Chapter 11
While Susan was waiting in the Lakeside Grill’s kitchen, she’d put the time to good use.
Her chocolate torte was already assembled and chilling in the refrigerator, the dark ganache set to perfection.
While the torte cooled, she’d prepped her ingredients for the second dessert they’d planned to test, organized her notes, and even helped Harry finish his afternoon prep before he’d left ten minutes ago to pick up his daughter from daycare.
Harry had been good company, asking thoughtful questions about her catering business in Georgia and sharing stories about learning to balance work with fatherhood.
She checked her phone in case Paul had texted her again. At least he’d called to say he was running late. That small courtesy mattered more than he probably realized.
The back door burst open, and Paul rushed in, slightly out of breath. His hair was windblown, and his cheeks flushed from the cold.
“Susan, I’m so sorry.” He set his keys on the counter with more force than necessary. “The BioTech meeting went completely sideways. What should have been a simple confirmation turned into a logistical nightmare.”
“It’s okay.” Susan gestured toward the coffeemaker. “I made a fresh pot while I waited. And I finished my torte, so we’re not behind schedule.”
Paul exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
“Thank you. I feel terrible for making you wait.” He poured coffee for both of them, his movements less fluid than usual.
“The event just doubled in size. They’re adding an extra dinner and lunch, plus increasing the guest count.
I’m not sure how I’m going to manage it all. ”
Susan accepted the mug he offered. “That sounds complicated.”
“It’s more than complicated.” Paul leaned against the counter, tension visible in his shoulders.
“With the church events and now the expanded BioTech schedule, I’ll be pushing my team to their limits.
Harry’s already working as many hours as he can with a baby at home, and Jenny can’t take on more shifts. ”
Susan measured cocoa powder into a bowl, considering her response. “What about bringing in temporary help?”
“I’ve thought about that, but I won’t be able to train someone new in the middle of the holiday rush.” Paul picked up his coffee but didn’t drink it. “I was hoping to ask you something, although I know how busy you are.”
Susan tilted her head to the side. “Ask me anyway.”
“Would you consider helping me?” The words came out quickly, as if Paul had been rehearsing them during the drive back to Sapphire Bay. “Not as a favor, but as a paid employee. I need your catering expertise, and my staff like you.”
Susan paused in her measuring. Helping Paul was a big commitment so close to Christmas. “I’m doing the catering for Lynda and Matt’s wedding on Christmas Eve. When would you need me?”
Paul set down his coffee. “If you could work from December 18 to 22, it would help. We could pre-cook some of the dishes and freeze them before the events. You could work whatever hours you can.”
It was Susan’s turn to be surprised. “That’s so close to Christmas.”
Paul nodded. “BioTech has given me a generous budget, so I can pay you more than you might expect. And honestly, I can’t think of anyone else I’d trust with something this important.”
Susan reached for the butter. Thankfully, Lynda and Matt’s guest list wasn’t large and she was only providing finger food. With a lot of forward planning, she should have enough time to help Paul.
“That should be fine,” she told him.
Paul’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
She grinned at his surprised expression. “Even if I was run off my feet, I would have tried to help.”
Paul took two quick strides and pulled her into his arms. The hug was tighter than she’d expected, his relief palpable as he held her close.
Susan felt the warmth of his body through his shirt, caught the faint scent of coffee and the cold air that still clung to him.
Her cheek pressed against his shoulder, and for a moment, neither of them moved.
When Paul finally stepped back, his hands lingered on her arms, and his eyes held something deeper than gratitude. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Susan’s heart was beating faster than it should have been. “I’m glad I can help.”
Paul’s hands slipped away slowly, as if reluctant to break the connection. He cleared his throat and turned back to the counter. “We should go over the menus I discussed with Olivia. With so many events in such a short timeframe, we’ll need to be super organized.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Susan’s voice sounded steadier than she felt. She began breaking chocolate into chunks, grateful for something to do with her hands. “We could do all the advance prep the weekend before. Anything that can be made ahead and frozen or refrigerated, we should do then.”
Paul nodded, moving to the walk-in cooler.
When he returned with cream and mascarpone, his composure was restored but there was something new lingering in the air between them.
“We’ll need to talk to Harry and the rest of my team.
