Secretly Yours: A Christian Valentine's Day Romance (Riverbend Romance Novella Book 1) Read online

  Exuberant hope. Joyful celebration.

  Yes, she was ready to open herself to that kind of love. Where that would lead with Nick didn’t matter. Right now her soul craved to revel in the fact that God came in like a mighty champion to rescue her, a damsel in distress.

  It was enough.

  Chapter 14

  Lindsey lived for moments like this. Outside the church kitchen, the banquet hall buzzed with murmured conversation and the clink of silverware. Several of the teens perched on high stools, playing a medley of songs on guitars. The room flickered with candlelight that glittered off gowns before being swallowed by the darkness of black suits and tuxes. The teen wait staff carried trays from table to table.

  In here, florescent lights illuminated every work surface. The commercial dishwasher hummed incessantly as teens tried to stay ahead of the incoming plates.

  Other helpers now busily plated cupcakes, half of them swirled in frothy pink clouds and half tailored with smooth chocolate frosting and crisp pink hearts. Lindsey drizzled a squirt of chocolate syrup over each plate before it went out.

  She released a long breath as the last tray disappeared. They’d done it! Suddenly she was famished.

  The three kids who’d been at her side since early afternoon collapsed against the counter. Lindsey raised her right hand and high-fived them each in turn. “You guys were awesome. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “It was fun!” Madison’s friend Erica announced. “Maybe someday I’ll be a chef.”

  “You could be,” Lindsey assured her.

  The music dwindled from the sound system and Nick’s voice came through. “Wasn’t that an amazing dinner?” he asked.

  A smattering of applause came through the speaker.

  The kids grinned at each other.

  “I’d like to ask Chef Solberg and her staff to please come out of the kitchen.”

  Oh, no, he wouldn’t. But he had. Lindsey motioned the teens through the door ahead of her. She blinked as a spotlight found them.

  “Chef Lindsey Solberg is a Riverbend girl trained at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. She was the premiere chef at Fresh Start in Castlebrook for several years and is now on staff at the Water Wheel here in Riverbend. Chef Lindsey donated her time to help our youth group raise funds for our missions trip to Mexico during spring break. Thank you so much, Chef Lindsey!”

  This time the applause rocked the roof.

  Nick listed her helpers before the spotlight turned off. Then he named the local farms and businesses that had offered deals or donations on food and decorations.

  Lindsey heaved a sigh of relief. “Let’s get our dinner and sit here in the back for the drama presentation.”

  The kids exchanged glances. “I’ll get the plates,” offered Erica. “Let me serve you.”

  “Thanks.” It felt wrong, even though she was in charge. Even though her legs had turned to rubber after the rush. She sagged into a chair as Nick introduced Jared and the drama team. Madison had been very close-mouthed about their production. Some kind of fairy tale thing was all she’d said.

  The illumination on Nick at the podium faded as the row of spotlights shone on the stage curtains, which slowly drew apart.

  “May I join you?” whispered Nick.

  “Um, sure.” Her heart warmed that he’d sought her out on this busy evening.

  A moment later Erica set a plate of chicken cacciatore in front of her. “Did you eat?” the teen asked Nick as she sat down on the other side of him.

  “I did. It was incredible.”

  A few minutes ago Lindsey had been starving at the brink of death. Now, with Nick seated beside her, she wasn’t sure she could force down a single bite.

  The curtains revealed a divided set with a darker raised portion on the right, evidently the inside of a room with a window to a bright wildflower meadow, trees painted on the backdrop.

  Madison, wearing a wig of long braided hair, leaned out the window, her side to the audience. Rapunzel. A familiar enough fairy tale, even though the original was a long way from the Disney princess version.

  Lindsey settled into her chair and toyed with her fork. This production would likely be distant from any previous adaptation she’d seen. Hadn’t Madison said something about this production being for credit for Jared’s college classes? Probably somewhere in this room his instructors watched, grading him on the finished play.

