A Valentine's Wish (15 page)

L
ori’s eyes widened, then slowly closed as the realization of Andy’s kiss sank in. She kissed him back, a mixture of shock, relief and joy melting together like chocolate into one fantastic dessert. His hand buried in her hair, and she tilted her face to his, never wanting the moment to end.

The subtle yet pointed sound of a throat being cleared echoed through the sanctuary, and Lori jerked away, breathless. Pastor Mike stood in the center aisle behind them, a grin teasing his features. “Pardon me. But this might not be the proper time or place for such a personal display of affection.”

“Sorry, Pastor.” Andy stood and drew Lori up with him. Her heart hammered and her knees shook, from both the kiss and the embarrassment at being caught. She awkwardly reached up and patted her hair, hoping it wasn’t mussed.

“No need to be embarrassed.” Pastor Mike rocked back on his heels, one hand jingling the loose change in his pocket. “I just was coming in to practice my Wednesday-night sermon.” He kept grinning.

They were grown adults, caught kissing in the middle of the church, and all Pastor Mike could do was smile? Where was the lecture? Lori frowned.

Andy led Lori up the carpeted aisle toward the back doors. “We’ll get out of your way, Pastor.” He squeezed Lori’s hand, and a flock of butterflies suddenly took up residence in her stomach. “I need to go over my sermon as well.”

The pastor winked at Andy and clapped his shoulder as they passed. “I knew I shouldn’t have worried about you, boy. Good choice!”

The doors to the church shut behind them. Lori paused in the foyer and tugged on Andy’s hand. “What did he mean by that? What choice?”

Andy threaded their fingers back together and pulled her hand up to his chest. “Nothing important.” He ran one finger down her cheek and smiled. “Nothing like this.”

A blush heated her cheeks. “So what does
this
mean?”

“I don’t know. I’m still waiting on your answer to my question.”

“If you could kiss me?” Lori laughed. “I think you got your answer.”

Andy’s eyebrows meshed. “Oops. I mean, the question I never got to ask.” He smiled. “What do you think about us dating?”

Lori reached up and clasped their joined hands with her free one. “I’m thinking that sounds like a much better offer than Jason’s business proposal.”

“Are you sure?” Andy edged back a step so he could look her in the eye. “I can’t give you money and your own store and make all your dreams come true like—”

Lori pressed one finger over Andy’s lips. He immediately hushed. “I don’t need all those things to be happy if I’m with you.”

“Really?” Andy’s mouth brushed against her finger. “You’ve felt the same way about me all this time? I only realized it myself a few weeks ago.”

Lori nodded. “I always figured you never thought of me as more than a friend, so I didn’t say anything. Then that Friday at movie night, when you almost kissed me…” Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks burned at the memory. “I felt so foolish.”

Andy groaned and rested his forehead against hers. “I wanted to kiss you so badly that night, but I thought it was too soon. I thought you were mad at me for even trying. Plus there was that thing you said a year or so ago about not dating after Jason.”

Lori shook her head. “I think we’ve had quite the communication problem.”

Andy wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. “Not anymore.”

Lori closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. After all this time, she was finally where she belonged. She snuggled closer and breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Who cared about her secret admirer now that she had Andy? That mystery man was too late, and she didn’t mind a bit.
Thank You, Lord.
She never would have thought when she came to the church to pray about Jason’s proposition that she’d end up in Andy’s arms.

“While we’re being honest, there’s something else I need to tell you.” Andy’s breath whispered against her hair, and a shiver skated down Lori’s spine. “You know those gifts—”

The lobby door opened, and Pastor Mike stepped through the opening. “Sorry to interrupt again. I left the last page of my sermon on my desk.” He headed toward the front doors, then winked at them over his shoulder. “I guess everything works out for a reason, huh, Andy?” He smiled and didn’t wait for an answer before disappearing outside.

A new kind of shiver raised the hair on the back of Lori’s neck. “What is he talking about? What’s going on?” She edged away from Andy with a frown.

Andy shook his shaggy hair out of his eyes. “It’s a long story I never got to tell you. It’s funny, really. Pastor Mike came to me a few weeks ago, saying that because of the pressure from some of the teens’ parents and the scandal at that church across town, the staff was concerned that I was single and wanted me to change that.” He laughed. “Crazy, huh? They gave me the
impression my job depended on it, but it wouldn’t have gone that far. I don’t think so, anyway.”

