“I know I’m not much of a cook, dear, but just tell me what to do and I’ll be fine.” She gave Jenna a big hug. “This will be so much fun. I’m sorry Kelly is sicker than a dog, but I’m happy for me.”
So like her mom, Jenna thought. She just hoped her mother could stay out of trouble and not do or say anything stupid.
“What about Tom?” her mother asked. “Could he come along to bartend?” Sharon had been helping Cindy with her rehab, and Tom traveled back and forth for occasional visits.
Jenna firmly said no. As much as she liked Tom, she didn’t want to have anyone else to worry about.
Jenna and Sharon arrived at the Palm Beach residence a few minutes earlier than expected. As she pulled into the circular drive, the home was hidden behind massive pines and oak trees, but once past the trees the old villa appeared. Double stone stairways led to the main entrance door and impressive-looking columns surrounded the entrance.
Jenna parked around back, as previously directed. Off to the right was a tennis court with a viewing gazebo and a pool. The property was enormous, stretching all the way from Ocean Drive to the Intercoastal waterway, offering views from every direction.
Sharon had skipped the uniform skirt and put on a pair of black leather pants. She did wear the same white shirt as Jenna, although she’d barely buttoned it, preferring to display her gold jewelry and cleavage.
Jenna, as usual, was the dowdier of the two. She’d pulled her hair off her face and pinned it in a roll. Her crisp white shirt was tucked neatly into her slim, straight skirt. She was all business.
She knew if she impressed her hostess tonight, it might lead to many more jobs which would tide her over until she was free to leave. Anticipating this catering job being a success, she’d had business cards printed with the name “Guiltless Gourmet.”
Jenna was accustomed to corporate dinners and mixing and mingling with a sophisticated, cosmopolitan crowd. However, she was used to being seated at the table, not as one of the wait staff. That was perfectly fine by her. She needed a new career, not social connections.
She knocked loudly at the back door. A plump dark-skinned woman opened the door.
“Thank goodness you’re here. I know it’s not five-thirty yet, but Madam is already pacing.”
The kitchen, Jenna was happy to notice, had a butler pantry conveniently accessible from the garage. While helping to carry in the first load of food, the other woman talked nonstop. “I’ve polished the silverware and arranged the flowers, and I was about to set the table when I heard you drive up.”
“I’m Jenna Cassali and this is my mother, Sharon. We can take it from here. I don’t want to keep you from your duties.”
The woman stuck out her hand. “I’m Josie Lincoln, and I’ve worked in this house for nearly thirty years. If you can’t find anything, you ask me. Don’t bother Mrs. Melrose unless you can help it.”
Within a few minutes they had the car unloaded and everything either in the refrigerator or on the counter. The granite counters were plentiful and spacious, and gave them plenty of room to prepare.
“Ah, there you are!” The lady of the house marched into the hall, clucking with disapproval. “I did tell you five-thirty, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Mrs. Melrose, you did. And it’s exactly five-fifteen.” Jenna held out her hand. “I’m Jenna. This is my mother, Sharon.”
“I thought you said you were bringing your niece. I was expecting a young girl.” Mrs. Melrose looked down her nose at Sharon in her skin-tight leather pants, with her black lacy bra darting out of her shirt, platinum hair and two-toned lipstick. From her expression, it was obvious Mrs. Melrose didn’t like what she was seeing.
Jenna’s protective nature kicked in. She didn’t want this snooty woman picking on her mother. “Kelly came down with a bad cold and my mother stepped in.” Mrs. Melrose didn’t offer her hand, so Jenna let hers drop.
“Fine.” Mrs. Melrose turned away, but then stopped. “And please don’t address me as Mrs. Melrose. I prefer for you to call me Ma’am.”
So this was how it was going to be.
Mrs. Melrose, or rather “ma’am,” was a beautiful, pale skinned woman with her lovely blonde hair swept into a classic French roll. She was also bone thin, heavily jeweled, and had a red pouty mouth. From the tightness in her face Jenna figured she’d had a facelift or two.
After she left, Jenna and her mother exchanged glances. Sharon made a gagging gesture, and Jenna had to choke back a laugh.
