Sweet Surprise: Romance Collection

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

  “I wish I had the courage.”

  Mrs. Reed pointed toward the door. “Be gone with you. Go to that young lady of yours and show her how much you care.” She smiled. “And I’ll be praying God will give you courage.”

  He kissed her hand and called back over his shoulder as he rolled toward the door. “You and God? With a team like that, how can I miss?”

  Annie spent more time than usual fixing her hair and applying makeup. She hadn’t been able to get Brad off her mind all day—the professional way he’d handled Valerie and her attorney, and the ridiculous way she’d thrown herself into his lap. She smiled as she flipped through the menus, making sure each one had the nightly special attached to it.

  “You’re mighty happy tonight,” one of the waitresses told her. “Is that a new pair of earrings?”

  Annie reached up and touched her ears. “No, not new. I only wear them on special occasions.”

  A second waitress joined them. “Special occasions? Is this your birthday?” She gave Annie’s arm a playful pinch. “Maybe you have a date!”

  Before Annie could respond, the door opened, and Brad rolled in, a bouquet of red roses in his lap.

  Both waitresses glanced from the flowers to Brad to Annie then disappeared, whispering and giggling as they went.

  “Hi.” Brad grinned and handed the bouquet to her. “These are for you.”

  Annie buried her face in the lush, red-velvet blooms and breathed in their fragrance. No one had given her flowers since her college days. “I love them. Thank you, Brad. You are so thoughtful. I’ll put them in—”

  Suddenly they heard a loud rumbling noise from the parking lot.

  Annie hurried to the window, pulled back the curtain, and peered out. “It’s that motorcycle gang again!” she groaned. The waitresses and some of the customers dashed to the window, too.

  “What motorcycle gang?” Brad asked as he rolled up beside her and stretched forward to see.

  “They were here earlier this summer and caused a lot of trouble. I think they’d been drinking. They knocked over chairs, threw food at each other, and used words I’d never heard before. Most of my customers feared for their safety and left. I had to call the sheriff to get them out, but they nearly wrecked the place before he arrived.”

  Brad’s eyes widened. “He arrested them, didn’t he?”

  She shook her head and shouted over the noise. “No, he told them if they left, he would let them go. And he did!”

  The room became quiet as the rumble of motors ceased. Annie watched the gang members stalk across the parking lot to the door of the restaurant.

  “I’m not going to serve you again,” she said to the rough-looking man who was apparently their leader. She stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. “You and your friends are not welcome here.”

  He stuck his thumbs in his belt loops, jutted out his jaw, and stared at her. “You sure that’s a good idea? Me and my men are hungry. Our money’s as good as theirs.” He gestured toward the customers who sat in their chairs like statues.

  She lifted her chin. “As I said, you are not welcome here. Now go.”

  Staff and customers alike watched the scene before them, but no one moved to help Annie.

  “What if we don’t want to? What’re you gonna do about it? Hit me with a wet noodle?” He threw his head back and let out a boisterous laugh. “Or maybe call my old pal, the sheriff ?”

  Brad rolled toward the man. “Look, Frank. Why don’t you and your men find another place to have your supper? Miss Johnson has already told you you’re not welcome here.”

  The gang leader ran his hand over his face. “Hey, Brad, old boy. How you doin’? Ain’t seen you since—”

  “Since my client sued you for damages, right?”

  The man rolled his eyes. “You got lucky. The judge was on the take.”

  Brad tightened his jaw. “Frank, turn around and get out of here, okay? No one wants you here. Crawl on your cycle and take it on down the road.”

  The man he called Frank leaned into Brad’s face, nose to nose. “And who’s gonna make me? You? I can take half a man like you with both arms tied behind my back.”

  Annie caught her breath. “Brad! Don’t antagonize him. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you because of me.”

  Without turning to look at her, still nose-to-nose with the burly man, Brad told her calmly, “Don’t worry. Frank and I understand each other. Don’t we, Frank?”

  The man backed away. “That mean you’re gonna tell your little woman to let us stay?”

  “Nope, I’m telling you to get out of here. Now.”