If we don’t have enough staff to work those days, we could be in trouble. ”
Susan thought of something that could help. “If you need extra staff, the students in my catering class are amazing. They’ve helped me when I’ve catered for different events.”
Paul pulled a container of egg yolks from the refrigerator. “That would be great. I’ll keep that in mind when I’m scheduling the staff.”
They fell into a comfortable rhythm, working side by side. Susan stirred the melting butter while Paul whisked the egg yolks in a copper bowl. But Susan was acutely aware of every time their shoulders nearly touched, every glance that lasted a moment too long.
“There’s another thing I’ve been thinking about,” Susan said as she folded the melted butter into her chocolate mixture. “My students were discussing the new resort at Finley Point. They were talking about how many staff they’ll need, especially for the restaurant and catering operations.”
Paul’s whisk paused mid-stroke. “I overheard someone talking to Mabel in the general store about the same thing.”
Susan glanced at him. “Would you ever consider working in the resort’s restaurant?”
Paul resumed whisking, his movements more deliberate now. “Instead of here?”
Susan nodded. “Or it could be both if you found someone to manage the Lakeside Grill.”
“I’m not sure,” Paul replied. “It would mean going back to what I left behind. Large kitchens, lots of staff to manage, and constant pressure.”
“Maybe.” Susan pressed her chocolate mixture into a springform pan. “Or it could be different this time. You’d be bringing all the lessons you’ve learned to a new situation. You’d be creating Montana experiences instead of chasing awards.”
“That’s an interesting way to look at it.” Paul strained the cardamom from his cream. “But I like what I have here. The Grill is manageable. It doesn’t consume my entire life.”
Susan smoothed the top of her torte. “I was just curious about whether you’d work in a bigger kitchen again.”
“What about you?” Paul began incorporating the cream into his egg yolks. “Would you be interested in the resort’s restaurant?”
Susan considered the question. “Part of me is intrigued by the idea of working there. But I moved to Sapphire Bay to escape that constant pressure. Like you, I’m not sure I want to go back to it.”
“There’s something to be said for the life we have now.” Paul arranged his custard-filled ramekins on a tray. “Less stress, more control, and time to actually enjoy what we’re doing.”
“That’s true.” Susan set her torte in the refrigerator to chill. “Although I have to admit, working with you has reminded me about how much I enjoy a good challenge.”
Paul chuckled. “That’s the first time someone’s told me I’m a challenge.”
Susan grinned. “You know what I mean. Besides, we make a good team. That makes up for any personality issues you might have.”
Paul’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I don’t have personality issues. I’m delightful to work with.”
“When I came in last week to test my appetizers, you reorganized my prep station twice.”
Paul’s smile widened. “I was optimizing your workflow.”
“You corrected the way I was holding my knife.”
Paul crossed his arms, fighting another smile. “You were putting unnecessary strain on your wrist. That’s not a personality issue. That’s professional concern.”
Susan laughed. “And when you remade my béchamel sauce because you thought it was too thick?”
“It was too thick,” Paul insisted, though his grin widened. “But I see your point. Perhaps I can be slightly... particular.”
Susan shook her head, still smiling. “That’s one way to describe it.”
“Talking about being particular,” Paul said, “how did the dress shopping go yesterday?”
Susan sighed as she remembered the fabulous day she’d had with Kathleen and Lynda. “We found Lynda the perfect dress. I can’t tell you about it, but she looked beautiful.”
“I bet she did.” Paul checked his timer. “How many dresses did she have to try on before she found the right one?”
“Only a few.” Susan picked up her coffee and wrapped her hands around the mug. “We had Isabel on video call from the bookstore the entire time. It was fun.”
“It sounds like it.” Paul smiled. “The crème br?lée needs another ten minutes. Want to sit down while we wait?”
They carried their coffee to the dining room and settled into the corner booth. Through the windows, Flathead Lake stretched toward the mountains, the afternoon light turning the water a deep indigo.
Susan thought about Lynda’s wedding, about the Christmas events Paul had booked, and the resort opportunity that was still just speculation.
“I’m glad you’re helping me with the BioTech events,” Paul said quietly. “Not just because I need the help, but because I enjoy working with you.”
Susan met his eyes. “I enjoy working with you too.”