"Derek, you've been celibate for too long."
"If I get that desperate, I'll borrow your book, okay?"
"Deal. Well, my friend, I guess I'll see you tonight then."
"I'm looking forward to it. See you tonight." Derek hung up the phone.
Looking at his watch that showed eleven fifty-five, he decided to go home. He picked up the phone and pushed a button. "Ellen, I need to get home. Is there anything else for me?"
"No. I don't expect anything else to come in today."
"In that case, I am going to head home and make sure everything is running smoothly for my dinner party tonight."
The door to his office opened and Ellen walked in. "Are you sure you don't want to call Colleen Michaels to be your date tonight?"
"Who's Colleen Michaels?" he asked, as he put some files in his briefcase.
"She's the new Distribution Manager I was telling you about earlier."
"Why does everyone want me to have a date tonight?" he said in disgust.
"Who else wants you to have a date?"
"Wes asked me who I was bringing not five minutes ago."
"Your family and friends want you to be happy. That's all."
"I am happy. I like things just the way they are. When I am ready settle down, I will decide."
"I'm sorry, Derek. I didn't intend to make you angry," she said.
"I'm not angry. But, you know me, I don't like people telling me how to live my life."
"I understand." She turned to leave.
"Since I don't have a date for this evening, I will need someone to act as my hostess. Would you be interested, sis?"
Ellen stopped and turned back toward him. A smile appeared upon her face. "You know I am. What do you need me to do?"
Just be there to help me greet the guests. I hired someone to cook and serve. All I need from you is your smiling face and sparkling personality."
Ellen laughed. "Sparkling personality? You're laying it on a little thick, aren't you? What time do I need to be there?" she asked.
"Everyone is due to arrive at seven. Could you be there by six?"
"John and I will be there at six sharp," she said.
"Thanks. I'm going ahead home in case the chef needs anything." He grabbed his briefcase to leave.
"The chef? Oh, that girl who was in here this week. She's a chef? What service did you use to find her?"
"I didn't use a service. I found her at the little bakery in town where Louise always got her pies," he said, starting toward the door.
"I didn't know that bakery catered now."
He stopped. "They don't. She works there." He took a few steps toward the door.
"She works at the bakery and she cooks. Where has she worked as a chef?" Ellen asked.
Derek let out a deep breath. "She hasn't worked anywhere as a chef. She's a culinary student. Now, I really need to get home."
"You're trusting an amateur with an important dinner party for our executives? Are you crazy?"
He had almost made it to the door. Disgusted, he turned back one more time. "She's an excellent cook and she'll do fine. I'll see you tonight at six." He walked out the door closing it hard as he did.
When he got home and pulled into the garage behind the house, he saw Jenny's car parked by the kitchen door. Off to the side, were three other cars. No doubt, her fellow culinary students she hired to help.
He entered the kitchen and found a flurry of activity. Different aromas floated through the air. Everything smelled wonderful. He spotted Jenny walking into the kitchen carrying a stack of white plates.
"Could someone help me with these," she called from across the room.
Derek was closer and could see that she wasn't going to be able to hold those plates much longer. He rushed over to help. "Let me take those for you."
"Thank you. I thought I was going to drop them. What are you doing here?"
He sat the plates on the counter. "I thought I would come home early in case anything came up I needed to be here for and it looks like I came in just in time."
She laughed. "So far, everything is under control."
"Jenny, I can't find the sage for the dressing," a young man said.
"It's in that brown bag over there on the counter by the window."
"Thanks," he hurried off to check the bag.
"It sure looks busy in here," Derek said.
"We have a lot to do."
"I had better leave you to your work then. If you need anything, I'll be in my den."
"Okay. I'm sure everything will go smoothly. I'm getting ready to start on the cheesecakes."
"My mouth is watering for some already." He turned to leave, but took one last look at Jenny before he left the room. He saw her as a take-charge person. The way she organized the kitchen duties impressed him. She was the kind of woman he would like to get to know better.
Derek had been in his den for about twenty minutes when he heard a knock at the door. "Excuse me, Mr. James. I mean, Derek." Jenny walked in carrying a plate in one hand and a cup on a saucer in the other. "I thought you might like a ham sandwich and a cup of coffee for lunch."
"Yes, I am a little hungry. Thank you."
She sat it down on the table next to him and started to leave. "I'll come back for the plate later."
"Wait. Do you have to leave right away?"
"Well, I should get back to the kitchen."
"Please, just for a few minutes."
Jenny sat down on the couch next to him.
"We really didn't get much of a chance to talk the other night except about the menu and I'd like to know a little more about you."
"Me? I'm such a dull person. There's really nothing interesting about me or my life at all."
"Nonsense. Everyone has a story. Tell me yours."
"Well, you know I'm a culinary student and that I work at the bakery. That's about all there is to my life. There's not much time for anything else."
"Do you live here in River Bend?"
"Yes, born and raised here."
"What does your husband do for a living?" There, he finally figured out how to find out if she was married.
Jenny laughed at that question. "I'm not married."
Asked and answered. Excellent. "That's too bad. With your cooking skills, you must have men falling at your feet."
