Emma cleared her throat. “From your perspective, I’d say she’s got the goodies,” she said with a laugh.
He chuckled. “I’d say you were right.”
* * *
A sexy man had been watching Catherine for the last fifteen minutes. He had dark hair, model-like looks, and a penetrating stare that made her muscles weak and her heart flutter. She couldn’t imagine what sparked his interest when there were dozens of other women at the party, female guests dressed in silky dresses and flowing chiffon skirts, beautiful women with perfectly manicured nails and hair straight from the beauty salon.
Catherine’s sneakers—comfortable shoes for a day of working on her feet—squeaked as she crossed the gleaming marble floors. She cringed and kept going. Years had passed since she had felt this… inadequate, she thought, coming up with the right word. She glanced down at her working outfit, the same one she wore to any party her company catered. Instead of feeling comfortable in her own skin, she felt out of place and transported back in time to when she and her sister had been the Luck girls from the wrong side of the tracks.
Catherine shook her head and raised her chin a notch. There was no sense denying it. The rich were different. But Catherine had worked too hard and come too far to let insecurities hit her now. She’d survive this party. As long as the threatening rain held off… and her chef didn’t bail.
She and her company, Pot Luck, couldn’t afford the disaster. With Kayla, her business partner and sister, pregnant and under doctor’s orders to stay in bed, Catherine was handling more than usual. Between doing the food prep work for today, substituting as bartender, overseeing along with her manager, and planning upcoming bookings, Catherine was overworked and stressed. As soon as the temperature warmed, people clamored to organize outdoor events, and Pot Luck was booked solid.
She couldn’t complain about being busy, but she did long for future days when all they would have to cater were full-scale parties like this one. But for now, Pot Luck accommodated any request—from complete party packages, to hors d’oeuvres only, to simple decorations and party favors. Someday, once their reputation was more firmly established and the bank account posted a hefty surplus, they could be more discriminating—and Catherine could make more use of her culinary background as well. After this event, someday could arrive faster than she’d ever imagined.
The Montgomery party had been a coup and Catherine had no problem with rearranging her schedule to accommodate Emma Montgomery. Success here would mean referrals to the wealthiest people and most prestigious companies in Hampshire. She wouldn’t allow anything to ruin this chance, especially not a temperamental chef who was her oldest friend.
She entered the state-of-the-art kitchen where stainless steel and chrome gleamed from every corner of the room. “Nick, you’re a hit!” Catherine made her way around a long center island and placed a kiss on his clean-shaven cheek.
“The duck isn’t cold.” He whacked at a large chunk of meat with a knife.
“I never said it was. The guests love the hors d’oeuvres. They’re going to spread your name from here to downtown Boston.”
Another loud whack sounded against the cutting board. “I’m already famous in Boston. I don’t need to take abuse because your servers can’t get in here fast enough to bring out hot food.” Beneath his anger and frustration, she recognized the concern and warning. Someone had been complaining about the temperature of the food. She cringed. She’d take care of her lazy servers, but first, she had to calm the chef.
Catherine glanced at his exaggerated pout. She’d grown up with Nick. She knew when to worry and when a word or two would smooth things over. She snuck a peek inside the large oven and inhaled an enticing aroma. “This smells heavenly. I don’t know another chef who can create the way you do.” She returned to his side. “The food is almost as good-looking as you are.”
The knife slammed into the wooden board again and he glanced up, dark eyes narrowed. “Don’t try to flatter me, Cat. It won’t work.” His gaze settled on her for the first time, and he touched her cheek with one hand. “You’re red.”
“The day is so overcast I forgot the sunscreen.” Catherine shrugged. “Besides, we can’t all bronze like you.”
“You’re fair. You ought to be more careful.”
She rolled her eyes. For as far back as she could remember, Nic
k had looked out for her. He had classic Mediterranean looks and most women would have snatched him up at the slightest chance. Not Catherine. Lovers came and went; best friends were for life. “If you’re so worried about me, stop yelling at my people.”
“They’re incompetent.”
“I’ll talk to them. I promise.”
“It’s a start. What’s going on out there? Is Mr. Right mingling among the guests?”
“Back off, Nick. Just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean everyone else wants the same thing.” Catherine had no desire to have this conversation with Nick yet again. “Look, the bartender never showed. I’m already pulling double duty and I can’t afford to have the servers leave in tears. Now, will you lay off my staff?”
He raised an eyebrow. “If you promise to use this party as an opportunity. There are men out there, Cat. All types of men. Tall and thin, fat and balding, rich and richer. Take your pick.”
A sexy stranger with dark hair and compelling eyes filled her mind. She pushed the thought aside. Before she’d entered this immense house filled with elegant women, she’d believed herself over the painful memories associated with her lower-class upbringing. Just working this party, being surrounded by delicate perfection, brought the painful memories back full-force.
Sexual attraction from across a crowded room meant nothing when she and the stranger were obviously worlds apart. “You know the guests here are way out of my league,” she told her friend.
“Only because you think so, not because it’s true. You spend too much time alone.”
Catherine shrugged. “At least the company’s good.”
Nick groaned.
“Is it my fault every guy I’ve dated isn’t the one?” Catherine had yet to meet a man worth risking her heart for. Despite what Nick thought, she certainly wouldn’t find him here.