A Side of Faith, Hope and Love: The Sandwich Romance Novella Collection

by Krista Phillips

  She moved to dump out the flowers when a knock sounded on the back door. She jumped and turned around to see Garrett peeking inside.

  Oh, this was not what she needed right now.

  Putting on a smile, she motioned him in, trying to pretend her pulse wasn’t racing at Indy 500 speed. “Fancy seeing you here this morning.”

  “Figured I needed to see where my fake girlfriend works. Only appropriate, right?”

  Her hand fluttered to the vase on the table behind her and slid it over to block its wretchedness from view. “Of—of course. Yes. I just thought you’d be at work. Lunch and all, you know.”

  He crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking yummier than a chef had a right to look. His food should look tasty, not his—well, the rest of him. “If I worked every time the restaurant was open, I’d never be able to have a social life. I work the evening shift at the moment, but that’s temporary. Reuben hired me as the executive chef over all his restaurants, so once I’m comfortable with the menu and process, I’ll start working normal day hours. Training new chefs, overseeing the menus and sourcing the food for all his restaurants.”

  “Fun stuff.”

  A smile brightened up his face, accentuating the sexy five o’clock shadow he kept on his jaw. “I think so. So, what’s behind your back there?”

  She pretended to relax and not care. “Oh, nothing. Just an arrangement I was working on. You want to see the customer area of the store? It is much more interesting than—”

  But he wasn’t listening. Stepping forward into her personal space, he peered around her and grunted. “That’s—interesting. I hope the one I bought for you looked a little better.”

  She fisted her hands on her hips. “Shut up. My daisies were beautiful. I just—messed up on this one and was getting ready to fix it.”

  “Looks like you need to chuck the whole thing and start over, baby.”

  Her eyebrows arched even while her belly fluttered in rebellion. “Baby?”

  He shrugged. “Gotta act the part, right?”

  Which must be why he still stood just inches from her, the light hint of a tangy cologne tempting her nose, his dark shaggy curls on top of his head begging for her fingers to touch them.

  She needed him to move away. Now.

  The front door chimed.

  Her eyes widened. “Crud. That’s the pastor. He’s early.”

  “That’s who the flowers are for?”

  “Uh, yeah. Um—” her eyes darted around the room. “I need to throw something together. Do you mind waiting?”

  His wink sent tickles of warmth across her stomach again. “I’ll do you even better. I’ll entertain the pastor.”

  ***

  Relieved to have a good excuse to separate himself from the temptation that was Beth Jamison, Garrett pushed through the swinging door to the front of the floral shop, his esteem of his pretend girlfriend skyrocketing even more.

  The place was amazing. She had decorated it with flowers and other rustic decor, not too much to be overwhelming but enough to be inviting and make someone want to buy a truckload of flowers to make their house look the same. Not to mention the smell. The scents of lilies and roses mixed with other floral created an intoxicating effect.

  The pastor, a guy Garrett had never met before, stood with elbows on the glass display case that doubled as a counter. He was youngish—much different than the near-retirement-age pastors he was used to growing up. He wore jeans and a black jacket and sported shaggy blond hair. Nothing shouted clergy about him at all. Had Beth not said he was a pastor, Garrett wouldn’t have guessed it in a million years.

  “Beth finally replaced Sierra, did she?”

  Not sure how to respond since he had no idea who Sierra was, Garrett shook his head. “Nope, I was just visiting Beth in the back and accidentally distracted her. She’s finishing up your—flowers—now.” Wow, he was regretting agreeing to come out here. Flower talk and men did not mix.

  The pastor’s eyes grew suspicious. “Distracting her, huh?”

  He was a firm believer that guys didn’t blush, but his blazing cheeks threatened to make a liar out of him. “Not like—that. I just—yeah.” He cupped a hand behind his neck nervously. “Not sure how I can dig myself out of that one, Pastor.”

  “You’re fine. This might be a little presumptuous, but have we seen you at Sandwich Community Church before?”

