“Careful,” Marjorie warned, hiding a smile. “That could be dangerous.”

“No, I’m serious.” Her look gave credibility to her words.

“About what?” Marjorie continued to study her friend while she wrapped the second half of her own turkey sandwich in a paper napkin to take back to the office for a snack later.

“Didn’t you tell me Dr. Sam was interested in buying a Mercedes?”

“I…Yes, now that you mention it, he did say something along those lines.”

The edges of Lydia’s mouth lifted with unsuppressed delight. “Then get moving, girl! I’ve never known you to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“I…” Marjorie’s tongue felt as though it were glued to the roof of her mouth.

“If you don’t move on this, then you know Al Swanson will.”

The arrow hit its mark. Al Swanson was her nemesis, and he wouldn’t think twice about robbing his own mother of a sale. “I’ll think about it,” Marjorie said, and gave her friend a bright smile.

Lydia pushed her plate aside and stood, looking pleased with herself. Marjorie thought she looked determined to get her together with Sam even if she had to lock them in a room herself.

—

Marjorie checked her watch and was grateful to note that she was free to leave in fifteen minutes. After her second day back at work she was eager to get home and relax. Her afternoon hadn’t gone well. She’d crossed swords with Al Swanson when he’d attempted to steal a sale. One of her clients had taken out a sedan for a test drive, and when he’d returned, Al had explained that Marjorie was out to lunch and had asked him to wrap up the deal. Luckily, she had overheard him, and quickly inserted that she was back and would take over for him.

Incidents like this had happened in the past, and she refused to stand for it. She didn’t like tattling to the manager, but she wasn’t about to let Al cheat her out of her commission.

The bell chimed as the large double doors opened, indicating that a customer had entered the showroom. The salespeople took turns dealing with the influx of prospective buyers. She’d only recently finished helping a young executive, so she left the field open to Jim Preston, the senior salesperson.

“Marjorie,” Jim called, and stuck his head in her office doorway. “Someone’s here to see you.”

Once again, she glanced at her watch. Staying late hadn’t been a problem before, but she tired easily now and was eager to head back to her apartment. “Thanks, Jim,” she muttered, and pushed herself away from her desk with both hands.

Out in the showroom, she paused in mid-step and nearly faltered in an effort to disguise her surprise.

“Sam.” His name came out in a rush of confusion and delight.