"How about dessert? I have leftover cheesecake that I'll end up eating myself if I don't share it with someone. Please, if you get into trouble with your boss, I’ll tell her it was my fault it took so long."
"Well, maybe just a cup of coffee to warm me up," she said.
Derek hung the cables up and closed the garage door before walking with her into the house.
"Please sit down while I get the coffee started," he said.
"Do you like mocha coffee?" she asked.
"Yes, I do," He stood at the sink letting water fill the coffee pot.
"Why don't you let me fix some mocha coffee then." She got up and went to the pantry and brought out some cocoa. "I don't know why your housekeeper had this back there, but it's what I need for the coffee."
Derek started the coffee and Jenny got two mugs from the cabinet while Derek went to the refrigerator and got the cheesecake out. Jenny brought the mugs to the counter and looked at the cake.
"There's only two pieces left? Is this the last one of the two that I made?"
"Guilty. I ate another piece last night after you left, one this morning for breakfast, and another after lunch."
"You better watch your waistline. That cheesecake is pretty rich."
"Would you like to enjoy the last of it with me?"
"Why not."
"Great. I'll get the plates and forks," he said.
"The coffee is done. I'll fix the mocha."
Both of them went to the counter to prepare their dessert. Jenny loved the idea of both of them in the kitchen together—Derek's kitchen. She stirred the cocoa into the coffee. Could she actually think he might be interested in him? Who am I kidding? He would never fall for someone like me, a poor girl who works part time at a bakery and struggling to make the rent.
"Would you bring the coffee to the table?" he asked.
"Sure." She carried the mugs of coffee and a couple napkins to the table and he brought the plates of cheesecake and forks.
Derek took a bite of the cheesecake. "I cannot get over how good this is. Do you make it at the bakery? I'd love to buy some to give as Christmas gifts to some of my employees."
"We make cheesecakes, but not the Toffee one. That's my own recipe." She took a bite and then a sip of coffee.
"What do you plan on doing after you graduate from culinary school?" he asked.
"I hope to get a job as a chef at some big hotel or maybe one of the casinos near here. If not, then I may have to move somewhere else for a job." She took another bit of cake.
"Have you ever thought of starting your own business, either catering or maybe your own restaurant?"
Jenny laughed out loud. "I wish. I barely have enough money to pay my tuition. I certainly wouldn't have enough to start my own business."
He took a bite of his cheesecake. "How close are you to finishing your schooling?"
"I should graduate next May."
"Well, if you need a reference for a job, please use me. I was very pleased with your skills at my party, as were many of my guests." He took a sip of coffee. "This mocha coffee is very good, just the right flavor."
"Thank you," she said, looking at her watch. "I really should be going. I have a few things to do before the bakery closes today."
"Of course. I hope you won't be in any trouble for taking the time to visit with me."
Jenny got up and took her plate and cup to the sink and washed them before leaving. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Becky may be my boss, but she's also one of my best friends." She finished washing the dishes and dried her hands. "Thank you for the dessert."
"You're very welcome. I enjoyed your company and the pleasant conversation."
Derek walked with her to the van and opened the door for her to get in.
"I guess I'll see you at your office Monday."
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it."
Toffee Cheesecake
1 3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 c. melted butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 8-oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 t. vanilla
6 eggs
3 Heath Candy Bars
1 c. sour cream
1 c. powdered sugar
Crust: Mix together graham cracker crumbs, butter and 1/4 c. sugar. Press into a 9-inch springform pan and set aside.
Filling: With an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, 1 1/4 c. sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix well and pour over crust. Top with Heath Bars that have been chopped into pieces. Back at 350°f. for 60-70 minutes. Served cooled.
Chapter Four
After her classes were finished Monday morning, Jenny drove over to the James Corporation offices to meet with Derek. She walked into his secretary's office and right into Ellen, nearly knocking her down.
"Good afternoon, Miss Marshall."
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Dunlop. I'm supposed to meet with Derek this afternoon," she said.
Ellen went back to her desk and sat down. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but he told me to stop by after my classes were over. I didn't know I needed an appointment."
"Mr. James is a very busy man. He can't just make time for trivial visits from his cook."
"Chef, and he's the one who asked me to come in. He wanted to discuss me doing another dinner party for him. Now, if you think he's too busy for that, then I'll be on my way and I'll make sure and tell him when he calls that you thought it was too trivial and sent me away." That felt good, Jenny thought.
Just as Ellen was about to respond to that, Derek walked out of his office.
"Jenny, you're here. Perfect timing, I was wondering where you were. Please come in."
Jenny got up and followed Derek into his office, smiling at Ellen as she passed.
"Please sit down. Did your brother get your car running?"
She sat in the chair in front of Derek's desk. "Yes, he did. I had to get a new battery."
"That's not bad. It could have been worse."
"Yes, I suppose it could."
"Well, let's get down to business. I'm planning a Christmas party for the third Saturday in December, do you think you'll be available for that?"
