CHAPTER 43: Better get packed...

Celeste
I'm packing a bag when I hear a knock at the door. "Come in."
"Hey, sweetheart. How's it going?"
"Almost done. I'm packing light this time."
"Well, you leave at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. Chase and Ryu are ready to leave with Clark now. We are sending him in the other LMTV that wasn't destroyed earlier. The guys will follow in a car."
"Sounds good. Do you need me to come down before they leave?"
"No, it's fine. I just wanted to let you know. I figured if they leave now, they would get enough of a head start to get clear before you move in on Donnelly."
"I hope so. I would never forgive myself if one of those kids gets hurt."
"Now you know how I feel."
"What are you talking about, Daddy?"
Sigh. "Celeste, I know better than anyone in the world how capable you are. I know how smart and strong you are. That doesn't change the fact that you're my daughter. I worry about you no matter what is going on. This is killing my nerves. I'm just letting you walk into danger." Yet another sigh.
"I know you're worried Daddy. I appreciate that you love me so much. You know if I make a promise, I keep it, right? I promise I will make it back. Alive. So will everyone that accompanies me. I would never leave you. You know that."
"I know and I love you, so hurry back." I wrap him in a warm hug. "All right, get back to work. I'm going to let the guys know they can take off. I'll let you know when the children are out of the house."
"Thanks, Daddy." He throws me a smile as he closes the door behind him. We got lucky. The children are being held in a house in Santa Fe, so it should only take them eight or nine hours to get there, depending on stops. They should be there and gone before we land in Connecticut.
Yet another knock breaks me from my thoughts. "Come in." As soon as the door opens I see a sexy smile. "Well, if it isn't my favorite shifter."
"Just shifter, huh? Not just favorite person?" He makes his way across the room to me, sliding his hands around my hips to the small of my back.
"Well, it would be a close race with my father."
"Hahah. I can live with that. Speaking of your dad, I just saw him leave. Did he fill you in on everything?"
"Yeah. I'm ready to head out, bright and early. How are you doing?"
"I'm all packed up. Now it's just a waiting game."
"I know. I'm going to lose my mind."
"Since we have some free time, why don't we get out of the house?"
"Where would we go? We have to leave the house at, like, one in the morning for Denver. It's not like we can go out partying."
"Well then, how about I make us some dinner and we go eat at the lake house?"
"Why at the lake house, perv?"
"Hahah, not for that. Yet. I just want some alone time with you."
"All right, well then, I'm going to take a shower and get ready while you're working your magic in the kitchen."
"I'd be more than happy to stay here and work my magic in the shower instead."
"Out, wolf. Pick me up at six."
"I should have suggested the shower first." He gives me a long deep kiss that almost changes my mind before he leaves. Yes, sir, you should have.
I take a shower and stand in front of my closet looking at my clothes. I find myself smiling at the fact that this is almost like a regular date. Like we are in our normal lives and not just trying to spend time together in between rounding up assholes. It's nice. I can't decide, so I guess I'll think about it while I do my hair and makeup. I take my time. I make sure every hair is in place, every stroke of makeup placed perfectly. I put on lotion and a little perfume. After an hour of standing around in my underwear, it's back to the closet. I peer in again and find a long wine - colored dress. It's sleeveless and formfitting, but starts to flare slightly at the knees. Perfect. I get dressed and throw on a wraparound sweater to top it off. I put on wedge heels, because Randol is uncommonly tall. Just as I buckle the last strap, there's a knock on the door. Randol. "Come in."
The door opens. "Wow, you look beautiful."
"You look amazing too."
"Well, I've never been a bad - looking guy, but standing next to you dulls me down a little."
I giggle at his attempt to be smooth. "Flirt."
"Absolutely. You ready?" He holds his hand out to me, and I happily take it.