Read Online Secret Admirer by Gail Sattler - Free Book Online Page B

contin ued her questioning.
    â€œHaven’t you ever considered what it would be like to be alone with him, like on a romantic date?”
    Actually, she had been alone with him prior to last night, but it wasn’t on a date. Craig and Todd were in the garage at her parents’ home. She’d gone to tell Craig their mother wanted him for something, so Craig went into the house, leaving her alone in the garage with Todd for a few minutes. For entertainment, Todd asked her to hold some kind of auto part she hadn’t known was greasy until it was too late. It took ten solid minutes of scrubbing to get the slime and oily stink off her hands, then a whole day to get the grime out from under her fingernails.
    She set her empty mug down on the table with a thud. “I’m sorry, Faye, but I have enough problems with men without adding Todd to the mix.”
    Faye’s eyebrows quirked. “Oh? Is there something you’re not telling me?” She leaned closer over the top of the table. “Is it someone here? What’s happening? Did you find out who gave you the chocolate kiss? I couldn’t find who was giving them out. In fact, no one knew anything about chocolate kisses.”
    Shannon sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, Faye. . .you didn’t go around asking, did you?”
    â€œI asked a couple of people where they came from, but not many. Why?”
    â€œBecause it was just meant for me. There was a note attached.” Shannon leaned toward Faye, then straightened, not wanting anyone to see they obviously wanted to keep their conversation confidential, as that would attract attention. “I’m afraid I have a Secret Admirer.”
    Faye’s eyes widened. “Wow! That’s so exciting!”
    â€œShh!” Shannon fanned one hand in the air, then hunched in the chair. “Don’t tell anyone. I have no idea who it could be. Think. If you were asking around about the chocolate kiss, then that makes at least a couple of people I can eliminate from my list. Who did you talk to?”
    â€œNanci and Brenda.”
    Shannon’s heart sank.
    â€œSorry. I didn’t ask any of the guys. I didn’t think any of them would be bringing stuff like that to work. That’s why I just asked women. I didn’t specifically say you had one. I just walked up to them and asked if they had chocolate, and both said no.”
    â€œI guess that’s okay then. Whoever he is, he has to know I’m trying to figure it out. I just don’t want him to think I have an investigative team out looking for him, or he’ll stop doing it, then I’ll never know.” She didn’t want to tell Faye that Todd was already helping her. From past experience, she knew Todd could be very tight-lipped when it suited him. No one would ever know Todd knew about the Secret Admirer or that he was helping her discover the man’s identity.
    Faye, on the other hand, was not known for being discreet.
    â€œJust keep your ears and eyes open, but please don’t say anything to anyone, and especially don’t ask questions. If you hear something, tell me, and I’ll take it from there, okay?”
    Faye nodded, the personification of seriousness. “Okay.”
    Shannon pushed the chair back and stood. “We had better get back to work. I have a million things to do.”
    Shannon couldn’t stop thinking about Todd, even though she didn’t see him. His absence in the lunchroom during break times only served to show she’d come to expect his presence. He was buried in work, dealing with a system he wasn’t entirely proficient at yet, while doing the volume of at least two people. He only came out of the dispatch office a couple of times, when he ran for the washroom, then right back.
    By the time Gary finally returned, it was half an hour before quitting time. Bill left the room, but she still didn’t see Todd.
    When it was time to go home for