Unlikely Praise by Carla Rossi Read Free Book Online Page A

plain ol’ black coffee, nothing fancy, with just enough cream to give the spoon something to do.”
     
    ****
     
    Candi chose a tailored navy suit and a crisp white blouse for church. She slipped into her matching heels and grabbed her bag. At the last minute, she traded her usual silver cross necklace and plain hoop earrings for a set of ships wheel jewelry she’d bought from a clearance table at a boutique. She hooked the toggle clasp at her throat and added the bracelet. The earrings would have to go on in the car. She took a quick look in the hall mirror on the way out the door. The dramatic combination kicked it up a notch.
    Shade and Bill were already in the sound booth when she arrived.
    Bill snapped to attention and saluted when she joined them. “Captain.” He thrust his chest forward. “Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Sound Booth.”
    She paused and glanced at Shade who, besides being nicely covered in a long-sleeved blue oxford shirt, sat at the computer with his hand on the mouse.
    “What’s wrong with Bill?” she asked.
    Shade looked over and did a double-take. Then he grinned. “Nothing, Captain. Wild Bill is fine and fit for duty.”
    Bill’s eyes twinkled and his ample belly jiggled as he tried to hold in what appeared to be gut-busting laughter. He shook from the top of his bushy gray head to the ends of his short, stubby fingers. It was like trying to talk to Santa Claus.
    She raised an eyebrow. “Right. Good to see you, Bill. I see you’ve met Shade.”
    “Aye, Captain. We’ve downloaded demos from the three leading suppliers of the software you need to run click tracks, sequences, loops, etc.”
    Shade held up his hand before she could speak. “Don’t worry, I told him this was all for practice later this week. I created a folder here on the desktop when you’re ready to take a look.”
    “Aye, Captain,” Bill added and pointed at the screen. “It’s here on the starboard side.” And with that, he lost all thread of control. He laughed so hard he had to bend over and hold the back of Shade’s chair for support.
    Shade kept his face conspicuously turned away, but she could tell he was laughing by the way his shoulders shook.
    She tugged at the necklace and dangling earrings that now seemed ten times bigger than they actually were. “Enough already. It’s not that bad.”
    Bill stood tall and wiped away a tear. “Sorry, Candi, but when you walked toward me I had a Navy flashback.” He waved his hand around in front of her. “All those ships wheels...all that navy blue...”
    “Yeah, I get it. It’s nautical.” She handed him a list of songs. “Here’s what’s up for this morning. There are no surprises. All the slides should be ready and up to date. I’ve got to get up front, OK?”
    “Sure thing.”
    Carol Ann met her as she stepped onto the platform. “Bill givin’ you a hard time?”
    “The usual. But I have to admit I made it easy today. I look like I should be on my way to the yacht club.”
    “Oh, stop. You do not.” She took the set lists Candi offered and put one on each music stand. “I see Shade made it.”
    Candi flipped the power switch on her keyboard and pulled a pencil out of her notebook. “Yeah, he made it.”
    Carol Ann cozied up beside her. “Word on the street is you two had coffee Friday morning. How’d it go?”
    Candi nearly snapped the pencil in half. “Are you serious? Have we already become the subject of gossip?”
    “Oh, no, it’s not like that. He and Max were doing some work at the church Friday afternoon and I guess Shade mentioned it.”
    “Max and Shade? Working at the church together? When did all that come about? They just met.”
    “I don’t know, darlin’, but you’re gonna have to calm down. Look at me.” The older woman pulled her away from the keyboard and patted the side of her face. The familiar scent of Estee Lauder’s Youth Dew floated to Candi’s nose. “You’re much too young and beautiful for any premature