“Thank you for shopping at Kmart, have a nice night.”

Daisy had never in her six months of securing her job as a checkout girl been so happy to wave goodbye to her last customer that day. Walking to the back room to retrieve her handbag, she reflected on the events of the afternoon and it made her smile. As it was Valentine’s Day tomorrow, men had been frantically trying to coerce female staff into helping them buy the right gift for their ladies, and women had been gazing wistfully at the things they wanted their men to buy them.

As for Daisy, her dream for Valentine’s Day was wrapped up in the dreamboat that was her manager, Steve. His hair as black as midnight, with eyes of Velvet Blue, body solid muscle, height of Six foot two. Daisy was so deep in her musing she didn’t see him come around the corner and ran right into him.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there…..”

He smiled. “No need to apologize. I was looking for you anyway; will you come to my office please?”

Daisy caught her breath, could this be ……?

“No, Daisy, don’t be silly,” she scolded herself under her breath as she followed the walking sex appeal of her fantasies into his office and meekly sat down, awaiting his instruction.

“I have noticed, over the last six months, what a great job you’ve been doing. You know how to interact with people and that’s a great quality to have in this field. As you know, Lucy is leaving tomorrow to be closer to her daughters in Melbourne and that leaves the Assistant Manager’s job open, I was hoping you would consider stepping into the role?”

Daisy’s mouth dropped open in shock. She couldn’t stop staring into his eyes and as he waited for her answer she made up her mind.

“As kind as it is for you to say that, I can’t take the job. You see, I too am handing in my resignation. I have been doing part time a course in Business Administration and have just graduated. I am moving to Tasmania as I have been offered a job as a Secretary and would like a chance of scene.”

Steve had quit listening after I too am resigning. His head was whirling, what was he going to do?

“Daisy, is there anything I can do to make you change your mind? You have made such an impression on the staff and customers here that if you leave they’ll miss you terribly….I’ll….um….I’ll…..”

On Tenterhooks, Daisy waited for him to say the words she’d been so desperate to hear since the first day that she saw him but they didn’t come.

“I’ll type you up a good reference if you really want to leave.”

“Yes, I think that would be best.”

He held the door open for her as she walked out but didn’t see the tears that slid gently down her cheeks as she passed him, nor did she see the shimmering of tears in his eyes or the tightness of his jaw as every part of his heart cried out silently to her to stay.

Later that night, in the safety of her room, only then did she let out the full force of her pain in a howl of grief so strong she thought her ribs might crack with it.

Knocking softly on the door, her roommate Sara entered and sat at the edge of her bed, the sound of Daisy’s sobs making her tear up.

“What’s wrong chook? Is there anyway I can help?”

Sitting up, Daisy still clutching her pillow, she turned with red eyes to the woman who had always been like a mother figure to her and pouted.

“Why are men so dim, Mother Hen? My Boss, he must know I am totally in love with him. And sometimes I get the feeling that he too is in love with me, in the way he smiles at me, and gives me little pats on the shoulder. He sometimes even walks me to my car. But today, I told him I am quitting, and all he said was that the staff would miss me and that he’d type me a reference. I have decided that I am going to go work in Dad’s office.”

“And leave everything you love behind?”

Another sob left Daisy’s throat and she threw herself on her bed.

“I don’t want to leave, but I can’t stay. He offered me the job of Assistant Manager but been that close to him, day in day out, it’s too hard!!”

A knock on the door startled Daisy silent as Sara left her to answer it.

Hearing hushed voices, Daisy decided that this was going to be the worst Valentine’s ever until through the door walked a six foot two hunk of a man with Black hair and Velvet Blue eyes, having in his hand the most beautiful bunch of White Carnations you could ever hope to see.

“Happy Valentine’s Eve,” He said quietly, holding out the flowers to her.

Daisy looked up at him, dazed.

Sitting in the spot Sara had vacated, Steve held his hand out to her and she scooted over to him. Looking into his eyes, Daisy saw the vulnerability there and couldn’t help reaching up to put her hand on his face. Leaning into it, he closed his eyes and kissed her palm.

“Daisy, you can’t leave. For the last 6 months, you have been the reason I go into work looking forward to the day ahead. I see you, smiling and interacting with the staff and the customers and you’re always so willing to help people, no matter who it is. I know my worker Daisy, now I want to know Daisy the woman. Will you be my Valentine?”
Laying in his arms after a very passionate night and watching the sun come up, Daisy smiled.
“This is the best Valentine’s day ever.”