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still winding down his laughter. His eyes were moist, and he swiped over them with his sleeve. “Did you need a form for Terry? He’s been here once before, about four months ago, Gary says.”
    â€œNo, it isn’t that. I just wanted to remind you about what we talked about yesterday.”
    He grinned, and Faye’s words echoed through Shannon’s head. Todd truly was even more handsome when he smiled. In the throes of his laughter, his smile was almost magnetic. It was the same smile she remembered from her high school days, when she briefly had a mad crush on him; only now the years and alleged maturity added attractive little crow’s feet to the corners of his big, brown eyes. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll keep my ears open and let you know if something comes up.” With the other men standing behind Todd, neither one could see his face. Using that advantage, Todd placed his hand over his heart and gave her an exaggerated wink. “Promise.”
    Shannon opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her heart started pounding, just as it had back in those foolish high school days.
    Before she said something stupid, Shannon spun around and strode out of the room. She busied herself with her work, ignoring all around her until Faye appeared at the front of her desk to announce it was time for coffee break.
    They had barely sat down before Faye started talking. “Have you been in the dispatch area today? It’s nuts in there.”
    Shannon nodded. “I know. Where’s Gary? He should be in there with both Rick and Bryan off.”
    â€œGary had a bunch of meetings lined up this morning, and he couldn’t cancel. Todd seems to be doing okay in there, considering.”
    â€œI noticed you checked on him fairly often.”
    Faye smiled. “Yeah. I got him coffee a couple of times. I thought he could use it. He said he really appreciated it.”
    Shannon sighed. “You’ve got it bad. Maybe there’s medication for that.”
    Faye grinned. “Get serious, Shan. Todd’s different from anyone else I’ve ever met.”
    Shannon nearly choked on her tea. “You can say that again.”
    Faye’s smile disappeared. “I don’t know what you have against him.”
    Shannon looked down into her mug, not able to face Faye as she spoke. “I already told you Todd is my brother’s friend. Let’s just say we haven’t always gotten along that great over the years. I guess I’m finding it a bit strange to see him so normal, for lack of a better word. I can’t help but expect this is a bad dream and I’m waiting for the punch line. Any moment, I feel as if I’m going to wake up, and he’ll do something to embarrass or insult me the way he did when we were kids. I know I shouldn’t feel that way. After all, it’s been over a month now, and he’s been nice to me and everything’s been fine.”
    In fact, things were more than fine, even outside of work when no one was around he’d have to answer to or see the next day. When the bookstore closed, she’d enjoyed their time together so much that for a moment she’d wished the store was open until midnight, just so she could have stayed to talk with Todd longer.
    Faye smiled dreamily. “Yeah. He’s mighty fine.”
    Shannon rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-leeze.”
    â€œI can dream, can’t I?”
    â€œHe’s not some movie star or idol in one of those teen magazines. He’s just Todd.”
    â€œIf you’ve known him for years, haven’t you ever thought of what it would be like if something developed between you?”
    Briefly, when she was going through a period of teenage insanity. She wondered if Faye had heard a word she just said about how sometimes she didn’t know whether to scream or cry after yet another unpleasant day spent with Todd and her brother. Before she could answer, Faye