  Awkwardness just reached a new level. “No, I just moved back to town a few months ago to take care of my mom. She attends Sandwich Baptist.” He hoped the pastor would miss the fact that Garrett didn’t attend with her.

  “Well, that’s a fine church. I’m good friends with Pastor Martin. But if you’re ever in need of a place to go on Sunday, you’re welcome to stop by.” He held out his hand. “I’m Pastor Calvin by the way.”

  Shaking the offered hand, Garrett was impressed. Good, strong grip. “Garrett Hanson.”

  A light sparked in the man’s eyes. “Pearl Hanson’s son. I knew you looked familiar.”

  “You know my mother?”

  “Not many in town don’t. But I’m sure you’re well aware of your mother’s dynamic personality. I’m not sure she knows a stranger. And the woman posts the funniest stuff on Facebook.”

  It was like he was in a social media twilight zone. “You’re friends with my mom on Facebook?”

  “Of course. Me and probably half the town. She told me once she views it as her ministry, to make people smile in the midst of all the arguing and fighting that goes on there. She certainly has a knack for it, that’s for sure.”

  Beth’s singsong voice danced through the small shop as she pushed through the back door, a new and beautiful bouquet of roses in her hands. “So sorry about the delay, Pastor Calvin. How does this look for you?”

  He pulled out his wallet and pushed a few bills across the counter. “It’s beautiful as always. Kathy will love it. Thank you for getting it together on short notice. The kids have been a handful lately, and I thought some flowers might help bring a little cheer back to our house.”

  Her smile lit up the room and a pretty pink sprinkled her cheeks. “My pleasure. Let me get your change.”

  “No need. Keep the change.” He turned to walk out, but at the door, glanced back with a grin. “Nice to meet you, Garrett. And Beth, you should convince your boyfriend here to come to church with you on Sunday.”

  Sweat trickled down his neck. Fibbing to his mom to prove a point was one thing. Lying to a man of God? “Actually, we—”

  “We’d be delighted. Right, Garrett?” Beth leaned against the counter, resting her elbows on the glass, sending a mischievous smile his way.

  Church? Sunday? No way. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. But Beth’s smile and gaze wouldn’t leave him, and the awkward silence demanded to be filled. “Uh, yes. Of course. Sunday.”

  The pastor nodded. “Great. See you both then.”

  The bell jingled as he left, and Garrett whirled around to face Beth. “What are you doing?”

  Her smile tipped downward. “What do you mean? I thought we were—”

  “But to lie to a pastor? Beth, I’m not sure I can—” But it wasn’t the lying thing that was poking him like a thorn from one of Beth’s roses.

  No, it was more the idea of going back to church.

  The only time he’d been in a church in the last eight years was for his father’s funeral, and even then he’d tried to convince Mom to have it at the funeral home instead. She’d gasped at the idea, and he’d shut his trap.

  Beth chewed her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought of it as lying. I hadn’t really said we were together. I just didn’t correct him. Besides, a joke isn’t a lie, right? Like hiding a surprise?”

  She looked so darn cute when she worried. Against his better judgment, he leaned against the other side of the counter and rested his elbows just inches from hers. “Have I ever told you how adorable you look when you’re lying?”

  Their eyes locked for
a moment, and he was all the sudden overly aware of their proximity. Her lips, a light, natural pink untouched by the fake color most women used, were only inches from his. And her vanilla scent amidst the heady smells of flowers made him want to lean closer to savor the sweetness. Just a few inches—

  Beth pushed away from the counter and put her hands up to tighten her ponytail. “You always were a shameless flirt. I guess it’ll come in handy for this whole charade.”

  Charade. Yes. Of course. He blinked and stood back. This was a pretend arrangement. He’d do best to remember that.

  He’d done some difficult things in his life. Climbed a few mountains. One insane day he and his buddies went sky-diving.

  But pretending to be in love with Beth Jamison might prove the most difficult of them all.

