Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(12)

“Of course you do. We were there yesterday.”

“I didn’t say I’ve never drank Starbucks. I gave it up.”

“When? Since yesterday?”

“Since this morning. C’mon, let’s see those numbers.”

Chapter Three

The next morning brought with it another present on Krista’s desk. This time it was a gift card for Peet’s Coffee. The note said,

“Maybe Seattle’s Best won’t be offended with another specialty coffee retailer. –Sean”

She had seen Peet’s, but hadn’t tried it. Unlike Starbucks—the enemy!—she wanted to try a cup, see what they had to offer, but she hadn’t bothered to spend the money with free, and decent, work coffee. With donated money, though, why not?

She decided she’d take her lunch break, wander into one, find a mug, and try some coffee. Problem was, lunch wasn’t for another four to five hours. It would seem like longer, too, because the report due tomorrow was already done. All she had to do was sit at her desk, staring, waiting for a work stork to drop another project.

Actually, to hell with it. Who would tell on her, Mr. Montgomery’s assistant Larry? He never came her way. Not ever. He’d walk around the perimeter of Heaven if it meant avoiding her. He avoided everyone, it was true, but it was a complex with her. She had a feeling it had something to do with her always saying hi, no matter the scowl. He hated being talked to. Hated people in general. Such a queer department in which she found herself.

The day was sunny but breezy. In San Francisco, the nicest time of year started now, in the fall. It was apparently called the Indian summer. The fog cleared up, for the most part, and the sun shone bright and sometimes hot. It was proper California weather and Krista loved it.

She hadn’t gone far before she saw a small Peet’s Coffee shop. It was still busy, the morning rush in the Financial District lasting until about ten, but the line wasn’t atrocious. She figured she’d skirt around it and find a mug.

Narrowly avoiding a kamikaze caffeine attack nearly sprinting for the line, she found the stand of mugs and bee-lined.

“Oh! They’re nice,” she noted to no one in particular.

A man in a black suit with a pink tie looked at her like she might be a crazy homeless woman. Seeing she was dressed in business attire, he only marginally shifted away.

She did a sweep with her eyes and found one right off the bat. It nearly jumped into her hand it was so perfect. It was bigger than the one from work—God rest its porcelain soul—and more artfully decorated. It looked a little like the old stone one might see in a winery in Italy. It had earth-colored designs that were understated but gave the mug that little extra something.

To Krista, it was love at first sight. She hugged it to her and vowed not to break it.

She paid for the mug but still had about $10 left on the gift card, so she got two regular coffees; it was still a super sweet gesture, twice in a row. She knew Sean never added sugar, and only occasionally added creamer—she hated that she knew this—so she left his black. Assuming the coffee was good, she was taking a risk with that one, she left hers black as well so she could taste it. If it tasted like burnt ass, she could always get cream and sugar from the break room.

Once again she found Sean’s office, but this time her heart wasn’t beating out of control. There were butterflies, but not the kind that threatened to purge her breakfast bar. She was doing okay.

When she got there, all her defenses up again, she realized he wasn’t in.

Purposely not looking around like the stalker she’d become in the last 24 hours, she put the coffee on his desk and wrote a note saying thanks, with portrait of her new mug. Ben would not be proud of her efforts. Then, for the sport of it, she also noted directions to the microwave for his soon–to-be-cold coffee.

She snorted to herself. She was hilarious, no two ways about it.

Although, if he didn’t get the humor, he’d think she was calling him dumb. So then…either she was hilarious or a bitch…

Story of her life.

The next day she only saw Sean from a distance. He spared her a glance as he chatted to some art person about a brightly colored poster board. The day after was the same, getting a glimpse of him as the elevator doors closed. That time she allowed herself a small smile in greeting. A few more meetings and the smile got bigger. A few more after that and the words flowed more easily. He was chatty and cordial, easily engaging her in conversation and keeping her interest. And while occasionally he looked at her with an intensity that made her squeamish, usually he kept it light and playful. In the safe zone.

There were two problems, though. One was that she didn’t completely trust herself around him. He drew her in a way she’d never experienced before. Like light to a black hole, she couldn’t resist letting her attentions get sucked in. Her stomach exploded in butterflies every time she saw him, and her spine tingled pleasantly. While this was a great thing in movies and stories, with Sean, it was a very, very bad thing. She knew this because of the second problem. The man was constantly the subject of gossip.

Women often chatted about his past conquests, whether in work or out. He’d dated a few girls around the office, it was said, getting them into bed almost immediately, and just as quickly stepping away and leaving them hanging. While Krista hadn’t seen proof, most girls got sucked in by the effervescent salesman. Krista wasn’t the only one. She wasn’t special.