Sweet Surprise: Romance Collection

by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Kristin Billerbeck, Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Birdie L. Etchison, Pamela Griffin, Joyce Livingston, Tamela Hancock Murray

  The gallery owner exploded into laughter. “And you say you aren’t a critic. It goes to show you that everyone’s a critic. Mrs. Williams finds this piece contemplative and earnest.”

  “I think I would be more contemplative about spending twenty thousand dollars on a piece of art. No offense—I realize that’s what you do. I hear all the time how ridiculous it is that a truffle should cost two dollars.”

  Alexander grinned. “I think, my dear Kayli, that this ex-boyfriend of Mrs. Williams has done far better for himself. But you didn’t hear that from me. But I do hope to see you in my gallery one day.” He excused himself and went to greet more potential buyers.

  Kayli turned to see Andrea whispering in Adam’s ear. Kayli felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. Whether or not Adam had any interest in Kayli, she wasn’t about to sit back and watch him carry on with a married woman. As a Christian she answered to a higher authority. At least that’s what she told herself was the reason for interrupting the tête-à-tête.

  Marching deliberately toward the cozy couple, Kayli watched Adam straighten and pull away from Andrea. He pulled at his sleeves and jutted his squared jaw toward Kayli. Her resolve weakened a bit watching the action. He was uncomfortable and appeared almost grateful for her presence.

  Kayli put a smile on her face. “Mrs. Williams, I’ve had quite an interesting encounter with your gallery owner. Alexander is a fascinating man and went on about your impeccable taste. I find it very different from mine but can appreciate your theme here.” Kayli grasped Adam’s arm and tugged him slightly away from Andrea. “Clearly we have the same taste in some things.”

  Andrea’s eyes flashed. “Alexander failed to show you the gallery up on the landing. That is where his work is seen at its finest. Why don’t you run along and catch him?”

  “While I love the art of an artist, there is no artist like God. Don’t you think? The human biceps are a work of magnificence.” Kayli ran her fingertips down Adam’s arm and casually pulled him away from the married woman. It took willpower to keep from digging her nails into his powerful arm. “Keep walking,” she whispered.

  Away from the crowd, Adam pulled her into an empty room. He found a light and turned it on to reveal a complete theater with rows of seats and a large screen.

  “What was that about?” Adam raised his brows.

  “Listen.” Kayli felt her hands shaking. “What you do with your time is your business, but if you profess to be a Christian, it’s best that you not be seen on the arm of a married woman. It’s inappropriate, not to mention that your boss, and her husband, certainly wouldn’t appreciate it.” Kayli crossed her arms to stop the trembling and flopped into an oversized theater chair. She looked around her and sniffed. The room was almost eggplant in color, a deep purple resembling a big, ugly bruise.

  Adam pulled her back to her feet. “Are you accusing me of something, Kayli?”

  Kayli felt her eyes fill with tears, and she blinked them away. “I’m just saying if you invite a woman to an event, it’s appropriate to stay with her. I believe you cowfolks would say, ‘Ya got to dance with the girl that brung ya.’ ”

  Adam’s smile made Kayli’s tears more insistent. He brushed one away from her cheek. “You’re absolutely right,” he whispered.

  “Don’t sweet-talk me, Adam. I’m not a fool. If you brought me here as your cover, I will not play that game.”

  “Kayli, you’ve got this wrong.”

  “I won’t be played like a pull toy. Whatever disgusting thing you and Andrea have going, keep me out of it. I may not like Mike Williams, but I wouldn’t hurt him this way.”

  He cupped her face with his roughened hands. “Do you really think that’s what I’m doing? Kayli, look at me.”

  Kayli’s shakiness became obvious, and she clenched her jaw, which only caused her teeth to clatter. “I don’t know what you’re doing, Adam. Unlike you I don’t have much experience with dating. I guess in my mind I made you out to be something you’re not.”

  He let out a small laugh. “What is it you think I am?”

  “I have no idea.” Kayli pulled free and turned away from him. “I thought you were a cowboy out of his element in Silicon Valley, longing for a taste of home, but you seem to work this town just fine. Better than I do, that’s for sure.”

