Upstairs Downstairs Baby (Sweet Tea And Scandal 1)
“Steve’s nephew gave us Linc’s rookie card,” Jenny said, reaching into her purse and pulling out a card encased in plastic. “Do you think he’d sign it for him?”
“I’m sure he would.” Claire glimpsed a bit of sparkle on Jenny’s left hand and gasped. “You two are engaged? When did that happen?”
Jenny was glowing as she glanced up at Steve. “Last night.”
“That’s amazing.” Claire wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed, before turning to Steve. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“We’re pretty excited as well,” Jenny said.
“Have you set a date?”
“We’re thinking next April. Both of us have huge families, so the wedding is going to be big. We’ll need lots of time to plan.”
As much as Claire could’ve stood around and listened to Jenny describe her dream wedding, all three recognized they had a job to do. There would be plenty of time to talk after the meal was served and the guests left.
While Claire walked them through her menu and the wines she’d chosen, she noticed a trace of wistfulness threading through her emotions. Although she and Jasper had dated for several years, she’d never enjoyed the type of partnership Jenny and Steve had. Would she ever feel that with anyone? Should she settle for less? The thought didn’t appeal to her. Yet she loved being a mom and wanted more children. And as much as she’d adapted to raising Honey on her own, she didn’t want to slip up and get pregnant a second time without a solid commitment with the child’s father.
The sound of the door chimes came from the front of the house. Linc’s guests were starting to arrive. She needed to focus on the meal and push all unprofessional thoughts out of her mind. This proved easy once she heard all the laughter and jovial voices in the dining room. Claire was determined to make her first big dinner party for Linc memorable. She’d spent hours on the menu, deciding what flavor combinations might impress a group of people who were used to the finest.
“They’re raving about your lamb,” Jenny crowed as she entered the kitchen with an armload of empty plates. “I’d say Linc will be thanking you for making this dinner party memorable.”
Claire smiled in pleasure as she assembled the final course. “I’m really glad. I was nervous that the food wouldn’t be up to their regular standards.”
“Are you kidding?” Jenny peered over Claire’s shoulder as she plated the decadent chocolate cake with pomegranate sauce. “Your food rivals anything these types could find along King Street.”
Her friend’s praise warmed Claire. “Thanks.”
As Jenny departed with the first of the desserts, Steve returned to the kitchen with another empty wine bottle and a message from Linc.
“He asked if you’d come in and meet everyone.” When she hesitated, Steve handed her one of the desserts and motioned toward the dining room. “Come on. Take your bow.”
Caving to Steve’s encouraging smile and her own need to see Linc’s reaction for herself, Claire carried in the final dessert plate and placed it in front of Linc. She then stepped back to survey the group.
The assembled guests were dressed for a formal dinner party with the men in suits and ties, while the women donned expensive cocktail dresses and jewelry. They sparkled and glittered beneath the dining room’s large chandelier and Claire couldn’t help but wonder which of them would be on Linc’s arm at the next charity event or at the yacht club, helping him cheer on Knox during the upcoming regatta.
“This is Claire Robbins,” Linc said with a smile. His eyes connected with hers, sending a light shiver down her spine. “You can thank her for the delicious dinner.”
Claire had paired each course with a separate wine; most of the guests had the relaxed appearance of the mildly intoxicated. Still, she hoped that her food—and not just the wine—had contributed to the convivial atmosphere.
The redhead seated to Linc’s right took note of Claire’s chef whites. “Oh, you’re a real chef. Where did you learn to cook like that?”
“I attended culinary school in San Francisco,” she explained.
“And now you’re Linc’s housekeeper?” A blond man, his green eyes lazy as he sipped his wine, looked her over as if she was a piece of artwork he was evaluating. “Seems like your skills are wasted on him.”
“Claire is a single mom,” Linc jumped in before she could defend her choices. “Working for me is a lot less stressful than slaving away in a restaurant kitchen.”
“Is that true, Claire?” A man with glasses and dark hair asked. “Is working for Linc as easy as he makes it sound?”
“He is gone over half the year.” Claire masked her discomfort with a polite smile. “And I appreciate being able to spend so much time with my daughter.”
“Honey is so sweet,” Sawyer put in. “She just turned two a few weeks ago.”
“I’ll bet she’s beautiful just like her mother,” the blond man said.
“Actually, she takes after her father’s side of the family,” Claire responded with a polite smile. “Well, I’ll leave you to your desserts. I’m glad you enjoyed the meal.”
Returning to the kitchen, Claire regarded the dirty dishes piled on the countertops and sighed. She liked maintaining a neat, organized work space and this was far from it. Jenny was rinsing plates in the sink and piling them so they could be loaded into the dishwasher. Fortunately, all the china was dishwasher safe, so the only items Claire had to wash by hand were the antique crystal stemware.