Death of a Chocolate Cheater: A Food Festival Mystery Read Online Free PDF

have a better look through the school-bus window. After a moment she pulled back, then glanced at me, her mascaraed lashes fluttering madly. Something was up.
    I leaned over to see what had shut her up and caused her eyelashes to flap like startled butterflies.
    It wasn’t hard to miss.
    Jake stood outside his truck talking to a woman. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with long blond hair, expert makeup, and a stylish suit made to fit her perfect curves. It took me a moment before I realized she looked familiar. I recognized Lyla Vassar, one of the feature reporters on Channel 2. She was talking animatedly to Jake.
    Uh-oh.
    Was she planning to do a special feature on Jake’s Dream Puff truck for the upcoming Chocolate Festival?
    Not fair.
    Aunt Abby and I continued to spy on the two of them. I wondered what Lyla was saying to Jake but couldn’t hear anything, thanks to the rumble of the food truck motors. Before I could sneak out and listen in, Lyla took a step closer to Jake. I froze as she laid a perfectly manicured hand on his chest. Then she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek!
    I felt my stomach drop, along with my jaw.
    Since when did TV interviewers kiss their prospective interviewees?
    I glanced over at Aunt Abby, who was standing behind me, watching the scene unfold.
    She gave me a pitying look and placed her hand on my back. “Darcy, I’m sure it’s not what it looks like.”
    I stepped away from the window, unable to watch any more.
    Aunt Abby continued to peer out. “She’s leaving,” she whispered, as if the couple might overhear her. Before I could see for myself, my cell phone rang.
    The caller ID read J AKE M ILLER.
    I hesitated before answering, not sure I wanted to talk to him at the moment. I glanced out to see if Lyla was still there, but she was gone. Finally I took the call.
    “Hello?” I said, unable to muster up any cheerfulness in my voice.
    “Darcy?” came Jake’s low, sexy voice.
    “Oh, hi, Jake,” I said, trying to sound casual, if notcompletely disinterested. He’d just have to work harder if he still wanted that after-work drink and possible dinner we had planned. It was his punishment for flirting with Drop-Dead Gorgeous.
    “Hi, listen, uh, something’s come up. Sorry, but I have to cancel tonight. Rain check?”
    My hands turned cold. My stomach dropped. I pressed my lips together. He was actually canceling our plans.
    “Oh, sure. I understand,” I lied. “Another time.”
    “Soon, I promise,” he said. That was probably a lie too.
    “No problem. See you later.” I ended the call and stared at the phone as if it were a Ouija board about to give me an answer to my question.
    What was up with Dream Puff Jake Miller and Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Lyla Vassar?
    “You okay?” Aunt Abby asked.
    “Of course,” I said, trying to hide my feelings after seeing Jake’s flirtation with Lyla and his cancellation of our date. He and I didn’t have any kind of understanding, much less a commitment. We’d been on a few dates, kissed a few times. I’d wanted to take it slowly after my breakup with Trevor the Tool. Had I blown it?
    “I guess I’ll take you up on that dinner offer, after all,” I said glumly to my aunt. “I’ll see you at home.”
    She patted my back but said nothing. I glanced out the window to make sure the coast was clear—I wasn’t in the mood to run into Jake after his phone call. And I sure didn’t want to see his hot blonde. Awk-ward.
    I made a dash for my car in the adjacent parking lot,feeling wiped out physically, mentally, and emotionally. It had been a long day in the close confines of the school bus, feeding hungry patrons. I felt let down by Jake’s cancellation. And I was worried that my old feud with Polly Montgomery might affect Aunt Abby’s chances in the competition. I hoped a big glass of red wine, half a gourmet pizza, and a few whoopie pies would soothe my aching body and soul. Make that a half bottle of wine.
    When I reached my VW Bug, I