Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(65)

“Perry, don’t let her fool you!” Georgie said, trying not to laugh. “Sean tried to stop her and she bullied him. She isn’t the sweet little flower she looks.”

“Oh, I don’t think she’s a sweet flower at all!” Perry exclaimed. “I’ve been gunned down by her!”

“Me, too! In the back!” Mark exclaimed.

“Alright you guys, alright!” Krista laughed, trying to break up the slander fest. She noticed Sean break away from one of the cute little admins with a dress barely covering her crotch. He was headed to the bar. “I’m going to get a drink. When I come back—“

“I’ll get it,” Donald said, cutting her off. His beer was empty. “Another Mojito?”

“Yes please.” She watched Sean casually lean on the bar and say a couple words to the bartender. Two seconds later another young admin was next to him, making conversation. She sighed and focused on the guys around her. It wasn’t meant to be.

A couple hours into the night saw them finished with an okay dinner. They’d gotten the cattle call around seven, as promised, and all started making their way to the restaurant. There were no seating arrangements, so she sat with Georgie, Donald, Perry, and a few other guys Perry knew. Bob was thankfully avoiding her, and Dean only said a couple words to her all night, which was more than usual, so it wasn’t the end of the world.

She made a mental note to talk to Marcus about those two that evening, and tried to make it stick so she didn’t forget again. She’d traded Marcus for info, and so far the trade was only one sided!

After dinner the company sponsored portion came to a close. That didn’t stop the hordes of people heading to the bar, Krista included.

Donald and Krista were waiting to carry drinks for their dinner crew when Sean came up. She smelled him coming, his unique scent mixed with that mouthwatering cologne he wore, but still acted surprised when she turned and found him checking out her butt.

“Hi Geegee,” he said with a guilty smile.

Krista returned his look flatly.

He looked at Donald. “Donald. I wanted to let you and our team know that tomorrow we meet in the lobby at ten, sharp. We’ll be doing a ropes course, so don’t overdo it tonight, okay?”

Krista didn’t see what Donald did in answer to this, but he only got a glance, and she got a pointed look. It probably meant she should switch to champagne cocktails because she was already buzzed from the mojitos and not in the mood for stopping. They made ‘em potent and she was having fun with her new friends.

Since Sean was done talking, and he was technically the enemy, she turned away and heard Donald mutter a farewell as he followed. Sean was undoubtedly headed to talk to some tramp—Krista didn’t want to see the face of the one he finally chose for the night. Every time she thought of it ice froze over her insides.

Chapter Nineteen

The night continued. As the alcohol flowed, time went pear shaped, but in a good way. Krista was getting along with everyone. Their group got bigger. The laughter got louder. People started relaxing in her presence. As the night started waning, the Fat Cat himself came over.

“Krista.”

Everyone looked up at the looming shape of Ron Powers. And then, as if on cue in a play, all scattered.

“Jesus, Ron, that’s a neat trick,” Krista said as Perry made his escape.

Ron smiled without looking around. “I have been in this company a long time, Miss Fields. People know when to make themselves scarce.”

Ron had a serious expression and an air about him that was intimidating. He was the Fat Cat, alright. He was reigning over his empire, second only to Tory. He was Sean’s nemesis and his hero all wrapped in one. Not to mention a giant roadblock to Tory’s job.

“I was wondering if you would mind if I sat here for a minute?” he asked.

Krista shrugged. “Well, you scared away all my friends, so why not?”

He smiled and took the chair opposite her, previously occupied by Perry.

“Did you need another drink?”

Krista shook her head. She still had half of one left. What she needed was to get out of the bar pronto because pretty soon it would be drunk time and she would do something stupid. Most of the company already retired to get a good night’s sleep. Or because they, too, got drunk too fast. Krista needed to take a cue.

“You intrigue me, Krista Fields,” Ron started, looking at her as if she were a mouse he planned to trap. “I haven’t told anyone about the paintball game.”

“What about it?”

“That was an impressive move you did. I thought I had you. I certainly should have, but you moved so quickly and unexpectedly, I was off-put.”

“That was the plan. Sean and I figured that would break through the defenses. It seemed to work out okay, but I didn’t see you until the last second. It was a narrow miss!”

“Then you shot me. Fool me twice, so to speak.”

“I didn’t fool you, Ron. I bested you.” Krista countered the sting with a wink.

Ron leaned back in his chair. He had a snifter that was probably filled with expensive cognac. If he had a cigar, he would be right at home.

“You did. Takes a man to admit it. It was only paintball, of course. The sport of the young.”

Krista shrugged. “Live hard, play hard.”