Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(52)

“Tommy told me,” Krista said, crossing to the closet.

“I think you’re making Sean nervous,” Ray said lightly.

Krista looked over in surprise, stopping still. Seeing Sean’s guarded expression, and realizing that he probably didn’t often have women over for anything other than sex, she took two steps back to him as she exclaimed, “Oh my God--sorry! How rude! I was just half bored. You have nothing in this room, Sean, seriously. It’s weird. Sorry about that, though—you should have said something!”

Sean relaxed, “I don’t often leave people to their own devices in my bedroom. Haven’t often, I should say. Not a big deal.” He smiled, stirring Krista’s insides again, and flicked her hair. “But yeah, I haven’t really put much time into decorating.”

“It shows.” Krista slipped her hand into his back pocket comfortably as she said, “Anyway, I guess Ben has got Judy seriously nervous. Especially because he is Marcus’s new favorite. She’s watching Ben like a hawk.”

“Huh,” Sean said, furrowing his brow. “That might hinder Ben.”

“Nah,” Krista replied, on the move again, now meandering toward the hall and leaning against the door. “I talk to Ben about it often. I’ve got damage control down pat on this one.”

“Judy can get aggressive at times, though,” Sean countered.

Krista shrugged. “If Ben can’t ignore it, I’ll mention it to Kate and Jasmine. One of them will sort it out right quick. They don’t allow people to pick on Ben.”

“They don’t allow people to pick on anyone they know.” Sean smirked.

“I know. They’re good—AH!” Krista jumped into the room, spinning around quickly.

Keith was standing behind her with a sullen expression.

“Jesus, Keith. Creep around much?” Krista spat, walking directly for Sean and sliding an arm around his middle.

Cassie walked in in a temper. She spared a glance around the room before turning to Keith. “It’s settled.”

Keith ignored her.

She turned back to everyone else. “What’s up?”

“Besides Krista looking in all my drawers and jumping three feet when Keith snuck up on her, nothing much,” Sean said with a grin.

Cassie smiled, too, and looked at Krista, “Find his collection of  p**n ?”

“Cass—“ Sean scolded.

“I didn’t—but I haven’t checked his computer yet.” Krista laughed, giving Sean a pat on the back.

Everyone filed out, heading back to the living room. Krista bounded ahead with Cassie, the two of them already thick as thieves.

Chapter Fourteen

“They get along,” Ray said to Sean quietly.

“I have a feeling Cassie is going to be a bad influence.”

“Until she meets Kate. Then she’ll get influenced.”

“True.”

“You patched things up, then?”

“Disappointed that Krista finally gave in?”

They stopped in the entryway of the living room as the women filed into the kitchen for snacks. Keith trudged off to a corner by himself.

“No,” Ray said, looking at him openly. “I think you’ve earned her trust, and I think she’s earned yours. Finally. You two are a good match.”

Sean was taken aback. Ray had never given a green light for a girl. He’d never thought the girl was good enough, or the other way around. He said so.

Ray smiled and looked at the women, chatting and laughing. “You’ve changed. So has she. You’re more…laid back. Secure, I might say. She’s more open. Less guarded. I think you’ve brought her out of her shell.”

“And she’s tamed me?” Sean huffed.

“She’s shown she won’t put up with anything less than excellence, which is what you are capable of, but only just now realizing.”

Sean shook his head, “I don’t know about that, but I like her. A lot. This last couple of weeks has made me see that. Thinking I lost her drove me out of my mind.”

“Yes. Your whole team has noticed. Judy has passed it on. Marcus, for a wonder, has not.”

Sudden dread pierced Sean. “What are people saying?”

Ray shrugged. “The usual. You only like her because she won’t give it up. She is trying to tease you but she’ll get it in the end—same old stuff.”

“Same old for all girls, or her in particular?”

“Her.”

“That’s not as bad as I thought.”

“No, not yet. You might nip it in the bud, though, with Judy and Marcus. You two will be noticed.”

“I guess.”

Sean noticed, belatedly, that Keith was looking at him. Sean met the glare and intensified the look, until Keith looked away.

“What did Cassie ever see in him?” Sean wondered, shaking his head.

Keith got up and skulked out, meeting Krista in the dining room as she was making her way to Sean. She looked at him warily and said, “Back, Satan!” She crossed herself. Keith scowled.

Sean couldn’t help but laugh, wondering if he would have to comfort Cassie’s hurt feelings.

The question was answered immediately as Cassie yelled from the kitchen, “Keith! Don’t annoy the hired help!”