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“And for the record,” Christian added, “I didn’t want strippers. I’ve only got eyes for my future wife and have no interest in the drama we’d get if we brought in strippers.”

Christian had a point. Besides being the local law enforcement, they also spent several weeks every year taping the reality showGrimm County Lawmen.They had their fair share of crazed fans, nicknamed Grimbos. There was no telling what one of them might do to get naked in front of their favorite sheriff. But still …

“The girls hired a stripper,” Al said.

“The fuck did you say?” Nick stood up and glared at Al. Not known for his social skills, the chief deputy had been nursing his beer in the corner.

“Oh, you heard me, Beast.” Al snickered. “The girls. Hired. A stripper.” Al knew this for a fact. Jeannie, his best friend and publicist, was in charge of Marina’s bachelorette party.

Christian shrugged. “I’m not surprised. Marina’s been binge watching wedding movies for the last month. I think she would have been heartbroken if she didn’t get that stereotypical party. But let’s be real. We know this town and everyone in it. Whoever Jeannie finds to strip won’t hold a candle to theLawmen of Grimm County.”

“Here! Here!” Hunter cheered, clanking his bottle against Christian’s.

“Easy for you to say,” Nick grumbled. “Your woman is out of town.”

Hunter laughed. “She’s coming back tonight. Besides, your woman is yourwife, and she’s about to pop out a kid in less than a month.”

“True.” Nick’s face softened and a dreamy look crossed his face. Rose really had tamed the beast, so much so that he barely lived up to his nickname anymore. Although Al suspected there had always been a pile of mush underneath all that grump. Nick had just needed someone to dig it out. Rose did that for him, and a lot more, given the swell of her belly.

“Steaks are done,” Hunter announced. “I’ll grab the rest of the food and we’ll be ready to eat. My mom sent over her famous potato salad.”

Though Al wouldn’t admit it out loud, Hunter had done a nice job decorating. The Christmas lights gave it a homey bistro vibe, and he’d even added outdoor heaters so they wouldn’t freeze while eating. February in North Carolina was still February. But the view of the ocean a couple hundred feet away could not be beaten, and the music was pretty good. They were just missing the strippers.

It was no surprise that none of the other guys cared about that since they’d all coupled up in the last year. There must have been something in the water. Unfortunately, Al missed out on that because he only drank Bula Water as part of an endorsement deal. While those three guys hadwarm hearts and beds, Al had a dresser full of Bula Water T-shirts and a hundred extra dollars every time he posted a picture drinking their product.

“Heard Al’s going to be a TV gigolo.” Nick stabbed at a piece of steak.

Al tightened his grip on his fork and swallowed. “Gigolos are like dude prostitutes. I’ve been offered the lead on a new dating show calledLaw of Attraction. There’s a difference.”

Hunter grinned. “Is there, though? You are getting paid, right?”

Al lifted his middle finger and took a swig of his beer. “I do get paid to be on the show, but we also get paid to be onGrimm County Lawmen.It’s the same thing.”

Christian jerked his head back. “It most definitely is not the same thing. We get filmed doing our regular jobs. You’re getting filmed to fuck around.”

“Gigolo,” Nick repeated with a nod.

Al moved the potatoes around on his plate. They weren’t wrong. He was, essentially, being paid to date a bunch of women. Possibly fuck a few of them and eventually propose to one. That seemed pretty close to the definition of a gigolo. He’d have to check with Jeannie later.

He shrugged. “I haven’t signed the contract yet. I might not do it.”

Christian glanced around the table. “Seriously? I thought this was what you wanted all along, to have your own show. Why wouldn’t you do it?”

Why indeed? It was no secret that Al joined the sheriff’s office because they were starting the reality show. It had been a big step in Jeannie’s grand plan.

About seven years ago, her brother was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Al had been there, too, but when the cops came, he got away and Ben didn’t. What should have been a few months of probation for possession of stolen property somehow turned into drug trafficking and twenty years.

Jeannie and Al had dedicated themselves to raising money to hire a new attorney. Unfortunately, they were past the deadline for appeals, so they needed someone who was really good. And that meant really expensive.

They soon realized bagging groceries wouldn’t earn the kind of money they needed. After watching too many episodes ofAmerica’s Next Top Model,Jeannie came up with a new plan. Al’s dark hair and chocolate-colored eyes combined with his outgoing personality had always made him the center of attention growing up. But once his soft angles turned chiseled, and he filled out his six-foot-two frame with solid muscle, Jeannie pushed him to down a new path.

He modeled in a few underwear ads and starred in a couple of commercials for local businesses. The work was easy and paid well, but it was inconsistent. When the reality show came to town, Jeannie figured that was their ticket to booking more jobs. And she was right. When that first season aired, he was overwhelmed with new gigs.

After losing the first ten grand they’d saved to a lawyer who did nothing but send emails about how hard he was working, they’d done their research and found the best defense lawyer in North Carolina.

Jeannie was already an expert in social media and named herself his publicist. Every day, she worked the social media platforms to boost his popularity, hoping to get him his own show. And it had finally paid off. He only wished it didn't have to be a dating show.

“Well, y’all know I took a break from dating after the pube-theft incident.” Al shivered at the memory. When the show became popular, Grimbos descended into the town. He had his pick of women, and since most were tourists, none were interested in a long-term relationship which was perfect for him.