Excerpt: Overcoming Fear
Book 2: Growing Pains Series
Krista sat in Sean’s office, turbulent with the emotions she was trying to suppress. She wanted to keep her distance, stay firmly in the friend zone, but was having a problem with the resolution. He had just asked her if they were okay; loaded question.
He was just too much fun, smart, charming, and personable. She didn’t even care about his startling good looks anymore. She was beyond that. She was beyond external beauty and body.
In theory, anyway. It wasn’t like she was a saint or anything, and he was hot.
Sean sat at his desk, looking at her, wondering if they were still okay after what happened at the winery. After she allowed him to feel up her thigh. After leaning in, desperate for him to kiss her.
After he chose Monica over her and had just walked away.
Yeah, they were good in a work setting, but everything else needed to stay… somewhere else.
“Good,” he said, “I like working with you. I didn’t want anything to get in the way.”
“Ditto. These things happen. No big deal. Now, stop getting all sappy on me.”
He smirked, the corners of his lips tugging upward to give more smile, but he resisted.
She needed to get out of the room. It was too small all of a sudden. Too hot. His musty scent too powerful. Her limbs too weak. Stuff was all messed up in her head.
As she got up to leave, however, he said, “Ray is having a barbecue on Saturday.” Sean was looking at her thoughtfully. “He lives in the East Bay. I wondered if you would come and bring your friends so I can meet them? No promises, but if they are any good, maybe we can work something out with them rather than hiring unknowns.”
After landing the huge account Krista, Sean, and their team had been working on, they needed more bodies to do the task. With the rest of Krista’s Research cronies being lazy and incompetent, Sean thought bringing on Kate and Jasmine, Krista’s longtime friends and college buddies, would really benefit all. But first he had to get to familiar with them since, other than their chance encounter at the pub awhile back, he didn’t know them beyond what Krista had to say about them. Which was all good.
“Uh…” Her brain went to her calendar. “Clear. Oh wait, poop. I’m supposed to go to the Folsom Street Fair.”
“You’re going to that?”
The way Sean said it made Krista tilt her head. “Yeah, why?”
“Have you ever been?”
“No. Jasmine, or was it Kate? Well, they are dragging me. They say there’s nothing like it.”
“They’re right. But that’s next weekend. I think. I don’t keep track. But definitely not this weekend.”
“Oh. Well then, consider me there. What do I bring?”
“Yourself. Your friends. Uh… your boyfriend—Paul—if you want.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend. I’ll just bring the girls.” She wanted to ask who he was bringing. Monica? Or someone else? Hopefully not someone from the company—she was sick of watching him overlook her.
Even though she shouldn’t have been. He was a womanizer and most definitely off-limits. Still…
He nodded. She nodded. Suddenly, things were awkward. She was about to step from professional to personal with Sean. She sincerely hoped her friends were on their best behavior. She also sincerely hoped she didn’t mess up and accidentally unzip his delicious-fitting jeans!