Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(23)

She worked her way through a couple emails and finished up the latest report for Sean. It was then that she noticed a new email. From Sean. He was in the office!

Strangely, her palms got clammy and her heart raced. She finished what she was working on and decided she might as well be friendly and say hi. He was her Captain after all.

She was walking on air as she made her way to his office. She was eager and anxious and nervous all at the same time. Her heart was racing and the butterflies in her stomach were going wild. She had no idea why getting Sean alone in the office was playing hell on her nerves, but she couldn’t erase the excited smile from her face.

She saw him through his office window as she walked up. The movement must have caught his eye because he glanced up, caught sight of her, and lifted his head. Was that pleasure on his face? Maybe he was as happy to see her as she was him?

“Hey Cap’n-my-Cap’n,” she said as she leaned in the doorway.

He was wearing a white T-shirt that was a little snug across his shoulders and a little loose around his waist. He looked like he just rolled out of bed, the scruff on his face and messy hair made him look like a Calvin Klein model. He smelled distinctly of crisp ocean. He’d probably gone for an early surf. It filled the whole office. No cologne that morning, it was all Sean.

“Hi Geegee. It’s nice to see you,” he said with a smile that lit up his whole face.

Krista beamed. It was amazing what a ridiculously gorgeous guy smiling could do to a mood.

“I was depressed being here on a Saturday alone. It’s nice to have company,” he continued.

“Yeah, I had a couple things to do before Monday.”

“I didn’t see you last night. Hot date?” Was that tinged with worry? Or, more realistically, was her imagination starting to get a little overbearing?

“No, I didn’t want to work late on a Friday. It’s less depressing to come in at your leisure on a Saturday.”

“True. Any big plans for the weekend? What’s left of it, anyway?”

“I’m supposed to go to the Folsom Street Fair tomorrow with the girls.”

Surprise flitted across his face, and then humor, “Right. And you’ve never been?”

“Nope. It’s only once a year, I think.”

“Yes. Did they tell you what to expect?”

“Just that’s it’s a street fair with a bunch of g*y guys.”

“Lots of g*y guys. Lots and lots.”

“Well, the city has lots of g*y guys, so it won’t be that big of a deal. Probably really artsy and girly, right?”

“Uh...sure.” The way he said it, Krista knew he was making fun of her somehow. Poor Seattle girl in the world of San Francisco. She rolled her eyes and he laughed.

“So…I heard about Mr. IT Manager, Jacob…” Krista said, letting the end of her sentence trail into the air.

Sean looked at her with a blank face. “Yes, he resigned.”

“After someone went to the bigwigs with a bunch of allegations, yeah. I wonder who was responsible for that…”

The corner of Sean’s lips quirked, “I’m sure that whatever was found was exactly what needed to be brought to light.”

“Uh huh.”

“I’m also sure that a great many of the female staff are pleased to see the back of him.”

“Oh yeah! Even Jasmine. She’d gotten a cyber-shadow there for a minute. And a bodily one. He kept popping up on her randomly. Totally creeped her out. She said to say, ‘Thanks,’ by the way.”

“I don’t know why she’d say it to me.”

“This is a strange side of you.”

“What’s that?”

“Modesty.”

Sean erupted in laughter. Krista stared awestruck, letting his eyes find hers again, and falling in. She wanted to go to him. Just get up, walk the few feet around the desk, and sit in his lap.

“Right, well,” she said quietly. “I’d better finish up.”

He pulled his eyes away and cleared his throat.

“You doing anything tonight?” he asked with friendly indifference.

She took a deep breath, trying to bat down her lady erection. “Nope. Well, work out probably, but nothing all that interesting. You?”

“No. Did you want to work out together? I have another couple hours to do, but I could meet you on the beach?”

She couldn’t help the pleased smile. She wasn’t holding her cards all that closely to her chest. “Cool. I have a couple hours, too. Want to just come and get me when you’re ready?”

“Deal,” he winked, then looked back to his computer.

Krista was literally hovering back to her desk. Once there, she tried with every ounce of her being to focus on her work, and not his na**d body, and it nearly worked.

Chapter Six

“You have a great voice.”

Sean watched in humor as Krista jumped and spilled her coffee all over her desk.

“Don’t do that!” she said as she clutched at her chest. “I think I had a mini-heart attack just there.”

Smiling, Sean entered the room with an easy stride, “Sorry. I was admiring your singing voice.”

Sean noticed that as Krista sponged up her desk, she kept her head down so he couldn’t see her turning red. “It is better than the British accent, yes.”