Breene, K F - Growing Pains 01

by Lost (and) Found (v5. 0)

  Krista’s heart sank. His guilt reinforced her own. She knew better—most women knew better at her age. Guys like Sean were smoke and mirrors. The wonder was why she insisted on falling for the same old song and dance. She knew better, but she still let herself get sucked in. It was so stupid!

  Plus, this was definitely her fault! She bit the guy for cripes sake! Obviously he would push his luck.

  Still.

  As he called to the voice, revealing where he was, she could see his body uncomfortably bent at the middle, his forehead slick with sweat.

  At least I had some effect. Theresa didn’t have him uncomfortable like this.

  It was a small consolation, but she’d take it.

  John and Monica came in sight, took in the scene. John stalked over. Monica hesitated a second, eyes narrowed, before walking behind John as if he needed backup.

  “What happened? Was it amenable?” John was saying as his eyes bored into Krista’s.

  “I think it was the best thing that could have happened,” Sean said. All traces of heat from a second ago were completely gone; his voice was ice.

  Everyone looked at him.

  “Explain,” John snapped.

  “I think it must have been obvious to Mr. Hartling that Krista didn’t know who he was. He asked questions that she answered honestly, but that also helped us out. She basically pitched him an idea already.”

  “What?” John said too loudly.

  “She didn’t know it, John,” Sean took a step closer to Krista with an edge to his voice. He sounded more in command than John. He was made for a huge office and a large bankroll. Why did he have to be so hot to boot? It wasn’t fair.

  “Still doesn’t,” Sean was looking at her. “But it’s genius when you think about it.”

  Sean was right about one thing—she had no idea what he was talking about. She didn’t pitch anything.

  “He asked about her jewelry,” Sean continued. John faced him. “Then about her sapphire ring. One comment led to another, and she was telling him that they should be marketing to people her age because that age group is young and stupid with their money. Her friend bought a $1200 purse, why not a piece of jewelry? Her friend could afford neither, but would buy both. It makes sense. Her being a researcher and effective debater gave weight to her argument. Her not knowing who she was talking to gave her innocence; she sold it without knowing it. Without setting off his alarm bells.”

  John was looking at Krista like she was a chessboard and he was Bobby Fischer.

  Sean went on, “And he asked about us.”

  John’s eyes snapped back to Sean. There was fear lurking behind his gaze. It made Krista wonder what John had done to get where he was. Who he had stepped on.

  It was the first time Sean actually smiled since he’d accosted her. “She called me a womanizer and for you she noted Johnny Cash’s song ‘Boy Named Sue.’”

  Krista’s mouth dropped open. It was one thing to admit all that to Sean—the guy had some sort of truth voodoo—but to tell the freaking Junior VP? That was low. That was sell-out material! If she wasn’t so scared she’d be sacked on the spot, she would’ve been livid!

  “She also said the company and its upper management were loyal, and that I was trustworthy. Also that I challenged her. She didn’t know anything to say about you or Tom, and she wasn’t asked about anyone else,” Sean finished up.

  John turned back to Krista. “And were you telling the truth? Would he believe you about Sean?”

  “I was telling the truth,” Krista said sullenly. “Though the trust issue is strained now, and I was hoping that comment about ‘Sue’ wouldn’t get back to you.”

  Thankfully, and the cherubs did sing, John cracked a smile. “I don’t mind about Sue, you rat. Though I’ll remember it, trust that.”

  John sounded like he was in good humor, but he also called her a rat and basically said he held a grudge. Krista glared at Sean and crossed her arms.

  John clapped his hands. “Good. Phew. We dodged a bullet there. I thought we were sunk when Tory changed seats. Sean, thank God I let you talk me into giving her a nice raise and a new office. Can you imagine if she had been disgruntled? Or anyone else from Research talking to him? I shudder to think.”

  John walked around and shook his head. Then he stretched. “This is good.” He threw a couple boxing punches at the air. “They officially bought out and now they are asking questions about our sales team. We have our foot in the door. If we can keep momentum, we may land them after all.”

