Free A Man to Trust by Carrie Turansky Page A

His glance shifted to Adrie. She stared straight ahead with a determined tilt to her chin. But there was a vulnerable look in her eyes, as though she was just waiting to see if he would take her words at face value and keep his distance. She might be cool and even a bit prickly on the outside, but underneath there was a warm and loving woman worth pursuing.
    But was he the man who should be pursuing her?
    Bright morning sunshine filtered through the front windows, adding a warm glow to the bookstore’s interior. Adrie sat on the tall wooden stool behind the sales counter and picked up the latest copy of Christian Retailing magazine. Thumbing through the first few pages, she glanced at the headlines, but her gaze kept drifting toward Ross. He sat a few feet away with his eyes glued to the computer screen, his hands hovering over the keys. He hadn’t said a word to her in at least twenty minutes.
    She cleared her throat. “How’s it coming?”
    He didn’t look up, and a few seconds passed before he spoke. “I’m just checking it over now.” He frowned, scrolled down the page, and typed in a few more things.
    She leaned to the left, trying to see the rest of the screen, but his broad shoulders blocked her view. She sat back. He needed to learn how to place orders without her help. But she had a hard time resisting the urge to check his work.
    The revenue from their December sales had to carry them through the first few months of the next year. Having the right stock on hand made all the difference between profit and loss. She drummed her fingers on the counter. “Did you add in those Christmas cards we talked about yesterday?”
    “Yep.”
    “How about the calendars?”
    “Got ’em.” He continued to stare at the computer screen.
    She pulled in a slow deep breath and focused on the magazine again. She needed to relax and let him do it. That was the only way he would get the experience he needed to run the store. And she couldn’t leave until she was certain he could handle the job.
    A pang shot through her heart as she thought of saying goodbye to everyone she loved. Was that what she truly wanted—to leave her grandmother, her job, her church, her friends? Her gaze shifted to Ross again, and the pain cut deeper. Though she had only known him for a few weeks, they were developing a connection she couldn’t deny.
    Closing her eyes, she pushed those troubling questions away.
    She could not change course now. For fourteen years she had carried one dream in her heart, and she couldn’t imagine any other future. If she wanted to play professionally, she could not stay in Fairhaven. The only orchestra nearby was the Whatcom Symphony. They were a wonderful group, but the musicians were all volunteers. They only played part-time and had to support themselves with other jobs or have spouses who carried that burden.
    If she was going to establish her career and support herself, she would have to spread her wings and leave Fairhaven behind. That was the sacrifice she would have to make, so why were these doubts filling her mind now?
    Another question burrowed deeper into her heart, stealing her breath away. What if she wasn’t good enough? What if no one wanted to hire her after all the years of work she had put in? What would she do then?
    Was that what was really bothering her, or did her hesitation have more to do with the man sitting just a few feet away? Was she willing to give up the possibility of something developing with Ross?
    “What do you think about these Christmas novella collections?” Ross asked, still focused on the screen.
    She blinked and struggled to find her voice. “The price is good, especially if you order the display set.”
    She slid off her stool and stood behind him. “The historical collections usually sell better than the contemporaries.” Leaning over his shoulder, she checked the ordering information on the screen. A warm, woodsy scent floated in the air around him. She pulled in a