Page 193 of Duty and Desire
“Speaking of that,” Signe put in, ignoring this exchange, “when is Hawk going to hire a female commando, Mo?”
Walking back to me with my margarita that was in an actual salt-rimmed, stemmed margarita glass that was the only one of the pure-class variety I’d ever seen, Mo didn’t have a chance to answer.
Lene did it before him.
“Never. He’snevergonna hire a woman. Except Elvira.”
“This is because Elvira’s more woman than fifty women,” Marte mumbled under her breath.
“That’s for certain,” Trine agreed.
“I would not wish those boys on any woman,” Marte said. “Except Elvira. She’s the only one who can handle them.”
“It’s still hardly equal opportunity,” Signe pointed out.
“Seenz, you think Hawk has ever given the concept of ‘equal opportunity’ even a second’s thought?” Lene asked.
The four sisters looked among each other, and then on a sister wavelength, in unison, they burst out laughing.
Though I didn’t know Hawk very well, I did have firsthand knowledge he was a purveyor of quality badass and I wouldn’t think he’d discriminate if he thought the job would get done.
I decided not to share this.
“Mag’d tap their ass before they even were assigned a flak jacket,” Rick murmured.
“Rick!” Lene abruptly stopped laughing to snap.
“Am I wrong?” he asked.
“No!” she kept snapping. “But Danny is Mo’s roommate. Don’t give Lottie the impression he’s a player.”
That cat was out of the bag.
And…
Danny?
I wassogoing to give him shit by calling him that from this moment on.
And sharing it with Evie when the time came.
I had a margarita in my hand and Mo’s heavy arm slung around my shoulder, so I coasted mine around his waist.
“Get out of my way, Paul, I’m making Mo a plate. And Lottie. I’m making Mo and Lottie a plate,” Signe announced, nudging her husband out of the way and picking up a small, delicate, china plate with a graceful gold design on the edges.
“The man can feed himself,” Paul muttered.
“No he can’t, with all you boys guarding the food like rabid dogs,” Signe fired back.
I heard Mo’s quiet sigh.
I also again beat back laughter.
And last, I was understanding how Mo learned to communicate nonverbally.
He grew up with four older sisters who wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise.
I took a sip of my drink.
