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onto silver servers. Gail handed the platters to the three college students hired to help the regular staff at the Bennett mansion.
    “So far everything’s going according to plan,” Mary Beth said when the students had left with their heavy trays.
    “The evening’s early yet,” Gail said. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
    Mary Beth wiped her hands on a paper towel. “I hope they like the rest of the meal as much as they seem to enjoy the appetizers and caviar.”
    Gail smiled. “Considering the copious amount of liquor flowing from Jim Bennett’s wine cellar, they may not notice the food at all.”
    Mary Beth grimaced. “I prefer them sober when they taste this exquisite meal we’ve slaved over all day.”
    “If you have to slave in a kitchen, this is the place.”
    Mary Beth followed Gail’s gaze around the spacious, professionally equipped kitchen with its two commercial refrigerators, four ovens, two dishwashers and a butler’s pantry. The rich walnut cabinets were a sharp contrast to the satiny almond colored walls and the beige granite counter tops inlaid with antique hand-painted tiles.
    “This is quite a house,” Mary Beth said. “In all the years I went to school with Taylor Bennett, she never invited me here.” She threw Gail a rueful look. “Of course, kids who lived in Chateau Country didn’t associate with kids from working-class neighborhoods.”
    “You’re here now and it won’t be the last time. Their cook’s broken ankle turned out to be our lucky break.”
    “That’s a lame joke,” Mary Beth said, smiling. She sighed. “It still grates on me that we were available on such short notice.”
    Gail shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. By this time next year we’ll have a waiting list for our services. And this job’s bringing a lot of money.”
    “I could sure use the money.”
    It had been a week since her mother’s telephone call. With the substantial fee from the Bennett’s, she’d send her mom a check.
    The timer rang, propelling her and Gail into action. They removed trays of stuffed mushrooms from one of the wall ovens. Mary Beth inhaled the pungent odor of garlic and chives. At least in the kitchen she could relax, free from worries.
    They set the hot trays on ceramic trivets to cool and then removed crabmeat balls from another of the ovens.
    “This job is just the beginning for us,” Gail said. “See what Tom’s connections can do?”
    Tom. Mary Beth hadn’t seen him in ten days, since he’d helped her prepare the lamb stew. She had liked being with him, liked it too much. He would have kissed her if Gail hadn’t interrupted. She should be grateful to Gail. Instead she felt…cheated.
    Since then her nights had been filled with erotic dreams of making love with Tom. Of running her fingers over his muscled chest and through his thick black hair. The memories of her dreams heated her like steam from a boiling pot.
    Get over it . You’re not in high school anymore with a crush on the cutest guy in class.
    She had to push Tom away, had to protect herself from hurt. He’d be here tonight, one of the guests. She would be cool and professional. He’d never know the emotional turmoil his nearness provoked.
    The student servers and the Bennett maids entered the kitchen with empty platters. She spent the next minutes refilling trays.
    “I’ve got to start that cream sauce for the lobster ravioli,” she said when the others had left.
    “I’d better get the salads out of the refrigerator,” Gail said.
    “Mr. Sackett, that’s just the kitchen in that direction.” The voice of Frederick, the butler, drifted in from the long hallway.
    “I know exactly where I’m going, Freddy.” At Tom’s deep voice Mary Beth stopped on her way to the refrigerator and whirled to face the doorway.
    “How are my two favorite caterers?” Tom sauntered into the room.
    He smiled at Gail before settling his gaze on Mary Beth. The intensity in his eyes held her in place. She