I took the suitcase from her and placed my hand on her lower back. Once we were on our way to Rhett's house, I apologized. "I'm sorry. I know you're not happy about this, but I promise it's only because I want you protected."
"I know, and I appreciate it. I'm not even mad I'm staying with Elle. I like spending time with her and Savannah. I'm just ticked someone is screwing with my life enough that this is necessary."
I understood where she was coming from. "Caden is working on CCTV footage. He had to put it on hold to get the team ready for departure, but he promised to get back to it once we're in the air. He'll contact you once he has something."
"Okay." Molly sounded defeated, and that pissed me off. When I found out who was fucking with her, I was going to beat them within an inch of their life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MOLLY
Elle was waiting for us with Savannah on her hip when we pulled up. It was hard to stay mad when I saw my goddaughter's smiling face. It was probably the reason Elle brought her out. She knew I wouldn't continue to give her a hard time in front of Savannah.
"I'm so glad you're here." Elle slid her one arm around my waist and pulled me close. "It will be nice to have another adult in the house while Rhett's away. It gets a little lonely when he's gone. Maybe I could even convince you to snuggle in bed with me." Elle joked. At least I hoped that's what she was doing.
"Oh no." Rhett yanked her back into his arms. "No one's taking my place while I'm gone. I don't give a shit if she's your best friend or not. Those snuggles are reserved for me."
Elle chuckled and slapped a hand to his chest. "Fine, you big softy."
I don't think anyone besides Elle could get away with calling Rhett soft. I doubted there was a soft thing about the man.
Well, maybe for his wife and daughter now that I thought about it.
"I'll show you soft," Rhett whispered just a little too loud.
"Okay, enough of that." Parker steered me into the house. Elle chuckled behind us but soon followed.
"I'll put your suitcase in the bedroom, and then we have to go." Rhett moved around us and up a set of stairs.
"I'll give you two a minute alone. Savannah needs a diaper change anyway." My friend followed Rhett up the stairs. It was more likely she was going to give her husband a private goodbye.
Parker's arms slid behind my back and pulled me so our bodies were flush against each other from the waist down. "I'm not sure how long we'll be gone, but I promise to text you with updates."
This was our first assignment as a married couple, and I wasn't sure what the protocol was here. I was so far out of my element that I might as well be on another planet. "Stay safe. I've gotten used to sleeping in bed with you."
He smiled. "Now that's reason enough to come home." Parker leaned down and captured my lips. It wasn't a soft goodbye. It was ravishing and left me breathless. It made me want to drag him up to the guest bedroom and have my way with him. I vowed in that moment that as soon as he got back, I was taking things up a notch. Screw my insecurities. I was going to grab life by the horns and make it my bitch.
"A woman could get used to a goodbye like that." My breath came in heavy waves, and my chest ached. We spent a few moments with our foreheads touching as we breathed the same air.
"Be careful while I'm gone. Don't do anything reckless."
"You mean like get married to an almost stranger?"
Parked laughed. "Yeah, like that."
We stepped apart when we heard heavy footsteps against the stairs.
"You ready to go?" Rhett's question pulled us out of the little bubble we’d made for ourselves.
"Yup, let's go." Parker brushed his lips across my forehead, then he and Rhett walked out of the house.
I stood there in the entryway, staring at the closed door. "It never gets any easier." Elle laid her head on my shoulder, and we both sighed.
I don't know how long we stood there. Maybe a minute. Maybe ten. Hell, it could've been an hour. I seriously doubted it was that long, but it almost felt like it. The only thing that got us moving was Savannah's soft whimper.
"Is she hungry?" I glanced over to my friend but was more focused on Savannah's scrunchy red face. My sweet goddaughter wasn't happy, but still she didn't scream her head off like she could've.
"She's always hungry. I swear she has Rhett's appetite. My husband thinks it's funny, but it's not his boobs getting the workout."
