A Valentine's Wish by Betsy St. Amant Page A

screwing things up. I never had any trouble running the gift shop at the aquarium. Are You trying to tell me I’m not cut out for this or for my own business? Are my dreams not in line with Your plans?”
    She dropped her sandwich back on the plate. God obviously didn’t want her in a relationship—not since the incident with Jason and her embarrassment with Monny, and definitely not after Andy had been her friend for years without interest in anything more. Now it seemed God didn’t want her to have a career, either. What was she doing wrong?
    What was wrong with her?
    Lori bowed her head over her lunch. “God, a sign would be nice. Just some sort of direction, please.”
    She looked up, half expecting a neon arrow to flash across her den even though she knew better. But the room remained dim and cold. The only light shone from the floor lamp behind her, casting her silhouette across the coffee table.
    Even her shadow was lonely.

Chapter Nine
    “A fishing lure?” Summer stopped sweeping and stared incredulously at the gift in Lori’s hand.
    “Apparently I’ve lured him in.” Lori held up the accompanying card and couldn’t help but grin. Her secret admirer was getting creative. The brightly colored box waiting at the front door of the shop Tuesday morning almost made her forget how she’d shut the store down Monday.
    “Wow, that’s the corniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    “Corny. But sweet.” Lori hung the neon feathered lure from a thumbtack on the bulletin board near the register. Flowers, stuffed animals, candy and now fish bait. What would her secret admirer think of next? More importantly, when would he reveal himself?
    Summer shook the broom handle at Lori. “With that sense of humor, he’s either a complete dork or Prince Charming.”
    “I still can’t completely shake the idea of the gifts being a prank—especially after I was mistaken about Monny.” Lori bit her lower lip and glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen window, where Monny hummed as he finished preparing the morning’s pastries. Thankfully things hadn’t been too awkward between the two of them since last week’s embarrassing mishap. The subject was definitely taboo, though—they kepttheir conversation to shop-related issues only. Lori missed the easy camaraderie they shared when she first started work. Monny was a charmer and a fun friend. No wonder he flirted so much—Lori was beginning to believe he had no choice. It seemed to leak out of his pores.
    “That would be one elaborate prank. No, I think it’s for real.” Summer leaned her weight against the broom handle and paused. “Maybe S.A. has a plan in mind and will reveal himself when the time is right.”
    “S.A.?”
    “Secret Admirer.”
    Lori sighed. “Well, S.A. better hurry. Because the idea of a complete stranger sending secret messages is a little unnerving.”
    “Maybe it’s someone from your church.”
    “I only have friends there. It just doesn’t make sense.” Lori brushed the feathered lure with her fingers and watched it dangle on the thumbtack. “Even our singles group is practically nonexistent.”
    “So what if it is a stranger? Big deal.” Summer shrugged.
    Lori nibbled on her bottom lip. “That’s true. People meet each other all the time off the Internet, and that works out, right?”
    “Right.” Summer tilted her head. “Then again, people also get murdered that way.”
    “You’re so encouraging.”
    “Which part of me broadcasts encouragement, exactly?” Summer stepped away from the broom and gestured at her body with one arm. Head-to-toe black clothes. Silver piercings. Blond hair piled on top of her head in various knots.
    Lori crossed her arms over her chest and squared off with Summer. “I see right through all that. I know you’ve got a heart of gold somewhere underneath all that metal and ink.”
    “Whatever, Boss. Just because I went shoe shopping with you doesn’t mean I’m getting all soft.” Summer