Lori slowly pulled her hand free of Andy’s grasp and backed up a step, bumping into the foyer display table and rattling a vase of fake flowers. “A few weeks ago?”

“Yeah, right about the time you started working for Aunt Bella.” Andy paused. “What’s wrong with that?”

Nothing, other than it was conveniently about the same time Andy said he’d realized his feelings for her. Lori shook her head and withdrew farther, wrapping her arms around herself. The warmth flowing from the church’s heating vents did nothing to ease the sudden chill creeping over her body. “You don’t want me. You just want to keep your job.”

“What?” Andy stepped forward, but Lori scooted farther away. He gave a short laugh. “Lori, no. That’s not it.”

She rubbed her arms. “Yes, it is.” A wave of insecurity washed over, freezing her to the core. “I was the only potential prospect you had, so you went for it. Isn’t that right?”

Andy frowned. “Yes, you were the only one I was interested in, so of course I didn’t go for anyone else. But—”

“So it’s true.”

“Yes. No! I mean…” Andy rubbed his hands down the length of his face. “What are you asking?”

“Forget it.” Lori dug her keys from her pocket and pushed through the lobby doors to the parking lot. Andy followed, calling her name, but she picked up her pace and quickly slid into her car. She pushed the button for the automatic locks just as Andy yanked on the handle.

He pounded on her window. “Lori, don’t leave like this!” His muffled voice pleaded through the window, but all Lori could hear was Jason confessing his relationship with Amy. Then Monny’s voice piped in her memory, announcing he had a fiancée and, no, he wasn’t interested in her. They were never interested. She was destined to forever be the friend, the
almost
—never
the One.
Andy just proved that cold fact again. How dare he judge her for considering Jason’s business offer when his was no better? He just wanted to show the staff he’d finally found a girl so they’d back off. More than likely, it wasn’t even a coincidence Pastor Mike had showed up when he did. Andy probably planned the whole thing. He’d been that desperate to keep his job—at her expense.

Lori yanked the car into reverse and peeled out, tires squealing against the gravel. Tears slipped from her eyes and rolled down her face. With blurry vision, she glanced in her rearview. Andy stood alone in the parking lot, hands on his waist as he stared after her. She cranked up the volume on the radio to drown the voices of rejection in her head.

Andy’s was the loudest of them all.

Andy somehow made it through his sermon, even though his mind was dozens of miles away with Lori. Perhaps even farther than that—at the rate she’d peeled out of the parking lot, she could be halfway to Georgia by now.

While the youth band led the service’s closing song, Andy made his way offstage and to the kitchen in the back of the gym. Gracie stood behind the counter, opening packages of cookies and setting out plates and napkins for the kids. At least he had one volunteer tonight. Lori’s sudden absence could have really left him in a chaotic position if not for Gracie.

The red-haired newlywed took one look at Andy’s face and dropped a bag of chips. “What happened?”

“That obvious, huh?” Andy turned his back to the stage and propped his elbows on the counter, briefly burying his face in his hands. The pounding of the drummer’s beat reverberated through the gym and vibrated his arms.

“You talked to Lori.” It was a statement, not a question.

Andy lifted his head. “She already called you?”

“No, but I figured it had to be about her to make you look
that depressed. Did she not respond as you hoped?” Gracie ripped open the bag of chips and poured them into a plastic bowl.

Andy snagged one and popped it in his mouth. “Actually, she responded better than I could have hoped—until Pastor Mike showed up, made a few comments that started Lori asking questions and ruined the entire thing.” Andy quickly explained what had transpired in the sanctuary only hours before, including the business offer Jason had made. “Now Lori thinks I only was interested in her for the sake of pleasing the staff and keeping my job.”

“That’s crazy. You would never do that.” Gracie’s eyes narrowed. “Would you?”

“Of course not. You know me, Gracie. Come on.” He reached for another chip.

Gracie sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This whole secret-admirer game just threw me off. I still think you should have been honest with her sooner. How did Lori take that news?”

Andy stopped mid-chew. “Um…”

Gracie planted both hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me? You haven’t told her yet?”

“I tried.” Andy swallowed. “Pastor Mike interrupted us, and then she stormed off before I could explain.”

“So why are you still here? Go after her!”

