Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 4) (14 page)

He let out a soft chuckle. He guessed there really was a difference between the terms 'making love' and simply 'fucking'.

*******

"So, Adam, how's Sam going?" Harry asked.

"She's good, Dad," Adam said in between mouthfuls.

"How come you didn't bring her with you tonight?" Alvin asked. "Mel and I haven't met her yet."

"Oh, Alvin, this is a family dinner," Marie chided.

Adam's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean, Mum? Wouldn't Sam be welcome to our family dinners?"

"It's not that she's not welcome, darling. But you'd only want to invite someone you're serious with to family stuff. Lots of wrong assumptions happen when new girlfriends are brought to important family occasions."

"Like what?" Adam asked rather coldly.

"You know," Marie answered, waving her hand in the air as if looking for the right words.

"Tell me," Adam said.

"You don't want girls having the wrong impression if you're still trying to figure out how you feel about them."

Adam held his tongue. This wasn't the time and place to argue with his mother. But it irritated the hell out of him that she didn't like Sam—and still preferred Sandy.

"Are you taking her to John's birthday party?" Harry asked gently.

Adam smiled at his dad. His dad liked Sam. "Yup."

"Is that a good idea, Adam?" Marie asked, frowning.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Well, Sandy's the main organiser for that, since Bella was away on her honeymoon. Don't you think it's a little insensitive?"

He shrugged. "Sandy and I have mutual friends, so we're bound to see each other in different gatherings. I can't keep Sam hidden away from her forever."

Marie sighed. "I honestly don't see why you'd want to date another woman when you're not over Sandy yet."

Adam stared at his mother. "Whatever gave you the idea that I'm not over Sandy yet?"

"Are you?" Marie asked, peering through her glasses.

"Yes!"

"Whatever you say, Adam," she murmured.

"You don't believe me?" he asked incredulously.

"Not when the proof says otherwise."

"What proof?"

Marie shook her head. "Forget I said anything."

"No, Mum. What proof?" he insisted.

"You and Sandy stayed in the same room together at Byron Bay."

Adam looked up to the heavens, peeved. "Nothing happened. The wedding planner stuffed up our accommodation."

"So why didn't you find someone else to share with?" Marie contended. "You could have asked to share with me and your dad."

Adam let out a heavy exhale. Yes, he should have at least asked. But he just assumed that other guests—even his parents—wouldn't want another person in their room.
 

"I didn't want to be a bother to anyone," he said. "And
nothing
happened."

"Okay," Marie said in a tone that said she wasn't buying it.

Adam gave up arguing. His mum would believe what she wanted to believe. He didn't care.

"Just for your info, bro," Alvin said quietly, "everyone thinks you and Sandy are back together because of that room situation."

Adam gaped at his brother. "Who's everyone?"

"Everyone at the wedding, and whomever else they've told."

Oh, hell. His extended family could be quite big gossips. No doubt he and Sandy would be the centre of speculation during John's party. What would happen if he brought Sam with him? She'd probably hear about that night he'd spent with Sandy.

"Ah, shit," he muttered under his breath. If he arrived at the party with Sam as his date, he was sure the other guests who knew about the event in Byron Bay would start wagging their tongues. With Sandy at the helm of the party milking the whole thing, he could already imagine Sam feeling totally uncomfortable. It had been awkward enough when Sam first joined them for dinner with Sandy and Carmen. A whole party-full of relatives—plus a scheming Sandy—whispering about her could be painful. Maybe he shouldn't bring Sam at all.

*******

"Hey, babe."

"Hi," Sam said with a despondent sigh on the other end of the line.

"What's wrong?" Adam asked in alarm.

"I have some bad news," she said sadly.

"What is it?" His heart hammered hard in his chest. Was it her dad?

"I might not be able to go with you to your cousin's birthday party."

"What?" he asked, wanting to make sure he'd heard her right.

"I'm really sorry, but apparently, Rowena has a big catering job that day. She's still down on staff and she needs me."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that it?"

"Yeah."

