When the first note shows up at the restaurant where he works -- when he isn't designing costumes for a local theater -- Jim Foster laughs it off. When the notes keep coming, he doesn't find the fact that he might have a secret admirer quite so amusing. Alan North, a lonely, bookish customer at the restaurant, is too shy to even think of talking to Jim -- as much as he wants to. Then the killings begin. Two of Jim's friends are murdered in what appear to be muggings. However, the detective in charge of the cases believes they're more than that, and that Jim is either the killer ... or being stalked by one. When Jim and Alan finally connect, can they help find and stop the stalker, or will Alan end up dead before their budding relationship can become more than friendship?

His Secret Admirer

“He really wanted it to be me,” Alan said dryly. “From the moment you told him I sent you the notes.”


“Thank God he was wrong,” Jim replied, smiling at Alan.


“You know, it’s your smile that first attracted me to you.”


Jim chuckled. “I sort of got that, from the notes.” He started to reach for Alan’s hand then remembered where they were. “Although, after the first couple, I began feeling as if you were…I hate saying stalking, considering what’s happening now, but…”


“I thought you might, which is half the reason I stopped.”


Alan shrugged. “You didn’t know who was leaving them, so I figured why keep it up.”


“You could have said something,” Jim protested.


Alan shook his head, looking relieved when Detective Baines returned, followed by an older man.


“Gentlemen, this is Lieutenant Odell.” Baines introduced Jim and Alan to him.


Chapter 27