This time he couldn’t help the grin that spread over his face. “We do celebrate business ventures sometimes.”
Miranda set her glass down. “And mergers?”
Quietly he said, “I told Petra our relationship was over.”
The mood changed. All lighthearted banter stilled. A sizzling tension filled the space between them.
“You broke up with her?” Dismay darkened the caramel eyes to a shade of chocolate. “I never wanted that.”
“Over a week ago.”
An unreadable expression flashed across her face.
“It had nothing to do with you,” he lied.
It had everything to do with Miranda. He’d been very content with the notion of settling down with Petra until Miranda came along and stirred up his libido, leaving him hungering for so much more. They were so good together. Yet she stubbornly refused to acknowledge that…he could pretend, too, if that’s what he wanted.
Callum leaned forward. “This is a meeting. And don’t let the champagne bother you-it’s tax deductible.”
“Tax deductible?” Miranda scoffed, but the annoyance had ebbed and, to his relief, amusement lurked behind the shadows in her eyes.
He was winning. Time to cut the ground from under her feet while he was still ahead. “Let’s get to work, and see how I can help you with your business. I hear you catered very successfully for Hunter last week.”
Her features grew animated. “Oh, yes, I’ve been meaning to thank you for the referral.”
“It was nothing.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed it. “Hunter was impressed.”
“One of his guests called earlier today and asked me for a quote for a New Year’s Eve party.”
“Word of mouth. The best way to get known.”
“It’s an enormous relief. If I can make this work…” She fell silent.
He waited.
Finally she gave a soft sigh. “Things have been…tense at The Golden Goose. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have a job. With the economic climate there has been talk of retrenchments.”
It surprised him that she’d chosen to confide in him. Normally she worked so hard to keep him at arm’s length. “You won’t be affected.”
She nibbled her lip. “I wish I could be so certain.”
Callum got the sense she didn’t share personal fears easily. “What makes you think that? You’re overqualified for that place, you’re diligent.” He leaned back. “And you cook like a dream.”
She gave him a quick smile. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’ve stayed at the Goose because of the convenience-it’s close to home. But I’m the junior chef-and the other chef makes life hard.”
“I get it. You’re young. You’re good at what you do. And you probably don’t earn what he does. I’m not surprised you threaten him.”
Spreading her hands, she said, “Maybe you’re right. I’ve wondered if it’s that. But it doesn’t help that whenever there are accidents in the kitchen, Gianni always manages to blame me-even if I was somewhere else. Not to mention the times he tells Mick I’m late when I arrive bang on time.”
“You don’t need to put up with it. You could get a much better job if you wanted. In a place like this.” He gestured to the fine white linen and sparkling silverware on their table, then waved his arm to encompass the rest of the restaurant with its elegant high ceilings, bay windows and alcoves, and the ivory curtains draped in swags.
“Can I? There’s a cloud over my father. People remember scandals like embezzlement. They worry about the fruit not falling far from the tree.” There was no bitterness in her voice.
“You’d have references.”
“Really?” She raised an eyebrow. “What kind of a reference would I get?” Her expression was skeptical. “Gianni and the boss are friends-they even flat together.”
Callum resisted the impulse to tell her that
She nodded.
“I’ll look at it if you want.” He drew an envelope from his pocket. “Here’s a list of names with contact numbers of executives I know who would be more than happy to give you work. Go the whole way.”
Hesitantly she took the list from him, unfolding it to glance through the names. From her expression he knew that she’d recognized several of them as movers and shakers in the city.
“I’ve already contacted most of them to let them know you’ll be calling them.”
“It’s not that easy,” she protested. “I’d planned to ease in gradually, but times are hard. Even established businesses are failing, and I have responsibilities.”
Despite her confident facade, Miranda was afraid. Something inside him cracked a little. “The last name is an accountant who’ll be able to steer you through the pitfalls of running a small business-she’s an old friend of our family.”
There was an expression in her eyes he couldn’t read. Was she thinking of her family? Her father? Was she blaming him for how her father’s death had landed her in this position?
Again that smothering sense of guilt closed in on him. She shouldn’t have borne it all alone.
He’d tried to help-to ease the family’s precarious financial position and give Miranda and her brother some sort of education. And now he was determined to help her get her catering business off the ground. But nothing could bring her father back.
He reached out and closed his hand over hers. “Let me help you.”
She jerked away, clearly recoiling from the idea…from him.
He gave her a moment, then said, “You blame me for killing your father, so why is it so hard to let me sponsor you?”
“And make it easy for you? Throw money at the problem and your conscience is clean?” Her eyes sparkled with what he hoped was anger and not tears. “I don’t think so.”
He couldn’t bear tears.
“My conscience will never be clear,” he confessed.
She blinked frantically, then her shoulders slumped. “I wish Dad were here. Lately I’ve been wishing for that a lot.”
Her raw admission caused an ache to splinter deep in his chest. He again tightened his hand around hers. She started, but didn’t withdraw this time.
“I’m sorry, Miranda-more than you’ll ever know.”
Her eyes were full of anguished shadows. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
He glanced at the list. “Call those names. You’re going to be a success. And don’t think what I’m doing for you is unique. I often give someone a break. And that’s what we do with our company scholarships, too. Adrian’s got a real chance to get one of those. He’s hardworking and smart. No reason why he shouldn’t.”
Her eyelids lowered, veiling her gaze. “I appreciate your nominating Adrian. Now that he’s finished school, he’s going to have to think hard about his future.”
“He’s a big boy now. He has to make his own choices.”
Her lashes fluttered up and she gave him a rapid, indecipherable glance, then sighed. “You’re probably right. But I’ve been so used to looking out for him. Which brings me to something else I have to discuss with you tonight.”
“What’s that?”
“Flo.”
“Your mother?”
She nodded. “She’s been running up accounts all over the city. And the stores are letting her do it because they think you’re guaranteeing her expenditure. You need to write to them so it can stop.”
His fingers played with hers. “I can afford it.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
