Page 84 of Miss Understanding

“I was happy to do it.” His hand dropped as if he’d just remembered we were standing in the middle of his office.

Guess I needed to remember that, too. Back to purely professional.

Later in the morning, I informed Liam that Stephen Walsh had arrived in reception. Typically, I went to get most of our guests, but considering Stephen was a big deal, my boss went downstairs to greet him personally. I hoped the meeting would be a good one.

I was sitting at my desk when the conference room line rang through. Immediately, I worried something was wrong, but I’d checked earlier, and things seemed to be in order.

“Hello, this is Kendall,” I answered.

Liam’s voice was on the other end. “Yes, Ms. Tate. Can you please see about getting kombucha sent up to the room?”

“Kombucha?” I repeated the unfamiliar word, trying to place where I’d heard it.

“Yes. It’s fermented tea.”

“Certainly.” I hung up and called the cafeteria. I was happy when someone answered. But no kombucha.

Next recourse was going downstairs and three blocks over to the Whole Foods. The receptionist assured me they’d definitely have it. I forced myself to walk as fast as I could in my gray skirt suit, ignoring the pang in my side from the post-sickness rushing around.

I’d been gone more than ten minutes by the time I took the elevator up with two bottles of kombucha. I wasn’t sure which kind I should have gotten. Steadying my breath, I went through the glass conference room door, hoping to get in, drop off the drinks, and get out again unnoticed.

But it wasn’t to be. All three men focused on me. Liam frowning. Phil, the managing partner, appearing relieved to see I’d brought the bottles of kombucha, and the guest of honor looking at me with a big grin on his face.

It turned out Stephen Walsh was a good-looking man. In his forties, perhaps, he had short-cropped black hair, deep hazel eyes, and a megawatt smile.

“I apologize for the delay with the kombucha,” I said.

Stephen stood up. “None necessary, considering you’re the one delivering it. Miss—?”

My boss was on his feet now, too. Phil stood as well. Liam did the introduction. “This is my assistant, Ms. Kendall Tate.”

“Lovely to meet you. I’m Stephen Walsh.”

I put the bottles down on the table so I could take his extended hand. Here was hoping I didn’t get our potential top client sick by spreading any germs. “Pleasure to meet you. I, um, I brought two kinds of kombucha.”

He didn’t spare a glance for the kombucha. “I’m sure they’re both great. Tell me, Ms. Tate, what are you passionate about?”

My gaze flicked to Liam’s face, which showed surprise at the question but provided no help. “Pardon?”

“What are you passionate about? I assure you, there’s no wrong answer. Sorry, it’s a bit personal putting you on the spot in front of your boss and his boss, but you see, I always like to know who I’m working with. Not just the lead attorney, but also who else works at the firm.”

Oh, boy. It was clear by the intense way he was staring at me, I could only go with the truth. “I’m passionate about food. Cooking, baking, learning new recipes from different cultures.”

His eyes lit up like a beaver in a forest full of trees. “Excellent. Food is a passion of mine, too. Now then, if you had unlimited funds, what would you do with that passion?”

I glanced over toward Phil, who was giving Liam a nervous look. Crap. I didn’t want to ruin this opportunity to get Stephen Walsh as a client for them by saying the wrong thing. “I’d probably open up a catering business.”

“Ah. And would you do big, fancy parties?”

“No. I’d prefer more intimate affairs in someone’s home or maybe cooking prepared meals that could be dropped off for a family hoping to eat healthy during the week.”

He smiled. “And tell me, what would you do with all of the leftover food?”

My mind recalled the event Liam and Tabitha had attended had involved a charity for the homeless. The right answer was to feed the homeless. But if I said that, it would appear rehearsed.

As if he was leading me to water, Phil piped in. “Would you donate the food?”

Stephen gave him a sigh of disappointment as if the older man was ruining his game.