this fine morning?”

Ross shrugged. “I’ve been better. That’s for sure.”

“How could your day turn sour so early? It’s barely ten o’clock.”

“I’ve been up since six. Adrie and I went clam digging.”

George grinned. “So…things are progressing?”

Heat climbed up Ross’s neck. How had George figured out he was interested in Adrie? Was he that obvious? There was no use pretending it wasn’t true. He could use the input of another man. “I thought I was making some headway until I got my signals crossed and kissed her.”

George frowned. “She wasn’t happy about that?”

“That’s what’s confusing. While I was kissing her, she seemed to like it, but afterward she was pretty upset.”

“Oh, I see.” George nodded and narrowed his eyes.

“Hey, if you’ve got a clue what’s going on, I’d sure like to know.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The girl is driving me crazy.”

George chuckled. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing at your misery. But I remember my wife reacting much the same way after our first kiss.”

“Really? How did you work things out?”

“It took a few months, but she came around when she saw how much I loved her.”

“What did you do to convince her?”

George’s gaze drifted toward the window. “I used to pick her up every night after work so she wouldn’t have to ride the bus home. Then I taught her how to drive using my brand-new VW Bug.”

Ross grinned. “Wow, that’s love.”

George shrugged. “I shoveled her walk when it snowed, and I tutored her younger brother in math. I also paid some of her mother’s medical bills. But most important, I never kissed her again until she asked me to.”

Ross nodded slowly. George’s advice sounded awfully familiar. Hadn’t Cam told him to be a committed friend, win her heart through caring actions and wait for God’s direction before he tried to move their friendship to the next level? Maybe God wanted to make sure he got the message. “Thanks, George.”

George gave Ross’s shoulder a firm pat. “Glad to encourage a fellow traveler on the road to romance.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Ross motioned toward the café. “Marian won’t be in until she’s done cleaning that batch of clams.”

“Thanks. Coffee sounds great.” George followed Ross toward the café. “Marian and I have a lunch date later, but I actually came by to talk to you about a photo job.”

Ross straightened. “What do you have in mind?”

“Next Friday afternoon we’ve got a dozen foster kids coming to the studio with the Heart Gallery Project. Have you heard of it?”

Ross filled the coffeepot with water and flipped the switch. “I read about it in a magazine a while back, but refresh my memory.”

“Photographers take portraits of foster kids who are available for adoption. The photos are posted online and shown at adoption events. A lot of kids find families that way.”

“Sounds like a great idea.”

George nodded. “Ray signed up a few months ago, before his health issues came up. The local project director set it up for next week. I’d fill in for him, but I promised my grandson I’d come down to Seattle on Friday to see him play football.

“So, Ray and I wondered if you could take the photos for us.” George leaned against the counter. “All the photographers do it on a volunteer basis, so there’s no pay, but we’ll take care of developing the prints.”

Ross liked the idea of using his skills to help people, especially foster kids who needed a family, but could he take more time off from the bookstore? Marian or Adrie would probably cover for him, especially when they heard the reason. “Sure, I’d be glad to do it.”

George gave him a few more details. Ross jotted them down on a notepad while the coffee finished dripping. Ross poured a cup and held it out to George. “I’ll run the date by Marian, but she’s been great about giving me time off when I need it.”

“Thanks, Ross.” George accepted the coffee. “Let me know when you get the final okay.”

Ross poured himself a cup of coffee and stared down at the dark brew. George’s earlier comments circled back through his mind. “Tell me about your wife.”

A bittersweet emotion filled George’s eyes. “Evelyn and I were married for thirty-nine years. We have two sons and a daughter and four grandkids. She passed away eight years ago from breast cancer.”

Ross clenched his jaw. “I’m sorry, George.”

“Thanks.” George opened a pack of sugar and added it to his coffee. “We had a wonderful life together. I have many happy memories, but I still miss her.”

“I’m sure you do.” Ross added cream to his coffee. “Losing your wife like that must help you understand what it’s been like for Marian.”

