Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(47)

“Tory, please do the honors,” The ref said. Tory walked between the tables, all smiles and fun. He gave a couple nods to groups that had done a good job, and once outright laughed. That pair probably didn’t hit the mark.

When he got down to Sean’s region, the last in line, he stopped abruptly. He looked up and met Krista’s eyes in surprise. He angled his head to look at Donald, who was complacently looking over Krista’s right shoulder—much like a robot on sleep mode. Tory then looked beyond them to Sean, who had to wait toward the back of the hall for the results with the rest of the regions.

“Well, this is a first,” Tory said to the ref. “The image is almost exact.”

The ref walked over and looked at Donald’s work. He looked at Krista’s image then said, “Los Angeles is the winner!”

Donald and Krista met eyes over the divider. She was in awe. She never actually thought they’d win. Donald looked just as surprised. That was about when the rest of the team descended on them with smiles and jeers. Sean looked at Krista with incredulous eyes. She wanted to hug him, he wanted to kiss her, but they settled instead with smiling radiantly at each other and missing what they had.

Krista would also need to get a new pair of underoos. Sean looked damn good when he was on top of the world.

“Next up, egg walk,” The ref boomed as he led the way out of the exit door at the back of the room.

“Great work, Geegee!” Sean said as he fell in line with her. The other guys were saying the same to Donald.

“I didn’t think we’d do so well. Our practice wasn’t that good,” Krista explained, ignoring the others.

“Oh, you’d be surprised with Donald. You tell him something once and you never have to remind him again. You on the other hand…”

“Har har, funny man. What’s this egg walk? And where are we going?”

“All in due time. Listen, what are you planning to wear tonight?”

“I’m planning to wear a pretty, long red dress. It is sparkly and I love it. What Marcus will let me wear is an entirely different story.”

“I’ve noticed that he’s obsessed with your fashion.”

“Obsessed is the right word for it! He is like a pageant mom. Why do you ask?”

“I just don’t think you should look too pretty, is all.”

Krista’s step hitched. “Sorry, I think I misheard. What?”

Sean laughed. “That came out wrong. Blake’s got his eye on you. But he’s also got his eye on a couple of the admins. Then there are all the old codgers that think business is no place for a lady. You might keep things toned down like you did last night.”

“The red sparkly one is cut conservatively. Nothing shows.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Krista got a surge of adrenaline. Sean was joking, mostly. It was the part that wasn’t joking that nearly made her swoon. He was getting far too close. He was butting up against the soft part of her that was supposed to be closed for renovation.

“Actually, Marcus will, but thanks for showing an interest,” Krista said to shut off that conversation.

They were outside the hotel beyond the parking lot in bushes and shrubs and not a lot else.

“This is the egg walk,” The ref said loudly when they’d all gathered. “You will break off into partners. One partner will be blindfolded, holding an egg on a spoon. The partner will talk the person with the egg through the field and across the line, getting them to walk around and through obstacles using only instructions. Both parties may talk. There will be one point awarded for each group that crosses the line with egg intact.”

“Partner?” Sean asked Krista. She nodded. “Do you want to be blind folded, or shall I?”

“I will. I had to explain in the last one.”

“Fair enough.” Sean collected a blindfold, an egg, and a spoon from a guy walking around.

Bob and Dean had paired off, leaving Georgie and Donald. Georgie and Bob were putting on blindfolds.

As Sean stood behind her, fastening the blindfold to her eyes, things got weird. A vivid flashback rocked Krista’s world, working in harmony with her stress and vulnerability from the struggles of the weekend: Jim surprising her right after she’d gotten home one day and blinding her with a sack over her head. He’d then tied her hands, ripped off her panties and rammed himself inside of her.

She clutched at the blindfold, whimpering, trying to stay calm, knowing it was not real, but unable to relax. Doing this now was all kinds of bad. It wasn’t the time or place to show weakness. They were in the middle of a ring of professionals who all thought she was soft and shouldn’t be there. If she were to come apart at something so trivial as being blindfolded, it would undo everything she was hoping to achieve!

Acting fast, Sean let go of the blindfold and put his hands firmly on her shoulders.

“I’m right here, Pet,” he said softly, using his Irish Grandmother’s term of endearment. “I’m right here. You’re safe.”

How many times had she suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, feeling imaginary hands on her throat, and been stilled by Sean’s soothing voice? Too many to count. She trusted in that now. She let go of the blind fold without ripping it off, and reached out and felt his arm. She felt it move and his hand grasp hers.