Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(97)

“I love you,” he said softly into her ear. His lips found her earlobe and his hands slid further down her hips.

“Can I ask you a question?” Krista asked shyly. It was time to tie up her curiosity. Get the truth fully out there.

“Of course.” Sean moved down her neck, kissing and nibbling.

“Have you been without protection with anyone else?”

Sean hesitated and leaned back. Krista’s heart was in her throat.

“No,” Sean said quietly. “You are still the only one. I’ve never trusted anyone enough besides you. Are you still…”

Krista breathed out a sigh of relief. It had really mattered to her. That little piece of him she got to herself. No one else had Sean completely but her. It helped mend the bridge that was still broken.

“On the pill? Yes. I wouldn’t have—you know, without it.”

“I figured as much. It was why I didn’t ask. Or stop.”

Sean didn’t resume his ministrations. Instead, he said, “I should probably come clean.”

Krista went rigid.

“I know about your job offers.”

“Oh holy f**k!” Krista said, losing all the air in her chest. “This was a helluva time to bring that up! Don’t ride on the coattails of a non-protection sexual conversation with mundane stuff! What is wrong with you?”

Sean laughed. “Sorry. I really do trust you about that other stuff. It doesn’t weigh in my mind with the same gravity as yours, I guess.”

Krista climbed out of the tub, Sean following. Their fingers and toes were all wrinkly.

“Marcus has a big mouth,” Krista said, wrapping herself in a fluffy white hotel robe.

“He hinted about it, but it was Kate that spilled the beans. She was trying to humble me, I think. It worked.”

Krista laughed. “She still wants to give you a kick.”

“You have more offers, now.” Sean said, putting a towel around his hips.

Krista faced off with him. He was looking at her with his business look. She looked back with hers—she had one now! She’d practiced at all the analytical meetings with Tory, Ben, and Marcus.

“From whom?”

“Apparently one of our biggest competitors.”

“Kate said that?”

“No. Tory.”

“Tory knows?” Krista asked, her business face cracking. She didn’t want to go about it like that. Sean was one thing—before now, anyway. She had still kind of wanted to stick it to him. But Tory had given her a lot. He had spent time with her to build her up, to give her more tools. She didn’t want to go behind his back.

“Tory found out from a gloating CEO, I guess.” Sean stood silent, looking at Krista.

She waited, not really sure what to say. She was still seriously considering leaving. She loved Sean, and she wanted to give it a chance, but she needed to think of herself, too. She needed to go where she would be welcomed. And also with who would give her the best deal.

“Are you planning to leave?” Sean finally asked.

Krista bowed her head and walked out of the bathroom. Sean followed quietly. When they got to the sitting room, Krista sat on the couch, looking out the window.

“Once I would have stayed for you,” Krista said somberly, “but that was before I spent two years building myself up. It was before I got out on my own; before I learned my worth.”

Sean said, “It was before you realized you didn’t fit in.”

Krista looked at him. At his troubled green eyes. “I love you, Sean. I want to give it another chance. I want to date and see what happens. But that is personal life. This is business. I can make more money elsewhere. I can get more respect. I don’t have to try so hard to do my job. I can just do it, without the struggle, you know? I want to buy a house. I want to try and get settled, finally. Real estate is expensive—I’m looking out for me on this one.”

“I won’t hold you back. But give Tory a chance to talk to you before you make any final decisions. I can’t give you a raise, not yet; but he has said he can, so wait to see what he offers. That is my only request. Wait to see what he values your worth, and how the guys respond to you in L.A., before making any final decisions.”

Krista nodded slowly. “I haven’t interviewed or anything, so you have some time. Just…don’t take it personally, okay? Whatever I decide, don’t take it personally.”

Sean sat next to her. “That was me talking on a personal level. You have another thing coming if you think my business side is going to let you go that easily.”

Krista laughed. “Is that a challenge?”

Sean chuckled darkly and resumed his ministrations. With a smile, Krista leaned back and let him.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

One month had gone by since the team building convention. True to form, Sean was back to the grindstone with very little pause. He was working long hours and trying to get his region to make miracles happen. Krista was pushing Kate and the other supervisors under her, which now numbered four, but only Kate was handling the increased pressure. Everyone else was cracking and requiring more help from Krista, which sometimes meant reorganization.

One of those departments was in Bob’s care—Sean had them reassigned a couple of weeks before the conference. Like Bob, Krista had to try and force the supervisor out. He would not be motivated. He simply would not work! He finally gave up from her monotonous persistence, made a giant public display in the break room by calling her a raging bitch, and walked out. Sean had Jasmine reassigned directly after the convention, and Krista had the whole department restructured and on the path to better performance, with Jasmine’s help, in two weeks flat. There was one more woman in upper management, and she was kicking ass, just like Kate. Just like Krista.