Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(88)

“That’s what I was thinking. Who have you got him next to?”

Sean turned away from Tory so the man didn’t realize he was the object of scrutiny. “Marcus. Tory doesn’t trust either of us and there was no one else.”

“What about Judy?”

“No.”

“Monica? She is looking hot tonight. She’s good for that sort of thing.”

“She doesn’t know the product. And she isn’t the right sort to talk to him.”

“True. Did you bring the cute Research girl?”

“Yes. She’s by the bar.”

John scanned the twinkling social hub and whistled. “Wow. Nice rack.”

“She’s not one I’d pair with Tory,” Sean said, looking the other way uncomfortably.

He could watch Krista all night. In fact, that’s all he wanted to do. Despite the pressure of their job here tonight, it’s all he wanted to do. Earlier in the limo, as they’d pulled up to Krista’s house, Monica had spread her legs so her knee brushed his, trying to focus his attention on what waited between her thighs. And two years ago that might’ve still worked. But the second Krista’s body was silhouetted in the door frame, sporting a sleek, glittering blue dress that showed her off as he had never seen before, his thoughts and eyes stuck to her. Monica was pretty, sure, but in a manufactured sort of way. Krista was different. She was real. Too good for a guy like him. Too pure.

And if that would stop him trying for her, he’d truly be a changed man. He was more mature now, but he still had the arrogance of youth. He just wished he had a few tricks up his sleeve that she’d buy. She was a magician’s worst nightmare.

All that aside, he had an important job to do tonight, and he didn’t want, or need, the distraction. Tonight wasn’t about girls, no matter how pretty. No matter how intriguing. Sean was nervous and excited both. This was a true challenge. Tory was a smart, business-savvy executive at the height of his career, sitting on the empire he basically built. To land him tonight meant Sean was well on his way. It meant the Junior VP position was all but his.

“Speaking of Tory …” John said, interrupting Sean’s thoughts.

Tory was making his way to the bar. To the open spot right next to Krista, which happened to be the only place available.

“Doesn’t matter the man, we all like to look,” John said in that creepy way he had become known for.

“Maybe I’ll head over,” Sean said in a tight voice. He didn’t want Krista speaking with Tory. She was too honest and he was too shrewd. It’d be over before it’d even begun.

“Leave her for a minute. Tory will know something’s up if you sprint in now. By the look of her, she doesn’t know who he is.”

Chapter Nineteen

“Scotch on the rocks.”

Krista glanced to her right when she heard the smoker’s voice and saw a man in an expensive suit in his late forties or early fifties. Remembering that she was supposed to mingle, she turned her head in his direction. Then, not knowing what to say, hesitated with her mouth open.

“Are you all right?”

She recognized the look of concern in the man’s eyes, which probably had something to do with her looking skyward, mouth open, thinking.

She laughed stupidly. “I’m an idiot, sorry. I was trying to think of a way to be chatty.”

“To be chatty?” He turned back to the bar.

So did she, “Yeah, you know, sociable.”

“It doesn’t sound like you work in PR.”

Krista laughed again. “No. Not even close. Research. They don’t let us out much.”

“Then why are you here? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Million-dollar question. Krista didn’t know who this guy was, but based on the fact that she was left alone without one of her team rushing over to save her, she figured he wasn’t anyone too important. Still, she had to stick to the same story with everyone, so she hedged.

“I did well in a presentation. This is my gold star. Well…that, and my boss didn’t want to come. I don’t think he likes these things much.”

“I don’t blame him. Were you not permitted to bring a date?”

“Personal question,” Krista mumbled.

The man next to her looked over. Krista realized he’d heard.

“Sorry,” she said to her drink, trying to be polite but not really meaning it. “Often times it isn’t wise to point out that a single girl is alone at a function.”

The man next to her turned toward her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—“

She waved him away and looked out at the people mill-and-flocking around. Some might also call it socializing.

“Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t really apply in this situation anyway. Long story short, I didn’t know if we could bring a date or not because I didn’t ask. I didn’t really want to bring the man I’m seeing. Plus, it’s kind of like a wedding—if you bring someone no one else knows, then you have to babysit. I hate bringing a date to weddings.”

“But you are at the bar alone.”

“Yup. Hindsight.”

The man next to her snorted.

“Tit for tat, why are you alone?” Krista asked, still trying to be polite and sociable. It didn’t come naturally with strangers. On the other hand, she’d have to leave her comfy little alcove at the bar soon, so she might as well talk to him until he wandered away or Sean would be irritated she wasn’t being a stupid social butterfly like Monica.