The panic in Ivy’s eyes was the only thing that kept Dani from refusing and kicking Regina out of her kitchen. Turning off the mixer, she followed the girl out into the hallway and crossed her arms. “What?”
“Please, please, please cater Regina’s bash.” Ivy’s hands were clasped as if in prayer. “If you do it, she says that I can go.”
“Do you really want to attend a party where you aren’t truly welcome?”
“Hell yes!” Ivy screamed, then slapped her palm over her mouth. “An invitation to one of Regina’s events is like a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. I’ll meet all the right people. Maybe even get to network myself into a good internship.”
“I doubt that the CEOs of the companies you’re interested in will be at something called SummerPalooza.”
“Maybe not,” Ivy said. “But their sons and daughters will be.”
“Do you know how many are on the guest list?” Dani asked, weakening.
“Regina likes to keep it intimate, so she limits it to a hundred.”
“A hundred guests are an intimate gathering?” Dani snorted. “What kind of menu is she thinking about? I’m guessing something complicated?”
“Not really.” Ivy stared at her feet. “It’s a Polynesian theme.”
“I’m not roasting a whole pig in the ground.” Dani crossed her arms again.
“That’s fine.”
“The only way I could do it is if you, Tippi, and Starr give me a lot of time this coming week,” Dani warned. “Like double your normal hours. Will Tippi and Starr be on board with that?”
“Absolutely. Regina said they could come too.” Ivy threw her arms around Dani and squeezed. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“Don’t thank me yet.” A shiver of dread ran up Dani’s spine as she imagined working for an entitled, patronizing girl like Regina. “There’s a lot that could go wrong. And if it does, I bet Regina won’t be pleased.”
“I know you.” Ivy tugged her back into the kitchen. “It’ll be perfect.”
• • •
Planning the luau menu had been more fun than Dani wanted to admit, although Regina’s constant micromanaging had been a challenge. The girl reminded her of star fruit. It looked pretty, but it didn’t bring much else to the platter.
However, with the countdown to the party dwindling, Dani had the upper hand and, for the most part, Regina grudgingly backed off from most of her demands. Dani had refused to wear a hula skirt or a muumuu but had agreed to Hawaiian shirts for her staff. Tippi, Starr, and Ivy would serve appetizers for the first hour, but once the buffet opened, they would change out of the garish floral blouses into their own tops and could mingle with the other guests.
Now that the big day had arrived and Dani steered her van between two brick columns and onto the private road leading to Regina Bourne’s home, her stomach fluttered. She ignored the excited chattering of Tippi, Ivy, and Starr, instead running the pre-party to-do list through her head. This event was her first big catering gig and could very well make or break that part of her business. At least, make it or break it with the high-end consumers in this part of town.
Following Regina’s instructions, Dani turned onto an offshoot of the main driveway that led toward the rear entrance of the imposing brick house. Ivy was the first one out of the van, and she ran up to the back steps while the rest of them were still exiting the vehicle.
Before she could ring the bell, the door swung open and a sweet-faced woman in her late sixties or early seventies skimmed Ivy’s bright-turquoise-and-yellow flowered shirt and said, “Hello. You must be with the catering company.” She glanced over Ivy’s shoulder and beamed at Dani and the others. “Oh my. You all are right on time. My name’s Mrs. Carnet and I keep house for the Bournes. Can I help you carry anything?”
Dani walked up beside Ivy and introduced herself, then said, “Thank you, but if you could just direct us to the kitchen, we’re good.”
They loaded supplies onto the four rolling carts Dani had purchased a few days ago, then followed the housekeeper down a hall and into a huge kitchen. As Regina had promised, the massive Sub-Zero refrigerator was empty, and Dani’s crew quickly stowed the perishables on the waiting shelves, then made several more trips for all the other food and equipment.
Once they had everything inside, and Dani had tucked away the tray of desserts that Regina had requested be reserved for her private consumption, she turned to Mrs. Carnet, gestured to a pair of French doors, and said, “I take it those lead to the backyard.”
“Yes.” The housekeeper twisted her fingers in her apron and added, “Miss Regina is out there with the men putting out the tables and chairs.”
A local party rental company was handling the setup, and Dani was anxious to see how things were arranged and to make any necessary tweaks. Instructing her crew to start prepping the appetizers, Dani rushed outside.
Dani took a few hurried steps onto the tiled patio and came to an abrupt halt. The stunning view of Hawthorne Lake was mesmerizing and she had to tear her gaze away from the dock bobbing on the beautiful blue water. Looking around, she realized that the Bournes’ enormous property was more like a resort than a backyard.
There was an in-ground pool, a fire pit surrounded by gorgeous slate tile, and a multilevel deck that meandered around the house, garage, and hot tub. As Dani finished gaping at the luxurious surroundings, she noticed the luau decorations and rolled her eyes.
Regina must have purchased or rented every inflatable palm tree, thatched umbrella cover, and tiki hut bar in Normalton’s city limits. There was enough netting, fake starfish, and plastic parrots to furnish a Hawaiian village. Not to mention the dozens and dozens of bamboo tiki torches scattered throughout the party area.
Although Dani thought the decor was way overdone, it wasn’t her problem. She had