  Frank narrowed his eyes beneath his shaggy brows, his rowdy laugh echoing through the room. “Guess that means you’re gonna make me, right?”

  “You wouldn’t fight a one-legged man, would you?” one of the male customers called out. “That would be mighty cowardly.”

  “If I fight you and win, will you and your men leave?” Brad asked Frank, ignoring the other man’s remark.

  “How could I fight you? You can’t even stand up!” he said, scowling.

  “Brad, don’t!” Annie rushed to his side.

  He turned to her and smiled briefly. “Clear off that table behind you, Annie,” Brad instructed. “Take everything off, even the tablecloth.”

  Frank frowned at him.

  “How about arm wrestling, Frank? That sound fair to you?”

  The man rolled up his sleeve and flexed his huge biceps. “Sure you want to tangle with this?” he asked with a smirk.

  “I win—you leave,” Brad said.

  Frank laughed bitterly. “But what do I get when I win?”

  “I’ll buy your supper,” Brad said as he rolled up to the table Annie had cleared. “Steak, lobster, whatever you want. I’ll even throw in a piece of Annie’s Awesome Caramel Apple Pie.”

  Annie could hear her heart pounding in her ears. How could he joke at a time like this?

  Brad motioned to the chair opposite him. “Come on, Frank.” And with a wink toward Annie he added, “Put up or shut up!”

  Frank stepped over to the chair.

  Chapter 7

  A nnie tried to swallow around the lump in her throat. What was Brad thinking? She guessed Frank weighed at least thirty pounds more than Brad, and he was probably taller, too. And it was obvious by the size of the man’s muscles that he worked out regularly and was in great shape. He could take Brad in—she refused to think about it.

  She stared at Brad. He was sitting at the table looking calm and cool, waiting. He was fit, too. But how could he ever expect to hold his own against that man? She glanced at the phone. Should she call the sheriff before things got out of hand? He didn’t do anything the other time—why should this be any different? Why waste her energy?

  Frank pulled out the chair, threw his long leg over its back and sat down, his huge hands gripping the table’s edge. “Hey, man. Last chance to back away. Sure you want to do this? I’d hate to see a grown man cry,” he taunted. “Especially in front of your little girlfriend.”

  Brad leaned back and locked his hands together over his chest, keeping his eyes on the man. “I’m sure someone will give me a tissue if I break out in tears. Don’t worry yourself about it.” He leaned forward again, nearly touching Frank’s nose with his, and narrowed his eyes. “I think the question is—are you sure you want to do this? I’m the challenger—remember?”

  Frank shot a look at his comrades who stood watching in silence. “One of you guys keep your cell phone handy. Old Brad here is gonna be needin’ an ambulance. I owe him big-time. Twice!” he added, holding up two fingers.

  “Aren’t you ready yet?” Brad asked impatiently. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Frank appeared to be not only up for the challenge but eager for it. He cracked his knuckles then placed his right elbow on the table, holding his muscular, tattooed arm in an upright position. “You wanna do two falls out of three? Or go for broke
with one?”

  Brad’s gaze never left Frank’s. “I issued the challenge. You decide.”

  Annie couldn’t remain silent any longer and rushed to Brad’s side. “No, don’t! Please. Stop this right now. I don’t want—”

  “It’s okay, Annie,” Brad reassured her. Still looking at Frank he reached out and touched Annie’s hand. “Frank and the boys have promised to leave when this is over. Everything’s going to be fine. Trust me.”

  Frank laughed coarsely again. “Sure about that, Brad, old boy? I think the best advice you could give your little girlfriend would be to start getting a table ready. I’m gonna have me a nice big steak after I beat the—” He stopped and grinned at Annie. “Excuse me, ma’am. I nearly forgot I was in the presence of a lady.”

  “Let’s get on with it,” Brad told him. “One? Or three?”

  Frank sized up his opponent before answering. “I’m not sure that arm of yours would hold up for more than one round.” He nodded his head and scowled, then stationed his elbow on the table. “Let’s make it one.”

