Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(54)

Krista grinned. “Hate to say it, Sean, but I’m always right.”

His anger flashed, but he looked away. She’d hoped he would have calmed down with a jest, but his pride was hurt. Or something else was going on that he wasn’t about to spill in front of the crew.

“Well, so we won overall?” Krista asked.

Everyone nodded, their smiles big.

“Thanks to your trash talking!” Dean said.

At that, Sean turned around suddenly, eyes wide. It was the first time Dean talked to Krista in any other way but a sneer. Thankfully, Sean was at the back of their cluster or he would have ruined it. Krista was starting to win him over. The day’s humiliation was almost worth it.

Almost, but not quite.

Krista saw New York’s VP heading her way with purpose. The man was in his early sixties or late fifties, and was a big cat. He probably smoked cigars, had a box at Yankee stadium, and a weird looking wife with big hair and fake nails. Sean turned to greet him, but got a nod instead.

“Krista. We haven’t been formally introduced. I am Ron Powers. I am the Senior VP over there at the New York region. I’ve been with this company a long time. I just wanted to give you a formal apology for what was said to you by one of my men. It was over the line. Thank you for handling it so gracefully.”

Krista shrugged, making light of it to save face. “No problem. I’ve heard worse.”

“Not at work you haven’t, I hope.” Ron gave Sean a hard look.

“Thanks for the apology, Ron. It means a lot,” Krista said, trying to get this scene over with before Sean said something stupid or she broke down crying.

Ron turned back to her and shook her hand. “You’re a fire starter. Maybe it’s about time we got a female perspective.”

Krista didn’t miss the hedge but continued on anyway. “Tory’s always had that. Her name is Emily. She’s the silent partner.”

Ron gave a loud, booming laugh. It was like thunder clouds rolling through. “Observant. And correct.” He shook her hand again and headed away.

With that, everyone stared at her, waiting for her reaction. She gave it by turning and headed back to her room. As expected, Sean fell in beside her like he was her personal bodyguard. It wasn’t until they were separated from the rest of the groups, including their own, that he asked quietly, “Are you okay?”

“Are you okay, Sean?” she deflected.

“Krista, you can hide a great many things from a great many people, but you can’t hide all that much from me.”

They were walking through the lobby. Krista was silent as she approached the elevator. Some Utah people were already waiting. The moustache man turned to her, stalling the conversation between Krista and Sean.

“Krista, is it?”

She nodded and he continued with, “I’m Perry. You did a great job up there. I’ve been to these things before, but the dunk tank part has never been so fun. Welcome aboard.”

“Thanks, Perry. If I was a better shot, I wouldn’t have been up there in the first place. But you saw the balloon toss. I’m not much of a thrower. More a soccer player. Talking trash was the least I could do, right?”

“I guess,” he said as the elevator opened.

They all filed in, no one talking much in the tight space. She and Sean got out on their floor.

“Well, see ya,” Krista said to Perry.

“In about an hour.”

As soon as the doors closed, the silence once again permeated. She knew Sean wanted to talk about it, but he held himself in check.

When Krista got to her room, escorted by the body guard, she felt his presence stop with her. Thinking he wanted to talk to Janice, she walked into the quiet space and held the door so he could follow behind.

Except, Janice wasn’t in there. She and Marcus must’ve still been at their competitions.

Trying to remain unperturbed, but not thinking of much else besides Blake’s humiliation, she stripped off her wet shirt and threw it in the bathroom. She wanted to be left alone. She wanted to sort it out in her head. Most importantly, she wanted to cry to relieve a little stress. She didn’t know how to get Sean to go, though. She was fragile, he was right, but she didn’t want to break down in front of him. They didn’t have that kind of relationship anymore.

In just her bra, Krista rooted around in the closet for the dress she would wear later. In a soft voice, she heard, “Krissy, please.”

She stopped in the middle of her search, bowed her head, and let the tears come. Sean was there immediately, arms wrapped around her, crushing her to his stone body.

He lowered his mouth until it brushed lightly against her ear. “I didn’t want that for you, Pet. That’s what I was trying to prevent.”

“And in doing so, you would have made it obvious to everyone that you were protecting me. They already think I am sleeping with you to get promotions.”

“I know. And you handled it well. Even Blake’s comment.”

She could hear the steel in his voice. She didn’t think he had heard the comment directly, but it wouldn’t have taken long for it to spread. Krista folded up into his arms and let him rock her slowly. She inhaled his unique scent and thought of the sun warming the sands as the ocean mist flowed over her. Home.

She put her head back a little. Sean’s cheek lightly glanced against hers as his mouth came closer. She lifted her head slightly, her lips mere inches from his. She expected him to bend a fraction and meet her. When he didn’t she said in a breathy whisper, “Do you want to make love to me, Sean?”