For appetizers Jenna was serving mushrooms stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, marinated tenderloin tip and gorgonzola cheese in puff pastry, and chili prawns with a spicy Thai dip.
For the starter, Mrs. Melrose had selected a salad with a trio of greens, avocado and strawberry slices, toasted almonds, and a raspberry vinaigrette.
The dinner would be a teriyaki Chilean sea bass, grilled asparagus tips, and basmati rice. All Jenna had to do was ensure that it all tasted as good as it sounded.
The evening’s decline started with a weather change. At six-thirty streaks of lightning lit up the sky, and Jenna heard the first crash and boom as thunder rumbled close by. It was a common enough occurrence this time of year in Florida, and so were the howling wind and the torrential rain that followed—and the brown-out.
Mrs. Melrose, dressed in a cream silk dress that complemented her blonde hair, looked remarkably cool and elegant as she popped into the kitchen to check on the preparations.
Two bottles of French champagne had been placed in an iced silver bucket to chill. “How’s everything going?” she purred, pouring herself a glass of champagne.
“Fine.” Jenna licked off a bead of sweat on her upper lip. “Couldn’t be better.” A crack of thunder drowned out her last word.
Sharon jumped and dropped the dish of sun-dried tomatoes. “I’ll get that,” Jenna said quickly. “Do you have a broom handy?”
Josie clicked her tongue. “I’ll clean up. You keep working.”
“Do you have any sun-dried tomatoes for the mushrooms?” Jenna asked Mrs. Melrose.
“No,” Mrs. Melrose snapped. “It was your job to bring the ingredients. I told you I’d pay for them, but I’m not paying for the tomatoes on the floor. I specifically asked for that appetizer too.”
“Yes, you did. And you will have it. I’m sure we have extra. We always bring more than we need.”
“I hope so. Why is the oven off?”
Jenna glanced at the oven. The flashing red sensor indicated the timer and clock were out. The thunder had been so loud, she hadn’t heard the beeping sound the oven emitted when it shut off.
“The storm, Mrs. Melrose.” Jenna quickly reset the oven. “We have the tenderloin pastries warming up. Trust me, they will be ready in time.”
“They better be. This is turning into a disaster.”
“Not yet, it isn’t,” she said. “Go enjoy your champagne. Please don’t worry about a thing. I have everything under control.”
As soon as the hostess was gone, Jenna asked her mother to find something that could be substituted for the sun-dried tomatoes. “Be creative.”
As the minutes passed, Jenna and her mother worked in harmony. Jenna thought everything was going well, until Sharon nudged her and said, “I just heard the doorbell and the prawns aren’t done yet.”
“Right. Give them to me. We’ll take the mushrooms out in a minute and pop the prawns right in. The dip’s in the fridge.”
She set the dish of prawns in the hot oven. They just needed to bake for a few minutes.
The mushrooms came out looking perfect. Jenna had washed and placed a small frond from a palm branch onto a lovely white serving plate. She arranged the mushroom caps on the frond, added a flower, and nodded in approval.
While the prawns were grilling she set out the tenderloin tips in puff pastries on another serving dish.
Mrs. Melrose hurried in. “Josie. Grab an umbrella and go help our guests in. It’s pouring so hard out
there that they’re sitting in their cars unable to make it to the door.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jenna thought of Josie going out in the torrential downpour holding an umbrella for the guests. She would have to make eleven trips, if she took one person at a time.
“Mom, would you mind helping Josie?”
“But I’ll get soaked.”
Jenna whispered, “I’m sorry, Mom, honest. But Josie can’t bring in all the guests. It’ll take too long, and she’ll be drenched.”
Sharon shook her head stubbornly. “I can’t serve appetizers in wet clothes.”
“I’ll serve. Josie can get you a hairdryer and help you get dry. Please?”
“I didn’t sign up for this tour of duty,” Sharon grumbled.
Jenna smelled something. “Yikes, the prawns.” She grabbed an oven mitt and pulled them out. Saved—but barely.