  Brad smiled, and Annie wondered if this was his strange way of psyching out the competition. It certainly wasn’t a smiling matter to her. Frank could break Brad’s arm. Then where would he be?

  One of the waitresses stepped up to her. “Don’t let him do it. He’ll get hurt, and losing could devastate him. Think how embarrassed he’ll be with everyone watching. You’ve got to stop this.”

  Annie’s shoulders drooped. She couldn’t bear the thought of what might happen to him if he lost. “I’ve tried. Brad won’t give up, and I’m sure Frank won’t either.”

  Frank motioned to Annie. “We need a starter. You’re it.”

  She gasped and stared at the man. “No, I couldn’t!”

  “Do it, Annie,” Brad told her, his gaze still locked on Frank. “All you need to do is count to three and say go!”

  “But, Brad—”

  “Do it, Annie. Now.” His tone was firm.

  Annie moved to the side of the table, her heart pounding furiously, as the two men adjusted the position of their elbows on the table and locked hands. “Oh, Brad, be careful. I couldn’t stand it if he hurt you. You’re too important to me.”

  Brad stared into Frank’s dark gaze. He had faced him once before as an opponent— in a courtroom. The man had been charged with beating up an innocent bystander and stealing his car. He had won the case, and Frank had ended up in jail. He knew Frank carried a grudge against him and was out to get him, and he knew the man was strong. Men in prison spent much of their time working out. But he was strong, too. And he had to protect Annie. He might not be able to stand toe to toe with Frank, but at least he had a chance of defeating him hand to hand.

  God, he breathed out to his Father in prayer, if I ever needed Your help, it’s now. I can’t let Annie down. Give me the strength to defeat this vile man. He can’t win. Please, God. I know I can’t have Annie, but I have to do this for her. I love her. He tightened his jaw, lifted his chin, and nodded for her to start the count.

  Annie’s eyes widened with fright, as did most of the onlookers’. She reached over and squeezed Brad’s shoulder then started counting.

  “One.”

  Brad swallowed.

  “Two.”

  He sucked in a deep breath and held it.

  “Three.”

  His fingers tightened around Frank’s.

  It seemed as if she would never say it.

  “Go!”

  Brad felt Frank’s paralyzing grip on his hand, and the two men began their struggle for victory over the other.

  The restaurant was silent.

  It seemed as if the clock on the wall had stopped ticking.

  Men stared.

  Women hid their eyes.

  Annie cried.

  One second it seemed as if their locked hands were going Frank’s way. The next second, Brad’s. Back and forth they went. On and on, each hoping to outdo the other.

  Annie caught her breath then wrung her hands as the minutes ticked by.

  Brad watched Frank’s eyes for any sign of weakness, but all he saw was dogged determination. He suddenly became aware of all Frank had to lose. He was the head of the gang. For him to be defeated would be a disgrace. Especially by a man in a wheelchair. God, give me strength. With Your help I know I can do this!

  With one powerful grunt that seemed to come from the deepest part of his being, Frank gave a hard lunge of his wrist, and their hands moved toward his side of the table.

  Then Brad saw what he had been looking for, a flash of satisfaction on Frank’s face. A quick window of weakness. With all his might and one final gasp of fresh air to fill his lungs, he pushed Frank’s hand across the imaginary line, and it was over. Frank’s arm hit the table. Hard.

  Brad had won!

  Annie rushed to Brad’s side, jumped onto his lap, and threw her arms about him. “Oh, Brad, you did it! You did it! And you’re all right. I was so afraid—”

  “I did it for you, Annie.” He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes, his face covered with perspiration. “I told you I’d do anything for you. Doesn’t this prove it?”

  She kissed his cheek, and Brad breathed a prayer of thanks to God. For he knew without God’s help he could never have defeated Frank.

  Brad looked across the table into the man’s face. Frank hadn’t moved. He was still sitting there, staring at him, dazed.

  “I’m sorry you went down like that in front of your friends,” Brad told him so softly that only the three of them could hear. “I hope now you’ll keep your end of the bargain and leave without any trouble.”

