Sweet Surprise: Romance Collection

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

  There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence, then Evan said, “I thought I might bring some sweet treats to class one of these days and share them with anyone willing to be my guinea pig.”

  Vanessa smacked her lips and touched the edge of Evan’s shirtsleeve. “I’ll be looking forward to that.”

  “It’s time to tell our ages. I’m twenty-one,” Tim said.

  Vanessa smiled and said she was also twenty-one.

  Jared informed the group that he was twenty-four.

  “Guess that makes me the old man of our little assemblage. I’m heading downhill at the ripe old age of twenty-eight,” Evan said with a wink in Lorna’s direction.

  With the exception of Evan, they’re all just kids, she thought ruefully. And even he’s four years younger than me.

  Vanessa nudged Lorna’s arm with the eraser end of her pencil. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Lorna stared at the floor and mumbled, “I’m thirty-two.”

  Jared let out a low whistle. “Wow, you’re a lot older than the rest of us.”

  Lorna slid a little lower in her chair. As if I needed to be reminded.

  Evan held up the paper he was holding. It had been handed out by the professor’s assistant only moments ago. “It says here that one of the most significant age-related signs is increased hair growth in the nose.” He leaned over, until his face was a few inches from Lorna’s. As he studied her, she felt like a bug under a microscope. “Yep,” he announced. “I can see it’s happening to you already!”

  Jared, Tim, and Vanessa howled, and Lorna covered her face with her hands. If the aisle hadn’t been blocked, she might have dashed for the door. Instead, she drew in a deep breath, lifted her head, and looked Evan in the eye. “You’re right about my nose hair. In fact, I’m so old I get winded just playing a game of checkers.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. Maybe those stupid jokes she had used on her customers at the restaurant were still lodged in her brain.

  Everyone in the group laughed this time, including Lorna, who was finally beginning to relax. “The other day, I sank my teeth into a big, juicy steak, and you know what?” she quipped.

  Evan leaned a bit closer. “What?”

  “They just stayed there!”

  Vanessa giggled and poked Evan on the arm. “She really got you good on that one.”

  Evan grimaced. “Guess I deserved it. Sorry about the nose hair crack.”

  He looked genuinely sorry, making Lorna feel foolish for trying to set him up with her lame joke. She was about to offer an apology of her own when he added, “It’s nice to know I’m not the oldest one in class.”

  Lorna didn’t know how she had survived the morning. By the time she entered her last class of the day, she wondered all the more if she was going to make it as a college student. This is no time to wimp out, she chided herself as she took a seat in the front row. Choir is my favorite subject.

  The woman who stood in front of the class introduced herself as Professor Lynne Burrows.

  She’s young, Lorna noted. Probably not much past thirty. I would be a music teacher by now if I’d finished my studies ten years ago.

  “Do we have any pianists in this class?” Professor Burrows asked.

  Lorna glanced around the room. When she saw no hands raised, she lifted hers.

  “Have you ever accompanied a choir?”

  She nodded. “I play for my church choir, and I also accompanied college choir during my freshman and sophomore years.” She chose not to mention the fact that it had been several years ago.

  The professor smiled. “Would you mind playing for us today? If it works out well, perhaps you’d consider doing it for all the numbers that require piano accompaniment.”

  “I’d like that.” Lorna headed straight for the piano, a place where she knew she’d be the most comfortable.

  “If you need someone to turn the pages, I’d be happy to oblige.”

  Lorna glanced to her right. Evan Bailey was leaning on the lid of the piano, grinning at her like a monkey who’d been handed a tasty banana. She couldn’t believe he was in her music class, too.

  “Thanks anyway, but I think I can manage,” Lorna murmured.

  Evan dropped to the bench beside her. “I’ve done this before, and I’m actually pretty good at it.” He reached across Lorna and thumbed a few pages of the music.

  She eyed him suspiciously. “You don’t know when to quit, do you?”

