Secret Admirer Read Online Free Page B

lid from the stack. Willing my hands to stay steady, I was glad when his were soon next to mine, reaching for sugar. He had nice, normal hands. No hairy knuckles. I nodded with approval and prayed he didn’t notice.
    I took a deep breath for the confidence I promised myself I would display and looked him in the eyes, feigning surprise. “Oh, hi.” I wanted to sound upbeat and friendly.
    He grinned. “Morning. How’s your Monday going so far?”
    “Can’t complain.” I turned toward the window. “Even with the rain.” He nodded like he approved of my rhyme or agreed with the sentiment.
    “Well, hope that good mood stays for you.” He pulled back the plastic tab and took a sip before raising his cup as a goodbye wave.
    I waited for his car to silently pull away before leaving the shop to avoid seeming like I was chasing after him. During the drive to my office, I told myself the exchange was quick and meaningless and to stop looking into it so intensely, but I also felt proud for taking a positive step in the right direction. Back in Providence, I would never have struck up a conversation with a stranger, regardless of how cute he was. Apparently, finding my voice required moving to a new city. I was glad for the appearance and planned to continue its use.
    Against my better judgment and original plan, I told Bree about the morning’s encounter while at Salads, Salads, Salads . As I expected, she responded with giddiness and dissected the exchange.
    “You should drop something with your name on it. Do you have business cards yet?” She tapped her gelled nails on the distressed wood table. “Oh, I know! Pretend you’re on a phone call, making an appointment when he gets close. That way he’ll hear you give your name and number.”
    I now knew for sure not to ask her anymore about her friend, Garrett, because she was definitely a meddler. Still, I appreciated having someone to confide in and share the lunch break.
    “I’ll try. We kind-of already have a thing going, we talk a bit, and then he always says goodbye with a cup salute.” I thought she’d be pleased with my progress.
    Instead, she pointed her plastic spork. “You have until the end of the week to learn his name.”
    I pointed right back, but playfully. “Is that a dare?”
    “It’s an order.”
    I’ve never had a problem getting up and going on a Monday morning, but somehow Tuesdays were always challenging, and this dark and cloudy one was no exception. I was so late I had to skip coffee entirely and regretted the damn snooze button all day. I wondered about disabling the feature. On the way home, as tired as I was, a stop at the grocery store was necessary. I avoided a Cupid assault, but I lost the sugar battle in the candy aisle. I reasoned a little sugar would be okay since I hadn’t had any caffeine all day and bought a bag of the large candy hearts. In the parking lot, I broke open the package and allowed myself a small handful for the short ride home.
    Cutie Pie, Luv Ya , and Dream Girl melted in my mouth as I cruised along. At the stop light, I devoured a yellow BFF , a green Awe-Some , and a purple Be Mine . Using all my willpower, I reached around and dropped the bag behind me in the backseat to prevent polishing off the whole thing.
    While unpacking my groceries, I heated a meal for one and emptied the rest of the candy hearts into a container with a lid and placed it on the counter. I knew better than to leave them out in a dish or in the open bag. Temptation and I were very familiar with each other, so I planned to take the treats to the office to share. I caught up on my DVR shows and set the alarm to buzz earlier than a typical Wednesday.
    I dried my hair extra early and picked out a fun mint green scarf. I wound it around my neck three times and then adjusted and fluffed it about eleven more times. At the Fresh Start, I stepped in line right behind Cute Guy and rehearsed my introductions. I was ready. When the girl behind the