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

hadn’t found one open orchestra position since she had started her search two weeks earlier.
    “Adrie, look who’s here,” her grandmother called as she walked toward the platform with Ross in tow.
    Her stomach fluttered. She squelched her response and straightened to face him.
    He was dressed in jeans and a pale yellow button-down shirt. He sent her a self-conscious grin. “Morning, Adrie.”
    She nodded. “Hello, Ross.”
    “You sounded great today, all of you.” He motioned toward the six members of the worship team still on the platform. Two were putting away their instruments while the others greeted friends.
    “Thanks.” She snapped her flute case closed.
    Geoff Swenson, the leader of their worship team, walked over and said hello to Marian. She introduced him to Ross. “So, are you new to Grace Chapel?” Geoff asked.
    “I’ve been coming for a few months.” Ross pointed to the guitar Geoff held in his hand. “Is that a Taylor?”
    Geoff grinned and nodded. “Do you play?”
    “A little,” Ross said with a slight shrug.
    “You want to try it?”
    Ross looked up. “You wouldn’t mind?”
    “Not at all.” Geoff held out the instrument to him.
    Ross accepted it with reverent hands then gently ran his finger over the wood. “It’s a beauty.”
    “Wait till you play it.” Geoff stood back and smiled.
    Ross slipped the strap over his head and strummed the strings. “Nice.”
    Adrie stilled as she watched him. Surprise rippled through her. Ross was a guitarist?
    Geoff listened to Ross play for a few minutes. When Ross paused, Geoff asked, “Do you read music?”
    Ross nodded. “I took piano when I was younger, then I switched to guitar about five years ago.”
    “Can you play this?” Geoff flipped the sheets of music to the first song they’d played in the morning service.
    Adrie clutched her flute case handle. Why was Geoff asking Ross to play one of their songs?
    Ross strummed through the song with perfect timing and style. When the final chord faded away, he looked up. “Nice song. It’s new for me, but I really like it.”
    Geoff’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve never heard it before?”
    “Just when you played it in the service this morning.”
    “I’m impressed you could pick it up that fast.” Geoff glanced around at the other team members, and then back at Ross. “Would you like to play with us?”
    Adrie stifled a gasp. What in the world!
    Ross cocked his head. “You mean on Sunday mornings?”
    Geoff nodded. “We’re losing one of our guitarists when he heads back to college this week. I’ve been praying, asking the Lord to send us someone else. Looks like you might be an answer to prayer.”
    Adrie cleared her throat. “Don’t people usually have to fill out an application and audition?”
    Geoff shot her a questioning glance. “Sure.” He turned to Ross. “Why don’t you stop by the church office before you leave today and pick up an application. Fill that out and bring it back on Thursday night. We practice here at seven o’clock. Can you make it this week?”
    Ross nodded. “I get off at six, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
    “Good. That’ll give you a chance to meet everyone. Bring a song to play, and then I’ll give you a couple others you can play with us. How does that sound?”
    Ross smiled and held out his hand to Geoff. “Great. Thanks.”
    Geoff chuckled. “You’re welcome.”
    Adrie stared at Geoff and swallowed hard. Everywhere she went the response to Ross was the same. Nana thought he was their conquering hero at the bookstore and could do no wrong. All the Bayside Treasure ladies were gaga over him. Whenever they came in, they hovered around him like bees in a flower garden. And now Geoff was giving him a free pass to join the worship team.
    She grabbed her flute case and strode down the steps. This was too much.
    Five minutes later Adrie climbed in the car to wait for her grandmother. Glancing out the passenger window, she spotted Marian