True Love

by Steve Shrott

About the Author: Steve Shrott's mystery short stories have appeared in numerous publications such as Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine. His work can be found in fourteen anthologies including Flame Tree Press’s Crime and Mystery compilation, where Steve appears alongside classical writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allen Poe. Steve has had two humorous mystery novels published, Audition For Death, and Dead Men Don't Get Married.

Excerpt

Jessica sat in her cubicle staring at the numbers on the screen when she heard footsteps behind her. She swiveled around on her chair, and looked up into the milk-chocolate eyes of Tim Leeson, the new employee.

“Here’s the information on the Sleepy Time Pills.” Tim handed her the file.

She didn’t look at it, instead she took in Tim’s strong shoulders, his sturdy jawline, the shaggy blond hair that filled her dreams every night since he’d been hired.

She dropped the file onto her desk and stood up.

There was an awkward pause while she waited. Nothing happened. She didn’t understand. Why wasn’t Tim doing anything? Why didn’t he touch her hair or kiss her? Then it dawned on her—he must have thought the boss was spying. There was a strict no office romance rule.

She gave him a wink to loosen him up, but a strange expression explored Tim’s face, and he left quickly. Jessica figured he didn’t notice the wink.

As he rushed out of her cubicle, Jessica’s eyes followed Tim all the way down the hallway.

She enjoyed watching him.

She sat back down at her desk and tried to work. She had promised her boss, Mr. Edwards, that she would give him a sales report on the company’s products by day’s end. But thoughts of Tim kept forming in her mind.

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