"Jenny!" Someone was calling for her from the kitchen.
"I better go." She got up and started for the door.
"It was nice talking with you."
She turned back and smiled. "You too."
He took a drink of the coffee she had brought. "Jenny."
"Yes."
"Where did you get this coffee?" he asked.
"It's a special blend that I put together. Is something wrong with it?"
"No, not at all. It's tastes wonderful."
"Thank you.'
"Do you have enough to make a pot or two tonight for my guests?"
"Yes. I think so."
"I'd really like that."
"If I don't, I'll have one of my friends run to my house and get a jar that I have already made."
"Thank you." He watched her leave the room and smiled.
Cinnamon Mocha Coffee
4 cups strong brewed Coffee
1 - 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 - 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Combine coffee, sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened chocolate and cinnamon in large saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring until coffee is hot. Pour into mugs and sweeten, if desired. Serve immediately.
Chapter Three
Ellen and her husband arrived precisely at six o'clock. Without knocking, she opened the door and walked in, nearly knocking Jenny, who was doing some last minute dusting, down. She recognized Ellen from Derek's office. "Oh, you're Derek's secretary. Welcome."
"I'm also Mr. James’ sister, Ellen Dunlop. This is my husband, John."
"Hello," he
said.
Jenny nodded to him thinking that he had a kind smile, but wasn't sure what to think about Derek's sister. "How do you do. Is there something I can get for you?"
"Is there someone here to take our coats?" Ellen asked, looking around the entry hall.
"I'll be glad to take them," Jenny said.
"I thought you were the chef. You certainly aren't going to take the coats and cook, are you?" Ellen snapped.
Jenny felt her checks getting warm. "No, ma'am. I am here now and will be glad to take your wraps. When the guests start to arrive, Charlie, I mean, Charles will take their coats."
Ellen handed her coat to Jenny, as did her husband, who gave an apologetic smile.
"If you would like to take a seat in the living room, I'll send someone in to get you some refreshments," Jenny said, hanging up the coats. Ellen and her husband went into the living room and Jenny rushed to the kitchen.
"Charlie, when the guests start arriving, you answer the door and hang their coats in the closet for them. Oh, and if anyone asks your name, you're Charles for tonight."
"Jen, you know I hate that name."
"I know and I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're going to be serving some snooty people tonight and Charles fits the occasion better than Charlie." She turned to another server. "Pete, Mr. James' sister and her husband are in the living room. Go see what they want to drink," she ordered.
"Will do. Am I to be Peter, if asked?"
"Yes, you are. Now, go."
Just then, the timer on the oven went off, signaling the cheesecakes were done. She took them out of the oven and placed them on a rack to cool. "They look perfect," she said to herself.
"Miss Marshall, is it?"
The hairs on the back of Jenny's neck stood on end at the sound of Ellen's voice. She turned around. "Yes, Jenny Marshall. What can I do for you, Mrs. Dunlop?"
"My brother has asked me to act as hostess tonight and I need for you to add another setting at the dining table."
Yes, ma'am," she replied, but Ellen had already headed to the dining room.
"Can you print another name card for a guest?"
"Yes, I can. What name should I put on it?"
Ellen circled the table that was already set for dinner. "Colleen Michaels, and seat her next to my brother."
Jenny hesitated in shock. "Yes, of course. I'll do that right now." A date! He has a date tonight after all, she thought, as she walked back to the kitchen. Why do I care if he has a date? I was stupid to think that maybe something could happen between us. She went to her laptop computer and typed in the name. In a few seconds, a new card came out of her travel printer.
She cut and folded the card so it would stand on its own. "Lisa, could you bring another place setting into the dinning room. There'll be another guest coming."
Lisa followed Jenny into the dining room with the plates, silverware, and glasses. "Where should I set it?"
"Mrs. Dunlop wants Colleen Michaels down next to Derek. He will be sitting at the head of the table."
The two ladies moved the settings to accommodate another person at the table and Jenny moved a chair into place.
"The table looks great," Derek said from behind her.
"Thank you," Jenny answered. "Your sister and her husband arrived a little bit ago and are probably in the living room."
Derek closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Thank you."
The sound of the doorbell kept Jenny from asking about his sister. "That must be your guests starting to arrive. I'll have Char...Charles get the door."
"Thank you," Derek said, leaving the room.
Lisa and Denise had kept Jenny abreast of how many guests had arrived. "Number seventeen and eighteen just got here," Denise said.
It was seven-fifteen and from what she could tell, Colleen Michaels was fashionably late. Jenny took one last look at the dining room to make sure everything was in place. She had just opened the door a few inches when she heard Derek and Ellen's voices.
"The room is lovely, Derek," Ellen said.
"Why are there twenty places at the table? I told Jenny there would be nineteen for dinner."
"I had her add a place for another guest. I hope you don't mind, but I asked Colleen Michaels to come. After all, she is the head of the Distribution Department now and this dinner party is for our executives."
"Ellen, I told you I didn't need a date for tonight."
"Oh, lighten up, Derek. Maybe if you get laid, you'll act more like a normal man," Ellen said.