  Adam came behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I am a cowboy. Just longing for an apple pie.”

  “You seem to know your way around this mansion pretty well.”

  “Kayli, I built it.”

  “Well, that’s no excuse.” Kayli lifted her chin.

  He whirled her around. “You’re jealous.” He forced her gaze to his, and she squeezed her eyes shut, rather than face those gorgeous clear eyes. Eyes that appeared so true and sincere.

  “I’m not jealous,” she railed. “What do I have to be jealous of? And no offense, but if you’re the kind who would carry on an inappropriate friendship with a married woman, well, I wouldn’t want you anyway.”

  “But I’m not the type to do that, and you know it.”

  She gulped. “No.” She shook her head. “No, I don’t know it. I wish it, but I don’t know it at all.”

  “Let’s get out of here. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, but, Kayli, something is here between us. I can’t describe it, but I feel it. When you’re next to me—don’t get me wrong—it isn’t lust; it’s this unimaginable feeling that I’m destined to know you. I can feel you next to me.”

  “So you can leave for Montana and let me battle it out with Mr. and Mrs. Williams and their giant conglomerate bakery?”

  “You’re avoiding the real subject. You live in one of the most expensive areas in America. You can imagine how everyone wants a piece of the pie, as they say.”

  “Except these people own the whole pie already, and now they want to dip into a little tiramisu, too.”

  “Competition breeds better product,” Adam said confidently.

  “Is that how you justify what your building will do to me?”

  “I can introduce you to any of these people here tonight, Kayli. You could make enough on the gallery owner’s openings alone. You just have to look for other resources.”

  “What makes you think I want to? I like my business the way it is. I’m not going to change everything into a catering business to assuage your guilt.”

  “Kayli, stop it.” Adam grasped her shoulders. “I didn’t ask you out to assuage my guilt, and I’m not going to leave and forget everything I’ve done to the city of Palo Alto. I’m certainly not going to forget you. Stop avoiding the real issue. What is it between us?”

  Kayli felt the undeniable chemistry between them both. An invisible pull that said everything and nothing at all. “You’re attractive,” she shrugged. “I find you attractive—that’s perfectly understandable. You’re a fine-looking man.” Kayli rambled in her most unaffected voice—when in reality she wanted to explore why she originally thought this man might be her soul mate.

  Adam bit his lip, clearly fighting his mirth. “Why were you jealous of Andrea?”

  “Because I’m not fond of a man who invites me somewhere and pawns me off on a gallery owner—who is quite handsome, by the way. What if I went off with him and left you alone at this soiree?”

  Adam clicked his tongue. “You’re absolutely right, and that would prove my country roots. An educated man would never leave the most beautiful woman in the room for an unavailable tyrant of a woman. Just wouldn’t happen.” Adam shook his head.

  Despite herself, Kayli smiled. Squaring her shoulders, she added, “What if I get to know you, like what I see, and you fly back to Montana without looking back? Love is a decision—haven’t you heard that?”

  “Then you leave me no choice, Kayli.”

  Adam approached her, and she felt her heart pound. This kind of attraction wasn’t healthy. Maybe she needed to go home and call Robert, retreat to the safety of a friendship and the calm life she knew. She couldn’t take
this kind of attraction forever; it couldn’t be good for her heart. Adam bent as though he might kiss her, and Kayli closed her eyes waiting for his lips to mesh with her own.

  “Well, there you are.” Andrea’s firm voice invaded Kayli’s dream, and Adam pulled away.

  “You have the most impeccable timing, Andrea.”

  “Countless remodels are out there waiting to speak to you, Adam.”

  “Let them wait, Andrea. I’m not taking on any additional jobs, so I appreciate the thought, but—”

  “Rachel awaits,” Andrea added.

  “Among other things.”

  Kayli felt breathless, torn between her emotions for the man she wanted to trust and driven by fears of who he might actually be.

