Rose’s brows pinched together.
“Richy’s engaged to Terri, the president’s daughter.”
“I follow Terri on TikTok. She’s doing amazing work,” Rose said.
Richy let out an aggravated sigh. “I hate that damn app, but she won’t stop using it, because she can reach her millions of followers that way.”
Richy and Terri worked to stop human trafficking. Before they’d reconnected, Terri had taken it into her own hands to try to take down an organization. It ended up the organization she was after had ties to Carter. It seemed everything came back to him.
“Thank you. I’m sure she will tell you all about it tomorrow when Terri, Grim and Lucy visit. They wanted to join us today, but we figured it was too much, and Ginger has a meeting tomorrow so they can keep you busy while he attends that.” Richy said, taking a seat on the couch.
Ginger twined his fingers with Rose’s and pulled her over to the recliner.
“Thanks for bringing the insects from Las Vegas,” he voiced to his team.
“Wait! They brought all my babies? Who packaged them and handled the transport? Some of them are very delicate.” Rose tried to stand up, but he tightened his hold around her waist.
Casanova shook his head and pointed at the boxes. “None of you believed me. She is obsessed with those things.”
“Hey, that’s not nice,” she said.
Everyone burst out laughing, and Ginger realized he’d missed his team. He didn’t want to think about the meeting the next day. He hadn’t told Rose he had to meet with his handler, mostly because he didn’t know what the future held for them. Would she move or did he need to give up his career? He knew she would never ask him to give up his career, but he had to think about his son and her.
“I contacted the Las Vegas Zoo and hired one of the interns that are studying bugs to package your little guys up. They should be good,” he said.
The young girl had called to tell him how cool the collection was and if Rose ever needed help identifying an insect, she would more than be happy to assist.
Rose leaned into his arms and turned her head toward his ear. “You’re an amazing man. Later, I’ll show my appreciation.”
“Stop!” Cy grumbled. “The two of you haven’t left this place in a month. No kissing until we leave.”
“I was so excited about my little guys and meeting all of you, I forgot my manners. What does everyone want to drink? I should probably make some appetizers.” She pulled out of Ginger’s grasp.
Rose would be in the kitchen all day if she tried to cook for his team.
“How about we order pizza, and I’ll help you with the drinks?”
Scar rubbed his stomach. “I could go for some pizza. Xavier really needs to up his game with the food options he offers on the jet.”
The men broke out in a discussion about the jet as he pulled Rose into the kitchen. “Are you mad?”
Rose’s brows drew together. “That you brought my babies to me? No. Hurt that you didn’t tell me you had a meeting tomorrow, yes. Was the plan to keep me distracted tomorrow with my bugs so that I wouldn’t realize you were gone?”
“I planned to tell you,” he said, tugging her hand until she was only a few inches away. “My handler called and wants to meet. I’m worried they have my medical records. Doc says I’m fine, but my lung has damage, and they won’t chance it. I know once military gets my records, I’m out, but I hoped it was after information on Carter came back.”
Rose’s sister had dropped off the face of the earth. She wouldn’t even take Rose’s calls. He could see the worry in her eyes and didn’t want to add to the stress.
She placed a quick kiss on his lips before she turned and opened the refrigerator door. “You didn’t have to hide it from me.”
“Sorry, we can discuss it later.” He grabbed three beer bottles from her hand, as she reached back into the refrigerator for more.
“We will.” She set the bottles in her hand down on the counter. “How many pizzas should I order?”
“Seven.”
The men in the other room could each eat a pizza by themselves.
He set down the beer bottles and reached for his wallet in his back pocket. “Put it on my card.”