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on him. Then I furrowed my brow skeptically and challenged him. ―You don‘t have a hot date, do you?‖
    ―Yes. I do, as a matter of fact.‖
    ―You do?‖
    ―Yes, and it is almost ending.‖ Alexander glanced at an antique marble clock sitting on the mantel of the unused fireplace. The clock was barely ticking, and the minute hand was broken. I didn‘t want my evening to end, but I knew of course it had to. He wiped his mouth with his linen napkin and then grabbed my hand.
    ―I‘m so glad you did come,‖ he said adoringly. ―You never fail to surprise me.‖
    ―You surprise me, too…‖ I took a deep breath, then asked, ―Why are you both still here?‖
    Just then Jameson returned to collect the dishes.
    For the time being, Alexander was off the hook. ―Allow me, Miss Raven,‖ Jameson said.
    Alexander and his butler placed the dishes on the top shelf of the cart.
    ―Jameson will drive you back to your aunt‘s apartment.‖
    I glanced at the broken clock, still struggling to figure out the correct time.
    ―Jameson can drop me off at my aunt‘s drumming class. It‘s much closer. I believe you may have met my aunt Libby. She works at Happy Homes.‖
    ―That beautiful woman is your aunt? I should have known. She is quite charming…just like her niece,‖ said Jameson.
    ―I look forward to meeting her,‖ Alexander said. Then with a whisper: ―Although you‘ll have to make a few excuses for me not being seen in the daylight.‖
    ―Excuses? I wrote the book! I‘ve got one for every occasion.‖
    Like a Victorian gentleman minus the top hat, white gloves, and British accent, Alexander escorted me out the door and down the rock path while Jameson brought the car around.
    ―Will I see you tomorrow?‖ I asked my boyfriend as I snuggled in his arms.
    ―Of course.‖
    ―I miss you already.‖
    ―I do, too.‖
    Alexander leaned into me and gave me a long, luxurious good-night kiss. He graciously opened the back door of the Mercedes and helped me step in. As we drove off, Alexander stood in the driveway, the mammoth-sized manor house looming behind him like a medieval monster.

    Jameson was kind enough to chauffeur me to Hipsterville‘s Old Town Folk Music Center, but the short five-mile drive from the manor house to the hippie school of music seemed to take longer than the journey from Dullsville to Hipsterville. If I‘d pushed the car myself, we‘d have made it faster.
    Now that Jameson and I had some quality time, I figured I‘d make the most of it. I tried to pump the Creepy Man for info on Valentine and Jagger, but he was as evasive as Alexander.
    ―That was so kind of you and Alexander to reunite Valentine with his family,‖ I began when we drove past Gerald‘s Gas Station.
    ―It was the right thing to do,‖ he said sweetly.
    ―Did you see Jagger?‖
    I waited on pins, needles, and piercing, bracing for his response.
    ―No, I didn‘t. I left that to Alexander.‖
    So much for the facts on that conversation.

    ―I bet Ruby misses you,‖ I said, referring to my former boss who was now dating Jameson.
    Jameson‘s bulgy eyes brightened in the rearview mirror and his pale face flushed bright red with the mention of her name.
    ―Has she come for a visit?‖ I pried.
    ―Oh, no. We are hoping to return to the Mansion shortly.‖
    ―Really, then why did you rent the manor house? You could have just stayed in a hotel.‖
    ―I don‘t stay anywhere that already has a housekeeper,‖ Jameson joked.
    I felt as if I were playing a game of tennis with my dad. With all my might, I lobbed the ball over the net only to have it returned so hard I didn‘t have a chance to swing. Frustrated, I always had to take a moment to collect myself. Time for another serve.
    ―Do you miss Romania?‖ I asked.
    ―Oh yes, it‘s so beautiful there. But I am also quite happy here, in America. I‘ve met some people that I am quite fond of, Miss Raven.‖
    I knew he was politely referring to Ruby and me.
    But I