Chapter 3
Claudia placed the last of the appetizers into the oven and set the timer. So far, Angela’s dinner seemed to be going well, but it was taking longer than Claudia anticipated. The appetizers were flying off the silver platters. She could hardly keep up with the demand each time the wait staff came into the kitchen for refills. She hoped they’d sit down to dinner soon or she was going to run out of hors d’oeuvres and she was certain Angela wouldn’t be happy about that.
After the last batch came out of the oven, she was free to go home. It had been a long day. She’d put in her regular hours, helped prepare for the party, and then worked in the kitchen most of the evening. All she wanted to do was take her shoes off, jump in a shower, and head to bed. She hoped she didn’t miss the last bus or else she’d have to take a cab and that would eat away at half of the money she had made tonight.
She sat on the bar stool in the center of the kitchen and watched as the timer on the oven counted down. How quickly time went. She was almost three months pregnant and still didn’t have a clue about she was going to do. The only person who knew other than Gavin was her grandmother. Alice didn’t know who the father was and she hadn’t asked for any details. She just offered her support, and Claudia appreciated it. Her grandmother wasn’t intrusive. She had a way of waiting Claudia out and eventually Claudia would fess up. Gavin’s reaction to the pregnancy allowed her to make a strong decision. If he didn’t want any part of this baby then she didn’t need him, and no one would have to know he was her baby’s father. It wasn’t as if he would be screaming it from the rooftops anytime soon.
The timer buzzed on the stove, taking her away from her grim thoughts. She wiped the tears from her face. She hadn’t realized she’d been crying. She was so emotional these days. As tough as she wanted to be when it came to Gavin, it still made her sad her baby would never know his father.
“Are you okay?” The voice from the doorway startled her.
“Oh.” Claudia looked up and saw Brody walking toward her. His crystal blue eyes were the first thing that struck her. She still didn’t understand how she’d never noticed them before. He wore a dark gray suit with no tie. He’d left the first two buttons of his white dress shirt undone. He looked as if he should have been on the cover of a high-end magazine. He oozed sex.
“You’re crying.”
She wiped her eyes and shook her head. “Just got something in my eye.”
“I wanted to stop in and tell you how fantastic your appetizers were. They were delicious.”
“Thank you.” The heat crept up the back of her neck. “It was very thoughtful of you to come in and tell me.” The only other family member to treat the staff with any respect was Jason Callahan. When he died so did any compassion from Angela and Gavin.
“It’s my pleasure.” His voice was soft but commanding. “Your grandmother used to make them for parties all the time.”
“You remember?”
He smiled and she couldn’t help but take in the attractive features of his face. She’d never paid attention to him before. She remembered him being intense when she was growing up. His nose was always in a book. Maybe that was why she’d never noticed his eyes or how thin his lips were. He was rugged and beautiful at the same time. She couldn’t believe she’d never realized just how good-looking he was.
“Your grandmother used to prepare the food for all the family functions when I was growing up. When she retired, Angela took over the hiring of various caterers, but it was never the same. It’s nice you’ve picked up some of your grandmother’s talent. She’s a wonderful woman.”
“I’m flattered you think I’m any comparison to my grandmother. She’s a hard act to follow.”
“I remember when you came to live with her. She used to bring you here and you would sit and color at the kitchen table.”
Claudia was only four when her parents were killed in a car accident. Her grandmother was head of the housekeeping staff and arranged with Mr. Callahan to bring Claudia to work with her until she started school full-time.
“You can remember that?”
“I didn’t live here, but I visited often. I just recall you being here.”
She removed the last batch from the oven thinking how it was never her intention to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps. “I think they’re sitting down for dinner soon, so we probably won’t need these.”
“If you send them out there, I bet they’d be gone in seconds. Angela is extremely pleased.”
She placed the last of the food on the trays, but didn’t respond. She couldn’t imagine Angela being please with anything, especially not something Claudia had done.
“I know it’s hard to believe.” He smiled. “The wicked stepmom isn’t the easiest person to impress.”
She laughed.
“What?”
“I usually go with the Evil Queen.” She couldn’t believe she just told him that, but for the first time in years, she felt at ease in this house. She hadn’t been comfortable around here since her grandmother was in charge.
“That works too.” He nodded. “I like it.”
