was experienced, ideally placed to help him – he shouldn’t have judged, instead should have recognised her keen understanding.
An excited spur jangled inside Lyle’s belly – this was what he’d longed for. Gold dust business insight from a long-serving pro: someone completely versed in the trade he was so passionate about, because at heart he was a rally driver turned entrepreneur. Sportsman first, café host second. Business had become his new focus after he’d sidelined driving because the risks to his life weren’t worth the thrills – not now that he had Josh to care for. But he still had such a lot to learn and sometimes industry newcomers needed more than just passion and a plan.
While Josh finished off his pizza lesson, Lyle quizzed Marco about his business. Trying to suck up all the wise words and mentoring know-how he could. He would have happily talked shop all day, only that wasn’t why he was here.
‘Ta-ra!’ Josh stood proudly behind his masterpiece pizza as Maddie snapped a photo of the mini pizza chef using her phone. The sight of his beaming joy swelled Lyle’s inner pride. He winked appreciation at his new nanny’s hidden talents.
‘That’s one of the best I’ve ever seen,’ Maddie enthused.
‘You can cook for me now, Pizza Man,’ Lyle added.
Josh crinkled up his nose. ‘I think I like being pizza chef.’
‘We can eat lunch here if you like?’ Maddie offered. ‘As long as your dad agrees. But we don’t want to eat your special pizza; we must keep it for your friends.’
Marco approached Maddie and gently touched her arm. ‘I need to ask you a favour,’ he confided. ‘I’m hosting a networking event on Saturday. But Ellen is busy this week and Renee has morning sickness that lasts all day and night and she can’t handle serving food. We have waiting staff short, leaving me truly stuck. I could do with my most experienced waitress on hand. Any chance?’
Lyle watched as Maddie shook her head. ‘I’m a temp au pair now. Technically I should be caring for Josh.’
Lyle intervened at the mention of his son’s name. ‘Maddie? Can I help?’
She bit the corner of her lip. ‘I can’t do waitress shifts right now because I’m working for you. I was explaining that.’
Lyle replied. ‘But you’re entitled to nights off and if Marco needs you I can arrange baby sitting cover or I can watch Josh myself. When’s the event?’
‘Saturday night. It’s late notice but he’s short of cover.’
Lyle shrugged. He could hardly quibble – Maddie had dropped everything to help him, she deserved leeway back and Marco would be a useful business ally. ‘I’m indebted to Marco already for his helping Josh. Saturday can be your day off. Marco is more than welcome to have you on his staff if he needs you.’
Marco shushed his gratitude away. ‘It’s my pleasure. The boy’s a joy.’
‘Yeah, he is. He’s really enjoyed this too. We both have.’ Lyle’s eyes were on Maddie’s gaze when it travelled up to watch him. Unspoken words exchanged through an appreciative glance.
Marco sat down opposite and lowered his voice to Lyle while Maddie moved away to show Josh around the deli part of the establishment. She was soon out of earshot. ‘Shame she won’t waitress permanently – always wanted to work with kids, that’s Maddie. She came here after her Momma died and she’d dropped out of college because of the turmoil at the time. She did a childcare course in Edinburgh though it took time to get over her mother’s death. Still, she’s made something of life here. She’s like the daughter I never had. At one time, I hoped she’d be my successor. She’d make a great restaurateur.’
Lyle observed Maddie in the light of this new revelation. So much for thinking she was a rebel, an egomaniac out for maximum attention. This woman had navigated her own hard path. He still wondered why she’d claimed her arrival in Scotland had been prompted by parental difficulties?
An excited spur jangled inside Lyle’s belly – this was what he’d longed for. Gold dust business insight from a long-serving pro: someone completely versed in the trade he was so passionate about, because at heart he was a rally driver turned entrepreneur. Sportsman first, café host second. Business had become his new focus after he’d sidelined driving because the risks to his life weren’t worth the thrills – not now that he had Josh to care for. But he still had such a lot to learn and sometimes industry newcomers needed more than just passion and a plan.
While Josh finished off his pizza lesson, Lyle quizzed Marco about his business. Trying to suck up all the wise words and mentoring know-how he could. He would have happily talked shop all day, only that wasn’t why he was here.
‘Ta-ra!’ Josh stood proudly behind his masterpiece pizza as Maddie snapped a photo of the mini pizza chef using her phone. The sight of his beaming joy swelled Lyle’s inner pride. He winked appreciation at his new nanny’s hidden talents.
‘That’s one of the best I’ve ever seen,’ Maddie enthused.
‘You can cook for me now, Pizza Man,’ Lyle added.
Josh crinkled up his nose. ‘I think I like being pizza chef.’
‘We can eat lunch here if you like?’ Maddie offered. ‘As long as your dad agrees. But we don’t want to eat your special pizza; we must keep it for your friends.’
Marco approached Maddie and gently touched her arm. ‘I need to ask you a favour,’ he confided. ‘I’m hosting a networking event on Saturday. But Ellen is busy this week and Renee has morning sickness that lasts all day and night and she can’t handle serving food. We have waiting staff short, leaving me truly stuck. I could do with my most experienced waitress on hand. Any chance?’
Lyle watched as Maddie shook her head. ‘I’m a temp au pair now. Technically I should be caring for Josh.’
Lyle intervened at the mention of his son’s name. ‘Maddie? Can I help?’
She bit the corner of her lip. ‘I can’t do waitress shifts right now because I’m working for you. I was explaining that.’
Lyle replied. ‘But you’re entitled to nights off and if Marco needs you I can arrange baby sitting cover or I can watch Josh myself. When’s the event?’
‘Saturday night. It’s late notice but he’s short of cover.’
Lyle shrugged. He could hardly quibble – Maddie had dropped everything to help him, she deserved leeway back and Marco would be a useful business ally. ‘I’m indebted to Marco already for his helping Josh. Saturday can be your day off. Marco is more than welcome to have you on his staff if he needs you.’
Marco shushed his gratitude away. ‘It’s my pleasure. The boy’s a joy.’
‘Yeah, he is. He’s really enjoyed this too. We both have.’ Lyle’s eyes were on Maddie’s gaze when it travelled up to watch him. Unspoken words exchanged through an appreciative glance.
Marco sat down opposite and lowered his voice to Lyle while Maddie moved away to show Josh around the deli part of the establishment. She was soon out of earshot. ‘Shame she won’t waitress permanently – always wanted to work with kids, that’s Maddie. She came here after her Momma died and she’d dropped out of college because of the turmoil at the time. She did a childcare course in Edinburgh though it took time to get over her mother’s death. Still, she’s made something of life here. She’s like the daughter I never had. At one time, I hoped she’d be my successor. She’d make a great restaurateur.’
Lyle observed Maddie in the light of this new revelation. So much for thinking she was a rebel, an egomaniac out for maximum attention. This woman had navigated her own hard path. He still wondered why she’d claimed her arrival in Scotland had been prompted by parental difficulties?
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