Porpoiseful Intent [Placida Pod 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Tymber Dalton

Are. Retired. Go home. Help Mom get stuff ready at the house.”
    “We are ready. And your mother wants to know where you’re evacuating to so we can stay together.”
    Sean inwardly groaned and was about to answer him when his cell rang. Once again, saved by the bell. He was happy to see it was Emery. He walked into his office and shut the door behind him as he answered, hoping his father wouldn’t follow him in.
    “Hey, babe. Any sign of him?”
    “Nothing.” Emery sounded exhausted. “You okay?”
    “Dad was here when I showed up, freaking out about the storm and calling all my guys. I need to figure out where to send my parents to evacuate. They can’t stay on the island, and we’re in a flood zone, too.”
    “They can come with us to my parents’ house. Mom already told me we would be staying there. As in it was a Mom order.”
    Sean glanced at his office door. He heard his father talking to someone, on the phone or in person he wasn’t sure. “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Having mixed family dinners was one thing. Having both sets of parents under the same roof for several days might not be the best idea.
    “Not really, but I’m not about to tell my mom no any more than you’d tell your mom no . Besides, they’re friends. Mom was going to call Helen this morning about it anyway. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get back here before the storm hits. I’m going to be swamped at work. Don’t worry about packing for me, just grab stuff for yourself and head on up.”
    “All right. Love you.” They were ending the call when Sean’s dad barged in.
    “Good news! Louise Nadel just called your mom—”
    “And invited us all up there to ride out the storm. Yes, I know, Dad. I just got off the phone with Em.”
    Sam frowned. “You could have at least let me tell you.”
    Sean pointed at the door. “Go. Home. H-O-M-E, Dad. Home.”
    He finally managed to get his father out the door before any of their staff showed up. As he fired up his laptop to try to clear out some work e-mails before having to head out to secure equipment, he tried to think of how the situation could get any more complicated.
     
    * * * *
     
    “I don’t see how this could possibly get more complicated,” Sean grumbled at Emery late Monday night while sharing a guest bathroom with him at the Nadels’ home. Sean had arrived several hours ahead of Emery, leaving Sean to juggle his parents and his nerves without Emery’s comforting presence. The storm would hit sometime the next afternoon. Hopefully not any stronger than a Category 2, but Sean wouldn’t take chances with flooding.
    “It’s fine.” Emery leaned in and started the shower.
    “No, it’s not fine,” Sean quietly insisted. “Your sisters are here. Your brother and his wife. My parents. Four of their friends. And who are those other three guys again?” The Nadels’ ample house bulged at the seams, with people occupying every available bedroom, the couch, the pullout in the den, and even a few air mattresses on the living room floor.
    “Tom, Dave, and Denby. They’re younglings, and they’ve been helping search for Barry. So have Ed and Kate Sandford and Jack and Paula Davis.” Those were the other two couples. “That’s why they’re staying over, so they can go back out as soon as the storm passes. The four of them live up in Tampa. A bunch of people have come into the area to help.”
    “Denby.” That name sounded familiar. Then an ugly stirring in his gut reminded Sean where he’d heard that name before. “Hey, that’s the guy that—”
    Emery hushed him with a kiss on his lips. “ You are my guy. My only guy. Don’t forget that. What happened before we met each other is in the past.”
    “So I’m right?”
    He didn’t miss how Emery rolled his eyes as he stepped into the shower. “You have nothing to worry about from Denby. Trust me.”
    Sean followed him into the shower. “But does everyone know my parents aren’t in the loop