  Five

  Sunday mornings were usually his favorite time of the week, especially after coming to Sandwich.

  His mom made pancakes and sausage before she left for church, and he was left to his own devices for the day since Reuben closed the Emporium on Sundays. She refused to give up the tradition, regardless of her broken arm, although she had accepted his help the first few weeks.

  Today, however, even the luring scent of Mom’s sausage sizzling wasn’t enough to pull him out of his funk.

  Church.

  Except for his father’s funeral, he hadn’t been in a church since Dayna.

  It didn’t matter that he’d grown up with a Bible in his hand. He still loved Jesus.

  But Dayna and the rest of the church in Chicago had soured him to the whole meeting-with-fellow-believers thing. He could worship God just fine in the quiet of his own home and be spared the communion with hypocrites. Just thinking about what she’d done, what the church had tried to cover up, still made fire race through his veins.

  So why was he here, tightening his tie, shrugging on a sports coat, instead of lounging in his favorite flannel sleep pants with his Bible?

  The same reason he’d left the church.

  A woman.

  Only, instead of the woman pretending to be in love with him, he was pretending to be in love with a woman he could easily fall in love with.

  That made no sense.

  None at all.

  Things always got messed up when the fairer sex was involved. He’d never say that out loud, of course. He valued his life more than that.

  Making his way to the kitchen, he smiled at the stack of pancakes already filling a plate on the counter.

  He may love cooking, but he’d take his mom’s breakfast over his own every day of the week. “Morning, Mom. Smells good. You should let me help you, though.”

  She looked up from the sausage cooking on the skillet and smiled. “As long as I’ve still got one good arm, you’re not taking my spot in this kitchen.” She eyed his clothes. “You’re looking good this morning. Going to church with me finally?”

  The hope in her eyes almost made him guilty that he’d said no for the last few months. Almost. “No. Beth, uh, invited me to go to church with her.”

  Her eyebrows shot up, almost reaching her silver hairline, then her mouth curved into a smile that said complete, utter delight. “You’re going to church with Beth?”

  For the second time, he felt guilt over their “prank.” Up until now, he’d selfishly regretted it because of having to pretend to like the girl he, well, liked. But he wasn’t a sixteen-year-old pulling goofy pranks anymore. This felt more like a grown man lying to his mother.

  But he hadn’t seen his mother smile that big since before Dad died.

  How could he douse her hopes right now?

  Maybe he should tell Beth their prank was off, and play this whole church thing down.

  Trying to shrug off her assumption, he grabbed a piece of sausage from the pile and plopped it into his mouth. Scrumptious. Could use a little more spice, but memories of decades of Sunday morning breakfasts with his parents really shouldn’t be changed. “Actually, Beth’s pastor invited me. I thought I’d go this once, just to be nice.”

  “Doesn’t matter why or where, as long as you’re going. So, uh, how are things with you and Beth?”

  Tread lightly, Garrett. “She forgave me for the whole spicy chicken thing if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “It isn’t, and you know it. I’d love grandkids before I die, you know that, right?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. Only his mom. “I need a wife first, and before that a girlfriend. Plus, God’s timing is perfect, right? Don’t go rushing Him, Mom.”

  She shooed him away from the stove to the table. “Don’t you go throwing my words back at me. I just think you and Beth were meant to be. It’s high time you start taking some steps. God blesses our action, not our twiddling thumbs.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  She pushed him into a chair, forked three pancakes onto his plate and handed him the glass bottle of syrup. “I still have an hour before I leave for church. Plenty enough time to listen.”

  Glancing from his plate to his mom, he opened his mouth to spill out the truth, but then all he could think of was Beth’s face, every bit as adorable as it had been in high school, maybe even more so with age. Her blue-green eyes the color of the ocean. The hair she kept swept into that darn ponytail or braid all the time, but even that made her look like the casual and fun Beth he’d always known and loved.

