“What the hell?” Cooper frowned as he peered ahead through the windshield. It had started raining again, and the windshield wipers were already struggling to keep up. “Is that Vic’s patrol car?”
“Maybe the road is washed out?” Nolan offered. “It’s gonna suck if we have to take the back roads. They’re gonna be a mess if this one is underwater.”
I would have been freaking out by that point if I’d been driving alone, but I trusted my guys to get us home safely. If anything, I was most annoyed that we might have to take a detour before we could all get naked together.
And, of course, I hoped that nobody had been hurt up ahead or anything. But still, the clock was ticking away until we could have sexy time, and I was more than ready after all the drama we’d been through.
“Well, it’s definitely Vic,” Cooper said as we came to a stop a few feet away from the car. “But it doesn’t look like the road is flooded up ahead or anything. I wonder what the hell is going on.”
As he spoke, Vic got out of the car and hurried over to Cooper’s window.
“Looks like we’re about to find out,” Nolan said.
“Coop,” Vic yelled over the sound of the wind and rain as Cooper lowered his window. “I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to turn around.”
“What? Why?” Cooper shook his head. “We’re on our way back to the ranch now.”
“Gotta turn around,” Vic pointed back toward town. “There’s another storm system rolling through, and we’re evacuating the low-lying areas. As hard as we got hit last time, I can’t afford to take any chances.”
“Vic, you know the ranch ain’t in an at risk area.”
“And I told you we’ve evacuated the area between here and there. I can’t risk letting you through, brother.”
“Dammit,” Cooper’s jaw clenched as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Okay. Where are we supposed to go?”
“We’re setting up a shelter at the community center, and that’s where we’re sending everyone. I’d advise that you get there early so you can claim some beds for the night, because it’s probably going to be pretty crowded before this is all over.”
“What about Lakeview, that’s near? Can we go to the resort?” Poppy asked.
Vic shook his head. “No sorry. From here you need to go to the community center, which is the opposite direction.”
“We’ll head there now,” Cooper nodded as he started to roll the window back up. “Thanks, Vic. Be careful out here.”
Vic waved and ran back to the cover of his police car, leaving us sitting there and staring at each other incredulously.
“We seriously have to go to a shelter?” Nolan asked. “We’re already halfway home, and we live on a fucking ranch.”
“You heard him,” Cooper sighed. “What am I gonna do? Disobey an evacuation order? What if shit hits the fan and the roads get washed away?” He looked back at Nolan. “You know I’d consider it anyway if it was just the two of us, but no way am I gonna take that chance with Poppy here.”
“No,” Nolan said. “You’re right. We can’t take that chance.”
Cooper looked over at me as he started to turn the truck around in the road. “I guess we’ll have to take a rain check on our celebration.”
“Literally a rain check,” Nolan muttered. “Damn rain.”
I smiled at both of them. “We’ll be together, though. And we’ll be safe. That’s the most important thing.”
Cooper’s grin started to return. “That’s right. I’m just hoping we can at least get some adjoining beds. We could still make things interesting once the lights go out...”
“Ew,” I laughed. “I’m not getting hot and bothered under the same roof as half the town. My parents will probably be there, too, so that’s gross.”
“Are you surprised?” Nolan smirked. “I mean, I can’t really blame him for trying. Hell, I’d say we could pull over and get busy right now if you’d give the word.”
“Yep,” Cooper nodded. “I’m totally down for that, too.”
“Not going to happen, y’all.” I shook my head. “We’ll all survive without sex for a few more hours. If only just barely.” I couldn’t resist adding, “Plus, remember what happened the last time we all had the bright idea to have sex in a public place. Six years later, and we’re still doing damage control.”
“Ouch,” Cooper winced. “But I see your point.”
I reached over to squeeze his thigh, and let my fingers trail up a little higher than absolutely necessary. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll make it up to both of you as soon as we’re alone again.”
Cooper’s eyes tracked my fingers as he sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
“Same here,” Nolan said from right behind me. “You’ve got me hard just thinking about it.”
I laughed. “Mission accomplished. Now we should probably get to the community center before we crash onto the side of the road.”