  A parade of men in various costumes engaged the princess in her tower. Some begged her to come down with flowery poetry, while others tossed gifts. Madison waved, smiled, and shook her head as the lights very slowly illuminated the tower room. A narrow beam shone on her ankle, and a gasp came up from the audience as they noticed the ball and chain holding her in place. A cackle crackled through the sound system.

  That illumination shone straight into Lindsey’s soul. This was where she’d been, smiling and waving and pretending everything was okay while being chained in place, unable to respond to love.

  A young man knelt at the foot of the tower, head bowed, while the princess fumbled with the bindings on her ankle. Lindsey’s heart reached out for Madison. She knew exactly what it felt like, struggling to remove the bondage by herself. She’d battled for years, unable to free herself.

  “I can’t believe this,” whispered Nick.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is one of those things God had to orchestrate, you know?”

  Her eyebrows pulled together as she tried to see him in the darkness. “I’m not following. You didn’t know what the drama team was going to do?”

  “No clue.” He shook his head. “Jared kept avoiding my questions. Pastor Davis sat in on a practice and told me it was great, and not to worry.”

  She still didn’t understand. Yes, it was uncanny how closely the unfolding story mirrored her life lately, but how could Nick know that? Let alone Jared. She’d only shared a little with Madison, and that in the past few days. Certainly not in enough time to affect the presentation.

  The shaft of light narrowed on the ball and chain while Madison shielded her eyes from the brightness. The crowd gasped as the clasp clattered to the stage. Madison raised her hands and pirouetted around her little tower, no longer bound.

  The guys with guitars found themselves in the spotlight again as they picked and strummed a song of praise. Free. Only at the end did Madison peer back out of the tower, hoist her skirts — thankfully leggings clad her legs — and jumped out of the window in front of the startled young man. They joined hands and ran off stage.

  Lights dimmed and the curtains drew together as the audience erupted. Across the banquet hall, a hundred women and men stood to their feet and applauded the presentation.

  Madison and her fellow cast members ran out from the side, holding hands. They bowed to the left and right, then scampered back offstage.

  “Hard act to follow,” Nick murmured as the audience began to settle. “Pray for me?”

  Lindsey’s eyes locked on his for a moment before her fingers twined around his. “You’ve got it.”

  Nick’s gaze softened as he stood. After a moment he broke contact and strode for the microphone at the side of the stage.

  “Today on Valentine’s Day we celebrate love. Usually we think of romantic love such as a man might have for a woman.”

  Was he looking straight at her?

  “But Jared and his team have reminded us that there is something bigger, something foundational, and that is God’s love for us. Embracing God’s love gives us a freedom in life that opens everything.”

  He paused, looking over the audience before pointing at the now-empty tower. “The damsel in distress didn’t need a prince in shining armor to come rescue her. The Bible says that God is our champion, our defender. Not only that, but He joyfully celebrates His love with us and sings love songs to us.”

  Had there been any doubt at all that Nick had been her secret admirer all along? Lindsey’s heart swelled with joy as he spoke t
he words of Zephaniah 3:17.

  Across the darkened banquet hall, he alone stood in the light, and he was looking straight at her, though he couldn’t possibly see her.

  “Have you danced with abandon before Jesus? Have you spread your arms wide and reveled in His love for you? If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? He’s there, ready to undo that ball and chain, to take you in His arms and give you the twirl of a lifetime.”

  Nick turned to the wings. “This isn’t in the program, but I’d like to ask the guys to come back out with those guitars. Will you play Free again? And then I’ll close in prayer.”

  He stepped to the side as the kids trooped back on and settled on the tall stools. The words of the song tumbled through Lindsey’s mind. Free to be loved. Free to be cherished. Free to be celebrated. Free.

  Free.

  Chapter 15

  Nick shut down the main auditorium lights as Jared and the teens filed for the door. The sound system had been put away. The stage cleared. Tablecloths bundled for washing. Tables and chairs loaded on carts and trundled to the storage room. The janitor would do the final cleaning tomorrow in plenty of time for the Sunday service.