"I keep telling him that." A handsome man said walking into the room with his date.
"Wesley, I don't believe I've been introduced to your date," Ellen said.
Jenny opened the door a little wider to get a glimpse of the group.
"Cynthia Snow, this is Ellen Dunlop and this is her brother and host of this shindig, Derek James. This is Cynthia."
"Hello, Miss Snow," Ellen said. "I do enjoy watching your news each evening."
"Thank you," she said, and then looked at Derek. "Wes has told me so much about you. I'm glad to finally meet you." Derek shook her hand.
"Hello. Am I interrupting?" Jenny saw a tall, slender, beautiful woman enter from the opposite side of the room.
"Colleen, please come in." Ellen walked over to greet her and led her to the rest of the group. "Everyone, this is Colleen Michaels. She just started at the James Corporation this week as our new Distribution Manager. This is Wesley Forbes, his date Cynthia Snow, and I'm sure you know my brother."
"Hello everyone." She turned to Derek. "Mr. James, it's a pleasure to meet you. I want to thank you for the opportunity to work at the James Corporation."
"Thank you," he said. "But please, all of my executives call me Derek."
All of a sudden, someone bumped into Jenny, sending her tripping into the room. Keeping her balance, she straightened up. "Dinner is ready to be served now." Oh my gosh, I must look like an idiot.
"Thank you, Jenny. I'll gather everyone. If you will excuse me," he said to the others and then left he room.
If looks could kill, the stare from Ellen toward Jenny would be an execution. "Don't you think you should be in the kitchen?" Ellen suggested.
"Yes, ma'am." Jenny hurried into the kitchen. "Who bumped me into the dining room?"
"I'm sorry. It was me," Lisa said.
She could see the sorrow in Lisa's eyes. "It's okay. I shouldn't have been listening at the door anyway." She turned to the rest of the people in the kitchen. "The guests are being seated in the dining room. Please get the salads and start serving, while I get the main course ready."
A short time later, her crew had served the salad and main course and now the guests waited for the dessert.
"Twelve of the guests want the pumpkin pie and seven want your Toffee Cheesecake," Denise said, coming back into the kitchen.
Jenny finished putting slices of pie and cheesecake on the dessert plates that she had already started. "Wait, that's only nineteen. Who doesn't want dessert?" she asked.
"That would be Mrs. Freeze," Lisa said.
"Mrs. Freeze?"
"The boss's sister," Charlie explained.
Jenny had to laugh. The tag fit Ellen perfectly. "Okay, the desserts are ready." Lisa and Denise came over to get the trays, but Jenny had a request. "Let me take one of the trays out. I want to see what the guests say about the dinner. Charlie, can you serve the coffee?"
Through the door they walked and over to the table where the guests waited for their dessert. "Pumpkin pie or cheesecake?" she asked the first guest and so on down one side of the table until she reached Colleen Michaels.
"Cheesecake or pie?"
"Pie, please," Colleen said. "There's a Bernard Exhibit opening at the Art Museum in Cincinnati next week. I think you would really like it. Her work is similar to the painting that you have hanging over your fireplace."
"I love Bernard's paintings. I would really enjoy seeing the exhibit," Derek said.
&nb
sp; "Is it against the rules to date the boss at the James Corporation?"
"I think that would be up to the boss," Derek said, smiling at Colleen.
"In that case, I have two tickets to the opening and I would love for you to go with me," she suggested.
Before Derek could answer, Jenny interrupted. "Pie or cheesecake, Mr. James?"
Derek's gaze slowly moved from Colleen to Jenny. "I'll have the cheesecake. I've been thinking about that dessert all day."
Jenny placed the last plate from her tray in front of Derek. "Here you go. Will you need anything else?"
"This looks wonderful. No, I think that will be all. Thank you."
Jenny went back to the kitchen before she could hear if Derek accepted her offer of going to the Opening at the Art Museum. Once the guests started leaving, Jenny sent her workers home promising them she would get their pay to them as soon as she got her money.
With the dining room empty, she started clearing the dishes from the table. The open doorway into the hall worked like a tunnel and she could hear Derek and Ellen talking.
"So, how did you like Colleen?" Ellen asked.
"I think she will do a wonderful job heading up the Distribution Department."
"You know that's not what I meant. How did you like her?"
"She was very nice, a lovely lady."
"Derek!"
"Okay. Yes, I liked her and I am going to the art exhibit opening with her next week in Cincinnati."
"I knew it. I knew you two would hit it off," Ellen said.
"Hold on there, sis. Don't start making any wedding plans. It's one date, nothing more."
"Ellen, we better get going," her husband, John said. "The sitter will be wondering where we are."
"Of course. Derek, the party was a success and your little chef back there wasn't such a bad cook after all."
Jenny heard the front door open and then close. She moved the cart farther down the table to the next set of dishes when Derek walked in.
"You should have had your staff do that for you," he said.
"I sent them home. I don't mind doing it."
"Why don't you let me help you," he said, taking off his jacket and rolling his sleeves up.
A Kitchen Affair Page 3