  Chapter 7

  T he party continued well into the night, but it ceased to be fun at the return of Andrea. To his credit, Adam stole Kayli away immediately, escorting her to his Jeep without an explanation.

  “Come to dinner with me tomorrow night.” Adam’s voice broke the darkness of the car.

  “No,” Kayli forced herself to say. “I know what I feel, but I also know what I think. I can’t throw my brain out the window. That’s how women end up married to men who don’t keep promises. They believe them when they know they shouldn’t. Well, not me. I listen to my instincts.”

  “Let me tell you about Rachel. I don’t want you to question my motives.”

  Kayli grabbed his hand on the stick shift. “No. Don’t tell me a thing. It’s better that I just remain ignorant; then I can go on about my life remembering you only as the man who helped Mike Williams seal my fate. This long evening will fade into a distant memory.”

  She recoiled at the sight of his sad eyes under the map light. “Is that what you want?” His low voice resonated, and she felt the vibrations in her chest.

  “Absolutely,” Kayli said before truly answering the question in her heart. It wasn’t what she wanted at all. But how did she tell this man she barely knew that his absence would hurt her. That his allegiance to Andrea Williams and an unknown woman named Rachel sent an ache through her soul. How sane was that?

  “Fine. I don’t need a two-by-four through the head. Consider yourself left alone, Garbo. But it’s not my choice, Kayli. It will be solely yours.” Adam pulled up to the side of the road, and the little cappuccino lights suddenly looked ridiculous to Kayli. She took no pleasure in her quaint decorations. They made her look that much more naive.

  She sat frozen, knowing she must move. Get out of the car, her brain said, but her heart feared reaching for the door. Walking out of Adam’s life forever was a big step, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for it. No, I must stick to my resolve.

  “Is something the matter, Kayli?”

  “No,” Kayli said too quickly. “I’m leaving.” She shivered. “It’s a little chilly tonight.”

  “It’s seventy-four degrees.”

  She shrugged. “Must be the dress.”

  “It certainly does give one chills.” He focused out the window as he said it. His structured profile was outlined, illuminated by the street light. The portrait, so like a great piece of Roman art, sent another flutter through her stomach. He turned to face her, and even in the darkness she could see the intensity of his eyes. Those eyes. “You can run, Kayli, but if you don’t see this through, you’ll never know.”

  Oddly she didn’t need to ask what he meant. She knew. It was the crazy soul mate thing again. Is this what the Lord had for her? All these wild butterflies in her stomach and searing looks from a handsome stranger? It’s what she wanted. She’d always said it. Since she was a little girl, she wanted a man to love her with a fiery intensity. Like Christ loved His Church. The older she became, the more outlandish such a prayer seemed. Yet Adam seemed to be asking her about that very subject. Dare she ignore it when she longed for the answer?

  “I’ll make you dinner tomorrow night. Complete with an apple pie,” she blurted out.

  He smiled, letting out a long breath. “Thank you. I’ll bring a Bible and lead a devotional after supper. It will keep us out of trouble.”

  “I would like that. Why don’t we see a movie afterward, so we don’t get too comfortable?”

  “Perfect.” Adam brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. “May I kiss you good night, Kayli?”

  She nodded. He came closer, and she felt his breath upon her cheek. He brushed his firm lips against hers, and it seemed over before it began. He stepped out of the car and walked her to the doorway.

  “Pray about it, Kayli. I don’t understand it either.”

  “I will.” She opened the door and closed it quickly behind her. “What am I doing, Lord? He’s going to leave for Montana.” She dropped her head against the door. “I know I always said I wanted this passionate, immediate kind of romance, but now I’m not so sure, Lord. Now it just feels dangerous.”

  The phone rang, interrupting her heartfelt prayer. “Hello?”

  “Kayli, it’s Robert. How was your date?”

  “Different. How about yours?”

  “Weird. She didn’t talk much. I’m not used to being the one who talks.”

  “That’s because you are usually with me, and I have an opinion on everything,” Kayli admitted.

  “Very true.”

  “Are you going out with her again?”