  He laughed and wagged a finger in front of her nose. “Just call me Pushy Bailey.”

  “Let’s see what Professor Burrows has to say when she realizes you’re sitting on the piano bench instead of standing on the risers with the rest of the choir. You are enrolled in this class, I presume?”

  Evan smiled at her. “I am, and I signed up for it just so I could perfect my talent of page turning.”

  Lorna moaned softly. “You’re impossible.”

  Evan dragged his fingers along the piano keys. “How about you and me going out for a burger after class? Then I can tell you about the rest of my faults.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t date.”

  He snapped the key of middle C up and down a few times. “Who said anything about a date? I’m hungry for a burger and thought maybe you’d like to join me. It would be a good chance for us to get better acquainted.”

  Lorna sucked in her breath. “Why would we need to get better acquainted?”

  He gave her a wide smile. “I’m in choir—you’re in choir. You’re the pianist—I’m the page turner. I’m in anatomy—you’re in anatomy. I’m in your group—you’re in my—”

  She held up one hand. “Okay, Mr. Bailey. I get the point.”

  “Call me Evan. Mr. Bailey makes me sound like an old man.”

  “Evan, then.”

  “So will you have a burger with me?”

  Lorna opened her mouth, but Professor Burrows leaned on the top of the piano and spoke first. “I see you’ve already found a page turner.”

  Lorna shook her head. “Not really. I’ve always been able to turn my own pages, and I’m sure you need Mr. Bailey’s voice in the tenor section far more than I need his thumb and index finger at the piano.”

  Evan grinned up at the teacher. “What can I say? The woman likes me.”

  Lorna’s mouth dropped open. Didn’t the guy ever quit?

  “You’re pretty self-confident, aren’t you?” The professor pointed at Evan, then motioned toward the risers. “Let’s see how well you can sing. Third row, second place on the left.”

  Evan shrugged and gave Lorna a quick wink. “See you later.”

  “Don’t mind him,” Professor Burrows whispered to Lorna. “I think he’s just testing the waters.”

  “Mine, or yours?”

  “Probably both. I’ve handled characters like him before, so we won’t let it get out of hand.” The professor gave Lorna’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and moved to the front of the class.

  Lorna closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, lifting a prayer of thanks that the day was almost over. She couldn’t believe how stressful it had been. Maybe she should give up her dream of becoming a music teacher while she still had some shred of sanity left.

  As Evan stood on the risers with the rest of the class, he couldn’t keep focused on Professor Burrows or the song they were supposed to be singing. His gaze kept going back to the cute little blond who sat at the piano.

  He knew Lorna was four years older than he, and she’d made it clear that she had no interest in dating. Still, the woman fascinated him, and he was determined they should get better acquainted. The few years’ age difference meant nothing as far as he was concerned, but it might matter to Lorna. Maybe that’s why she seemed so indifferent.

  I’d sure like to get to know her better and find out if we’re compatible. Evan smiled to himself. He would figure out a way—maybe bribe her with one of his online sweet treats. Of course, he’d first have to learn how to bake something that didn’t flop.

&
nbsp; Chapter 4

  W hen Lorna arrived home from school, she found her father-in-law in the front yard, raking a pile of maple leaves into a mountain in the middle of the lawn.

  Ed stopped and wiped the perspiration from the top of his bald head with a hanky he had pulled from the pocket of his jeans. “How was your first day?”

  Lorna plodded up the steps, dropped her backpack to the porch, and sank wearily into one of the wicker chairs. “Let’s put it this way, I’m still alive to tell about it.”

  Ed leaned the rake against the outside porch railing and took the chair beside her. “That bad, huh?”

  She only nodded in reply.

  “Is your schedule too heavy this semester?” he asked, obvious concern revealed in his dark eyes.

  Lorna forced a smile. “It’s nothing to be worried about.”

  “Anything that concerns you concerns me and Ann. You were married to our son, and that makes us family.”

