“Damn. I must’ve left it in your car.”

“I’ll go get it,” I said, shooting a wistful look at the tiramisu. I hated to leave it, but the man had just offered me a job, and the least I could do was get his attaché case.

“No,” Stan said. “I’ll go. You start on dessert.”

Obviously he could see how much I was lusting after the tiramisu.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Of course. I’ll be right back.”

What a sweetie he was to give me first dibs on dessert. I gave him the parking ticket, and he headed for the door.

Once more, I gazed at the tiramisu in all its creamy glory. I debated about whether or not to take a bite. I really should wait until Stan got back. But he did tell me to go ahead and get started. I’d just have one teeny bite. And then we’d share the rest together.

I took a teeny bite. Okay, so it wasn’t so teeny. It was a major forkful. Sheer heaven. I couldn’t resist taking another. But that was it. No more. Absolutely not!

And I’m proud to say not a single morsel passed through my lips—not for three whole seconds. Then I broke down and had another bite. And another. And another. Until, to my horror, I saw that I’d eaten all but one biteful.

I was utterly ashamed of myself. What would Stan think? He’d probably take back the job offer. I’d given up a lucrative gig with Rubin-McCormick for a piece of tiramisu!

It was at that moment that I happened to glance out the window and saw the valet handing Stan the keys to my Corolla. That’s funny. Stan was getting in on the driver’s side of the car. Surely he’d left his attaché case on the passenger side.

It’s a good thing my mouth wasn’t full of tiramisu; otherwise I might have choked at what I saw next. Much to my amazement, Stan started the engine, gave a friendly wave to the valet, and drove off.

What on earth was he doing? And then it dawned on me.

Stan McCormick had just stolen my car!

Copyright

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

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Copyright © 2006 by Laura Levine.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

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ISBN: 9780758282859