“I guess I’m small but mighty.” I flex my bicep, but he never looks over, so I slowly lower my arm, hoping he didn’t notice.

He opens a door down the hall and reveals a room with a long wood table surrounded by chairs. No one else is inside, and he sets my bag down in the chair at the head of the table. “Bethaney should be along soon. She came by my office earlier to let me know how excited she is to get things going with you.”

“You didn’t tell her I was definitely taking the job, did you?”

He shakes his head, a deep groove forming between his eyebrows. “No, I told her you were coming here to discuss the possibility, but just like Darla, she doesn’t hear everything that comes out of my mouth.”

“Okay.” Some of my tension eases.

Andrew goes to stand by the large windows overlooking Manhattan with his hands in his suit pants pockets, while I walk to the chair to the right of the head of the table. After unbuttoning my jacket, I slide it over the back of the chair then look up to ask Andrew a question.

But the words die in my throat when I see the way his gaze roams over me. His avid interest makes me feel as if my dress is made out of Lycra, not wool. I mean, it’s a fitted dress, but it’s not revealing or inappropriate.

“I clean up pretty well, don’t I?” I smile at him, and he clears his throat.

“Hmm.” He looks toward the doorway. “Bethaney, hello. I’d like to introduce you to MacKenzie Montgomery.”

I turn to find a woman much younger than what I’d conjured in my mind. When Andrew had said she was engaged to one of the partners, I pictured a more mature woman, but Bethaney can’t be any older than me. Younger even, if I had to guess.

“Kenzie, please. Great to meet you, Bethaney. Thanks for having me today. I’m excited to hear what you have in mind for the firm’s holiday party.” I step over to her with my hand extended.

She looks at it briefly and waves me off. “Let’s not do any of that boring lawyer stuff. I’m a hugger. Are you a hugger?” She steps forward and wraps her arms around me, leaning side to side, before I can prepare.

“Um… sure.” I look at Andrew with a “save me” face.

“Well.” Andrew claps his hands in front of him. “I’ll leave you ladies to it.”

Bethaney pulls away from me. “Oh, no way! You have to stay. After all, you’re the one who knows Kenzie and I’d love to hear your ideas too, since you love Christmas as much as we do.”