Jenny opened her calendar book even though she knew she was available. What else would she be doing? "That date is good for me. What do you have in mind?"
"Have you ever baked a goose?" he asked.
"Ah, a Christmas goose for dinner. A very good choice," she said, making a note in her book.
"But, have you ever made one?" he asked again.
"No, I haven't, but I'm sure I can handle it. How many people are you expecting?"
"This is a smaller affair, just ten family and friends."
An even number, she thought. He's bringing a date, Colleen Michaels, no doubt.
"I assume you want all the traditional Christmas food, since you're wanting to serve goose?" she asked.
"Yes. Can you come up with a menu for me to look over?"
"I can have something to you by the end of the week. Would you like for me to bring it by?"
"Actually, could you fax it to me?"
She didn't expect that answer. "I don't have a fax machine, but I suppose I could use the bakery's, if Becky doesn't mind."
"Tell Becky that I will buy all of my desserts from the bakery, if she lets you use her fax machine."
Wow, he's buying the desserts instead of having me make them. I wonder why.
"Okay, I'll have it to you by the end of the week."
Derek stood up signaling that their meeting was over. Jenny stood too, but hesitated.
"Is there something else?" he asked.
She handed him a sheet of paper. "You told me to bring my invoice for last week's party."
"Oh yes, I'm sorry. Thank you. I'll take this over to Accounting myself today. You should have a check by the end of the week."
"Here is your credit card and the key to your house. I'm sorry I didn't give it to you Saturday." She held out the items to him
.
"Thank you, and thank you for agreeing to do my Christmas dinner party." He took the card and key and slipped them into his pocket.
She turned and walked out of the office, followed by Derek.
"Thank you, Mr. James," she said before going out the door.
Jenny headed straight to work after leaving the James Corporation. Becky was busy with a customer when Jenny came in, so she grabbed her apron and headed to the kitchen to start making pies.
Once Becky finished with the customer, she came to the kitchen too. "How was class today?"
"Fine."
"What's wrong?"
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"Because when I ask how classes went, you always tell me everything you did for the day. Today, I get ‘fine’."
"I thought men were supposed to be predictable. Just when I think I have Derek figured out, he does an about-face," Jenny said, dumping a bowl full of eggs into a large mixer and turning it on.
“Oh, Derek James. Well, men usually are predictable, but sometimes they don't know they're supposed to be," Becky said, over the noise of the mixer. "What happened?"
Jenny turned the appliance off. "Remember I told you that Andy and I went to get my car at Derek's Saturday afternoon?"
"Yes, and you said you had coffee with him and it went very well."
"Exactly. He told me to stop by today and we would go over the details for the Christmas party he wants me to cook for him, and I did that. But, things were different today. He was more business-like, not at all comfortable or loose like Saturday."
"It could be he found someone else."
"What?"
Becky walked to the office and got the newspaper and brought it back. "I wasn't going to let you see this, but now I think you should." She handed Jenny the paper.
On the front of the Style section was a picture of Derek with Colleen Michaels again. "James Corporation owner, Derek James was seen coming out of Englert's Restaurant with Cincinnati Debutant, Colleen Michaels on Saturday night." She put the newspaper on the counter, "Well, that's it. He's in love with her and she's rich, so she fits right in." She started the mixer up again and poured in a cup of spices.
Becky hit the off switch. "Don't give up. If you're interested in this man, fight for him. You said he hired you to cook for his Christmas party and didn't you say something about a New Year's Eve party too?"
"Yes."
"Well, use those to your advantage. Remember the saying, A way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that's true, you should have every man you know falling at your feet."
"Maybe you're right." Just then, Jenny's cell phone rang in her pocket. "Hello...This is she... This Saturday night? I suppose I could, but the fee is five-hundred dollars and that includes the cost of the groceries...Is that where you are calling from now?...Okay, I'll get back with you in about three hours. Thank you." She closed her phone and put it back in her pocket.
"Five-hundred dollars for some Saturday night work? Is there something you're not telling me?" Becky teased.
"It's a cooking job." She hesitated. "For Colleen Michaels."
"You're kidding. Why on earth would you do a job for her?"
"Because I need the money. I just got the bill for my last payment for this semester's tuition and I don't have the money to pay it. She didn't even hesitate when I quoted the price to her. You know, Derek will probably be there and I remember Colleen telling me that she doesn't cook. Maybe I can use that to my advantage."
"Now that's the way to think."
The buzzer at the back door sounded signaling a delivery was being made. Ding-a-ling. A customer came in the front door at the same time.
“I'll get the delivery and you take care of the customer," Becky said, walking past Jenny and to the rear door.
Jenny went to the front and found someone she didn't expect. "Hello, can I help you?"
"Yeah, Someone told me that you sell chocolate candy here." On the other side of the counter stood Derek's best friend, Wesley Forbes. Jenny recognized him from the dinner party.
"Yes, yes we do. They're right down here." She moved down to the end of the glass display case. "What kind of chocolate are you looking for?"