  Frank stuck out his hand. “I may be a troublemaker, but my word is good. You beat me fair and square.” He gave him a slight grin. “Both times.”

  “I had the advantage, you know.”

  The man frowned. “Advantage? What advantage?”

  Brad gave his hand a hearty shake. “I asked God for help.”

  Frank looked at him. “That so? Me and the man upstairs aren’t exactly on speaking terms. Guess he liked you better.”

  Brad smiled. “Mind if I send you a Bible? I have your address, unless you’ve moved since your trial.”

  Frank stood up and shrugged his broad shoulders. “Sure. Send it to me. I can always use a little kindling for my fireplace.” He turned and headed for the door alone. His gang was already in the parking lot starting their motorcycles and heading out.

  “I guess this cost him his place as a leader. I doubt his men will have much respect for him after this.”

  Annie leaned her head on his shoulder and patted his cheek. “Oh, Brad, you were wonderful. My brave Brad. My hero!”

  Brad beamed. He’d never been called a hero. If it would impress Annie, he’d fight Goliath, even without the help of a bag of stones. “God helped me,” he said. He enjoyed the attention she was lavishing upon him.

  “But Frank was so strong. I never thought you’d stand a chance of winning!”

  He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the perspiration from his face. “I neglected to give Frank one small bit of information he might have found useful.”

  She leaned back with a puzzled look. “Information? What?”

  He grinned. “I’ve been the YMCA’s undefeated arm-wrestling champion for five years in a row. And I’ve taken first in the state competition the past three years. I’ve whipped several men bigger and stronger than Frank.”

  She cupped his chin in her hand and looked into his eyes. “Even if you’d lost, you’d still be the winner to me. No one has ever stood up for me the way you did. I lo—” She stopped herself, a shy smile on her face.

  Just then a dozen or more of the restaurant’s male patrons gathered around Brad to congratulate him. As much as he enjoyed their praises, he felt sadness when Annie slid off his lap and stood.

  After the men had returned to their tables, Brad rolled into the restroom and washed his face and combed his hair. He smiled at hi
s reflection in the mirror. He had won!

  Annie was waiting for him at their little table, her heart filled with admiration. His damp hair lay in ringlets over his forehead, and his face was flushed from all the effort he’d put into defeating Frank. He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? Her heart did a somersault as he rolled up beside her. What a strange feeling she had in the pit of her stomach at the mere sight of him.

  What was happening? Yesterday he was her friend. Today he was—She smiled warmly as their elbows touched. What was Brad to her? Her attorney, of course. Now her defender. But he was more than that. Much more. Brad was—Brad! The most wonderful, caring, unselfish man she’d ever met, and she found herself wanting to spend every minute with him.

  They enjoyed a relaxed dinner together. For once Annie let her staff do the work while she lingered beside Brad. Since it had been such a hard day, she decided to go home and let those helping at the theater close for the night.

  “Hop on—I’ll give you a ride,” Brad said at the door.

  She climbed onto his lap immediately and put her arms about his neck. When they reached her car, she kept her head on his shoulder. She felt as if she wanted to stay there forever. It was a beautiful moonlit night—a perfect night for lovers. She smiled inwardly. Lovers? The two of us?

  “I guess you’re tired,” Brad said finally, breaking the spell. “I’m going to meet with Ben Calhoun in the morning. I’ll call you after we’ve talked.”

  Annie kissed him lightly on the cheek and stood up. “Thanks, Brad—for everything.”

  “You’re welcome.” He waited until she started her car then rode the lift up into his van and waved good-bye.

  He watched the taillights of her car disappear in the distance and then turned the key in the ignition. He had nearly blurted out how much he loved her but was glad he hadn’t. Sure, Annie was grateful for what he’d done to Frank, but admiration and gratitude were a far cry from love. Why would she want him when she could have her pick of men? Whole men. Not a half man like him—as Frank had called him.

  No, he had to prepare himself. As soon as Annie and her sister’s estate was settled she would have no more use for him. He’d better start distancing himself from her now. He wasn’t sure he could handle her rejection. Yes, it was time for him to get out of Annie Johnson’s life.