  He swung around to look at Sean. “I want at least three proposals on my desk by Monday. I want them ready to go just in case.”

  “They’re already done. We have about six ideas, four good to go now,” Sean answered coolly.

  “I don’t just want ideas. I want support. Numbers. Pictures. All of it!” John fired back.

  “Done. All of it, done. For all six ideas. Photo quality is HD. No old imagery. Graphics are in place, numbers are valid, organized, and have footnotes. We are ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

  John looked at Sean as though seeing him for the first time, “Dare I ask about research on sapphires?”

  “Also done, for jewelry in general and sapphires in particular. We have data on region, demographic, market, everything. You name it, it’s there. Also organized, categorized and equipped with footnotes. Graphs and other multimedia are presentation ready.”

  John just blinked for a minute. Utterly still. Then: “You really do make my job easier.” He smiled and walked away.

  ~*~*~*~

  “I do my best,” Sean said to the retreating figure before he looked back at Krista. Unlike the smoldering look he’d fallen into mere minutes ago, this time her eyes held retribution. Frankly, it scared him a little. He had a feeling that when she was pushed to it, she had a mean temper.

  Regret welled up in his chest at what he was about to do. She wouldn’t understand the necessity of the act. To her, it would smack as betrayal. He hated how often Ray was right lately.

  Sean took a step closer to Monica.

  “Your party made it all possible. Excellent work,” he purred into her ear.

  “Naturally,” she laughed, shooting Krista a look of triumph.

  I’ll go to hell for this. Sean thought. In fact, if Monica kept taunting her, Krista might just put him there.

  With a smug expression, Monica turned Sean by the elbow, leading him away from Krista, “You did excellently tonight.”

  Sean ignored her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Krista still facing them, a look of astonished defeat on her face. He’d just set himself way back. Possibly to a place he couldn’t come back from. But if he’d chosen Krista over Monica, Monica would’ve ruined the other girl. Krista would’ve become another Joanna, another side effect to the gossip he created within their company. That fate wasn’t fair to Krista. Better the sting now than the ache later.

  He felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

  Monica stopped him just outside the perimeter of the event, sheltered and secluded. Sean didn’t have to guess what came next.

  “Why don’t we head to my place,” Monica said quietly, leaning against his body. Her hands slid up his chest.

  Sean looked down on her. Uninterested. He didn’t bother to hide it, “Let’s get back to the limo. We need to head.”

  Monica laughed silkily, her hands now at his belt line. They slid down to his hips. She ground herself against him. “Playing hard to get, huh? I’d suck your c**k right here if this wasn’t a work thing.”

  Not in his current state, she wouldn’t. He felt so sick about what he did to Krista, his balls would probably curl up inside his body.

  “Let’s go,” he said gruffly.

  She laughed at him again.

  “I’m so glad we got the only kid in Research!” Judy exclaimed drunkenly as Sean opened the door to the limo for Monica. To Krista she said, “Did you know that Tommy has a huge crush on you?”

 
Sean nearly turned and walked away. He did not want to hear this conversation, and he did not like the look on Krista’s face as he helped Monica in.

  “He asked her out,” Marcus said, pouring a glass of wine for Ray, who had his hand out.

  “Caught me by surprise,” Krista said as she relaxed. “Didn’t see it coming. I acted like a complete bitch about it.”

  “I heard you stomped on the poor guy,” Judy responded.

  “I didn’t mean to, though,” Krista whined with a hand over her eyes. “Seriously, you guys. He just blurted it out in front of a million people! I blinked and stared and looked like an ass, but really, I was taken aback.”

  “You seem to be completely dense about that sort of thing,” Marcus stated. “But, good news, it has kept at least five others from asking you.”

  “Are you serious?” Krista asked, aghast.

  “Oh yeah. But Jacob wasn’t deterred,” Marcus went on with a smirk.

  “Until he read my email.”

  “Oh yeah, I heard about that!” Judy exclaimed delightedly. “That is disgusting. Sean, how is getting him fired going?”