A server entered the kitchen and took the trays from the counter. “Mr. Callahan, dinner is being served in a few minutes. Mrs. Callahan wanted you to know.”
“Thank you, Allison. I’ll be in soon.” She smiled at him and Claudia noticed Allison lingered a bit longer than she had during her previous trips to pick up the trays. Claudia could see why. Brody was hot, rich, and eligible.
She wiped down the counters and loaded the dishwasher. She wanted to finish up and catch her bus.
“When did you start working here full-time?”
“Last year,” she said. “When my grandmother fell, I needed to put her in a place that could help with the recovery of her hip. She sold her house to help pay some of the costs, and I had to get my own place. The extra hours helped.”
“Yes, she’s in an excellent facility. I hear the apartments are very spacious. Does she like it?”
“Very much.” She gathered up the dish towels and deposited them in the laundry room just off the kitchen. “It was kind of your family to help her with some of the expenses. I know you helped with the waiting list too.”
“She was a dedicated employee for many years. It’s our pleasure. My father made certain she was provided for.”
She glanced at the clock. It was already eight-thirty. She needed to get her belongings and walk down to the bus stop before it was too late.
“Do you have to go?” he asked.
Claudia couldn’t be sure, but she thought he looked disappointed.
“I have to catch my bus.”
“Where would you catch a bus from here?”
“There’s a stop about a half mile up the road. I have to be there before nine, so if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Callahan.”
“You can’t walk at this time of the evening. That road is dark and deserted.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll take you home.” He stood from the stool. “Let me get my keys.”
“No, your dinner…” She didn’t understand why he’d want to leave to take her home. “I can manage.”
“I’m not taking no for an answer.”
She found his take-charge attitude appealing. His polite but determined personality suited him.
“Mr. Callahan, please, I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not a bother. It would be my pleasure to escort you home, and please, call me Brody. I don’t think I’m that much older than you.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.” Claudia felt like an idiot. “I just thought—”
“I was joking,” he said. “Just call me Brody. I’d consider it a favor.”
“Okay, Brody, but you still don’t have to take me home.”
“I’d consider that a favor too.”
“Why?”
“Because if I have to listen to Mayor Berkey’s pitch for me to donate to a new wing to Yale one more time, I think I’ll scream. I need a reason to leave.”
“You don’t want to donate a new wing?”
“Well, I suppose I could, but I like to work on my own timetable.”
“And come up with your own ideas?”
“Exactly.” He nodded. “You’re a smart girl.”
“I didn’t go to Yale.”
“Are you still going to school?”
“I have two more semesters to finish.” She didn’t see a degree in her near future. “I hope to go back eventually.”
“What were you studying?”
“Architecture.” Ever since she was a child, she’d loved structures. Ancient architecture fascinated her. “I like to draw and design things. I’m always sketching something.”
“Really?”
“You seem surprised.”
“No, it’s just…what are you doing working here? We have a whole division over at Callahan Industries dedicated to planning and designing buildings. We’ve made great strides in the last two years.”
“I know.” She always wanted to visit the office and see what they were up to, but once Mr. Callahan died, she had no way to go about it. She wanted to ask Gavin, but the topic never seemed to come up. She frowned when she thought about what they had done together. “I remember when your father was developing that division. He let me sit in on some of the pitch sessions he had in his study and told me when I graduated I’d have a job.”
“But you haven’t graduated.”
She shook her head, feeling inadequate in his presence. She enjoyed talking to him, but now he’d probably think she was a big loser.
“We could rectify that and you could come and intern for us. That would have to beat cleaning up after the Evil Queen.”
“Brody!” Angela called for him.
“Right on cue.” He winked at Claudia, making him appear much younger than she’d always perceived him. He was sweeter than she’d imagined too.
“In here, Angela,” Brody said.
“What are you doing?” Angela said as she entered the room and glanced at Claudia. “The party is in the dining room. We’re about to have dinner.”
“I apologize, but I have to leave before dinner.”
“What?” Claudia heard the irritation in Angela’s icy voice. “We haven’t eaten.”
“I know it’s awfully rude, but Ms. Samson needs a ride home.”
“She does?” Angela looked at Claudia again. “Where is your car?”
“It died a few months ago. I usually take the bus.”
“I told her how ridiculous it was for her to do that at this time of the evening.”
“Call a cab,” Angela said to her and then turned back toward Brody. “Gavin just arrived with his girlfriend and she’s brought her sister. I thought you could sit next to her.”