  The kitchen door was a rectangle of light at the back of the hall, shining like a beacon. If that light was on, Lindsey was still here.

  He crossed the space and peered into the kitchen. No one, but the far door was open and a brisk breeze blew in. Several boxes stood in a line on the counter. She must be hauling things out to her car. Greg’s car? Must be.

  She came in, rubbing her arms and caught sight of him standing there. She stopped, looking straight at him. They spoke at the same time.

  “Lindsey, you were ama—”

  “Nick, thank you.”

  He tilted his head. “For what?”

  “For the devotional book. For… for all the lovely gifts. For everything. You’ve been so patient with me.”

  That crazy heart of his tried to escape out his throat. She knew. Of course she knew. He just hadn’t thought it would be revealed here, at eleven at night, while cleaning up behind the fundraiser. He’d envisioned something more romantic.

  A man in a heavy parka clomped into the kitchen behind Lindsey. She stepped aside as he grabbed a box then turned and left.

  “Greg was here?” he couldn’t help asking, despite the evidence.

  She nodded. “His sister invited him. And, of course, Madison begged.”

  “Of course.” He grinned. “She did well.”

  “Yes. I was impressed.”

  Greg came in for another box. “You gonna stand here all night or give me a hand?”

  Lindsey reached for a box but Nick intercepted. As he lifted it, he whispered, “Can I take you home? I’ll help you unload later. He doesn’t have to.”

  The closed look was gone from her eyes. “Sure. I’ll tell Greg. Madison is staying over at Erica’s tonight.”

  Nick carried the box out to Greg’s trunk then returned with the last one. “I’ll be bringing Lindsey home in a bit,” he told the older man.

  “Okay.” Greg glanced toward the open door. “What you said about God’s love. That true stuff?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Huh. I’ll think on that.” Greg jerked his chin toward Nick. “Take care of her. She’s a good kid.”

  “I will.” That was all the comment Greg had a right to give, no doubt. Lindsey wasn’t his daughter. And yet, hearing the words was balm for Nick’s heart. He reached out and shook Greg’s hand. “Thank you.”

  Greg climbed in his car and spun out of the parking lot on bald tires.

  Nick headed back to the kitchen, where Lindsey arranged a few things on the counter, no doubt making sure everything was just as she’d found it many hours before. “Ready?” he asked.

  She nodded and glanced around then turned toward him.

  He opened his arms and she walked right in, resting her face against his puffy down parka. “Tired?”

  “Yes.” She let out a long breath. “I’m glad it’s over.”

  “Me, too.” He steered her toward the door and flipped off the light as he passed the switch then locked the door and pulled it shut behind him. “Pastor Davis is still in there somewhere. He’ll set the alarm when he leaves.” Nick slid his arm around Lindsey.

  She trembled under his touch, leaning against him as they made the way to his nearby vehicle. He tucked her into the passenger seat then rounded the car and started it.

  Lindsey leaned against the headrest, her eyes shut.

  Tonight wasn’t the night. He might feel the urgency of that box in his pocket and believe he’d get a positive answer, but there were ways to do things… and ways not to.

  “What’re your plans for tomorrow?” He backed the car out of its stall then turned north on the highway.

  “Sleep until noon.” She didn’t even open her eyes to tell him that.

  Nick chuckled. “And then?”

  “As little as possible. Glad I don’t have to go back to work until Monday.”

  “Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow?”

  She opened one eye and squinted at him. “So long as it’s not the Water Wheel.”

  He couldn’t resist the poke. “But they have the best food in town.”

  “Ha-ha. Also, I don’t want chicken cacciatore.”

  “Noted. I’ll pick you up at six?”

  “I’d like that.” She turned to look at him more fully. A parade of streetlights lit her face as they drove up Pitoni. “Nick, how did you know?”