  Sean watched the dark shadows outside the car speed by, not bothering to bring his gaze back into the car as he said, “Top secret, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, I hope you do. He spies on everyone.”

  “I need proof, though,” Sean said seriously. “I have someone collecting data, so we’ll see what he comes up with.”

  “Who’s collecting data?” Judy asked Marcus.

  “Me, obviously. Do you think he would trust some reject with this kind of thing? You’d be shocked what I’m finding. Thank God I’m not a chick or he’s not g*y. I’m surprised he gets anything done!”

  “Can we talk about something else?” Krista said uncomfortably.

  Sean’s eyes swung to her, unable to help himself. Unable to read her face in the dark, he let his eyes rest for a second, but then darted away again.

  “Like how you stole my limelight tonight?” Marcus asked with a mock pleasantness to his voice.

  “Why, because I look better than you?”

  “Fat chance, gorgeous.”

  “Oh, then because I’m more fashionable?”

  “Girl, you don’t even want to go there!”

  “Is it because I am, dare I say, the ‘y’ word?”

  “Oh no you did not try to throw age into this!” Marcus said, getting totally ghetto with it. Ray and Judy were cracking up.

  “It’s because Marcus was supposed to get the guy,” Ray said. Then Ray put his glass forward for more wine.

  “Is that from the event?” Monica asked, horrified.

  Marcus rolled his eyes at Monica then answered, “Tory was supposed to sit next to me.”

  “Did you scare him earlier or something?” Krista asked.

  “Why?”

  “Well, he seemed like he was on the run. Like he was hiding out in nowheresville with me.”

  “Probably hiding from the sales superhero that followed him around all night,” Marcus said in a droll tone.

  “Was that a dig at me or John?” Sean asked in a flat voice.

  “Someone get that man a drink!” Marcus yelled. “He’s misplaced his humor.”

  “You have to crack a joke that’s funny if you want people to laugh,” Krista shot back.

  Judy slapped Marcus on the leg as she laughed.

  “Now is a perfect time to mention a well-placed ‘I told you so, Sean.’” Ray said, taking a gulp. “I told you Krista could do it.”

  Sean ignored him, not wanting to hear it. Ray had been right—Krista, left to her own devices, could charm even an unbeliever. Not only that, but she’d saved his ass tonight. Tory had smelled the ambush and went running, trying to dodge. Sean would’ve lost him; scared him away with his reputation alone. It was Krista who saved the day, and then Sean had ostracized her for it. He was the biggest kind of ass**le imaginable.

  He was still looking out the window when he felt Monica’s leg press firmly against his. He ignored her, too.

  Ray said, “I told him Krista knew the most and should sit next to him. But did he listen to me? Noooooooo.”

  “You guys should have seen when I first met him at the bar,” Krista said as she looked at her lit phone screen. “I didn’t know who he was, but I did know I was supposed to be chatty and friendly with people, so while I was thinking of something to say, turned toward him, with my freaking mouth open, looking at the sky—just standing there, mind you …he finally asked if I was alright. He obviously thought I lost my brain or something!”

  Everyone started laughing, except for Sean and Monica.

  “Wait a minute. What is our little Kristie up to?” Marcus said.

  That was about when Marcus flipped on the roof light. Krista looked up from her phone with a red face and guilty expression. She didn’t need to explain. Sean’s intestines shriveled.

  Marcus started laughing. “Booty call, huh? Don’t feel bad about it, honey, I already placed mine!”

  “I married mine. Tragic!” Judy laughed.

  “Me, too,” Ray said with a slight slur. “Now it’s a booty beg.”

  Apparently Sean was the only one in the party who kept himself sober for the precession. Well, him and Monica.

  Everyone but Sean looked at Ray, stunned.

  “Ray …dark horse,” Krista uttered into the din.

  That started a whole new wave of laughter, which Ray joined in.

  While Krista had been the last picked up, she was the first dropped off. She was also halfway down the small aisle, drunk, and slightly wobbly. Sean watched as she clambered out of her seat, stumbling and half crawling down the small aisle of the limo. Monica huffed at her amid the chorus of laughter, about to say something to Sean about it, but Sean was already up, positioning himself near the door to intercept, wanting to keep her from falling out on her face.