"It doesn't really matter. Any kind will do."
"Is this a gift for someone? If so, it really does matter."
"As a matter of fact, it is for a gift. It's for a lady I'm dating. How did you know that?"
"I don't know many men that buy chocolate for themselves. Now, let's see if we can figure out what kind she would like. Does she like coconut? We have some Coconut Drops right here." Jenny pointed to the chocolates in the front of the case.
"I'm not sure. What are those behind them?"
"Those are Chocolate Liqueurs," she said, taking one out with a set of tongs and handing to Wes. "Would you like to try one?"
He took the candy and popped it into this mouth. "What flavor is this?"
"Irish Crème. Do you like it?"
"Yeah, I do. I'll take dozen of them."
"Would you like all the same flavor or an assortment? We have six flavors."
"An assortment"
"I can put them in a gift box, if you like."
"Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.”
Jenny pulled a blue gift box out from under the counter filled it. "Come down to the cash register and I'll total your order."
"Here you go," he said, laying a twenty-dollar bill on the counter.
Jenny put the gift box into a bag and handed him his change. "Thank you, Mr. Forbes."
He took the bag and gave her a puzzled look. "Do we know each other?"
"I'm sorry. No, you don't know me, but I saw you at Derek James' dinner party last week."
"Oh, you were there. That was a great party. I'm sorry I don't remember meeting you. Who were you there with?"
"I wasn't actually there with anyone. I was the chef," she said, embarrassed.
"Really? Your food was marvelous. What's your name?"
"Jenny Marshall, and thank you."
"Next time I see you, I'll remember your name," he said, turning to leave.
"Can I ask you a question?"
He stopped and turned back to her. "Sure."
“In the last four days, Mr. James has been in the newspaper twice with Colleen Michaels, are they dating?"
"Why do you want to know that?" he asked.
"I was just curious since they've been the paper so much."
"I'm not sure what their relationship is and I don't think I would tell you, if I knew. You might be a snoop for the gossip section of the paper."
Jenny laughed. "I promise I'm not. Anyway, thank you for your purchase. I hope your special lady enjoys her chocolates."
Wes walked out of the store.
* * * *
Derek sat with his back to his desk, glasses on, reading through a stack of papers. The door popped open and Wes walked in.
"Ready to go?" Wes asked.
"I thought we were meeting at the bar," Derek said, swiveling his chair around.
"We were, but I decided to stop by here first instead." He sat down on the couch on the far side of the office. "Ellen wasn't at her desk. You should dock her pay for that." He laughed.
"You're on a roll today, aren't you?" Derek put his reports down.
"I met someone today that knew you."
"Oh yeah, who was that?"
"She said she was the cook at your dinner last week," Wes said, popping a handful of candy from the dish on the desk into his mouth.
"Jenny?"
"Yeah, that was her name. You dating her, or something?"
He hesitated before answering. "No. Why?"
"She asked about you today?"
"Where did you see Jenny and what did she ask?" Derek asked.
"I stopped by that bakery in town to get some something for Cynthia and she was working there. She asked if you were dating Colleen."
"What!" Derek stood up and walked to
the window. "Why would she ask that?"
"She said something about seeing those pictures of you and Colleen in the newspaper."
Derek didn't know what to say. Why would Jenny care about Colleen and I?
"Derek."
What do I do now?
"Derek!"
"What?" He turned to Wes.
"Let's go. I need a drink," Wes said, getting up.
"I, ah, I think I'm going to have to cancel on drinks tonight." He walked back to his desk, opened a drawer and pulled his car keys out.
"Cancel? Oh come on. We planned this a week ago. No women, just a guys night out," Wes pleaded.
"Maybe tomorrow night. I need to go," he said, grabbing his coat. He marched out the door.
Fifteen minutes later, Derek walked into his house, not really remembering the drive home. All he could think about was why Jenny had asked about him and Colleen. At first, he worried that maybe she was some crazy person who had a crush on him. But, if that were the case she would probably be stalking him.
This was crazy. She's a normal person who was just interested in town gossip, he thought. I can't believe I was thinking like this. Maybe she's interested in me. I certainly could see us together. She's smart, cute, and sexy. He was remembering those tight jeans she had worn to the office earlier.
Derek went to his living room and over to the bar where he poured himself a bourbon. He took a seat on the couch where he sat nursing his drink for over an hour.
Finally, he sat the empty glass down and pulled a business card out of his pocket. He took his cell phone out and dialed the number.
"Hello."
"Hi, I hope I'm not disturbing you. This is Derek James."
"No, you're not bothering me," Jenny answered. "I was just working on a menu for a dinner I am cooking this Saturday."
"It's good to hear you're getting some jobs, assuming this is a job and not just a dinner you’re preparing at home." How stupid did that sound?
"No, it's a paying job," she said. "Were you calling about your Christmas party?"
"Christmas party? No, no, I was calling just to talk?"
"Oh?"
A Kitchen Affair Page 5