"It's okay." This was great timing. He'd been wondering how he could tell Sam he didn't want her to go to John's party.

"There's a slim chance I could still make it, but it would depend on how we go on the day."

"Don't stress about it. I'm assuming you'd be very tired from all the cooking. I'm sure the last thing you'd want is to go to a party after that."

"I know you're really looking forward to it," she said apologetically. "I don't know everything about the event yet, but I'll mention to Rowena that I have a party to go to. Maybe she'll let me go home early."

"No, no, please don't do that," he said hastily. "It's okay. Really."

"But I want to be there, too."

"But you'll be tired," he reasoned. "Don't worry about it, Sam. It's no big deal. You don't have to go."

"Okay," she said hesitantly.

"I have to go, babe. I have another call coming. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay."

Adam hated that Sam sounded cheerless, but consoled himself with the fact she wouldn't have to deal with Sandy's sugar-coated bitchiness and unwelcome questions from nosy relatives—not to mention his mother's disapproval.

Sam frowned. She'd been worried that Adam would be disappointed that she couldn't go with him to his cousin's party, but he actually sounded… relieved. Either that or he was just trying not to make her feel guilty about pulling out.

She'd still do whatever she could to be able to attend. Sandy would be there and she didn't trust her. The last time she saw Sandy, the last words she heard from her were 'I'll see you at the wedding, Adam'. She was almost sure those words were meant as a warning that she hadn't given up on him. And knowing how close Sandy was to Adam's mother and some members of his family, she wasn't going to stand idly by and let Sandy try to steal Adam back.

"Hey, Sam!"

Sam turned and smiled at Brian. "Hello, Mr. Slave-Driver. Have you come to order me to start work?"

Brian chuckled, sitting beside her on the wooden bench in the herb and vegetable garden outside Rowena's Kitchen. "I've come to join you for a few minutes of peace before the mayhem starts."

"Has Rowena arrived yet?"

"Not yet. She rang to say she's running fifteen minutes late."

"This party on the twelfth that you mentioned we secured, do you know anything more about it?"

"It's a surprise birthday party for someone's husband," Brian responded. "This woman rang, pleading and begging that we take their business. Apparently, there'd been some miscommunication between her and the wife of the birthday boy. Each thought that the other was organising the catering. Luckily, we have that date open."

"What's the name of the person you were talking to?" Sam asked, a funny feeling creeping up on her.

"Sandy Burns."

"You're kidding, right?" she asked, staring at Brian in disbelief.

"No, why?"

"You wouldn't believe this, but I'm supposed to be in that party."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was just talking to my boyfriend, telling him I can't go because I have to work. It's his cousin's birthday." A thrill ran through Sam when she called Adam her boyfriend. It wasn't official but she hoped it would be soon.

"You didn't tell me that." Brian pursed his lips. "Maybe we can get someone to take your place."

"I'm already taking someone else's place plus another staff member is going on holidays, remember?"

Brian groaned and covered his face. "You just reminded me why that date was still open. We are low on kitchen staff that weekend."

Sam sighed. "That's why I have to come in to help."

"Thank you, Sam. You're a lifesaver. I hope your boyfriend doesn't mind."

"No, he doesn't," she answered, reminded that Adam didn't mind at all.

*******

"Guess what?" Sam asked Adam as she prepared them dinner.

"What?"

"That job I have to go to on the day of John's birthday party? It
is
John's birthday party."

"You guys are catering for that?"

"Yup."

"Wow. What a coincidence."

"I know. It was Sandy who made the call. Apparently, she thought Bella was going to hire the caterers and Bella thought Sandy was doing it. Anyway, it's all booked. You guys will definitely have food on the night."

"Well, thank God for that," Adam said. "You're still not going, are you?"

"I'm thinking I can still go. I'll just be late," she replied, watching his reaction.

"You don't need to, Sam."

"Don't you want me to go? I thought you did," she asked nonchalantly, ignoring the pinch she felt that Adam didn't want her at the party that Sandy was also attending.

"I thought we've established you'd be too tired," he reasoned.

