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.”
ChapterEight
Kenzie
Ajob 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’thateChristmas.”
“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.