“Management issues?” McKenna chuckled but quickly covered the sound with a cough. “The staff consists of me, Opal Jennings, the bookkeeper who works from home, and Tyler when the wedding involves horses. There aren’t any staff problems.”
“Good. That’ll make my job easier.” The less women to deal with the better considering his management style hinged on drinking a few beers while tossing darts after work or throwing around the football at the nearby park for team building. He couldn’t see that style doing much for him now.
He glanced at McKenna again. Her face tight, her eyes narrowed, she stared at him, her arms crossed. He’d stepped in it again. How, he couldn’t figure, but he had. He rubbed his stiff neck.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking working in the wedding industry is easy,” McKenna said, her voice reminding him of his stricter elementary school teachers. “Planning the biggest day in a couple’s life is difficult. The details are almost endless. People have no idea how many things can, and do, go wrong because your grandmother and I anticipate and handle the issues before the guests realize anything was amiss.”
“Except when napkins catch fire,” he teased, hoping to break the tension swirling around them. “Bet a few people noticed that no matter how well you handled it.”
For a second, the corners of her lips turned up. But then he blinked, and the Stepford businesswoman returned.
“That’s exactly the joking attitude we face in this industry all the time.”
“Oh, come on. That was funny. Admit it.” But as he said the words, the pinched look on her face deepened. How could this woman have been the same one he heard singing Friday night? The one who’d drawn him in?
“I take my job very seriously, and I’ll be honest, your lack of experience in the wedding industry concerns me.”
“But I’ve been to a lot of parties, and a party’s a party.”
She swallowed hard, smoothed a hand down her ugly shapeless black skirt. Then her index finger tapped the armchair. “Being a guest at an event is entirely different than running one, and while I’m sure you’re very skilled at what you do, your talents aren’t likely to help in this business.”
Dang, she was a tough critic. Was she born without a funny bone or had hers been removed? “Give me points for trying to lighten things up.”
The woman could make reporting the weather sound like a scolding. No way he could take being stuck in this office with Miss Zap-the-fun-out-of-life for the next six weeks. She’d have him crazy in two days. In fact, she had him dang near there now.
“The main thing is that you get approval for financial matters.”
McKenna popped up on the edge of her chair, like a prairie dog coming out of its hole to survey the world, but instead of looking around with curiosity, she eyed him with wariness. “Define financial matters.”
He laid out his expectations telling her pretty much she needed approval for anything dealing with money, purchases, or contracts.
“What about weddings, receptions, and client meetings?”
A sour taste burned his throat at the thought of losing his weekends, and a primal scream echoed in his head at the possibility of dealing with brides. “You’re in charge there. I don’t want anything to do with those. The only weddings I plan to attend are AJ’s and Coop’s.”
“Keep those sentiments to yourself, please. Lucky Stars has an image to protect, and it wouldn’t do well for people to hear the person managing the company in Ginny’s absence is antimarriage.”
“It’s fine for other people.” If they like gambling, but he preferred better than fifty-fifty odds. “So, we’re good?” She nodded, and he continued. “From what I saw Saturday, you’re more than capable of handling anything that comes your way, even corks.”
When she cupped her hand over her nose and blushed, he regretted his comment. “You sure you don’t need to see a doctor?”
“I’m fine.”
He shook his head and scratched his jaw in disbelief. “Most women I know would’ve gone home Friday and moped until they could see a plastic surgeon Monday morning.”
“First, for the record, I don’t mope. It’s a waste of energy and time. Second, I can’t afford the deductible to see a plastic surgeon for something as simple as a swollen nose and black eye. Third, I’m careful with my sick days because catching the flu can wipe out five or more of them.” Her chin jutted out as she fiddled with her necklace. “I wonder about the women you date if they can take off from work for something so insignificant.”
“Me, too, Zane,” came a voice from the outer office.
When Zane glanced up, Grace Henry, AJ’s fiancée, stood in the doorway. “But then I know what matters most when you ask a woman out.”
What was it lately with everyone’s fascination with his love life? Despite Grace’s comment and his mild irritation, Zane smiled. Now, Grace Henry was the type of woman he normally went for. Too bad AJ had seen her first.
“I told you I’d change if I had a real shot with you, Grace,” he said, grinning as he walked across the room to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. “Have you gotten smart and decided to throw AJ aside for me?”
She chuckled and stepped away. “You never give up. I guess you’re a glutton for punishment.”
“Have a seat,” Zane said as he ushered the tall brunette inside. “McKenna and I were talking about me helping out while Ginny’s recovering.”
