Stephanie was still annoyed when she returned to her office. Getting into any sort of confrontation with Paul just pushed her over the edge and into a bad mood. But she desperately tried to shove that back, as she had far better things to do.
She was seated behind the desk and going through a few papers when she heard a knock on the door. Barely looking up, she reached for a pen and called, "It's open!" She just hoped it wasn't Levesque, coming for another round. She wished it would turn out to be Sean, but he couldn't be through with his meeting with her father that soon.
"Steph!"
Her head whipped up in the sound of the voice, and she smiled. Very pleasantly surprisingly, it was the shaggy-haired man after all.
"Hey... I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"the meeting was short and oh so sweet," he said, coming farther into the room to stand directly over her. Great news!"
The brunette smiled, as though feigning innocence. She didn't want to admit anything just yet, since Vince hadn't told her he was going to let O'Haire in on the entirety of the idea.
"Oh, really? What did Daddy tell you?"
"C'mon, Steph," the dark-haired man replied, barely able to keep from smirking, "he told me everything. I know it was your idea - every last bit of it."
Stephanie blushed, unable to hide it as she shyly ducked her head. Normally, she was not one who did that very easily, but there was just something about this man that made her feel bashful and wonderful at the same time. She raised her head after a beat, blinking as her gaze met and locked with his.
"Okay... You got me," she admitted in a timid tone. She burst out in small laughter, however, and shook her head. "You have no idea how badly I've been wanting to get back on TV... And... well, I figured this would be the best way."
Sean smiled easily at her.
"With me?"
The brunette cocked her head, her blue eyes sparkling as she continued to gaze at him. She nodded.
"With you, Sean."
There was a brief moment of comfortable silence between the two of them. Then, Stephanie broke it.
"And there's more," she admitted. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about the past, and..." She bit her lip, pausing again. "... I always seem to find myself thinking, and even dreaming, about that night."
Sean studied her pretty face in silence for a beat. Of course, he knew exactly what night she was referring to, and it touched him. He slowly lowered to a kneeling position so that they were more eye-level with one another.
"I think about that night a lot myself," he said.
The brunette smiled, moving her hands over toward him. She placed them into his shaggy wavy hair, enjoying the feel of the dark locks in between her fingers.
"To be honest, I never wanted that night to end," she said in a softer voice. "I don't know how I managed after you left. It was like I wasn't really living but just going through the motions. I know that sounds incredibly corny, but it's the truth." Stephanie smiled even more. "But then, like magic, there you were... back in my life again. You're like..." She paused again, searching for the right words. "... you're like a godsend."
O'Haire's hands came up to tenderly stroke the brunette's bare arms. How soft and silky her skin was! He loved to touch it. And he wanted to taste her again as well. He felt his lips drawing nearer to hers as he spoke.
"Steph... Beautiful Steph... I'm crazy about you."
Had he not felt so mesmerized by her and her nearness, he would have kicked himself for his words after that heartfelt confession from her. But she didn't seem to mind as she closed the small distance between them, kissing him into oblivion. Her dainty hands were still tangled in his hair as their tongues met and swirled for a battle of dominance.
This was the sort of passion he had missed in the last two years. She brought out the most incredibly deep feelings in him, and he yearned for more.
While still locked in their kiss, Stephanie and Sean missed the scowling face that peered in from the hallway.