Page 39 of Strip Search

Part of me hopes that he’ll have something to say. Instead, he stands and shakes his head again. “Good luck.”

I watch as he walks out of my office and immediately goes to Molly’s desk. I’m on the edge of my seat, listening, and ready to run after her if he’s about to send her away.

“Hey, Molly.” Cody taps on her desk.

She looks up at him with a sad smile.

“Can I get you to go get a cup of coffee for me and you? You fly, I’ll buy.”

Coffee. She is just going to get coffee.I tell myself as I watch Molly shake her head yes and take the cash and keys from Cody before disappearing out the door. I wait for him, thinking he’ll come back to my office, hopefully, will some wisdom to impart but he heads down the hall to his office instead.

The entire twenty minutes she’s gone, I do nothing but watch the door, waiting for her return. When she steps back inside, I feel like my heart has started to beat once again.

Knowing she’s safely tucked back into our building, I will myself to focus on work. Five minutes later, I’m distracted by her proximity. I felt her step into my space before she even cleared her throat to let me know she was here. Turning to face her, I get my first real good look at her since I left her condo a little less than forty-eight hours ago. I can clearly see the circles under her eyes and take a little bit of comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one who can’t sleep.

“I brought you coffee, and a breakfast sandwich,” she says shyly as she sets them both on the edge of my desk.

“Thanks.” I hesitate to say anything more. Too scared that she’ll back away if I do.

“Sure,” Molly whispers in reply.

“Hey, Mol,” I try to catch her before she walks out.

She freezes in the doorway and I wait for her to turn back around.

“Did you need something?” she asks. Her voice is all business now.

“I’m still sorry.”

“I know.” She nods. “And I believe you. I have a lot to think about. This isn’t the time or place to talk about it.”

“Fair enough.” Smart enough to know to quit while I’m ahead, I let her slip away from me once more.

Chapter Sixteen

Molly

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