“Stop hiding, Addie.” Her father’s familiar refrain rang out in her ears.
She wasn’t hiding. She just didn’t like the world very much. For Addie, it had never felt like a very safe place.
“You’re my partner?” Caleb Donahue was gazing at her with a look of barely-contained anger.
Why oh why had she allowed her father to bamboozle her into this situation? He had been doing nothing more than throwing her a bone by allowing her a partnership in the Blue Bayou. And now she was being glared at by a gorgeous bistro owner.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Yes, according to my father I am. He’s asked me to partner with you since he has several projects in Asia that are going to consume his time.”
“Unbelievable,” Caleb muttered. “Do you even know the first thing about running an eating establishment?”
She bit her lip. “I-I studied food hospitality at school.”
Caleb’s eyes bulged. “School? What about hands-on experience?”
“I don’t have any,” she admitted. “Oh wait! I used to serve ice cream at the Soft N’ Sweet over on Royce Street.”
Caleb didn’t say a word. He sank down onto a stool and bowed his head. Addie felt bad for him. The poor man looked utterly defeated.
“Mr. Donahue. I assure you that I’m a quick learner. I was valedictorian of my high school class and Magna cum Laude at Columbia.”
Caleb’s shoulders began to shake. Strange noises began to emanate from him. Addie was beginning to wonder if he needed medical attention.
“Mr. Donahue. Are you all right?” she asked.
He swung his head up. Tears were coursing down his cheeks and his face was contorted with mirth. His mouth was wide open and he was chuckling so hard he was gasping for air.
He was laughing at her! Not just laughing but having a huge fit of merriment. At her expense. Addie felt her cheeks getting warm. Some things never changed. This is why she didn’t deal with people very much. When she did, nine times out of ten they made her a laughingstock. Caleb Donahue was no exception.
She clutched her briefcase to her chest and counted to ten. If he didn’t stop chuckling by the time she reached ten, Addie was going to show him she wasn’t the type of woman who appreciated being laughed at. And she was certain he wouldn’t be laughing any longer after she gave him a piece of her mind.
Addie was so mad her lips began to tremble. She raised her chin up. “It’s quite rude to laugh in someone’s face, Mr. Donahue.”
He looked up at her. His lips still twitched but he was no longer laughing.
“I-I’m sorry. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot. Why don’t you take a seat, Addie?” She nodded her head and took a seat across from him at the table. He let out a sigh. Addie had the impression he was getting himself together right before her eyes. She had to admit, he was all kinds of gorgeous. With his deep-set brown eyes and tawny-colored skin, Caleb was a looker. His rugged physique and tall stature didn’t hurt. Addie felt certain this man had women flocking around him like moths to the flame. And she couldn’t say she blamed them one bit.
“I apologize for blindsiding you. My father didn’t tell me you weren’t aware of the situation.” She cleared her throat. “I assumed you’d been informed.”
“Sounds like he blindsided both of us.”
“My father tends to do that,” she said in a flat voice. She shook her head. “He’s been doing it to me my entire life.” Addie wanted to clap her hand over her mouth. Why had she blurted out that information? It was none of Caleb Donahue’s business and it fell under the category of TMI. Addie wanted to make a professional impression on her new partner. She didn’t want him to think she was weak or unprincipled.
“Well, since we’ll be working together, there’s something you should know right off the bat. This place means the world to me. Ever since I was a kid it was all I’d ever wanted for myself professionally.”
Addie nodded her head and looked around. “You’ve got a beautiful place here. From all the information I was given, it’s doing well.”
Caleb nodded. “Very well considering all the competition. Most restaurants fail during their first year in business so the success of the Blue Bayou is big news.”
Addie adjusted her glasses. “I commend you although I do see some areas where the restaurant could be stronger.” Addie tried to sound authoritative. Fake it until you make it. Maybe she could show Caleb that she wasn’t as green as he thought she was in the world of business.
Caleb leaned forward in his seat. She could see the tension hovering around his jaw. “Such as?”
She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a folder. Her fingers trembled as she searched through the contents. Caleb was making her nervous with his dark, intense eyes. It wasn’t his fault, if she was being honest with herself. Everything made her jittery. It was one of the reasons her father had assigned her to work with Caleb at the bistro. He wanted to toughen her up and sharpen her instincts.
“Well, for starters, you’re the owner and the head chef. That seems like you’ve got a lot on your plate. I would recommend hiring someone else as head chef.”
Caleb shook his head. “I love being a chef. Cooking is one of my all-time favorite passions. It’s the main reason I opened up this place.”