  His voice caught in his throat. “How did I know what?”

  “What I needed to hear.”

  “I didn’t, Lindsey.” He waited a beat. “But God did.”

  She searched his face. “That’s pretty incredible.” Then she leaned back to think.

  A few minutes later he pulled into the driveway behind Greg’s car. “Let me give you a hand with that stuff, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

  But the trunk was empty. Greg had hauled everything inside.

  ~*~

  Lindsey stretched her toes under the luxurious down duvet. By the daylight shining in her window, she wasn’t far off her wish to sleep until noon. She yanked her hair into a ponytail, pulled on her bathrobe, and padded out to the kitchen.

  Greg looked up from the table, where he sat with a cup of coffee. “Something for you there,” he said with a poke of his chin.

  A take-out container shaped like a brown lunch bag sat on the counter. She peeked in to see a lemon poppy seed cupcake and a slip of paper. A little grin toyed with the corners of her mouth as she tugged out the heart-lined note.

  Dear Lindsey,

  Lemons are tart, but you are sweet.

  Secretly Yours.

  She laughed. That Nick. Would he ever stop romancing her? She hoped not. She poured herself a coffee. “I’m going to have a bubble bath, Greg.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be out for a while. My bonus came through at work. Gotta get some tires on that car.”

  Lindsey stopped and looked at her stepfather. Really looked at him. “Sounds good. That will make it a lot safer for all of us.”

  “Yep.” He dashed the rest of his coffee down and pushed back his chair.

  She started the tub filling as she examined her closet. Going to dinner with Nick was definitely a dress-up affair.

  The doorbell rang.

  Who could that be? Lindsey peered out her bedroom window to see a van with Petals written across it in large flowing script. A man came up the walk with a large bouquet bundled in plastic.

  Bathrobe or no bathrobe, she couldn’t let those flowers get nipped by frost.

  “Lindsey Solberg?” the man asked when she opened the door.

  “That’s me.” She thanked him and accepted the bouquet before opening the wrap. Whoa. A dozen pink roses mixed with white lilies? The fragrance enveloped her like a feathery kiss from Nick. She found the card.

  Dear Lindsey,

  Roses are red, but these are pret
tier. Like you.

  Not-so-secretly Yours.

  The rumble of the filling bathtub caught her attention as she chuckled. She ran for the bathroom and got the tap turned off before the bubbles overflowed.

  Lindsey lowered herself into the steaming bubbles, the devotional book and the cupcake perched on the porcelain edge.

  She’d wear the pink dress tonight. It matched the bouquet.

  Chapter 16

  “Thanks for the flowers, Nick.” Lindsey sat across the little table from him at Sala Punjabi, dressed in a stunning pink the exact color of those roses. It looked great on her.

  He couldn’t resist teasing. “Did I give you flowers?”

  “Didn’t you? Maybe I’m out to dinner with the wrong man.”

  He caught her hand on the lacy white tablecloth. “You can’t be, because then I’d be here with the wrong woman.” He rubbed his thumb across her palm. “And I know for a fact that I’m here with the absolute right woman for me.”

  “Is that some kind of secret?” Her blue eyes gleamed in the candlelight, capturing his.

  “It’s not a secret anymore. Everything is out in the open.”

  She tilted her head to one side. “Everything?”

  No way was she going to rush the setup for this evening. He hadn’t reserved this table tucked inside the fireplace alcove and made all his arrangements for nothing. He grinned at her. “Sure. I’m an open book.”

  “Your appetizers,” the waiter said, lowering a plate between them.

  Lindsey examined the irregular golden shapes. “What are these?”

  “Broccoli bajji. See the bits of green peeking through?”

  “Deep fried broccoli, Indian style?”

  He grinned and nudged the plate closer to her. “Basically. Try one.”

  Her eyes widened as she took a bite. “Wow. Those are great.”

  “I love Indian food. I’m glad you do, too.”