“Uh, the youth service?” Andy raised his eyebrows.

Gracie’s lips twitched. “Oh, yeah. Well, as soon as it’s over, go find her. Lori needs to know the truth about those gifts. If she knows they’re not from Jason, she won’t be nearly so trusting of him. You’ve got to tell her the truth before she does something crazy—like accept his proposal and sign paperwork.”

“Do you really think she would? Even after our kiss?” Surely it had meant something to Lori. It certainly meant something to him—the epitome of every dream he’d ever hoped for and then some. If she didn’t feel the same…Andy’s stomach cramped.

“Well, I didn’t witness this earth-shaking kiss of yours,”
Gracie replied dryly, “but I know Lori, and I know her insecurities. If she’s hurt down to a certain level, there’s no telling what she might rationalize.”

Andy glanced over his shoulder just as the closing note of the worship song rang through the speakers. The teenagers began spilling out of the rows of chairs, hurrying toward the food. “Here comes the herd.”

“Listen, I can handle this.” Gracie stacked some plastic cups beside the two-liter drinks. “Go find Lori.”

“Are you sure?” Doubt and hope meshed as one as the kids swarmed around Andy at the counter. He wanted to stop Lori and explain everything before it was too late, but his first duty was here at the church. Then again, Gracie could chaperone things until the parents came to pick up their children….

“I’m positive. I’ll call Carter if I need to.” Gracie waved her hands as if flicking him away. “Go save the day, Pastor.”

“I owe you one.” Andy grabbed his keys and headed for the door before the noisy mob of teens could change Gracie’s mind.

He had a girlfriend to catch.

T
he alarm sounded way too early for Lori’s preference. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and slapped the snooze button before burrowing back under the covers. Her head throbbed, her eyes felt grimy from crying herself to sleep and her neck was sore from all the tossing and turning during the night.

That’s what she got for ignoring Andy’s knocking on her door. He pounded for fifteen solid minutes yesterday evening before giving up. She’d spent the time sitting on the floor in the living room under the front window, back pressed against the wall, torn between wanting him to leave and hoping he never would.

With a groan, Lori sat up in bed, shoving the covers off her legs. She couldn’t go back to sleep with thoughts of Andy tormenting her. Her anger from yesterday still boiled beneath the surface, along with a variety of other feelings she couldn’t quite name. Betrayal, frustration, confusion. None of which seemed to completely sum up her emotions or do her feelings justice.

A glance at the digital clock confirmed that she’d better jump in the shower, or else she’d be late for work. Lori rubbed her hands over her cheeks, deciding not to peek in the mirror on the way to the bathroom. If she looked anything like she felt, the mirror would probably break.

She stood, stretching, and something crumbled under her feet. Bending down, Lori grabbed the balled-up piece of paper from the floor and slowly peeled it open. It was the pro/con list for accepting Jason’s business offer that she’d hastily scribbled last night.

That last entry had been made during the brunt of her anger. Mascara streaks dotted the wrinkles in the page from the abundance of tears she’d cried, and Lori quickly threw the paper in the trash before stepping in the shower.

The steam from the hot water did wonders for clearing her mind. Lori poured a puddle of shampoo in her hand and rubbed it through her hair. If the potential of Andy was gone forever, there was really no reason why she shouldn’t call Jason. He had a point—everyone won. She’d have her own business and could begin working on climbing out of debt. So what if Jason had a catch to the deal? Even if he wanted her back, it wasn’t like she
had
to date him. She could muster up the energy to forgive Jason if he was truly willing to invest in her dream.

And who cared if Andy got mad in the process?

Lori adjusted the water temperature and turned so the spray could massage the tension knots in her shoulders. Jason’s business proposal wasn’t any worse than the secret motive behind Andy’s offer. At least Jason had been up front with his intentions. Andy hid his away and pretended to have feelings for her.

Though that kiss had certainly said otherwise.

The memory burned hotter than the water blasting on her neck, and Lori quickly shut off the faucets. So what if Andy
could kiss? She’d been kissed before, and this time wasn’t any more life-changing than any other time.

But it certainly could have been had Andy not ruined everything.

She slipped into her pink terry-cloth robe and cinched the ties at her waist. She’d call Jason right now and ask him to meet her at the shop today to tell him she accepted his proposal.

