“Affection then. I’m still right.”
“I know,” I said, sitting up straighter. “That’s why I have to turn these feelings off now.”
“Easier said than done.”
I glanced up at her. “I can do it.”
“You’re going to be working with him every day,” she said. “It’s going to be tough.”
I groaned. “Well, that’s just lovely.”
“That’s just life. Do you think there’s any chance you guys might actually have a relationship? Because I don’t think you’re the only one getting in too deep with this.”
I snorted and immediately started coughing. “No.” I shook my head. “I know it’s not in the cards. He’s rich and gorgeous and could be dating any woman he wanted to. He’s not about to settle for little old me. No way.”
“Girl, hello? The heart wants what it wants,” she said. “Love shows up whenever it wants to.”
“The heart is seriously flawed.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said, chuckling. “Well, it’s not Valentine’s yet, but ‘tis the season.”
I stuck out my tongue. “I’m going back to bed.”
“Sleep. Rest. Learn to believe in love again.”
I chuckled and called her something I shouldn’t repeat. She laughed harder than I did.
Friday morning, I returned to the office feeling almost back to normal. My desk was exactly as I’d left it. Mostly. There were a stack of messages and a few things that needed my attention, which I expected.
And sitting in the center of it all was a gift.
And this one was not like the others I had received for the Valentine’s exchange. This one wasbeautifullywrapped.
The paper was a soft cream color with delicate gold foiling. It looked professional, like it had been done by Cupid himself.
I stared at it for a long moment. This was nothing like the previous gifts. The stapler had been wrapped in an ugly brochure. The gift card hadn’t been much better. There had been zero effort put into the last two gifts. This looked like it belonged in a store window.
I sat down slowly, still looking at the package like it might explode. Part of me didn’t want to open it. Because opening it meant finding out what was inside, and what if it was another disappointment?
What if it was another thoughtless, last-minute gift that would make me feel small and stupid for putting so much effort into the presents I’d been giving?
I loved giving gifts. One of my favorite things in the world was finding the perfect present for someone that showed I hadbeen paying attention. But receiving thoughtless gifts? That hurt in a way I hadn’t expected.
Still, I couldn’t just leave it sitting there.
But what if Lucas had delivered it to the wrong desk? The gift I was staring at was not like the others. I didn’t want to open someone else’s gift, and worse, I didn’t want to be disappointed when I saw what other people were getting.
My eyes drifted around the office. The gifts were likely delivered yesterday, which meant everyone already got theirs.
Could it really be mine?
Now I felt like a jerk for being so angry with my Secret Cupid.
I carefully untied the ribbon, trying not to damage it because it was too pretty to throw away. Then I peeled back the tape and unfolded the paper.
Inside was a white box with a note on top.
I opened the note first.
