Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(46)

Sean’s head snapped up and he met her eyes. There was no boyish humor or sultry heat in his look. Not now. He was reading her; checking to see if she was serious. Amazingly, he seemed to think his sideshow act was irresistible. The ego on the man was astounding! If it could be compared to an iceberg, it would sink the Titanic all over again.

When he met unflinching resolve, his confidence shattered. His eyebrows drooped, like a scared twenty-something playing at being a businessman rather than a powerful player on his way to the top. His shoulders hunched as he turned back to his beer, his humor completely dried up.

It was freaking deserved, but now she felt like a huge bitch! It went against everything she had known about him thus far, but he looked forlorn. Plus, she had to work with the guy—maybe—she didn’t need to create an enemy, especially one as powerful as he was.

“Sean, I--”

“You are going to have to bear with me on that point,” he said, cutting her off as he turned to her. His face was unreadable. “Sometimes it is habit. Most times, I should say. Just as most times it is habit to play the big, egocentric young guy amongst all the top execs. Dress the part, you know? But I’ll work on it. Give me some patience, and I’ll work on it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to use the chastised little boys’ room.”

He gave her an adorable, lopsided but insecure smile before he headed off to the restroom. It was genuine. What he was feeling right then was legit. Her heart squished as it sank into her boots. It wasn’t fair—he did deserve it. But still…meh!

When he came back, he seemed in better spirits. “You know,” he started off, “just because you won’t let me seduce you, doesn’t mean I won’t seduce others in your presence.”

An-nd, he was back.

“I couldn’t give two rats about others,” Krista said with a smile, feeling the guilt slip away. “I’m looking after number one, here. Oh, and should you ever run into my friends, they count, too. We are all cynical bitches, so I doubt you would have any effect, but all the same.”

“Ah, so it’s the cynical bitches that are impervious to my charms?”

“Exactly.”

“Got it.”

“But I should warn you, you should stop peeing in the company pool.”

“Look--” he looked into the mystical waters of his beer. “I’ll make you a deal. You keep out of my sex life, and I’ll keep out of yours. Okay?”

Krista nodded. She’d deserved that. “Deal.”

They shook on it. Krista felt like she’d just made a pact with the devil. They’d see how this would go. In theory, she could relax around the guy. If he wasn’t trying to get her into bed, then she wouldn’t have to constantly have defenses from following him like a mouse to a flute. Then again, he would stop trying to seduce her. Hot guys trying to seduce a girl always gave her a confidence boost.

No-win situation on that one.

“You know...” she said, wanting to change subjects. “If you’d just told me where the weaknesses were, I could’ve easily danced around those issues. On the presentation, I mean. That guy would’ve never even seen it.”

Sean’s business look was back. “How would you have done that? I mean, besides lie and change data?”

“Haven’t you ever heard of companies showing this result or that result for some study, then another group does the same study but with different parameters and finds a totally different result? All I would’ve done was add vagueness in the right places, and accentuated what would help the cause. Easy.”

“What if you were up against someone who speaks your language, like your boss?”

“If he was to catch it, and by catch it, I mean see that it could be refined and want more information, I would have to give it verbally in a meeting. Verbal recital leaves something to the imagination.”

“Okay, but what if someone smarter than you was asking the questions?”

“Are you implying that I am not functioning on genius level?”

“Forgive me, this is all theory.”

Krista smiled, “Someone smarter would be used to thinking everyone like me is an idiot. They would cut me some slack and assume I didn’t highlight the right data like the idiot I was/am …You know what I mean.”

“Okay ... what if you were up against you?”

“Ah. Some cynical bitch who knew all the tricks because that was the quickest way to get an ‘A’ in school, and who was only a math geek because it paid more than a hair and makeup specialist?”

Sean chuckled as he studied her, “Exactly.”

“Then I would be well buggered, I think. I would be as up front as I could, as truthful as I could, and we would have to use all your sales know-how when we were told to get them a report with better findings. It’s all about parameters and the way it is divulged.”

“Good answer. Unexpectedly good answer. I am suddenly extremely glad I found you for this team. I think you could do quite well in sales if you really wanted to.”

“If I really wanted to.”

“And you don’t?”

“Correct, sir.”

“Duly noted, senator. What’s next on the grudge list?”

“That’s it. Sexual part was the biggest gripe.”