“Each person’s journey through grief is different, but yes, my loss gives me compassion for Marian and anyone who’s lost a spouse.” George sat down. “It’s painful to say goodbye to someone you love, someone who shared so much of your life. But as time passes, the pain recedes some, and the lessons you’ve learned help you look ahead.”

“What kind of lessons?” Ross asked, joining him at the table.

“Missing my wife has helped me understand the value of companionship. Sharing your life with someone you love makes the journey so much more enjoyable.”

Ross nodded, thinking of Adrie and how much he looked forward to seeing her. His feelings for her were growing stronger every day even though she regretted their kiss.

“When you find that someone special, the one you love, you should do whatever it takes to win her heart.” He lifted his mug toward Ross and smiled. “But I don’t have to tell you that.”

“Right.” Ross nodded and tried to look confident, but he couldn’t fool his aching heart. Confidence was the last thing he felt at the moment.

He had found someone special, someone he could love, but he had no idea if he would ever win her heart.

Chapter Fourteen

A
drie stacked three more boxes of Christmas cards on the overflowing top shelf. “It doesn’t seem right that we’re putting these out before the end of October.”

Nana adjusted the sign attached to the display. “I know, but once we turn our calendars to November, the race toward Christmas is on.”

“That’s true.” It also meant the first-round auditions in Minneapolis were only a week away, and she still hadn’t heard if she would be going. A crazy mixture of hope and defeat wrestled in her heart.

Worry lines creased her grandmother’s forehead. “And these next two months will determine our future. We need to bring in every customer we can.”

Adrie scolded herself for being so self-centered when her grandmother’s business was on the line. She slipped her arm around her grandma’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Nana. I’m sure our Christmas sales will pull us out of this slump.”

“I hope so, dear.” Nana’s expression eased as she glanced around the store. “Everything looks lovely. Now all we need are more shoppers.”

“They’ll come.” Adrie leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s cheek.

“Yes, we just have to keep praying and believing.”

Adrie turned and surveyed the large oval table, holding a display of holiday books and gifts. “Do you think we should move the table to the left a few feet so it’s not crowding the Bible section?”

Her grandmother nodded. “People will linger if they have some room to breathe. Let’s do it.” She stepped toward the table.

“No, Nana, it’s too heavy for you. Ross will help me.” She glanced over her shoulder, but she didn’t see him.

“He’s in the office working on the deposit.”

“I’ll ask him to give me a hand.”

Every day Ross took over more of her responsibilities. Most of them seemed to come easily to him, but he was still learning the financial side of the business. “Maybe I’ll go see if he needs any help.”

“Good idea.” Nana beamed. “Ross is doing wonderfully, but every man needs a little encouragement now and then.” A hopeful light glowed in Nana’s eyes.

Adrie turned away, pretending she didn’t understand her grandma’s not-so-subtle message. Nana obviously hadn’t given up her matchmaking hopes for Ross and Adrie.

Ross glared at the piles of cash and checks on the desk. Why couldn’t he get these numbers to match up? It didn’t make sense. This was his third time counting the one hundred dollars in change for the cash drawer and adding up all the checks and bills. But he was still forty dollars short. How could money just disappear like that? Had he given out the wrong change or dropped it on the floor?

He rolled back the chair and scanned the rug under the desk. Nothing. Not a dollar, a dime or even a penny.

He shot a quick glance at the clock and shook his head. He did not have time for this. A whole list of errands needed to be taken care of before five.

He considered asking Adrie for help, but that would mean admitting he couldn’t handle the deposit on his own. What would she think of him if he told her that he’d never been good with numbers?

That had been unthinkable for his CPA father.
No son of mine should be getting Cs in algebra. How are you ever going to get ahead in life if you don’t pull up your grades and get serious about your studies?

It didn’t matter that Ross got As in English, history and art. According to his father, those subjects had nothing to do with the real world.

You’ll never amount to anything if you can’t handle finances.