  “Yes, sometimes things get off to a slow start. I prayed about it, and she has a solid faith, a good family. I think it’s worth pursuing.”

  “Do you think it can start out fast?”

  Robert groaned. “What do you mean, Kayli?”

  “I mean, what if you were thrown into this short amount of time, and you felt this urgency to get to know someone.”

  “God doesn’t work on a time line. It sounds dangerous.”

  “It feels dangerous, Robert.”

  “Then get out.”

  “It feels dangerous, but it feels right. We’re both committed to purity. That’s not the issue. My fear is that I’m ready to fly off with a man I hardly know and live amidst the cows. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Desperation maybe. Your business is in trouble, and it’s been a long time since you’ve seen anyone seriously. Maybe you’re not thinking clearly.”

  “What about arranged marriages? Sometimes brides and grooms never even see each other before the wedding.”

  “What on earth are you talking about, Kayli? It was just a date. One evening out and a few weeks of your trying to out-bake his mother. I think rambling about marriage is a little frightening. Our pastor says you should know someone at least a year before you contemplate marriage.”

  “You’re right. You’re totally right. And besides, no one is asking me to marry him. For all I know, he’s got a couple of ex-wives and eight kids. I’m not thinking clearly.”

  “Right.”

  “Coffee after church tomorrow?”

  “Sure, at our regular place.” Robert clicked the phone, and Kayli breathed a sigh of relief at the steadiness of her friend. Of course she was imagining things. It was desperation over her business, nothing more. It had been a long time since she’d had a date. It felt good to be thought of as beautiful. That was it: flattery.

  Adam pulled up into his driveway, confused and a bit numb. He felt as though he’d met his wife. He knew it in his heart. Yet how could he explain this fact to a complete stranger? Hi, God sent me to California to find you. Now please come back to my little cabin in the wilderness and live in a place where they’ve never even heard of tiramisu.

  He laughed at the thought. He needed to tell Kayli about Rachel. That would seal it. Kayli would run for protection, and he would know how ridiculous these thoughts of marriage were. He wasn’t the marrying kind. Hadn’t his solitary life taught him that? Andrea said he would never learn to be a partner to anyone. He thought too much of himself. That was probably true, but then again, Andrea wasn’t exactly a great judge of character.

  His eyes narrowed in disbelief. Andrea stood on his
front porch. Her long, violet gown sparkling under the porch light. He sighed and stood tall. This was going to end. “What are you doing here, Andrea?”

  “I see you didn’t bring your date home. I knew you wouldn’t. Still living the monk’s life, Adam?”

  “What do you want?” He unlocked the front door and walked past her. She followed him in.

  “I think you know what I want.”

  “Is this a joke? You didn’t want me when I didn’t have the money to pay for your lifestyle.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You dropped me, and you know it.”

  “Lot of good it did me. Look—it’s inappropriate for you to be here.” Adam remained cool, but his heart pounded. He and Andrea had never had more than a casual friendship with a slight crush. She made it sound like something vulgar and obviously remembered scenes that had never taken place. Living with Mike Williams had changed Andrea, and it wasn’t for the best.

  “Inappropriate. That’s what you said when I tried to talk to you at the party.”

  “And it was inappropriate then. I fail to see how meeting me alone at my apartment would be any more suitable. You’re a married woman, Andrea. Act like it.”

  “I’m not going to make a bigger fool out of myself, Adam. I came here because I want to know how much it hurt you when I left. I want to hear how you cried when I married Mike. You give me that, and I’ll let this go. But if you continue to pretend I was never the one, I won’t let it die. I’ll let Mike know exactly what we were to each other. What we are to each other.”

  “What are you talking about?” Now he truly questioned her sanity. Before she seemed bitter and unrepentant toward her husband, but now she seemed incapable of living in reality.

  “He’s worth more to me divorced than married. That house alone could pay for my lifestyle for an eternity, and I wouldn’t have to put up with the slobbering idiot.”

  “Andrea! Don’t say such a vile thought out loud. I haven’t been paid for this job yet, and I won’t let you imply there’s anything between us.”