  Love? He definitely loved her in a love-your-neighbor kind of way. And a week ago he would have laughed at the idea of him still fancying himself in love with her after all these years.

  But after only a few days of being reacquainted with her, all those old feelings were evacuating the hiding spot he’d stored them in all those years ago.

  There was a real possibility he was falling in love with Beth Jamison again.

  Maybe this prank was worth the risk.

  Because by some strange twist of fate, this crazy prank was allowing him to date Beth, even if it was just pretend. For now, it would have to do.

  Eyes focused on his pancakes, he shrugged and refused to meet his mother’s gaze. “We’re—just hanging out right now. Maybe going out on a date or two to see where it leads.” That was the truth—right?

  His mom’s free hand squeezed his shoulders, and he felt a peck on his head. “That’s perfect, dear. Now, I need to get ready for church. You’ll invite Beth over for Sunday dinner, right?”

  Not if he could help it. “No, we’re having lunch—somewhere else today.” He’d figure out something.

  “Next week then. Don’t forget to tell her.” With another pat to his head, she scurried down the hall to her bedroom, singing an old hymn—something about Hallelujah—until her door closed and cut off her voice.

  Polishing off his pancakes, he set the plate in the sink and eyed the clock.

  He’d promised Beth he’d pick her up on the way to church, and he needed to leave soon if they didn’t want to be late.

  His stomach clenched. He could do this. It was only church. He’d grown up attending every Sunday. It was like riding a bike, right?

  Except once that bike chewed you up and spit you out, it wasn’t appealing to get back on again.

  One time. That’s all he’d agreed to. He could survive anything once, right?

  Six

  This was the biggest mistake in the history of all mistakes.

  Beth sat scrunched in the church pew, Tilly on one side and Garrett on the other.

  But it wasn’t just the fact that her thigh was flush with Garrett’s and made her leg feel like it was molten lava. Although that was definitely not helping.

  No, dummy her had gone and invited her pretend boyfriend to church right smack dab in the middle of a series on the Ten Commandments.

  Actually, it wasn’t even the middle. The middle would have been just fine. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Honor your father and mother. Those would have all been perfectly acceptable sermon topics for today.

  But oh no. She had to invite him o
n week nine.

  Thou Shalt Not Lie.

  Or bear false witness, whatever. Same thing.

  And given that Garrett had shifted in his seat no less than thirty-two times (yeah, she’d counted) since the service began, she was certain he felt the same way.

  The moment the worship team sang their final note, Beth popped up from her seat, pulling Garrett with her by the hand. “Let’s go.”

  He locked his fingers around hers and squeezed, sending unholy tingles up her arm. Nothing fake about those. “In a hurry?”

  “No, just—hungry. Didn’t you hear my stomach growling all service?”

  “Nope.”

  She frowned. Okay, so it had only growled once. Lie number two of the day. What was that vegetable cartoon movie about the giant fib from outer space that kept growing? Yeah. Truth, right there.

  A finger tapped her shoulder. She turned to see Tilly standing behind her, a smirk on her face. “Where are you rushing off to?”

  Adam stepped into the aisle and put his arm around Tilly. “Yeah, we were going to invite you two over for lunch.”

  That was all she needed right now. No, she needed to get home and figure out how to get herself out of this mess her little joke had created. “Thanks, but—”

  Garrett squeezed her hand, cutting her off. “That sounds great. We were just going to grab a bite out, but food is much better with friends.”

  Tilly clasped her hands in front of her like a giddy school girl. “Fabulous. I have a roast in the oven and everything.”

  Making their way down the aisle, Beth smoothed her features and lectured herself to play a good little actor.

  Smile.

  Nod your head.

  Make small talk.

  Don’t melt into a puddle and burst into tears like you really want to.

  This moment looked like a culmination of all her childhood dreams. She was going to lunch with Garrett Hansen. Her life-long crush. The guy she’d gushed about in her diary. Half of her school notebooks from sixth to ninth grade had all her practice signatures in them.

  Bethany Ann Hansen.