Ross clenched his jaw, wishing he could erase those painful words from his memory, but they seemed etched in place. He focused on the calculator and punched in the numbers once more. When the same answer popped up on the screen, he groaned. Chipping in forty bucks would be easier than telling Adrie he couldn’t figure this out.

He reached for his wallet and looked inside. Payday was still a week away. How would he buy gas and groceries if he gave up this money? But what else could he do? With a resigned sigh, he pulled two twenties from his wallet.

The office door creaked and Adrie walked in.

Ross froze, his hand halfway from his wallet to the desk.

Adrie stared at his open wallet. “What are you doing?”

His mouth gaped as his brain scrambled for an answer. “I was…uh…just finishing up the deposit.”

She crossed the office toward him. “Why do you have your wallet out?”

Ross tossed the bills on the desk and stuffed his wallet back in his pocket. “I’m just fixing a little shortfall.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You were putting money
in?
”

The doubt in her voice hit him like a punch in the gut. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Why? That doesn’t make sense.”

He huffed and rolled away from the desk. “Because we’re forty dollars short.”

Her eyes widened. “So you decided to fix the problem by putting in your own money?”

“That’s right.” He clamped his jaw to keep his irritation under control. He was trying to be sure the store didn’t take a loss, and she was upset with him for doing it.

She studied him, conflicting emotions flashing across her face.

He couldn’t take her scrutiny any longer. “Okay, the truth is, I didn’t want to admit I couldn’t figure it out.”

“So you were trying to pretend there wasn’t a problem?” She turned away and paced to the window.

He circled the desk and followed her. “Come on, Adrie. I probably gave someone the wrong change. I’m just paying the store back for my mistake. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”

She spun around. “I’m making a big deal because what you did was dishonest. You should’ve come to me and told me you had a problem, not go sneaking around behind my back and try to fix things…if that’s what really happened.”

A surge of heat flashed through Ross. She didn’t believe him. After all he’d done to step in and take over the store so she could go off and chase her crazy dream.

The door opened wider, and Marian walked in. Her gaze darted back and forth between them. “What’s the matter?”

Adrie pressed her lips together and looked away. Ross crossed his arms and did the same.

“What’s going on?”

Ross shot Adrie a heated glance. “I came up forty dollars short on the deposit, and Adrie thinks I stole the money.”

Adrie gasped. “I did not say that!”

“No? Well that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Since when did you become a mind reader?”

“The minute you started accusing me of stealing money from—”

“Hold on. Both of you settle down.” Marian pointed to Adrie. “Now start from the beginning and tell me what happened.”

“When I walked in the office, he was sitting at the desk with his wallet open and forty dollars in his hand.” She pointed to the two twenties on the desk.

“I told you, I was putting them in the deposit.”

Marian picked up the twenties. “Does this money belong to you or the store?”

He shot a glance at Adrie and then looked back at Marian. “It’s mine. But that shortfall is probably my fault. I must’ve given someone too much change.”

Marian frowned. “We all work the register, Ross. Why would you assume it’s your mistake?”

His face flushed. “I gave out the wrong bills once before, and I didn’t realize it until the customer came back. But you and Adrie have been doing this for years. You wouldn’t make a mistake like that.”

“So you didn’t take this money from the deposit?”

Ross straightened and looked her in the eyes. “No. I promise you, I wouldn’t do that.”

The lines on Marian’s forehead eased. “All right. That’s good enough for me.” She handed him the money. “Put this back in your wallet.”

Adrie’s eyes bulged. “But, Nana—”

“Honey, he said he didn’t take it, and I believe him.” She laid her hand on her granddaughter’s arm. “We have to trust each other. That’s the basic building block of relationships. If we don’t have trust, we can’t work together.”

Adrie crossed her arms. “Trust is earned by being open and honest, not by hiding problems and pretending they don’t exist. I won’t… I can’t deal with that.”

Her words hit home, and insight flashed through Ross. To Adrie this wasn’t just a foolish mistake or a small lapse in judgment. It was a hurtful offense that brought back painful memories of others who had betrayed her trust, like the previous guy they’d hired to fill this position, and even worse, like her former fiancé.

