Page 26 of Flirting With Forever
They’d spent the last several hours tackling their rental homes one by one, boarding up windows and making sure renters took care of outside items so they wouldn’t be flying through the air as projectiles. While the others did that, Gage filled sandbags, placing them and ensuring every location had enough.
On the way to one of the newer rental homes they’d purchased at the end of last year, he’d spotted Hudson working alongside other fire department trainees to board up an elderly man’s home. No doubt the entire department was on call and would work nonstop until things played out however they would.
Gage respected Hudson’s decision to go his own path, but he couldn’t say he understood it. And right now, he wished they had Hudson’s strong back and extra set of hands, given the amount of work left to do.
“That’s the last rental,” Alec said, his expression tight and lined with tension. “We’ll start on the gas station and rentals building next. Get them secure while loading up the last of the golf carts. We can grab sandwiches and drinks there and keep going.”
Gage nodded. “Sounds good.” He felt his brother’s eyes on him and realized he’d been caught staring at Sloane.
“You sure you’re going to be okay riding this out with your houseguest?”
“I’m not kicking her out with a hurricane barreling toward us, if that’s what you mean.”
Alec’s forehead wrinkled. “Cole said he put you on the spot. Didn’t leave you much choice about taking her in.”
Laughter rumbled from his chest. “That’s the understatement of the year. But it’s fine. Sloane’s proven herself and then some. She’s already worked through half the mess downstairs to cover her rent. It’s all good.”
“I don’t suppose I need to tell you to keep things professional?”
Gage looked at Alec in surprise. “Are you giving me a big-brother speech?”
“I’m saying if she’s running from something, she’s vulnerable. You shouldn’t take advantage.”
Take advantage. Those two words stood out from Alec’s statement, and Gage’s mind tumbled down the path of freckled skin, wild hair and pouty lips. He cleared his throat and grabbed the shovel, shoving it off the tailgate and back into the bed. “I can keep my hands to myself.”
Alec released a low huff. “I might believe that if you hadn’t spent the morning staring at her like a lovesick teenager.”
“I said I could keep my hands to myself,” he muttered. “I didn’t say I was blind.”
They worked late into the night before breaking to get a few hours’ sleep to begin again the following morning. By midafternoon, the sky had darkened, the news had filled with repeated warnings, and the air held the odd quiet of the calm before the storm while the winds began to pick up.
They’d transported the golf carts and scooters to storage units, and a friend of Alec’s allowed them to store the limo and black town car in a warehouse for safekeeping. They’d completed all the work to secure locations on the island and moved off island to finish the rest. They boarded and sandbagged Elias’s gym and smoothie shop, Cole and Ana’s home, and then headed to the Blackwell Farm.
Things moved at a brisk pace, but they still didn’t finish in time. The winds continued to increase speed and before they could finish, the outer bands arrived while working to secure the animals.
Finn ordered Alec, Brooks, Dawson, Elias and Gage back to the island before the bridge closed. Cole promised to stay and help Finn finish, and since they’d already boarded Cole and Ana’s home, they reluctantly left, managing to get across the bridge just as the barricades went up behind them.
Thankfully, they were going the opposite way of most everyone else, though quite a few of those who’d crossed the bridge to evacuate obviously changed their minds when they saw the bumper-to-bumper traffic and made U-turns.
The brothers headed home, and Gage glanced at Sloane where she sat beside him. She stared out the window at the boarded-up businesses and lines at gas stations and the grocery store and took a shuddering breath.
He willed the car in front of him to move faster. “It’s coming in as a Cat 1. That’s good. The winds and tides are favorable. We’ve just got to hunker down and ride it out.”
“How many of these have you been through?”
“I’ve lived here all my life so…more than a few. The locals say it’s how you earn your Salt Life sticker. You can put one on your car after this and actually deserve it.”
A laugh bubbled out of Sloane’s chest, and he smiled at the sound.
“Well, at least I’ll have earned the decal like a local then.”
“Now you’re getting it,” he said.
It took three times as long to get home as it normally did. Wind gusts rocked the truck with every blast, and Sloane became quieter and white-knuckled the door and console.
When they arrived, Gage noticed his neighbor still hadn’t stored their outdoor furniture. Even a wet cushion flying through the air could carry a punch, much less the chairs or decorative items. “Go inside. I’m going to go tie those down.”
Sloane looked toward the patio and got out of the truck when he did. But instead of going inside, she followed him through the whipping wind and stinging rain across the lawn. “I said go inside!”