Fifteen minutes later the guests were all inside, champagne was poured, and Josie and Sharon had gone off to dry themselves. Jenna had everything organized for the main course, so until they returned it was up to her to circulate the appetizers amongst the guests.
The formal living room was nearly as big as the entire downstairs of Cindy’s house, and had several seating areas. The twelve people only took up a small portion of the room, gathering near the grand piano where a young man sat playing.
Smiling, she walked from person to person, offering a napkin and plate for the speared mushroom caps.
“Good evening,” a baritone voice said.
She recognized the voice and turned—Grant.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
What was Grant doing there? Who was he with? The joy of unexpectedly seeing him died abruptly. Jenna wasn’t happy to see him at all. Who was he with?
Okay, maybe she had made a point of keeping things casual between them, but that didn’t mean he had to stop pursuing her and find enjoyment elsewhere. She had pointedly asked him to call her, and had waited for him to do so.
Did he know Mrs. Melrose? Was that it? Or had he found someone who wanted to share her life with him? And his bed, so he wouldn’t be lonely?
She darted a quick look around the room, wondering which of the beautiful women might be the lucky one. Was it the ravishing red-head in the corner, talking to the stout lady with the loud voice? Or the demure blonde watching the piano player and tapping her foot as if she wanted to dance?
Probably the blonde—she was exquisite, like a pretty fashion doll. Jenna had never liked those dolls—silly things, with long legs and big boobs, and more clothes than a self confessed fashion diva.
Jenna wondered how Blondie would look with a plate of mushrooms on her head. Biting back her jealousy, she lifted her chin, remembering who she was.
At Plasmic, people had treated her with deference because she’d been the first female vice-president in the company. She could hold her own with some of the most powerful movers and shakers of New York’s corporate world.
Unfortunately, right now she resembled a serving girl and not a woman to be reckoned with. It was not the way she wanted Grant to see her, although previously, she’d felt no shame in what she was doing. Until a moment ago, she had been rather proud.
Head high, she flashed him her brightest smile. “Well, good evening to you.” Their eyes met and held. “How have you been?”
“Very well. And you?”
“Jenna.” Mrs. Melrose hurried over. “The guests.” Judging from the look on the woman’s face and the way she slipped her arm through Grant’s, Jenna realized Grant must be the hostess’s escort for the evening.
Not Blondie after all, but the Dragon Queen. Ha! No competition there.
“Yes, Mrs. Melrose.” Jenna winked at Grant and took the tray to the next person. When the tray was empty she returned to the kitchen and picked up the prawns and Thai dip.
Keeping her eyes off Grant she circled the room. She couldn’t help overhearing his conversation with Mrs. Melrose. He was telling her about Cindy’s accident and treating Amy.
There was no mention of the night of the auction, nor the dinner date, that had both ended with mind-blowing sex. Perhaps she should remind him later.
She smiled, thinking it was time for a little Grant. Or a lot of Grant. She might have backed off if Catherine Melrose wasn’t such a bitch, but now she figured all was fair in love and war.
When Jenna felt Mrs. Melrose’s eyes on her the temperature in the room felt like it had dropped ten degrees. She straightened her shoulders and headed right over to them. There was nothing she liked better than a challenge. “Try these chili prawns and Thai dip. They’re a little tangy, a little sweet.”
Grant dunked a prawn into the dip and popped it in his mouth. “You’re right. They’re delicious. Try one, Catherine.”
“No, thank you, darling. I’m allergic to shell fish.”
Jenna felt the blood drain from her face. In place of the sun-dried tomatoes her mother had stuffed the mushrooms with crab.
She didn’t like Catherine Melrose, but she didn’t want to poison her. “But, ma’am, I specifically asked if anyone had any allergies.”
“I checked with the guests and no one had any.” She lifted her nose a fraction, and her long neck looked like a swan’s. “Oh, don’t worry. I know what shellfish do to me, and I stay well clear.”
“But…” Jenna put her hand to her throat. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes must have reflected her fear, because Mrs. Melrose snapped, “What? What is it?”
“There was crab in the mushroom stuffing. I’m…I’m sorry.”
Grant stepped toward Mrs. Melrose. “Did you eat any mushrooms, Catherine?”