  As Krista stumbled in toward him, she startled and met his eyes, unsure. Sean held out his hand, eyes connected with hers. The normal thing would have been for her to take his hand, steady herself, and let him help her out of the limo. Krista never did anything normally. Instead, she garbled that she was okay, which came out something like, “‘Mmm okiee,” then promptly dove toward the open patch of sky. Sean was expecting it.

  He grabbed her quickly, stopping her before she completed the trip to her face. She swung away from the open door and landed in his lap, her face inches from his. Her sweet breath brushing his eyelids.

  Krista leaned in an inch. Her control was ebbing. She was letting that other girl take over. The one that bit him. Sean felt his ardor rise, felt her heat soak into him. But this wasn’t the place. Not in front of these people.

  Before Sean could rectify the situation, she bucked. Her little hands pushed at his chest, trying to get away. Her legs thrashed, caught in her dress. One dipped between his leg, nearing his dick. It would’ve hurt, especially with how hard he was, so he caught her thigh in his, holding her. Pinning her body to his chest. Squeezing her close, liking how she felt. Liking the way she tucked neatly into his arms.

  “Careful Pet, wait for me,” Sean said quietly in her ear, half surprised he’d used the Irish term of endearment his grandma had always used with him.

  Her body stilled. Then thawed into him. He breathed in her scent as he lifted her, maneuvering her out of the open door and onto the sidewalk. He put her down gently, letting his hands linger on her bare arms. As her face tilted up, meeting his eyes, he recognized a look of dazed wonder.

  “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

  She nodded mutely, those wide, fearful eyes looking intently up at him, touching him somewhere deep within.

  “Sorry about back there. I got lost in the moment,” he murmured. They were cocooned in a web of intimacy, a deep, heavy thing moving in his chest.

  “I fell on you,” her voice was barely above a whisper, her words floating softly on her sweet breath.

  “No, uh, back at the winery.
I didn’t mean to...get so close. Go against our deal. I’m sorry about that,” he said softly, consumed with her.

  “Oh,” she sighed more than spoke, leaning heavily against his chest.

  “Just do him already and fill me in later!” Marcus shouted.

  Sean could see the words registering; her thick black lashes fluttering against her cheek. Her forehead knotted, a look of abject terror crossing her face. “Oh!”

  It was a very different “oh” than before. A sobering sound. A curtain call to the night.

  Krista jerked back, struggling in his grip. Sean shook his head, wanting to continue this moment, searching, wanting to figure out that felling, but knowing it wasn’t the time. He let go of her arms, forcing himself to step back.

  “Who could blame a guy, eh? At least your slip up didn’t leave teeth marks.” Krista winked at him, a professional at getting back to reality, almost as if she constantly had experience.

  He wasn’t so practiced. “You helped me out tonight. I owe the evening’s success to you, it seems. Really good work, Krista. Really good. Good thing you never listen to me.”

  Sean didn’t want to leave. He wanted to tell the others to go ahead; that he’d make his own way home. But that was impossible, especially because it was at that moment that Sean noticed the figure walking up behind Krista.

  Sean didn’t normally check out other guys, but this time he couldn’t help it. This time he noticed the handsome dark stranger as he walked up and put a territorial hand on Krista’s shoulder.

  “Oh!” Krista flinched in fear before she saw Paul. “Paul, Jesus, I didn’t see you there.”

  Paul didn’t say anything as he looked at Sean, but he didn’t have to. He had the girl.

  “Paul, this is my boss, Sean,” Krista said, not shrugging off the hand on her shoulder. “Sean, you’ve heard about Paul.”

  “Hey, bro,” Paul leaned over Krista to shake hands.

  Right away Sean noticed the weak handshake. That was a loss of points in guy code. Too bad most women didn’t care about guy code. As far as women code was concerned, Paul had plenty going for him. It was a shitty end to the night.