Chapter 16 #3
“Scott!” Elodie said for the third time, moving so she was right in front of him and he had to stop walking or run right into her. “It’s going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.”
She saw him take a deep breath. “I know,” he said softly.
“Thank you for being worried about me. It’s been a long time since anyone has cared about what I’m doing.”
“I care,” he said in a tone she couldn’t read.
“You are not allowed to dwell on what I’m doing when you’re gone.
You know what I’ll be doing—working, sleeping, and eating.
That’s it. I’m not going to decide to take a stroll down Waikiki Beach, or hang out at the Ala Moana Mall or something.
You need to concentrate on your mission and the guys.
They aren’t going to be happy if they get a bullet in the butt because you’re distracted and wondering if I’m okay. ”
Elodie was relieved when Scott smiled. “I know.”
“Good. Now, kiss me like you mean it and go kick bad guy butt.”
“This morning wasn’t enough kissing for you?” he asked with a smirk.
Elodie couldn’t help but blush. Scott had woken her up an hour before her alarm was set to go off and shown her without words how much he was going to miss her.
That was on top of the amazing sex they’d had the night before.
He’d taken her so hard and fast, she’d been nothing but a pile of goo afterward, then he’d changed things up and tortured her by bringing her to the edge of orgasm so many times, she’d begged him to please let her come already.
They’d laughed, then she’d cried a bit, thinking about how much she would miss him, and she felt as if they were even closer emotionally as a result of their intense lovemaking sessions.
“I’ll never get enough kissing from you,” she admitted truthfully.
His smile disappeared as he leaned toward her. They made out in the middle of the dock for who knows how long, and probably would’ve continued and embarrassed themselves if Kai hadn’t walked by and wolf whistled at them.
“The boat won’t ready itself,” he joked to Elodie as he continued toward the Fish Tales to prepare it for the day’s charter.
Scott stared down at her for a long moment. Neither spoke, but they didn’t need to. “Be safe while I’m gone,” he finally said.
“I will. You too.”
He nodded, then grabbed her hand and they headed for the boat once more.
Elodie wanted to cry, but forced the tears back.
Scott needed her strength right now, not her breaking down.
This was the first time he’d left for a mission since they’d been together, but it wouldn’t be the last. She could handle this. She could.
“Tell Midas I’ll kick his ass if he lets you get hurt,” she joked.
Scott didn’t smile. “I will.”
Realizing she was going to have to be the one to leave first, Elodie reached for the back of Scott’s neck and pulled him down to her one more time. She kissed him briefly on the lips. “See you when you get back.”
Scott licked his lips and nodded.
Elodie took a deep breath and let go of his hand, then turned and headed for the gangplank that led onto the Fish Tales.
“Hey, Melody, you ready for today? Four kids and two adults, here’s to hoping they aren’t obnoxious,” Kai said with a smile.
Hearing the fake name was extra jarring now, especially when she heard her given name from Scott and his friends all the time. “Now you’ve jinxed us, way to go,” she joked. Her heart wasn’t in it, but she was doing her best.
She turned to look at Scott one more time and saw he was already halfway down the dock, headed for the parking lot.
“He’s gonna be fine,” Kai said softly.
“What?” Elodie asked, looking over at Kai.
“Your boyfriend. He’s gonna be fine. He’s badass, and he’ll be back before you know it.”
She smiled at him. Kai was a good guy. Young, in his early twenties, and still figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, but he was polite and respectful and a hard worker.
She enjoyed working with him on the boat and knew she could’ve gotten stuck with someone a lot worse as a coworker. “Thanks.”
“You already know he asked if I wouldn’t mind picking you up in the mornings and bringing you home…
but did you know he called me again and practically lectured me on making sure I drove the speed limit, always wore my seat belt and, if I had even a drop of alcohol on the boat, not to get behind the wheel when you were with me? ”
“He did?” Elodie asked.
“Yup. That man is head over heels for you, Mel. It’s weird, because he’s this muscular, bearded tough guy, but with you, he’s a giant marshmallow. I can only hope to be in a relationship like you guys have one day.”
Elodie smiled. Yeah, Kai’s description of Scott was really accurate. “He’s pretty awesome.”
“Good morning!” a deep voice called out.
Elodie turned to see Perry headed their way.
“Ready for today?”
She wasn’t, but Elodie smiled and nodded anyway.
She had a feeling Scott would be on her mind every second of every day until he returned to her safely.
She hadn’t asked for his promise, not after the talk with his team, but oh how she’d wanted to.
She just had to hope and pray that everything went as planned on their mission and he’d be back sooner rather than later.
It was kind of nice to worry about someone else for a change, instead of about Paul Columbus and what he was doing.