"Fine," she said, unable to keep the hurt in her voice.

"Hey," Adam said softly, running his hand on her back as she whisked her casserole with more energy than necessary. "I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable on the night. Some of the people who'll be there know that Sandy's my ex. It just might feel awkward for everyone, that's all."

She took a deep breath. Yes, she could see where he was coming from. The night had the potential to be totally embarrassing and unpleasant simply because of her and Sandy being in the same place. The party was Bella's idea and Sandy was the main organiser. If anyone had to give in on the night, it would have to be her.

"You're right," she told Adam. "It's better I don't go."

Adam sighed in relief. "Thank you," he said, kissing her hair.

Sam felt a little better that Adam was just thinking of her. That was the reason why he'd changed his mind about bringing her as his date, right?

*******

Sam arrived early at Rowena's Kitchen and headed for the garden. There were still twenty minutes before they had to start preparing for tonight's event and she enjoyed sitting out there. It was an inspiring place to work on the business plan she'd started.

Working with Rowena and her staff had been such a great blessing. She'd been learning a lot, not only about preparing and scheduling for big events but also how she would love her own business to be.

One thing for sure, she didn't want to start big. Her plans were turning out to be more of a private chef enterprise than a catering business. The idea of creating an intimate fine dining experience for clients in a venue of their choice appealed to her. She could imagine supplying white table cloths, flower arrangements, candles—all the trimmings—and preparing three course meals for a couple on a romantic night, or for a small group of friends celebrating something special. It would suit her really well. She was still far from considering a restaurant of her own. She didn't even know if she'd want one, knowing the long hours chefs worked. But with her planned business, she was free to only take the jobs that worked for her preferred schedule and she wouldn't have to worry about paying rent for her own establishment.

"Sam!"

"Hi Brian," she said with a smile. A pretty, blonde-haired girl was standing next to her colleague.

"I'm glad you're here early. Would you like to join me and Bella in our meeting?"

Sam's eyes widened in surprise as she realised who it was with Brian.

"Hi Sam," Bella said in a high-pitched, too-friendly voice. "You're Adam's friend, right? I didn't know you work here. What a coincidence, hey?"

"I know," she said with a chuckle. "It's great to meet you, Bella."

"Likewise. This garden's nice," Bella said, looking around.

"It is, isn't it," Brian agreed. "We have our own herb garden and also grow some of our own vegetables so the food's always fresh."

"Impressive. Maybe we can have our meeting out here?" Bella asked.

"Of course. You'll join us, won't you, Sam?"

"Sure," Sam answered, glad to meet another one of Adam's relatives—err, in-law.

*

"So let me get this straight," Bella said. "You guys will bring in all the food already cooked and you'll set them up nicely in a buffet style at the venue. You'll supply all the food warmers too, right?"

"Yes," Brian confirmed. "Our staff will make sure everything goes well on the night. You won't need to worry about food running out either. As long as you give us an accurate number of guests, there would be plenty. We'll also pack any leftovers in containers for you, if you want."

"Okay, sounds good," Sandy said. "Will you be there as part of the cooking staff, Sam?"

"Not at the venue. Since your food will be cooked here in our kitchen, only our service staff will be in attendance," Sam answered.

"Oh, okay. But you're still not going to the party, are you? Adam said you can't make it."

Was that hope in Bella's tone? "No, I won't be going. Cooking all day would be tiring," she answered.

"Great!" Bella exclaimed. "I mean I could imagine how tired you would be afterwards. Going to a party would probably be the last thing you'd want to do after a hard day's work."

Sam forced a smile. Something about Bella's reaction made her uncomfortable.

"Shall we finalise the paperwork?" Brian asked.

"Yes, please," Bella replied, taking something from her purse. "Here's my credit card."

"Thanks. Let me run this through the machine and I'll be back with the receipt and a copy of the contract," Brian said, walking off.

"Do you like this job, Sam?" Bella asked. "It must be tiring being on your feet all day in the heat of the kitchen."

"I love cooking," Sam answered. "Yes, it's a bit tiring but I only work three days a week."