Read Online A Man to Trust by Carrie Turansky - Free Book Online Page B

Good thing you came now. We’re going to sell out soon.” He set down his spatula and came around the end of the grill. “Come with me, and I’ll get you a plate.”
    Adrie’s face flushed as she pointed over her shoulder at Ross. “Thanks, but we’ve got tickets.”
    “Oh, okay.” Eric’s eager smile faded. “Well, enjoy your meal.” With a disappointed shrug, he returned to his spot behind the grill.
    Adrie fiddled with the scarf at her neck, trying to let in some cool air. She hadn’t promised Eric she would meet him here. Still, she didn’t like to disappoint her friend.
    “How long have you known Eric?”
    “Oh…three or four years.”
    Ross sent her a questioning glance, obviously wanting to know more.
    “We went to college together. He dated my roommate, Celia, most of my senior year.”
    Ross lifted one dark eyebrow. “Looks like he wishes he’d dated you.”
    “That would never have worked. I was dating Adam at the time.” Her face flamed.
    “Adam?”
    She swallowed. “My ex-fiancé.”
    He cocked his head. “You were engaged? What happened?” As soon as he asked, he lifted his hand. “Sorry. That’s none of my business.”
    She hesitated. Did she want to tell him the details? It would mean admitting the humiliating truth—he’d never truly loved her. That painful reality seemed to echo through her whole life, underlying so many of her relationships.
    Those disappointments and betrayals had chilled her heart and pushed her further away from the free-spirited, loving woman she wanted to be. Adam’s unfaithfulness was just one more painful wound that fortified the wall around her heart.
    “You don’t have to tell me if you’d rather not,” Ross said, his voice gentle.
    “No, it’s okay.” She lifted her gaze to meet his. “Adam and I met in college during our sophomore year when we played in the orchestra together. We dated for the next two years, and then, right after graduation, he proposed. We were supposed to get married last month, but in April, after most of our wedding plans were already made, I found out he was cheating on me with my former best friend.”
    Ross grimaced. “Oh, that’s terrible.” A fierce glint lit his eyes. “I’m sorry he hurt you, but I’m glad you didn’t marry him. You deserve better than that.”
    His sincere words warmed her heart. But then a chill swept them away. He assumed Adam and Marie were at fault. But that wasn’t the whole story. She had refused to be intimate with Adam while they were engaged. Had that pushed him into the arms of another woman? A new wave of sorrow flowed in.
    “When was the wedding supposed to be?” Ross asked, bringing her back from those unhappy memories.
    “September 6,” she whispered, barely able to say the date.
    He cocked his head. “Isn’t that Marian’s birthday?”
    She nodded, regretting that choice all over again. “I thought it would be a nice way to honor her.” Instead, it would always be a painful reminder of Adam’s betrayal.
    Ross rubbed his chin, his gaze still resting on her. “So, the day you and I met, was the day you were supposed to marry Adam. Interesting.” A slow smile lifted one side of his mouth. “Maybe that was God’s way of showing you when He closes one door, He opens another.”
    Adrie looked up at him. What did he mean by that?
    He grinned at her, his dark eyes glowing. But then something behind her captured his attention. “Hold on. Photo op.” He pulled out his camera. “Would you hang on to my camera bag for a minute?”
    “Sure.” She slipped it over her shoulder. “What are you going to take a picture of?”
    “See that man with his son?” He made a couple quick adjustments to his camera, then lifted it to his eye and clicked off a series of shots. “That’s the kind of photo my friend at the Herald would love.”
    The dad lifted up his young son on his shoulders and gave him a wild ride that had them both laughing. The little boy placed his hands