by Gail Sattler
Todd straightened and stuck his right hand in his right pocket. He pulled his hand out, empty, then stuck his left hand in his left pocket. Again, when he removed his hand, it was empty. He began to pat all his pockets, but Shannon knew his attempts to find his keys would be futile.
“I have to go back inside. Wait here for me. I’ll be right back.”
Shannon reached out to touch his arm, barely able to hold back her grin.
When he turned around and looked at her, Shannon had to nibble on her bottom lip in an effort to keep a straight face. “Why don’t you check the back pocket of your jeans? I think you’ll find your keys there.”
Todd reached behind him and patted both back pockets with both hands. “Well. How about that? You’re a genius.”
She couldn’t hold back her grin anymore. “Not really. But you’re the one who’s going to have to be a genius to figure out another excuse to go back inside the building while you leave me here outside. I’ve got you figured out. I know what you’re doing.”
Todd’s face paled instantly. He froze with his hands still covering his back pockets.
“Every time you’ve gone back inside for your keys, you’ve known where they were. Your keys weren’t the issue. You’ve gone back to my desk when you knew I wouldn’t see what you were doing.”
“But. . .” Todd’s voice trailed off.
Shannon reached forward and rested her hands on his arms and looked up into his eyes. Eyes that showed so many things—now his hesitation and uncertainty. Above all, his eyes showed depth of character—a man who was sweet and sensitive, despite the display of bravado he put on for the rest of the world. She mentally kicked herself for taking so long to see it.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s you. It’s been you all along.”
Todd looked down at her hands. He stood, frozen, not moving a muscle. “I. . .” His voice trailed off again.
Shannon shuffled closer, not caring if anyone else they worked with saw them. “You might as well give me the note right here instead of making me wait until morning.” Leaving her left hand still on his arm, she reached into her own pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. “But first, this is for you.”
Todd accepted the paper from her hand. “What’s this?”
“It’s a note, silly. Read it.”
Todd’s hand was shaking as he read what she’d written.
Dearest Secret Admirer,
I have no chocolate kiss to share
All I have are my words and a prayer.
It’s been hard to rhyme when my mind meanders
Because I’m in love with you, too, Todd Sanders.
Yours forever, Shannon
Todd stared at the note, read it a second time, and gulped. “I’m speechless.” Still clutching the paper, he brushed his fingers against her cheek and looked deep into her eyes.
The parking lot, the vans, the traffic on the street behind her—the whole world around her faded into oblivion. Todd’s beautiful brown eyes were warm and inviting and as sweet as the chocolate he had given her every day.
He cleared his throat, but his voice still came out so low and husky she could barely understand him. “Do you mean this?”
Shannon’s heart pounded so hard she wondered if he could hear it. “As much as you’ve meant your notes to me.”
He cupped both her cheeks with his palms. “I love you so much that words are inadequate.”
Shannon started to open her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, Todd’s mouth covered hers. He kissed her passionately but still cupped her cheeks gently, using no force to keep her there except for her own compelling need to kiss him back. His gentle touch emphasized that his kiss came entirely from his heart and that he truly loved her as much as his notes had said.
Shannon slipped her arms around him to embrace him fully. She kissed him the same way he was kissing her, because she loved him, too.
“Woo hoo! Go, Todd!” a male voice called out from somewhere in the parking lot. From the other side of the lot, a horn honked.
Todd drew back slightly, his face red. “I guess the drivers are starting to come in. We should go someplace else. You said something about supper?”
Shannon knew her own face had to be as red as Todd’s. “Yes. Where do you want to go?”
He brushed a light but lingering kiss on her lips, then released her completely. “I don’t know. I’m so mixed up right now I can’t think. I want to go someplace quiet and romantic so I can ask you to marry me, but it’s probably too soon for that.”
Shannon giggled. “I don’t know about that, but if you wanted that tidbit to be a secret, you blew it. Now I won’t answer until you ask me properly.”
His cheeks flushed again. “Oops.” They walked in silence to her car. Todd spoke as Shannon inserted the key into the lock.
“It’s not very romantic, especially since we’re taking separate cars, but there’s a great place to eat not far from my apartment. It’s called Joe’s Diner. It’s small, and it isn’t fancy, but the food’s great. The owners just got married, and the local paper said they’ve decorated the place like a wedding. The bride is wearing her veil all week, the groom is wearing a top hat, and the waiters and waitresses are wearing their wedding gear. They’re also offering dinners for two at half price and giving away free cake, like wedding cake, to everyone for dessert.”
“That sounds like your kind of place. I’ll meet you there.”
Shannon was so happy she felt lightheaded. As strange as it sounded, she couldn’t think of a more romantic atmosphere for Todd to propose than in the midst of wedding decorations, even if the recent bride and groom were serving hamburgers. She could hardly wait to give him her answer.
Shannon pulled the car door open.
“Wait.”
Before she could slide in, Todd’s hands slipped around her waist. She turned around and rested her hands on his waist as well. They were hugging loosely, so that no one they worked with would tease or interrupt them.
Todd brushed a kiss on her temple, backed up a little but didn’t release her. “I have to tell you this now, or I’ll forget. That was a good poem you wrote, especially in a short time.”
Shannon felt her face grow warm at his compliment. “Thanks. I found out writing poetry isn’t easy. Do you know how difficult it was to think of something that rhymed with Sanders?”
Todd grinned, stepped back, covered his heart with his hand, and cleared his throat.
“Finding rhymes is easy when you know where to look. All it takes is to love a special woman, and then go buy a book.”
About the Author
GAIL SATTLER lives in Vancouver, B.C. (where you don’t have to shovel rain) with her husband, three sons, two dogs, five lizards, and countless fish, many of whom have names. She writes inspirational romance because she loves happily-ever-afters and believes God has a place in that happy ending. Visit Gail’s Web site at www.gailsattler.com.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Gail Sattler
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683