CHAPTER ONE
PARKER
My team and I walked into the glamorous hotel after yet another heinous assignment. It felt great to end the miserable lives of the scum of the earth, but it always stung when we were forced to face their victims. In this particular case, it involved children, and that hurt more than usual now that Rhett too had welcomed a baby. Graham was no longer the only father on the team.
"I hate these kinds of assignments." Rhett ran his palm down his face.
"Me too. It sickens me what humans can do to other human beings." Sickens wasn't even the right word. It was downright despicable.
"I need to shower this shit away before calling Elle. I know we cleaned up before leaving the precinct, but I feel another one is in order. I'm not talking to my little baby until I do so."
"I don't think your six-month-old is going to know the difference."
"Maybe not but I will." Rhett sighed.
I looked around the lobby and over to the bar area. I contemplated grabbing a drink before I headed up to my room, but a familiar face caught my attention.
"Is that Elle's friend Molly?"
Rhett turned around to where I was pointing. "Huh. Yeah, it looks like. I knew Elle said she was in Vegas, but I didn't realize she was staying at the same hotel as us."
"I think I'm going to go over and say hi."
"Parker," my friend warned.
"Relax. I'm just going to say hi before going up to my room. Don't get your panties in a twist. Besides, don't you have a shower to take and a phone call to make."
"You better just say hi. That's my wife's friend."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Run along now. Your wife is waiting for you."
I headed over to the bar before Rhett could say anything more. I was several feet from where Molly sat before I looked back to see if Rhett had left yet. He was still rooted in place with a frown on his face. I waved him off again but this time made sure he actually left. Once there was no threat of him falling over me, I continued on my way until I was standing next to Molly.
"Molly, right?" I waited for her beautiful eyes to look my way. "I'm Parker. I work with Elle's husband, Rhett."
"Oh right." Her face went from confused to a small smile slowly. "I saw you at the hospital after Savannah was born."
"Yeah. The whole team rotated in to give our congratulations." I looked down at the empty barstool next to her. "Do you mind if I take a seat?"
"Of course not. I was just drinking alone, so it will be nice to have some company."
I sat my ass on the stool and turned so that the two of us were facing each other.
"So what brings you to Vegas?"
Molly smiled. "A science conference."
I tilted my head to the side. "I didn't think a school district would send one of their teachers all the way to Vegas to attend a conference."
Molly chuckled. "Definitely not. I have to use personal days to come, but I do it every year because I absolutely love the conference they put on."
"I can tell by the way your eyes light up when you talk about it. So what exactly goes on at a science conference?"
"It's mostly vendors trying to sell stuff, but most of the time, they demonstrate how to use the product so it's a fun experience. I figured if I'm excited about what happens, then my students will be as well. Usually by the time I get back to school, I have a nice long list of supplies I want the school to buy for the following year."
The way her whole body became animated as she spoke only proved how passionate she was about the topic. It dragged me in and made me want to know more about her.
"Does the school usually get you everything you want?"