Regret hit him like a load of bricks tumbling off a truck. Why hadn’t he seen this from her perspective sooner?

Closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you about the shortfall, rather than trying to cover it up.” He lifted his gaze to meet Adrie’s. “I let my pride get in the way and make that decision. I won’t let it happen again.”

Adrie’s expression softened.

“Thank you, Ross.” Marian smiled, looking relieved. “It takes a lot of courage to admit your mistakes and apologize.” She turned to Adrie and nodded, encouraging her to reply.

“Apology accepted,” Adrie said, but a wary look still shadowed her eyes.

Adrie leaned on the café counter and watched Ross tuck the deposit in his jacket pocket. Her stomach tensed. There was a lot of money in that envelope—all the cash and checks from the last two days. And after the incident with the forty dollars, she wasn’t sure sending him to the bank was the best idea.

A wave of guilt rose and squelched that thought. He had apologized, and she had forgiven him. Still, rebuilding her shaken trust would take time.

“Is there anything else we need while I’m out?” Ross asked.

She continued wiping the café counter. “Not for me.”

Her grandma set a stack of books on the table. “Could you stop by the hardware store and pick up that new handle for the basement door?”

“Sure. I’ll swing by B&B’s after I pick up my car at the repair shop.”

Adrie looked up. “What about Cam’s car?”

“I’m picking up Chandra. She’s driving me to the repair shop, and then we’re trading cars.”

Adrie gripped the cloth. Why had he asked Chandra to help him?

“She needs the SUV to pick up Cam and Rachel from the airport tonight. Her Miata is too small.”

Adrie’s face warmed, embarrassed that he’d read her thoughts. She’d forgotten Rachel and Cam were returning from their honeymoon this evening. Trading cars with Chandra made sense.

“I’m sure you’ll be glad to finally get your car back,” her grandmother said.

Ross nodded. “I can’t believe it took so long to finish the job. I hate to think how much it’s going to cost, but I have to have a car.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll work out.” Her grandma sent him a reassuring smile. “Now, you better get moving if you are going to take care of all those things and get to the bank before they close.”

Ross gave them a playful salute, and headed out the back door. He certainly didn’t seem to carry any burden from their confrontation about the deposit shortfall.

Adrie turned on the faucet and rinsed her hands in warm water.
Lord, what if Nana is wrong about Ross? What if he really was trying to steal that money, and he lied to us? He seemed sincere. Should I believe him?

But how many times had Adam apologized and begged her forgiveness?

She hung the cloth over the side of the sink, and her mind jumped back to those final weeks with her fiancé. His growing hesitation about their wedding plans and his cooling affection should’ve been clues something was wrong. But she pushed away those warnings and told herself she was overreacting. They were both in their final semester and focused on graduation.

Then one day, she discovered a suggestive text from Marie on Adam’s phone. She confronted him, but he said there was nothing going on between him and Marie. He even had the nerve to say she was being paranoid and possessive. She backed down and apologized, sealing it with a kiss and trusting him with her heart.

Two days later, she’d discovered the truth: Marie and Adam had been secretly seeing each other for weeks, and Adam was planning to break off their engagement.

Had he ever really loved her? Had she loved him? She wasn’t sure now, and the thought that she might have married someone so untrustworthy shook her to the core. It was a blessing she’d found out the truth about his character before it was too late.

She pulled in a sharp breath, stunned by that thought.

“Adrie? Are you all right?”

She blinked and looked up. “What?”

Nana walked toward her. “I hope you’re not still upset about the forty dollars.”

She shook her head. “No, not really.” In light of those memories, Ross’s choice to hide his mistake was a small matter. He’d taken responsibility for it. Her grandmother was right. She needed to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was not like Adam. And she was a fool if she let herself get them mixed up in her mind.

Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked the screen. The number began with a 612 area code. Minneapolis! She pressed the screen and lifted the phone to her ear with a trembling hand.