Catherine’s face went white, her throat turned pink, her ears became red, and she started gasping. Jenna stood staring, not knowing if this was an act. Grant wasn’t taking any chances.
“Jenna, get Josie. Ask her for some antihistamine.” He led the blustering woman toward the kitchen. “We’ll take care of you. Don’t worry, Catherine, everything will be all right.”
A minute later Josie brought something for the common cold. “I found this. Will these do?”
“Yes, thank you, Josie.” He pressed two tablets into Catherine’s hand while Josie handed her water. “Here, take these, and then we’ll get you to the ER.”
Mrs. Melrose’s eyes were wild, frightened. She pointed to her throat. “I…can’t…swallow.”
He guided the medication to her lips. She opened her mouth and he massaged the tablets down her throat. Jenna watched in horror as Mrs. Melrose choked down the pills.
“I am so sorry, Mrs. Melrose.”
The woman was clutching Grant, but her eyes were on Jenna. “You…did this,” she hissed.
“I’ll take care of everything here. Relax, breathe.” And please don’t die, she thought frantically.
Mrs. Melrose got her voice back. “You—” gasp “—will…never work—” gasp “—in this…town…again.”
If this had been a movie Jenna would have laughed at the line. It was so over the top that it was practically surreal. You will never work in this town again. Gasping between words. So rich with drama, she wished she’d written the script. Unfortunately for her, she was in it.
Josie was standing by, wringing her hands. “Oh, Mrs. Melrose. Your face is swelling. What can I do?”
“We’ll take care of her.” Jenna touched Josie’s arm. “I’m sorry, but you and Mother will have to take care of the guests.”
Grant was doing his best to calm poor Mrs. Melrose. She alternated between pointing an accusing finger at Jenna and clutching at her throat.
“My car is probably blocked,” he said. “Where’s yours?”
“In the back. We can go through the garage.”
“Good.” His face was tight with worry, and Jenna felt a nervous flutter in the pit of her stomach as they walked toward the kitchen.
Sharon was near tears. “I’m sorry about the crab, Mrs. Melrose. I found it in the pantry. We did
n’t know.”
Sharon had taken the food out of the oven and set everything on service plates on the counter. One glance told Jenna the dinner had turned out perfectly.
She walked into the living room and spoke to the guests. “Mrs. Melrose needs medical attention right away. Josie and my mother will be happy to serve dinner, if you care to stay.”
Catherine tossed Grant’s arm aside and huffed into the living room. “Her food is poison.”
Jenna couldn’t let herself be sabotaged like that. She had done nothing wrong. “That’s not true. You specifically told me no one had food allergies.”
Mrs. Melrose’s face was ballooning, but she was determined to have the last word. “You are not a caterer. You’re an incompetent fool. And I’ll make sure all my friends never hire you.”
Grant took the puffed-up woman’s arm. “Don’t over-dramatize, Catherine. These ladies were unaware of your shellfish allergy.” As he herded her out of the room, he added “You’ll be fine.”
Sharon spoke to the guests. “I’m so sorry for this inconvenience, but please stay and eat. My daughter’s made a wonderful teriyaki sea bass.” The guests all looked horrified, but that didn’t stop Sharon. “But if you have to go, please be sure to take one of her business cards. I’ve set them on the table.”
“Guiltless Gourmet,” Jenna called out, before following Grant and Mrs. Melrose out the kitchen door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Mrs. Melrose was being seen to, and Grant and Jenna were in the waiting room.
Once they were alone, away from the old biddy’s inquisitive ears, he asked, “Jenna, what the hell were you doing, masquerading as a caterer?”
“Mrs. Melrose tried to get one of Rob’s assistant chefs to cater tonight’s dinner, when her caterer bailed on her.” She paced nervously as she talked. “Anyway, Rob knew I quit my job and could use the work. My entire family thinks I’m this fabulous gourmet chef, so he suggested me.”
“You quit your job? I can’t believe it. What happened?” His look of concern was almost her undoing. She sank into a chair and put her head in her hands. Her shoulders shook.
ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle Page 38