After yesterday’s disaster with Andy, the sooner the better.

There was a line of hungry people waiting at the shop when Lori arrived. She shouldered past the crowd to unlock the door, muttering apologies for being late, and flicked on the lights.

“I’ll be right with you!” She hurried behind the counter, tossing her purse on the shelf and flipping on the coffee machine so it could brew. “Monny, you back there?”

“Si.”
He poked his head through the swinging doors and smiled. “Already started today’s pastries.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Lori tied her new pink apron around her waist, keyed in her access code on the cash register and smiled at the gentleman standing patiently in line. “How may I help you?”

The next two hours slid by as a steady stream of customers flooded the shop for morning coffee, chocolate croissants and fudge. Lori placed ten special orders for Valentine’s Day, all before noon. She breathed a heavy sigh and leaned against the counter. “If it’s already this busy today, I dread tomorrow and Saturday.”

“It will be—what do you call it?—a madhouse. Valentine’s Day is special.” Monny snagged a bottle of water from the fridge by the storage closet. “What are your plans?”

A month ago, Lori would have thought his question was an invitation. Now she knew better. “Probably not much. I’ll go to church and maybe afterward visit my parents. I bet you miss your fiancée this time of year, especially.”

Monny nodded, sadness tainting his smile. “I do. But we’ll
be together in a few months.” He toasted his water bottle at her and disappeared back inside the kitchen.

Business finally at a lull, Lori took the time to wipe down the counters with a wet rag. Summer would be in this afternoon to help manage the cash register and clean, but the mundane action gave Lori time to think.

Jason hadn’t answered her call earlier this morning, so she’d left a voice mail. Now she was waiting, something she once promised herself she’d never do for him again. She’d waited enough in the past for calls that never came, for dates that were hours late because he’d been with Amy. She’d waited for him to show up at church and family dinners—usually to no avail. Even if it was just business, why was she still waiting on him?

Lori scrubbed at a stubborn spot on the counter with her damp cloth. Maybe starting and managing her own store wasn’t worth the risk of finding out Jason hadn’t changed after all and had an ulterior motive. She was taking a huge leap of faith, and for what—dreams? Money? When had she become that desperate?

She closed her eyes. Probably about the same time her credit cards had neared their limits and the loan officers had laughed at her proposal—which was actually still in her purse. She couldn’t bear throwing it away, not after having spent so many hours preparing it.

Lori tossed the rag in the sink with more force than necessary. People started businesses every day. Why was her proposal such a risk compared to theirs? Determination clenched her teeth. She would do whatever it took to prove those bankers wrong.

The chime on the door tinkled, and Lori looked up—just in time to see Jason, Andy and Aunt Bella stroll inside.

Lori’s face paled lighter than the white chocolate samples displayed on the counter. Andy watched as her eyes darted from one face to another, lingering on Jason longer than anyone else.

He tried to ignore that proverbial slap as he made room for
Jason to pass him. Andy couldn’t help butting shoulders with him as the loser moved toward Lori with a welcoming smile.

Andy tugged on Aunt Bella’s arm. “We might need to give them a minute.” He’d picked Bella up from the airport an hour earlier at her surprise phone call announcing her return. Of course she wanted to pop in to the store before going home. Who knew Andy’s timing would be so perfect they’d literally bump into Lori’s ex on the way in?

Bella’s wise eyes took one look at Andy and then at Lori, now talking in hushed tones with Jason over the counter, and she snorted. “Nonsense.” She cleared her throat. “Lori, hon. I’m back!”

Lori smiled weakly. “Hi, Bella.”

“Things look wonderful. How’s business? We haven’t talked in a week or more.” Bella bustled around the far side of the counter and joined Lori by the register. “Sales are good?”

Lori stepped aside to make room as Bella flitted around. “We’ve been booming the last several days.”

“The week before Valentine’s is always that way.” Bella stopped and tugged at the front of Lori’s apron. “This is cute! Your idea?”

Lori’s shoulders straightened a little. “Actually, yes.”

“Love it. What else have you done?”

Andy smiled as Lori’s confidence bloomed before his eyes. She eagerly pulled out a notebook and began showing Bella what sounded like sales records. His happiness faded, however, at the sight of Jason waiting by a vacant table, hands in his pockets, whistling as he rocked back and forth on designer leather shoes. That easygoing stance showed way too much confidence—borderline arrogance, in fact.