  “I know, but I do have to learn how to handle some problems on my own.”

  “Problems? Did I hear someone say they’re having problems?”

  Lorna glanced up at Ann, who had stepped onto the porch. “It’s nothing. I’m just having a hard time fitting in at school. I am quite a bit older than most of my classmates, you know.”

  Ann laughed, causing the lines around her eyes to become more pronounced. “Is that all that’s troubling you? I’d think being older would have some advantages.”

  “Such as?”

  “For one thing, your maturity should help you grasp things. Your study habits will probably be better than those of most kids fresh out of high school, too. These days, many young people don’t have a lot of self-discipline.”

  “Yeah, no silly schoolgirl crushes or other such distractions,” Ed put in with a deep chuckle.

  Lorna swallowed hard. There had already been plenty of distractions today, and they’d come in the form of a young man with laughing blue eyes, goofy jokes, and a highly contagious smile.

  “My maturity might help me be more studious, but it sure sets me apart from the rest of the college crowd,” she said. “Today I felt like a sore thumb sticking out on an otherwise healthy hand.”

  “You’re so pretty, I’m sure no one even guessed you were a few years older.” Ann gently touched Lorna’s shoulder.

  “Thanks for the compliment,” Lorna said, making no mention of the fact that she had already revealed her age during the first class of the day. She cringed, thinking about the nose hair incident. “I’d better go inside. I want to read a few verses of scripture, and I have some homework that needs to be done before it’s time to head for work.”

  Lorna stood in front of the customer who sat at a table in her assigned section with a menu in front of his face. “Have you decided yet, sir?” she asked.

  “I’ll have a cheeseburger with the works.”

  He dropped the menu to the table, and Lorna’s gaze darted to the man’s face. “Wh–what are you doing here?” she rasped.

  Evan smiled up at her. “I’m ordering a hamburger, and seeing you again makes me remember that you stood me up this afternoon.”

  “How could I have stood you up when I never agreed to go out with you in the first place?” Lorna’s hands began to tremble, and she knew her cheeks must be pink, because she could feel the heat quickly spreading.

  Evan’s grin widened. “You never really said no.”

  Lorna clenched her pencil in one hand and the order pad in the other. “Did you follow me here from my home?”

  “I don’t even know where you live, so how could I have followed you?” Evan studied his menu again. “I think I’ll have an order of fries to go with that burger. Care to join me?”

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m working.”

  “Hmm…Maybe I’ll have a chocolate shake, too.”

  Lorna tapped her foot impatiently. “How did you know I worked here?”

  He handed her the menu. “I didn’t. I’ve heard this restaurant serves really great burgers, and I thought I’d give it a try. The fact that you work here is just an added bonus.”

  “I’ll be back when your order is up.” Lorna turned on her heels and headed for the kitchen, but she’d only made it halfway when she collided with Chris. Apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and two chocolate-covered donuts went sailing through the air as her friend’s tray flew out of her hands.

  Lorna gasped. “Oh, Chris, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you coming.”

  “It was just an accident. It’s okay, I know you didn’t do it on purpose,” Chris said as she dropped to her knees.

  Lorna did the same and quickly began to help clean up the mess. “I’ll probably be docked half my pay for this little blunder,” she grumbled. “I ought to send Evan Bailey a bill.”

  Chris’s eyebrows shot up. “Who’s Evan Bailey?”

  “Some guy I met at school. I have him in two of my classes. He’s here tonight. I just took his order.”

  Chris gave her a quizzical look. “And?”

  “He had me so riled I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” Lorna scooped up the last piece of pie and handed the tray back to Chris. “I really am sorry about this.”

  Chris laughed. “It’s a good thing it went on the floor and not in someone’s lap.” She got to her feet. “So what’s this guy done that has you so upset?”

  Lorna picked a hunk of chocolate off her apron and stood, too. “First of all, he kept teasing me in anatomy class this morning. Then he plunked himself down at the piano with me during choir, offering to be my page turner.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “Next, he asked me to go out for a burger after school.”

