Secret Admirer by Gail Sattler

ask; only this time he couldn’t run away, since sitting together for coffee was his idea. He forced himself to smile. “No, go ahead.”
    She leaned closer across the table. Her eyes widened, and Todd immediately became lost in their depths. The mixture of olive green and brown in her hazel eyes always fascinated him, although up until now he would never have admitted it.
    â€œPlease don’t take this the wrong way, but do you know if anyone at work has a crush on me?”
    His brain stalled. A little voice called for evasive maneuvers. “You mean, have I heard any of the guys talking?”
    She smiled. His heart went into overdrive. “Yes. I know you’re fairly new, but, well, you certainly must hear the men talk.”
    â€œI haven’t heard anyone say anything about you that isn’t work related, but I can try to listen if you want.”
    She reached toward him and rested her hand on his forearm. Her touch was gentle, even affectionate, although he knew his interpretation was probably only wishful thinking. Still, the warm contact made him hope he wouldn’t break out into a cold sweat.
    â€œThat would be great. I know you think it’s a strange question, but I have to know.”
    He blinked to clear his mind. He didn’t think it was strange at all. What he did think strange was that no one else had managed to win her heart already. “Has somebody been making you nervous?”
    Shannon shook her head and withdrew her hand. He almost begged her to put it back. “No. Nothing like that.” She grinned and took a sip of her coffee, then spoke over the top of the cup. “Actually, someone is being very sweet. I just wish I knew who it was.”
    He opened his mouth, about to blurt out he was the one, but she started talking before he could formulate the words.
    â€œIn a way, it reminds me of when I was a kid and Tommy Banks had a crush on me. We were seven years old, and he bought me a chocolate bar out of his allowance; but he ate it on the way to school. Instead he made me a bookmark. I haven’t received a special gift from a guy since, except for my birthday and Christmas, of course. But I still have the bookmark. He drew little red and purple hearts all over it. Do you remember Tommy?”
    â€œCan’t say that I do.” What stuck in his mind, though, was not the bookmark, but her wistful comment that over the years no one else had given her anything she considered special. He’d met a few of the boys and young men she’d gone out with. He’d openly insulted every one of them, although not to their faces. She’d been angry with him every time, but he did notice that soon after he told her what he thought of her various dates and boyfriends, she broke up with them, probably because he was right. She deserved better.
    But the important thing was that not one of them had given her anything she considered special that wasn’t also attached to an obligatory occasion. Since she thought receiving the notes and chocolate kisses was sweet, that was reason enough for him to put his own desires aside and keep giving them to her instead of revealing himself so soon.
    Before they crossed the line into dangerous territory, where being evasive might transcend into actual lying, Todd changed the subject to the upcoming twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of his church. Craig had told him Shannon would be attending both the open house on Saturday and the service on Sunday, since she’d grown up in that church. He always went to church Sunday morning, but he hadn’t made up his mind about the open house Saturday night until he heard she was going. His clothes were already picked out, and he’d even ironed the pants.
    He hadn’t realized how much time had passed until an announcement echoed over the speakers asking shoppers to take their purchases to the checkout because the store was closing in five minutes.
    Todd stood in