Secret Admirer Read Free Page A

his courage. He cleared his throat, marched to her table, and sat in the empty chair beside her.
    â€œHi, Shannon. Mind if I join you?”
    She nearly choked on her food, but he pretended not to notice.
    He wanted to slide his chair closer to hers, but everyone else at the table, all women, was staring. He gave them his best smile, then winked at the youngest, whom he recognized as the file clerk. She giggled, making him wish a certain someone else would be as enthusiastic about his presence.
    â€œYes, Todd? Did you forget to turn in some of the drivers’ time cards?”
    He pretended to shiver at her cold response, knowing she would pick up his meaning from past experience, but none of the other women would.
    She had the grace to blush.
    He plunked his lunch tote on the tabletop and proceeded to empty the contents. The women stared as he pulled out the individual containers one at a time, moving aside their own lunches to make room on the table.
    â€œYou’re going to eat all that? Well, some things never change.”
    Todd patted his flat stomach and grinned. “I’m a growing boy. But I’ll make a sacrifice for you. I’ll share.” He picked up the chocolate bar, which he knew was her favorite kind, waved it in front of her, then held it out to her, inviting her to take it from his hand.
    She shook her head. “I’m on a diet. Thanks anyway.”
    His eyes narrowed. While Shannon had never been thin, she certainly wasn’t fat. If he had learned one thing over the years, it was never to make comments about a woman’s weight, except to ask if they’d lost some. He’d bought the chocolate bar especially for her as a peace offering, but apparently, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him, not that he deserved easy. “Take it. If you feel you need to work it off we can go jogging, or I’ll challenge you to a game of tennis after work. I promise I’ll let you win.”
    She rolled her eyes, then took a sip of her tea, some herbal blend he absolutely hated but couldn’t recall the name. He knew the box was green. And a box of it just happened to be in his cupboard, in case he could ever convince her to set foot in his door.
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    The young clerk piped up. “I’ll go jogging or play tennis with you after work, Todd.”
    Todd cleared his throat. He didn’t really want to do either. After work, he wanted only to go home, sit back on the couch, and put his feet up, especially if he could get Shannon to relax with him. He’d even make her a cup of that horrid tea.
    He turned and smiled at the girl, wishing he could remember her name. “Sorry. I was just kidding. I’m going straight home after work.”
    Todd thought it best to be quiet as he ate his sandwich, then the carrots, the muffin, and the apple, while the ladies around him nibbled at their salads. They sipped their coffee and tea, and Todd chugged down a pint of chocolate milk.
    When lunchtime was over, the others gathered their belongings, and Todd tossed his empty containers into his lunch tote.
    The sound of Shannon’s voice beside him almost made him miss his last shot before he snapped the lid shut.
    â€œHonestly, Todd—I don’t know where you put all that food.”
    He grinned and patted his stomach again. “I told you I’m a growing boy.”
    She rolled her eyes. “That’s for sure.”
    Without another word, she returned to her desk.
    Todd lowered his chin so no one could see him smiling. She spoke to him without his initiating it. He was making progress.
    â§
    It had taken two weeks, and his only improvement was that when he smiled or said hello she would smile back.
    Two long weeks. Todd didn’t want to calculate how long it would take to get a warm response. What he wanted most was for her to see he’d changed. He wanted to ask her out. He wanted to share his joys and his sorrows