  “What’d you say?”

  “I didn’t answer him.” Lorna frowned. “Now he’s here, pestering me to eat dinner with him.”

  Chris moved toward the kitchen, with Lorna following on her heels. “Sounds to me like the guy is interested in you.”

  Lorna shook her head. “He hardly even knows me. Besides, I’m four years older.”

  “Who’s hung up on age differences nowadays?”

  “Okay, it’s not the four years between us that really bothers me.”

  “What then?”

  “He acts like a big kid!” Lorna shrugged. “Besides, even if I was planning to date, which I’m not, our personalities don’t mesh.”

  Evan leaned his elbows on the table and studied the checkered place mat in front of him. He had always been the kind of person who knew what he wanted and then went after it. How come his determination wasn’t working this time? Lorna doesn’t believe me. She thinks I’ve been spying on her and came here to harass her. I’ve got to make her believe my coming to Farmen’s was purely coincidental. He took a sip of water. Although it could have been an answer to prayer. Somehow I’ve got to get Lorna to agree to go out with me. How else am I going to know if she’s the one?

  A short time later, Lorna returned with Evan’s order, and he felt ready to try again. He looked up at her and smiled. “You look cute in that uniform.” When she made no comment, he added, “Been working here long?”

  “Sometimes it feels like forever,” she said with a deep sigh.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  She shook her head. “Will there be anything else?”

  He rapped the edge of the plate with his knife handle. “Actually, there is.”

  “What can I get for you?”

  “How about a few minutes of your time?”

  “I’m working.”

  “When do you get off work? I can stick around for a while.”

  “Late. I’ll be working late tonight.”

  Evan cringed. He wasn’t getting anywhere with this woman and knew he should probably quit while he was ahead. Of course, he wasn’t really ahead, so he decided he might as well stick his neck out a little farther. “I’m not trying to come on to you. I just want to get to know you better.”

  “Why?”

  Evan reached for his gla
ss of water and took a sip. How could he explain his attraction to Lorna without scaring her off? “I think we have a lot in common,” he said with a nod.

  She raised one pale eyebrow. “How did you reach that conclusion?”

  “It’s simple. I’m in choir—you’re in choir. You’re the pianist—I’m the page turner.”

  “I’m not interested in dating you or anyone else.”

  Evan grabbed his burger off the plate. “Okay, I get the message. I’ll try not to bother you again.”

  She touched his shoulder unexpectedly, sending a shock wave through his arm. “I–I’m sorry if I came across harshly. I just needed you to know where I stand.”

  He swallowed the bite of burger he’d put in his mouth. “Are you seeing someone else? You mentioned in class that you’re a widow, so I kinda figured—”

  Lorna shook her head, interrupting his sentence. “I’m a widow who doesn’t date.”

  Evan thought she looked sad, or maybe she was lonely. He grabbed the bottle of ketchup in the center of the table and smiled at her. “Can we at least be friends?”

  She nodded and held out her hand. “Friends.”

  Chapter 5

  L orna awoke with a headache. She had been back in college a week, and things weren’t getting any easier. It was hard to attend school all day, work every evening at Farmen’s, and find time to get her assignments finished. She was tired and irritable but knew she would have to put on a happy face when she was at work, no matter how aggravating some of the customers could be. One patron in particular was especially unnerving. Evan Bailey had returned to the restaurant two more times. She wasn’t sure if he came because he liked the food or if it was merely to get under her skin.

  Lorna uttered a quick prayer and forced her unwilling body to get out of bed. She couldn’t miss any classes today. There was a test to take in English lit and auditions for lead parts in the choir’s first performance.

  She entered the bathroom and turned on the faucet at the sink. Splashing a handful of water against her upturned face, she cringed as the icy liquid stung her cheeks. Apparently, Ann was washing clothes this morning, for there was no hot water.