Maybe Lori had told him that Andy spent fifteen pathetic minutes knocking on her door last night. On his way here with Bella, Andy had managed to convince himself it was because she’d been in the shower or already asleep for the night. But
now, seeing that smirk on Jason’s face…Andy’s fists clenched, and he took a deep breath before his temper made him do something he’d regret.

“Do you have some sort of a problem?” Jason’s rocking stopped as he squared off with Andy, apparently having finally noticed his staring.

Andy stepped closer, determined not let this guy think he was intimidated. His heart thundered in his chest. “Actually, I do, but this isn’t the time or place.” He refused to get into an argument with Lori in earshot.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Jason smiled, flashing a row of perfect white teeth. “I, on the other hand, feel great.”

Andy faltered at the unexpected response. “What—why?”

“Lori accepted my offer to fund her new business. In a matter of weeks, she’ll be running her own shoe store in the French Quarter—and if I have anything to say about it, accompanying me around town at the same time. This is such a fun city, isn’t it?” His grin spread. “I can’t wait to see it with her.” He began to whistle once more, turning toward the back of the shop to watch Lori.

Andy wanted to punch that cocky smirk off Jason’s face, but his arms suddenly felt like noodles. Lori had made her decision.

He was too late.

Lori watched Bella study her proposal. The shop owner had been so excited about the changes Lori had created in her store that she wanted to hear it all. With a burst of courage, Lori had pulled the proposal from her bag and presented it to Bella.

Now Lori stood, chewing on her lower lip and wishing she could snag a chocolate crocodile from the case as she watched Andy and Jason square off. They were pretending they weren’t, but the truth was obvious. Her heart hurt, wondering what Jason might be rubbing in Andy’s face. Even if Andy had hurt her and used her, there was no cause for cruelty—and that gloat on Jason’s face represented exactly that.

Was Jason telling Andy she’d accepted his business offer? When the three of them had walked inside the store, her shock momentarily wavered her confidence in her decision—that, and seeing Andy’s face again. His kiss still hovered in her memory like her favorite fleece blanket, soft and warm. But she’d asked Jason to meet her, and she couldn’t let a fleeting feeling change her resolve. She was making the right decision. Jason had shown so much effort to prove he’d changed, with the gifts and all, that he deserved her forgiveness.

And she deserved her dream.

Bella slid her reading glasses on top of her head and turned piercing blue eyes to Lori. Her lips pursed, then broke into a giant smile. “This is brilliant.”

“It is?” Lori’s mouth opened. “I mean, thank you.” Excitement temporarily replaced the tap-dancing nerves. “You’re the only one to think so.”

“What do you mean?” Bella’s penciled eyebrows drew together in a tight frown.

Lori explained her bad luck with getting a loan. “I’m too much of a risk.”

“That’s ridiculous. I should go down to those banks and tell them what-for.”

“I appreciate the loyalty, but it’s hopeless.” Lori hesitated. “With my current credit, I guess it’s my fault.”

“I’ll have to see what I can do about that.” Bella tapped the proposal in her hand. “Now, how about my nephew over there?” She nudged Lori in the ribs. “I saw hearts in his eyes a few minutes ago. Now I understand why he got all flustered every time he called me about the store.”

“You know about that?” Lori winced.

Bella laughed. “Andy confessed he told you. I hope you weren’t upset with me for asking him to keep an eye on the store. Of course I trusted you with it, or else I wouldn’t have hired you. But it was the only way I knew to get you two together.”

“What?” Lori’s mouth gaped open. Bella had been scheming as a matchmaker, too? Was the entire city of New Orleans trying to get her and Andy together? She snapped her mouth shut.

Bella’s eyes twinkled. “He would always talk to me about Lori this, Lori that. I knew he had a thing for you months ago, even if he didn’t see it himself yet. It seemed like destiny when you turned up needing a job just when I needed a store manager.”

Lori’s own heart skipped before thudding painfully against her chest. “Andy had a thing for me months ago?” Months. Not just weeks. Not just since the pastor’s ultimatum. Her eyes darted to Andy and Jason, who now stood yards apart as if they’d never even met.

“That was my interpretation.” Bella handed the proposal back over and met Lori’s gaze. “And I can assure you, my dear, that I’m rarely wrong.”