Something about this woman’s smile is infectious. It almost pulls a smile of my own out, but I stifle the urge and school my features. I need to remember why I’m here and it isn’t to socialize.
“Listen, I asked you here because I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night. I’d had a shit day at work, and I can be a little testy when things at the office aren’t running how I’d like. I was rude and I shouldn’t have been.”
It’s all true, although I’m not a man who’s used to apologizing.
“You can relax, Andrew, I kept my word—I didn’t tell my brother.”
I like the way my name sounds on her lips more than I should. With the mention of her brother’s name, a guilt from the way my body is reacting to hers consumes me. “I appreciate that, but it doesn’t change the fact that I might have overreacted a bit.”
She squeezes her lips together as though she’s debating saying something for a moment before she speaks. “In retrospect, wearing the elf costume was probably a bad idea. I can understand why you weren’t thrilled, but you could have dealt with it a lot different.”
I nod in agreement because what am I going to do? Tell her I loved the fact that she’d been dressed as an elf? We both know I’d be lying.
“That’s not the only reason I wanted to meet with you tonight though.”
She tilts her head. “Oh?”
Putting all my pride on the line, I tell her, “I have an event planning job for you, and I really need you to take it.”
Chapter Eight
Kenzie
A job is the last thing I thought Andrew was going to say.
“I realize I’m probably not your first choice of people to work with, but you wouldn’t be working for me per se, but more for the law firm itself.” His fingers tap on the bar top as if he’s nervous to ask me.
Interesting. I haven’t done a lot of corporate events, but I wouldn’t mind getting into them. Generally, they don’t take up your entire weekend in the same way a wedding does. They usually have decent budgets, and unlike brides, the social committees at a corporation aren’t usually high maintenance or picky. This isn’t the event of their lives.
“My interest is piqued. Tell me more.” I take a sip from my drink and hum in approval. “You’re really missing out here.” I lift my drink before setting it back down.
Andrew gives me a weird look like maybe I’m inappropriate for voicing how yummy my drink is? He’s hard to read. The moment any type of emotion—beyond irritation—flits across his face he shuts it down. “There is no drink that screams Christmas like eggnog.” He raises his eyebrows and I wonder how anyone could hate Christmas so much.
“The party planner that was handling the firm’s holiday party is… no longer available, and the firm needs someone to take over.”
I blink a couple of times. He can’t mean… “You mean this year’s holiday party?”
He presses his lips together and nods.
“But Christmas is in seven weeks.”
“I’m aware.” He picks up his drink and takes a hefty gulp.
“That’s not really a lot of time to pull something together. Have any decisions been made? Event space, number of attendees, please say you have a caterer?”
With every word out of my mouth, his eyes slowly get wider and wider. It’s just now, being this close to him, that I get a better look at how deep blue his eyes are. Like a stormy sea, which knowing the little that I do about him, fits.
“I don’t know what decisions have or have not been made,” he says stiffly.
“Wait. Why are you involved in your firm’s Christmas party? You hate Christmas.”
He rolls his eyes and puts up both hands. “I don’t hate Christmas.”
“Would loathe be a better word?” I raise an eyebrow.
The corner of his mouth twitches. “I’m involved because I’m the connection to you since I suggested you for the party.”
While I do believe his apology from earlier, I don’t believe for a second that he suggested me as some benevolent act. “And…”
He pushes his hands through his wavy hair and his shoulders sag a bit. “Okay, I’m being considered for partner and the man who can make that happen is engaged to a right twit who’s in charge of the Christmas party this year. If I’m able to solve her problem, it would bode well for me in the future.”
“Ah, I see.” I nod slowly.
I mull over the real reason we’re sitting here together. Would I love to plan a Christmas party for a law firm? Without question. If the holidays lasted all year long, I’d make it my specialty and never do anything outside Christmas. Do I have the room in my schedule to do the party? Sadly, yes. I have a few smaller jobs I’m committed to in the next couple of months, but nothing the size and scope of what it sounds like the law firm will be doing. But just because I have the time doesn’t mean I can pull it off. I’ll have to rely on other businesses to do their part, and with such short notice, I don’t know if that’s possible.
“Well?” Andrew looks at me with barely veiled hope and it’s clear to me how much he needs me to help him reach his goal. Not the Christmas party per se, that’s just a means to his ultimate goal of becoming partner at the firm.
Though I owe him nothing, I can’t deny that the look on his face makes me want to help.
“I can’t commit until I know exactly what’s involved. Why don’t you set up a meeting with…?”
“Bethaney. She’s the fiancée who’s in charge of the party.”
I nod. “Why don’t you set up a meeting with Bethaney and I can get the information I need from her before I decide whether I can make this happen.”
Andrew nods eagerly and something akin to a small smile tilts the corners of his mouth up slightly. “Wonderful. Why don’t you give me your contact number, so we don’t have to message through that dreadful app anymore, and I’ll be in touch.”
“You’re not going to continue trying to meet someone, IOBJECT?” I hold my hand out toward him. “Here, give me your phone.”
He pulls his phone from his front pocket, unlocks it, and hands it over. “I think I’m taking a break.”
I quickly add myself as a contact and text myself so his number will be in my phone. When I hand it back to him, he glances at the screen.
“Mrs. Claus?” he says in a wry voice.
I laugh. “Well, that’s why you want to hire me, isn’t it? I love Christmas and you’re hoping for a miracle?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. A weird whooshing feeling attacks my stomach at the sight of his smile and the twinkle in his blue eyes.
I ignore that feeling and take a sip of my drink. Me being attracted to Andrew would be akin to Mrs. Claus having an affair with the Grinch.
“Thank you for the drink,” I say to Andrew as we walk over to the coat rack.
He grabs my jacket for me and holds it out while I slip my arms through the sleeves. I jog my memory to remember the last time any of my dates ever did that for me and not a one. There’s something old school and chivalrous about the act that I love.