Gavin has a girlfriend? That was news to Claudia. There were so many things she didn’t know about her sperm donor. She needed to get out of there before she ran into Gavin. She didn’t need him upsetting her.
“They are the daughters of Dr. Monroe, the Hamptons most prestigious plastic surgeon.”
“I’m sure they are lovely and Gavin, no doubt, can handle them both.” Brody smiled at Claudia.
“Don’t be crude.” Angela looked disgusted. “Claudia can manage her own way home. Now, come.”
“Brody,” Claudia said.
Angela turned and glared at Claudia. “When did you get on a first name basis with my son?”
“Stepson,” he corrected. “I asked Claudia to call me by my first name.”
“I was just going to say I can call a cab.” It was too late to make the bus. “I don’t want you to miss dinner. Mrs. Callahan would be disappointed.”
“At least the girl makes sense,” Angela said. “Listen to her.”
“If you’re sure?” he asked. “I don’t mind.”
“It was kind of you to offer, but it’s not necessary.”
Claudia couldn’t help but notice he looked disappointed again. Maybe he really didn’t want to stay for dinner and she was his only way out. But she had enough problems with Angela. She wasn’t about to pull Brody out of the house before dinner. Angela would make her regret it on Monday.
“Angela,” Brody said. “Please make sure Claudia is compensated for her cab ride. She shouldn’t be responsible for the fare.”
“Of course,” Angela said. “I’ll make sure it’s included in your fee for this evening.”
“Thank you.” Claudia gave them a small smile.
“Claudia,” Brody said before exiting the kitchen. “I’d like to finish our conversation about architecture at some point. Are you agreeable to that?”
“Um, yes, I guess so.” She didn’t know what she’d have to discuss with him, but he seemed nice enough and she wouldn’t mind spending time with him. “You know where to find me.”
“I do.” He stared at her for a few moments. “Be careful going home.”
“Goodnight,” she said. “Enjoy your dinner.”
* * * *
The next day Brody was restless and unfocused. His golf game had been a total disaster. The office called him on the green three times in four hours making it impossible for him to concentrate. Wasn’t Saturday supposed to be a day off?
He didn’t sleep well either. After the party, he and Angela broke the news to Gavin that he’d be spending the next few months in Boston. Gavin didn’t like it, but by the time Brody and Angela were done with him, he had no choice but to accept it. Brody couldn’t see any other way to get his brother on track. The business was growing at a rapid pace, and he needed Gavin to step up and take control. Brody needed Gavin’s help. Hopefully Gavin would get it together and be the partner their father intended him to be.
Even though Brody had much on his mind he couldn’t get Claudia out of his head. He wanted to blame his dwindling attention span on Gavin, Angela, his lousy golf game, and his busy schedule, but he knew none of those things were the reason he was on edge. He’d been out of sorts ever since he found Claudia sleeping the other day. There was something about the girl that grabbed hold of him and wouldn’t let go. He wanted to drive her home last night because he needed to know more about her. She’d been on his mind for days. He had to put a stop to it. A few hours of her time was all he needed and then he could go back to business. It wasn’t like him to get so wrapped up in a woman that she consumed every minute of his day. He had to figure out what it was about her that had him so intrigued.
He took out his phone and dialed his assistant.
“Autumn,” he said. “I know it’s Saturday, but I need something.”
“Sure, Brody.”
He could hear her boys screaming in the background. Ever since her husband died a few years before, Brody felt responsible for her and the kids. He hadn’t made time with them in a couple of weeks. He’d have to stop by with gifts after his upcoming business trip.
“Did you have a good time at the game last night?”
“Yes, the seats were right on the third base line. The boys could see everything. Thanks for thinking of us.”
“No problem. I only wish our team won.”
“Me too.” She laughed. “What can I do for you?”
“I need an address of a woman on the housekeeping staff at the main house. Can you contact HR and get it for me?”
“Sure,” she said. “Is everything okay?”
“It will be once I have that address.”
“You’re being awfully cryptic.”
“Can you get that done for me?” Autumn had been with Brody for the past five years. Anything he needed, she was able to accomplish. She was always trying to play matchmaker for him, so he didn’t want to give her any ammunition concerning Claudia.
“I’ll get right on it.”
“Please,” he said. “I’d like to have it within the hour.”