somehow picked a low-quality tea bag this morning.
Even though the tea wasnât as dark as she normally liked it, Shannon tossed the bag into the trash and walked to her desk as quickly as she could without spilling anything or making it look as if she was rushing. Todd had spilled his coffee the same day heâd barged in front of Faye, and she didnât want to do the same. She had been impressed that heâd immediately wiped up his mess. Whenever the other dispatchers slopped coffee onto the floor, they let it dry, and the janitors got it when they washed the floor at night. Mostly, she didnât want anyone to notice her.
Shannonâs stomach fluttered as she opened the drawer. The same as every other day for over two weeks, a little white note, fastened with a red ribbon tied to a chocolate kiss, lay in the center of her pencil tray. Keeping the note low so no one could see what she was doing, Shannon pulled the ribbon off and set the kiss aside.
Dearest Shannon,
When I think of you I donât know where to begin
Your magical voice is like a sweet violin.
My heart beats with joy at the sound of your laughter,
And your happy smile fills me with joy ever after.
Your Secret Admirer
Shannon smiled. The note was tender and sweet and oddly flattering, even though the poetry itself hadnât improved. Today, though, something was different, but she couldnât quite figure out what it was.
She tucked the note into the envelope containing the other notes, unwrapped the kiss, and popped it into her mouth. While she savored the rich chocolate, Shannon turned her head toward the opening for the lunchroom. Any second now, Todd would be walking through the doorway.
She hadnât told him about the notes, but heâd promised to keep his ears open to any conversation concerning her. Of course, it was too early to hear anything. Once he arrived, she would simply remind him.
Instead of Todd, Faye walked into the office. Shannon found herself strangely disappointed.
She couldnât stop thinking about Todd. Not only had she spent the evening with him, sheâd actually enjoyed herself. In many ways, he was the same old Todd sheâd known since she was a kid. Yet it was the first time sheâd talked to him as a single man and not as her brotherâs annoying friend.
Then, when they were leaving, heâd acted so strange. Todd always radiated confidence and control; yet he was at a loss for words. Heâd even stammered. She didnât know what was going through his mind, but with Todd Sanders, it could have been anything. He couldnât have realized how charming his momentary lapse had been, but it showed her a side of him she didnât know existed. At the time, sheâd almost been inclined to give him a hug, but since it was Todd, sheâd erased the thought from her mind.
âHi, Shan.â
âGood morning, Faye. Is Todd in the lunchroom?â
âNope. Havenât seen him yet.â
Shannon checked her watch. Most days they arrived about the same time. Today sheâd come in a few minutes early to be sure she could read the Secret Admirerâs note in private. With the clock now showing ten minutes after Toddâs usual arrival time, a niggling worry started to prod Shannon. She rose and unlocked the filing cabinet so she could get his phone number out of his personnel file; but just as she touched the folder with his name on it, the familiar sound of Toddâs laughter echoed from the dispatch office.
With a quick push, she closed the drawer and engaged the locking button, then walked to the dispatch office. She found Todd and one of the drivers in the small room, talking with someone sheâd never seen before through the window opening into the driversâ area. Bryan, Rick, and Gary were nowhere to be seen.
âTodd? What time did you get here? I wanted to talk to you.â
âAbout what?â When he turned to face her, he was
Even though the tea wasnât as dark as she normally liked it, Shannon tossed the bag into the trash and walked to her desk as quickly as she could without spilling anything or making it look as if she was rushing. Todd had spilled his coffee the same day heâd barged in front of Faye, and she didnât want to do the same. She had been impressed that heâd immediately wiped up his mess. Whenever the other dispatchers slopped coffee onto the floor, they let it dry, and the janitors got it when they washed the floor at night. Mostly, she didnât want anyone to notice her.
Shannonâs stomach fluttered as she opened the drawer. The same as every other day for over two weeks, a little white note, fastened with a red ribbon tied to a chocolate kiss, lay in the center of her pencil tray. Keeping the note low so no one could see what she was doing, Shannon pulled the ribbon off and set the kiss aside.
Dearest Shannon,
When I think of you I donât know where to begin
Your magical voice is like a sweet violin.
My heart beats with joy at the sound of your laughter,
And your happy smile fills me with joy ever after.
Your Secret Admirer
Shannon smiled. The note was tender and sweet and oddly flattering, even though the poetry itself hadnât improved. Today, though, something was different, but she couldnât quite figure out what it was.
She tucked the note into the envelope containing the other notes, unwrapped the kiss, and popped it into her mouth. While she savored the rich chocolate, Shannon turned her head toward the opening for the lunchroom. Any second now, Todd would be walking through the doorway.
She hadnât told him about the notes, but heâd promised to keep his ears open to any conversation concerning her. Of course, it was too early to hear anything. Once he arrived, she would simply remind him.
Instead of Todd, Faye walked into the office. Shannon found herself strangely disappointed.
She couldnât stop thinking about Todd. Not only had she spent the evening with him, sheâd actually enjoyed herself. In many ways, he was the same old Todd sheâd known since she was a kid. Yet it was the first time sheâd talked to him as a single man and not as her brotherâs annoying friend.
Then, when they were leaving, heâd acted so strange. Todd always radiated confidence and control; yet he was at a loss for words. Heâd even stammered. She didnât know what was going through his mind, but with Todd Sanders, it could have been anything. He couldnât have realized how charming his momentary lapse had been, but it showed her a side of him she didnât know existed. At the time, sheâd almost been inclined to give him a hug, but since it was Todd, sheâd erased the thought from her mind.
âHi, Shan.â
âGood morning, Faye. Is Todd in the lunchroom?â
âNope. Havenât seen him yet.â
Shannon checked her watch. Most days they arrived about the same time. Today sheâd come in a few minutes early to be sure she could read the Secret Admirerâs note in private. With the clock now showing ten minutes after Toddâs usual arrival time, a niggling worry started to prod Shannon. She rose and unlocked the filing cabinet so she could get his phone number out of his personnel file; but just as she touched the folder with his name on it, the familiar sound of Toddâs laughter echoed from the dispatch office.
With a quick push, she closed the drawer and engaged the locking button, then walked to the dispatch office. She found Todd and one of the drivers in the small room, talking with someone sheâd never seen before through the window opening into the driversâ area. Bryan, Rick, and Gary were nowhere to be seen.
âTodd? What time did you get here? I wanted to talk to you.â
âAbout what?â When he turned to face her, he was
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