Kiss The Cook

'Pampered Palate, Gourmet to Go.'

'Is Miss Gibson there, please?' asked a vaguely familiar male voice.

'Speaking. Who's calling?'

'This is Vince Peters from Guardian Savings and Loan. I'm glad I caught you before you left for the evening.'

The loan officer. The one who'd turned down her loan. Not exactly her favorite guy, but Melanie suppressed an urge to hang up on him.

'What can I do for you, Mr. Peters?'

'I'm calling with good news, Miss Gibson. In light of the additional information provided to me by Waxman, Barnes, Wiffle, and Hodge, and after carefully reevaluating your application, we've decided to approve your loan.'

Melanie felt her jaw drop open and her eyes pop wide. They probably made a boing sound.

'I beg your pardon? I thought the additional information caused you to turn down the loan.'

Mr. Peters chuckled. 'I mean the additional additional information. The loan has been approved.'

Melanie was glad she was sitting. Otherwise she would have fallen down with an unladylike splat.

'What information is that?' she asked in a weak voice.

'Why, the information about the dozens of private catering jobs you have scheduled over the next twelve months. I must say, Miss Gibson, when Mr. Waxman faxed me these job orders, it changed the entire complexion of your loan application. Obviously, the Pampered Palate is doing very well and growing fast in the private catering arena. Under those circumstances, Guardian Savings and Loan is happy to assist you. If you'll stop by the bank tomorrow morning, we'll sign the necessary papers. Is that satisfactory?'

Melanie jarred herself out of her stupor. 'Yes, Mr. Peters. That's fine.'

'Excellent. See you tomorrow. Good-bye.'

'’Bye.' Melanie slowly replaced the receiver.

Apparently she looked as dazed as she felt because Nana said, 'By the look on your face, I'm guessing that was Ed McMahon telling you you're a Publisher's Clearing House winner.'

Melanie blew out a long, slow, calming breath. 'Even better. That was Mr. Peters from the bank. My loan was approved.'

Nana's eyes bugged out. 'I thought you said-'

'I did. But he changed his mind.' She jumped up and twirled around. 'He changed his mind!'

Nana scratched her head and frowned. 'That's great, honey. But did he say why?'

Melanie stopped spinning. 'He said something about the dozens of catering jobs we have scheduled for the next twelve months.'

'What catering jobs?'

Melanie came back to earth with a thump. Good grief, if this was some kind of mistake and Mr. Peters was going to take away the loan, she was going to scream.

'I don't know,' Melanie said, 'but I'm calling Glenn Waxman. He's the one who told the bank about them.'

She dialed Glenn's number, hoping he'd be working late so she wouldn't have to wait until morning for the answers she wanted.

'Glenn Waxman,' came a masculine voice.

'Glenn, Melanie Gibson here. I just heard from Mr. Peters at the bank. He said my loan was approved.'

'Hey! Congratulations. I'm happy for you.'

'He said he changed his mind based on additional information you gave him. Something about future catering jobs?'

'Well, yes. I simply told him about them and faxed him copies of the work orders.'

As much as she wanted to remain silent, take her loan, and slink away, Melanie couldn't. Even if it meant losing the loan, she couldn't accept it under false pretenses.

'Glenn, I have to be honest with you. I have no idea what you're talking about. What catering jobs?'

She heard him shuffling papers around. 'Let me see,' he said. 'There's the anniversary party for Mr. Walter Rich and his wife the first weekend in September, a birthday party for Mrs. Lorna Bishop the second weekend in September, a baby shower-'

'Did you say Lorna Bishop?'

'Yes. That's Chris's mother. There're twenty-seven orders in all. Chris faxed them to me from LA this morning.'

Once again, Melanie gave thanks that she was sitting. What on earth had Chris done? Guilt hit her like a brick to the back of the head. Good grief. Clearly he felt so bad that she'd lost the loan, he'd made up some elaborate story about her having catering jobs lined up.

She felt awful. Horrible. He'd compromised himself to save her. She loved him for it, but she couldn't let him do it.

'Glenn, there's been a mistake. I know nothing-'

'There's no mistake, Melanie. I spoke to half the people on these job orders-hell, I know half the people on these orders. In fact, I am one. You're booked up the first Saturday in December for my daughter's sweet sixteen. These are legitimate catering jobs. You should start receiving deposit checks within the next couple of days. If you stop by the office tomorrow morning, I'll give you my copies.'

'Uh, okay. I'll be there.'

'Great. See ya then. 'Bye.'

'’Bye.' Melanie hung up and stared at Nana. 'You're not going to believe this,' she said.

'Sure I will. I'm a gullible old lady. I'll believe anything.'

Melanie repeated her conversation with Glenn.

'Well,' said Nana, a smug look on her face. 'How do you like that? Your Chris is not only a hunk, he's a hero, too. Swooped right in and saved his damsel in distress. What do you say about that?'

'Say? What can I possibly say? That I'm a dope and completely misjudged the most wonderful man I've ever met?'

'That's a pretty good start,' Nana said with brutal frankness.

'Do you think he'll forgive me?'

Nana thought for a few seconds, then answered, 'Seems to me a man who would go to all the trouble of booking two-dozen catering gigs is a man truly in love. I'd say chances are he'll forgive you.' A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. 'Of course, if he's as smart as I think he is, he'll make you suffer a bit first, so you'd better be prepared.'

A shiver of anticipation zinged through Melanie at the thought of 'suffering' at Chris's hands. 'Hmmm. Yeah. Got any suggestions?'

'The best defense is always-'

'A great offense?'

'That's right. And take it from someone who's been around the block a few times, a woman's best offense is sexy lingerie. Those sweatpants you wear to bed don't qualify.'

A plan-a fiendish plan-took root in Melanie's mind. 'I have an idea, Nana.'

'I knew you would, honey.'

'Wanna help?'

'Does it involve hog-tyin' that handsome sucker?'

Melanie chuckled. 'Something like that.'

'Count me in, babe. Count me in.'