Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(78)

A glance at Sean said he was serious. Ben might actually go for that. All that space, all those resources…

“Pass me the phone. I left my cellphone in the office.”

Sean did so without hesitation.

Where most people would ignore the phone when they were in the middle of something, Ben answered just to make it stop ringing. Krista offered to unplug the house phone for him, but Abbey would notice, even though she never used the thing, and cause a big stink. Krista knew this from experience.

“Hello?” came the mid-range voice lined with irritation.

“Ben?”

“Yeah. Krista?”

“Hi Ben, yeah it’s me. Hey…so I was wondering…”

“Please note that I am doing a big project this weekend.”

“I know, Ben. So it’s like this. My Captain needs this thing done by Monday and there’s an art bit involved. We would like to enlist your help, which will take barely any of your time, and in trade, he’s willing to offer you the entire weekend in our huge art department so you can use all its resources to finish your thing. And free meals.”

“Your Captain? Are you on a ship?”

“Well, he’s not technically my boss, but he’s in charge. Not important. What do you think?”

“How would I possibly get all my stuff there and back?”

“Oh…” She glanced at Sean. He was analyzing her with hope written plainly on his face. “Neither of us have a car.”

“I’ll pick him up,” Sean said without hesitation.

“He’ll pick you up.” She relayed to Ben.

“He? Your boss? Er, Captain or whatever?”

“Yeah. If you’ll agree to help.”

“I get the run of the whole art studio?”

“It’s an art department, Ben. Not studio. There is art stuff stocked there, you know? And no Abbey. Abbey-free all weekend.”

“Stocked art stuff… Oh!” Ben finally got the magnitude of the offer, although Krista thought the Abbey-free part was the sweet part. “Deal. When do you need me?”

“Now-ish I think. Hold on.” She held the phone away. “When does this happen?”

“How fast can you work?” Sean asked.

“Me? I can have the research done in a couple hours, tops. Less if we’re going for just passable. I can get all the art stuff together, too. So by tonight I am good to go.”

“Then you have your answer.”

“Yes but he needs a ride.”

“I’m ready when you are. Or whenever it suits him.” Sean nodded to the phone. He must have been out of his mind desperate to be so easy going about all this.

“Ben?” She said getting back on the phone. “Can you be ready to help in about two hours, maybe three?”

“That’s fine. I will have all my stuff packed by then.”

“Okay, I’ll call before we come.”

“’Kay.” The phone clicked before she could say good-bye. Ben was notorious for failing to give a farewell on the phone.

“He’ll do it. I’ll go get my part done.” She got up.

“I don’t think I got you a big enough raise,” Sean said, looking at her with soft eyes. His eyes were so lovely. She’d never seen that brilliant color green before. So pure. She wanted to drink in his look as he pulled her against his body.

Sean retracted his gaze when she gave a small jump and turned red. “Yup, okay. See you on the flip side.” And she whisked out of the office.

“It was a nice little moment, though,” Sean said to himself with a smile.

As Krista made her way distractedly down the hall, that last look echoing through her body, she realized someone was in her office. Slowing, she peered in the window from the hallway, just making out a buzz cut and the profile of Jacob’s face as he sat in her visitor chair, facing her desk.

Not now!

She hesitated, fidgeting. She didn’t want to go in. She was in a hurry, had possibly a ton to do, and Sean was waiting on her. But she didn’t want to be mean or brusque, either. The guy was the head of the IT department—he gaveth, he could probably taketh away. Or at least breaketh.

She’d wait him out. He couldn’t sit there forever.

Although, why was he sitting there in the first place? Creepy.

Decision made, she about-faced in a hurry, the break room in mind, when she ran smack into a hard chest. The sweet smell of cologne accosted her nose as a pair of fabulous pecs hugged her neck.

“What—”

“Sssssshhhhhh!”Krista slapped her hand over Marcus’s mouth and pushed him down the hall, crinkling her papers between them as she heaved with her whole body. The guy was slimmer than Sean, yes, but he definitely had lots of muscle tone. If Krista hadn’t been 90% positive he was g*y, she would take notice. Possibly cop a feel.

Another feel.

She pushed Marcus up against the elevator, frantically pushing the “v” button, drowning the hallway in click-click-click-click.

“Now can I ask what is going on?” Marcus whispered, unperturbed that her hand stayed in the middle of his chest, keeping him put. “Is the young stud na**d in your office? Because if so, I want to see that!”

95% g*y.

“No! It’s Jacob! He’s hanging out in my office!” Krista poked the button a few more times, then threw a glance behind her to make sure he hadn’t come out into the hall.