Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(95)

Confused, she said, “We can get drinks at the hotel if you want?”

“I just thought you might want to put on your wrap. It’s getting cold.”

She laughed because it was so cute. “You didn’t want all the old men checking me out, or you figured I didn’t?”

“Both. You’re beautiful—they’ll look.”

His eyes were so green as they looked down on her. They caught the light of the afternoon and matched the lush trees around them. She loved hearing those compliments from his lips. She loved that he thought them—also that he was worried about showing her off. It meant his attraction, dare she say love, for her was from a good place. A wholesome place.

“Well,” she said, shrugging, “I don’t want to get shown up by Blondie, after all.”

“Caught me—that’s what I was really thinking. I was just looking out for your ego in the end.”

Her wrap was from Hawaii and could fit over her in a number of ways. Because she definitely didn’t want to get checked out, and because Sean was worried about it, too, she did a tie up around her neck so it loosely draped over the rest of her body. Boob size was evident, but cle**age and all other skin down to her mid-thigh was covered and non-descript.

“Had practice covering up?” Sean asked as he threw on a Hurley T-shirt.

“I love pools, beaches, and all things sunny. I learned the ropes during my summer in Hawaii.”

“And yet you live in San Francisco in the foggiest part of the city…”

“I never said I was smart about my life choices, did I?”

“You did not, no. Silly of me to assume.”

They found Tory right away—he was the only guy in a Hawaiian shirt after all, and said their thanks and goodbyes.

“Not so fast, Miss Marshall,” Tory said as he stepped away from his conversation. “I wouldn’t dare let you leave without giving you something to aspire to.” He smiled mischievously and half glanced at Sean, who’d taken a small step closer.

“The swords, that’s right! Lead the way,” Krista remembered excitedly.

“Mr. McAdams, would you care to join us?” Tory was being the model host, but a part of her wondered if he wasn’t poking Sean as he moonlighted her.

“Of course,” Sean said, stepping marginally closer again.

On second thought, she was sure Tory was rubbing it in. Sean’s nervousness was transparent.

Thankfully Tory didn’t extend the invitation any further than them, even though the businessman behind him would’ve clearly liked to go.

They walked through the house the way Fake Jeeves had led the party goers, but instead of going straight through the hallway to the entryway, they curved to the right, went up another grand flight of stairs, took a left, and then to the first door on the right. Krista was afraid to ask how many rooms there were in the place; she might get asked to get the candlestick from Fake Jeeves in the library and never make it out.

As they entered the room, Krista was struck speechless. Without thought, she grabbed Sean’s hand to share the spectacle. She didn’t even notice his lack of resistance, and barely felt the electrical current--she was that awestruck with what she saw in front of her.

The large room was like a museum. The walls were covered with various types, sizes, and ages of swords. Some looked hundreds of years old. Some looked used, as in, on people! And some gleamed as if they’d never been out of their display case.

In the back of the room was a suit of armor, slightly tarnished, which meant it probably saw some action at one time or another. A section of the wall next to the armor had some other types of weapons within the sword realm, like a wicked-looking ax, a pronged thing that looked like it would hurt, and a spiked ball that had a cameo in Braveheart. All the rest were swords.

In the middle of the floor were two rows of display cases, housing even more weapons, which were probably more exceptional than those she could see on the walls! He easily had more than a hundred. Easily.

“What do you think?” Tory asked.

Krista squeezed Sean’s hand, and then leaned into him when he stepped closer. “I’m in awe. I’m not even jealous. I couldn’t be jealous. This is…unbelievable. Seriously unbelievable. How did you get so many? And some look old. Are they originals?”

Tory was delighted, “Here, I’ll give you a tour.”

They hit the display cases first, and learned that this room could legitimately be a museum. In fact, sometimes Tory loaned out some of the swords for special shows or occasions. He had one or two from all the prominent historical periods. He even had one from King Arthur’s era! Spoiler alert: It wasn’t Excalibur.

He had most of the Lord of the Rings swords, which were in the back of the room, irritatingly. He had a sword that still had blood on it! Krista was revolted. And fascinated.

Sean was just fascinated.

All through the tour Sean kept Krista’s hand. If he was embarrassed, he didn’t show it. Nor did he care when Tory noticed. When they paused to look at a sword that particularly interested Krista, Sean would press close, his body either touching hers or mere inches away.

Krista was in heaven. The swords, the man—heaven. She never wanted it to end.

But sadly, she knew that when they walked up to the gleaming Samurai sword, it would be the last one.