Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(82)

“I’m not a genius alone,” she replied, meaning the whole team.

Marcus hugged her from behind. “You are the geeky genius that shows my awesome genius to boring people,” he laughed. “I would kiss you, but I don’t have as much experience as Sean and I hate being second best.”

It took her a moment to register what he said. Lord knew that Marcus had kissed his fair share of people, women and men included. When it came to sex, Marcus never lost the opportunity to say he was the black Casanova.

So it didn’t take long to realize that in this situation, he meant Sean kissing her, in particular.

She looked at Sean in alarm, and was flabbergasted when he just looked back, unworried. He might as well have had a beer on a beach somewhere he was so calm.

Thankfully, John came back in before things got awkward. “Sean, you and your team go for drinks. After this you’ve earned it!”

“But wait--” Krista said into the applause and laughter. “What about our help? I didn’t do this all alone. Four research people helped me.”

John zeroed in on Krista. “Already with the negotiations, huh? Okay, get them, too, but try to keep it quiet.”

She nodded. Then she was caught up in a hug fest. She was ushered out with everyone else and realized she had forgotten her laptop and lucky mug. She cried out in alarm and ran back to get them.

As she was coming out of the conference room, hardware in hand, she met Sean. He was waiting for her patiently.

“Great job, Sean. You might be an actor at heart, but you would never know it to see you selling.”

“Thanks. You did a fantastic job, yourself. I wanted to tell you...I told Marcus and Judy about...us. Not everything, but I was worried they would find out and spread rumors. I asked them to keep anything they noticed quiet.”

“And they complied?”

“I blackmailed them.”

Krista laughed, “Clever. The only thing is, there is no us.”

Pain lanced his face. “True. But there was. And now there is an absence of us that is just as easily recognizable.”

“Good point. Anyway, let’s go to that bar we had lunch at that one time. I could do with eating and a Guinness. Also, don’t get me get too drunk for tonight.”

He scrutinized her for changing the subject so soon. He wouldn’t admit it, but he wanted her to be more upset so he felt more guilty. He wanted her to punish him so he wouldn’t have to bear the punishment he gave himself, which was infinitely worse. Krista wasn’t going to bite.

“Sounds good,” he said as he led her to the elevator. “Krista--”

“Leave it, Sean. Let’s just leave it and move on. Maybe it won’t hurt as bad down the road, huh?” She was in good spirits and wasn’t about to let their drama spoil that.

“Maybe,” he said quietly.

With all researchers in tow, Larry and Camille as happy as a pig in poop, they hit the bar, which was called Harrington’s. They got a big booth in the back and spent the next couple of hours eating, drinking and celebrating on the company dollar. There was no final word, but chances were good that they would get the account.

At one point in the merrymaking, Krista found herself sitting next to Marcus. Since the seating arrangements were constantly in flux as bathroom and beers were needed, the booth was mostly empty. She thought now was a good time to satisfy her curiosity.

“Marcus, why haven’t you gossiped about what Sean told you? And do you think me totally ridiculous?”

Uncharacteristically, Marcus got serious. He looked for Sean, saw him at the bar then turned back to Krista. “If I didn’t hear what Sean said from his own mouth, I would think you ridiculous, yes. But he said he loved you, didn’t sleep with you, and was no good for you, so in the interest of keeping your reputation intact, could we please keep quiet for your sake.”

“Oh.” Holy crap! He told Judy and Marcus he loved her? That was something. Not something that would help their current predicament, but it helped the pill go down.

“Did he?”

“What? Sleep with me?”

“Obviously! I thought that was hogwash, but Judy believed him.”

“You just said the word ‘hogwash’ first of all. Secondly, no. His ban, not mine. I would have jumped on that from the word ‘go!’”

“I hear that! I’ve wanted to get him alone in the Dark Hub for years! I wouldn’t have thought it of him, though. The way he looks at you--boy wants to gobble you up. I thought he would’ve done the deed by now. What’s going on with that? You not as charming as you look?”

“Wish I knew. He has shit to work out, or whatever.”

“Don’t we all.”

“Right? I know. He needs Dr. Phil, I think.”

“Drink to that! I knew all along, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know…” Seeing that she didn’t, he went on: “Well, I heard he was always dropping everyone mid-sentence when he so much as smelled you coming. But then he practically had no time for you. He’d follow your every move, but then he would shrug you off. At first I thought he was just a diva, but then whatever happened in the stairwell…”

“I bit him.”

Marcus stopped and gave her an ogling eye. “Did you just say you bit him?”