announced.
Elise piped up, “The owners actually said they’d be relieved to have us looking after the place during the storm.”
“I’ve called the hardware store, and they’re holding some supplies for us. We can get started right away. Girls, what do you need to pack up or buy to get settled at this place?” Mickey asked.
“Diapers!” Karin said, “this kid can blow out a cheap diaper like nobody’s business. Name brand or we’re going commando. Might as well, since it goes everywhere anyway,” she joked.
“I know what kind to get. I’ll get extra,” Mickey reassured her.
“Damn right,” she said, “And I’ll reward you for being so thoughtful,” she said, her eyes meeting his.
“Jesus,” I said. “Can you people get a room? We’re planning for an emergency,” I said.
“Speaking of people who need to get laid and loosen up,” Mickey joked, indicating me.
“I’ll have you know he’s been laid, and very thoroughly,” Morgan chimed in with a laugh. Elise slapped her knee and cracked up.
“You’re one of us now. Too much information, 24/7,” Brandi announced.
“Yeah, we’re keeping her, Bill,” Karin said. “So don’t be such an old woman about how we talk. She fits right in.”
I shook my head ruefully, secretly pleased that they liked her so much but not willing to admit it.
“Also, I’m not going to the house inland,” Morgan said. “I’m staying here.”
I gaped at her, trying to figure out a diplomatic way to say, ‘the fuck you are’ without making her mad. I wasn’t having her in harm’s way no matter how stubborn she was. I had to take a second to figure out the best way to approach it with her. She was independent, and I knew she’d hesitate if I ordered her to stay with the women. I knew that wouldn’t go well. I had to make her see I was on her side but needed her to be safe. This was exhausting. I understood Connor’s impulse to just throw his woman over his shoulder and stride out—when he’d done it before I thought he was an idiot and a caveman. Now the cave dweller in my blood was alive and well.
Chapter 21
Morgan
Brandi was a teacher, and Elise and Karin ran their own advertising business. I felt an instant kinship with the O’Shea women—every bit as badass and capable as the burly Irishmen they’d tamed. They had smart mouths and big dreams and cute kids. What’s not to love? Elise was well on her way to being my Woman Crush Wednesday with her massive success at building her own business after escaping sexual harassment at her corporate job and taking the company to the cleaners for it. Her irreverent sense of humor and her view of the evacuation as a big slumber party were pretty damn irresistible.
But as soon as talk turned to supplies, to what brand of mac and cheese Lilly would eat and what DVD’s to take in case the Internet went down and they had to rely on the generator, I knew damn well it wasn’t for me. I wasn’t the kind to hunker down and hide. I didn’t judge them for it. They were mothers; they had children to protect. I was free as a bird and had no intention of cowering in a faraway place while there was real work to be done. I had two hands and the will to use them, and courage enough to weather the worst of the storm while I helped out. All I had to do was convince a room full of alpha males, Billy being the worst of them. I could handle this and didn’t need to be managed or babysat. I wouldn’t let Billy try to wrap me in bubble wrap to keep me safe.
Billy came up to me, took me by the hand. He pulled me away from the others, took a little space to speak with me.
“We’re moving the families inland for safety. We’re going to board up the businesses and the resort and do what we can to help out in town. Brendan’s going to gas up some generators for the designated shelters, and Mickey’s going to take care of prepping the medical supplies for the first aid stations. Connor’s in charge of gathering provisions for meals and paper goods for the stranded tourists and the residents who may be evacuated further from the shore. Tommy and I are going out to help the rangers with clearing trails and getting hikers off the cliffs and the forest, making them take