Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(85)

“Yes,” Tory said reflectively as he looked at Krista.

Sean stepped a bit closer. “Shall we take our seats?” His arm curved around Krista’s waist.

Krista tried to bat down the fairy lights of pleasure as they swirled around her. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t the time for lovesickness. Sean wasn’t being respectful of her space. Normally she wouldn’t mind, but with their history, and with a prospective client right in front of them, space was a good thing. A very good thing. She was sure her face was a lovely shade of tomato red.

Krista nodded and smiled. “I have to get in position for dessert,” she joked.

Tory, remembering her fondness for chocolate, smiled with her and nodded as she let Sean lead her away.

When they were out of earshot Krista asked, “You afraid Tory is going to leave Emily for me or something?”

He chuckled, “I can’t imagine Emily would allow that. No, I am afraid our neglect of your salary is going to bite us in the ass.”

“Their company wouldn’t need a researcher, so I can’t imagine he would try to steal me away.”

Sean was quiet on the matter. They sat at their marked table and drank some wine while talking with John and his girlfriend. His girlfriend was Krista’s age, platinum blond hair, fake boobs that were too big, and a fake tan that looked orange. It was amazing--she spent a bunch of money to look that ugly. The bitch of it was she could have been attractive without all that.

But then, John seemed to like it and he was wealthy, so what did Krista know?

Salad came and went while John and Sean talked sales. Marcus and his date were supposed to be at their table, but were nowhere in sight. Judy and Ray were at another table, gabbing merrily. Luckily for Krista, the blond girl was both behind a center piece, and also didn’t seem all that interested in talking to anyone. It meant Krista was bored, but that was better than annoyed.

The other girl probably thought the same thing.

The main course came and went and the night just got more boring. Krista looked longingly at Ray and Judy’s table, thought briefly about texting people or playing a game, realized that would be unprofessional, and sat there, drinking wine and watching the room. Sean glanced over often, but he didn’t include her in their conversation, which was just fine with her. She didn’t want to talk sales, and she didn’t want to change the subject to something personal John might want to talk about. She saw the type of girls he liked—he couldn’t have anything to say that Krista wanted to hear.

Krista spotted Marcus at the bar with his boy toy, and very nearly got up to go talk to them. If it wasn’t for the dessert showing up at that moment, she definitely would have. Leaving chocolate uneaten was practically sacrilegious! Pure evil!

“Good?” Sean asked.

Krista popped her head out of her chocolate fantasy and noticed Sean looking at her mouth with heated eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Delicious. Did you try it?”

Sean, still looking at her mouth, shook his head slowly. Then started to lean in.

In a moment of panic that he would kiss her, because it was very clear that’s what he intended, she speared her syrupy cake thing with a fork and shoved it in his face.

“Try it,” she said with a warning in her voice.

Sean’s hooded eyes lazily looked up into hers. In a flash, realization dawned. His brows dipped and he minutely shook his head.

“Sorry. I forgot myself,” he muttered, eyeing the chocolatey goodness on her fork. “I have my own, thanks.”

“You’re embarrassing me, Sean,” Krista seethed quietly. “Please act normal. John is sitting beside you for cripes-sakes!”

Sean’s shoulders hunched before he regained himself and straightened up. It was at that moment that a string quartet started at the end of the dining area. Tory and Emily got up hand-in-hand and led the way.

They were excellent dancers. A few other people got up to join them, and thankfully, so did John and his blond.

“I’m sorry, Krista. I just saw that look on your face, and your enjoyment—I’m sorry. I forgot…”

“It’s fine, Sean. Just—try to be more careful in the future, okay? If we were dating it would be one thing, but as it is, I don’t want gossip for something I’m not even doing.”

“I know, Krista. I’m sorry.” Sean’s shoulders hunched again as he surveyed the dance floor.

Krista followed his gaze, passing them into miserable silence before Sean tried to switch directions, or maybe erase what had just happened, by saying, “Painful, huh?”

Krista checked the direction of his eyes and noticed he was looking at John and the blond girl haphazardly making their way around the dance floor.

“The dancing?”

“Well, that and having to sit next to them. John goes on and on about work. All he thinks about.”

“I didn’t listen in. But his date is painful!”

“Definitely. What is up with the tan?”

“What is up with the boobs?”

Sean laughed, easing out of his mope. “I was hoping you would comment! They looked like they did not belong.”

“You were hoping I would comment so you wouldn’t sound like a womanizer?”

Sean smiled bigger, sharing the joke. “I’ve learned never to bring up br**sts around women unless they bring it up first. And then only comment if it is in the negative.”