Betting on Love by Mary Beesley

Author:Mary Beesley [Beesley, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Billionaire; romantic comedy; family conflict; friendship; secrets; revenge; mistaken identity; contemporary; Texas; love; taking risk.
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2021-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The Christmas Season

Southern Methodist University Catering hired Tempest for the holiday season. Tonight was her third event. It wasn’t a terrible job—well, the pay was—and she didn’t like having to small talk with strangers and replace napkins and refill drinks and clean up spills. Were people always this sloppy? But she loved working with Blair. Her friend smiled, laughed, and sampled this and that as she worked.

Tonight’s event was for the Lyle School of Engineering alumni. Maybe Tempest should have studied engineering instead of math. These people looked prosperous and employable. The event was certainly costly. Twelve decorated pine trees dotted the expansive hall. Each table had fresh flowers and glittery ribbon. The entree tonight was prime rib. They’d hired four caterers whose sole purpose was to serve alcohol. Engineering was where it was at. Who knew?

“What have you got there?” A man in a red sweater blocked her path.

“Good evening, sir,” she said.

He looked like he’d just graduated high school, but his name tag boasted of much greater accomplishments. It read Ethan Hillberg, Founder of Hillberg Robotics.

“I have bacon-wrapped dates. Would you like one?” She held the tray steady at he took two. She barely refrained from asking if he was hiring. She had the same problem with the next two guests—the CEO of Hector Labs and the vice president of Alloquil. The lighter her tray, the heavier her heart. She couldn’t let all this potential slip away, could she? This was an opportunity, but she wasn’t sure how to grab it. She was working as a servant here. She couldn’t strike up a conversation as if she were a guest. Shoulders drooping, she headed for the kitchens to restock.

“One left, lucky me.”

His voice stopped her just before the service door. She glanced up through her lashes, dread and excitement clashing. Leo looked from the lonely appetizer on the tray to her face. His eyes went wide. His jaw tensed as he scanned her black-and-white catering uniform. He wore a tailored blue suit with a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. No nametag. He looked older in his suit. Sophisticated and smart. His light-brown hair was brushed and styled off his forehead, making it appear thicker on top. He looked like he belonged at this party. At any party. She lowered the tray and held it out.

“It’s all yours, sir.”

“Sir?” He frowned and didn’t reach for the appetizer.

“You look nice.” Her voice came out slightly on the warm side of professional.

He blinked, looking her over again. Her hair was in a short pony to keep it out of the food, but chunks had fallen loose around her face, and a remnant of frosting smeared her waist from the piping incident during setup.

“What are you doing here?”

“Working.”

“Why?”

Her eyes tightened, and she opened her mouth, but he held up a hand.

“No. I know. I did not mean it like that. You don’t need to remind me I cost you your other job. Just hold up.”

“There is nothing wrong with working as a server.

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