Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(77)

“Where are those pictures from?” John stabbed at the book in Marcus’s hand.

Krista got Sean’s acute gaze that told her to keep quiet about the vast resources. He must have forgotten it was her secret in the first place.

“Well, first I took some of my own pictures from places around the city,” Krista said into the stuffed office. “But I am no photographer, so I went to the library archives and found images that seemed to fit. They don’t belong to us, so I am sure they can’t be used, but I thought a general idea would work for Marcus and Judy, and then they could go from there. I mean, if they wanted to. You know…”

It was a lame way to end her babbling. As such, everyone kept staring at her, probably waiting for the end of the sentence. Especially John, who was trying to pin her to the carpet with his flat stare. After another beat he went back to looking at the figures. He nodded once, and then handed the information to Sean, who took it quietly.

John said, “Monday morning.” He set his speed to turbo and flew out of the room.

There was a collective sigh. Krista was nearly ready to cry. Sean saw it and moved toward her, trying to get between Ray and the desk to do so, but before he could get there Marcus and Judy said together, “Relax” in that special way.

It immediately cut the tension.

“That was a good sign, Krista,” Judy said, reviewing her notes. “A good sign. He had nothing to yell at us about. Which is a first, I think.”

Ray was letting his mask of worry melt off his face. He knew John about as well as Krista did and probably thought his job was going down the tube as well.

“Nothing to yell at us about,” Marcus said with a grin, dark eyes flicking to Sean. “Sean, on the other hand, will be working all weekend.”

Sean nodded and flopped into his seat. “He has the most unreal expectations.”

“Can we take these, Sean?” Judy asked, indicating Krista’s latest.

“Krista, is that saved somewhere?” Ray asked.

“Yeah, it’s on my computer in my public folder and it’s on a flash drive.”

“Can we borrow the drive?” Judy asked.

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll go and get it—“

“Wait.” Krista stopped and looked back at Sean in expectation. “You are finished with your work, right?”

“Yeah. Want me to help with something?”

“Yes!” Sean sighed before he caught Ray’s frown, “Please.”

Judy and Marcus quickly shuffled out of the room. If work was being doled out, they didn’t want their share. Ray patted Sean on the shoulder and left the office as well.

When it was just her and Sean, Krista lowered herself to the visitor chair, the electrical current in the room once again started to buzz through her body. Her eyes couldn’t help but focus on his sensual lips as he chewed on the end of his pen. He glanced up in thought and then focused on her gaze, hunger burning in his eyes.

“Fan please,” Krista said lightly, spreading her arms away from her body just enough so her deodorant didn’t have to work so hard.

Sean smiled. He swiveled in his chair and flipped on the fan, then faced her again. There was a tense beat. It seemed like he was trying to rein himself in. Trying not to take a step he had been dying to take.

“Should I come back later?” she asked in self-preservation. If he asked her out, she’d say yes. She knew she would, and she hated herself for that fact, but there it was. She was a damn fool who obviously didn’t learn from her past mistakes. Her only lifeline was to head him off at the pass with a topic change.

The Cosmos was cackling at her life, she knew it.

Sean’s brow furrowed for the briefest of moments, making her half think he realized what she was doing, then his expression cleared. “No way. If you leave you might sneak out and go home. Then who would I get to do my work for me?” Sean looked around his desk distractedly. “Okay,” he shuffled the piles of papers into other, smaller piles, “I have to make a proposal to a shoe company. I have some research…” he passed her the information, “—and, I have some art.” He passed her some other papers.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Look at them.”

The research was minimal, the figures probably right but not all-encompassing. The art was barely a step above that. There was no thread that held everything together.

It suddenly dawned on her. “You are supposed to make this look like a cohesive presentation?”

“Exactly. That is just part of it. I also have to get quotes, figure out how to sell it, and get that event together for Monica.”

Krista shook her head, feeling bad for him. His eyes were tight and tired, his face lined with stress. “Do you have to use this info? Can I start over?”

Sean sighed in relief. “I don’t need too in-depth. I need passable. They are a tiny client. The revenue we are looking at is minimal. So is the effort.”

“Can I consult with an art person?”

“No one has the time. If you can ask your roommate we will pay him.”

“He has finals.” Krista didn’t know if she could be counted on to work the art angle all on her own. The research would be a breeze. Tying it all together wouldn’t. At least, not for her.

“You said he was in art school, right?” Sean pushed. “If I give him the run of the art department all weekend, would he help?”