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Until Corrina had to ruin it all. He’d only been with her one night, but when he woke up, she was cutting off his pubes to put in a vial around her neck. That was over a year ago, and it was also the last time he’d had sex. He’dsworn off Grimbos, which left only the local girls. And having grown up in the town, there weren’t any local girls he wanted to be with. Well, maybe one. “Anyway, I’m out of practice, and I don’t want to be with a bunch of strange women.”

“I’m sure the show will vet the contestants thoroughly,” Hunter said. “And if they don’t, slip me their names. I can run background checks for you.”

“I probably shouldn’t be hearing this.” Christian crossed his arms over his chest.

“Oh right.” Hunter pointed toward the ocean. “Christian, look at the waves! I think I see a dolphin.”

Christian rolled his eyes and turned away from the table. Hunter mouthed to Al, “I got you,” and gave him a thumbs up.

“That’s only if I sign the contract. I might not.”

“You like women. You like money,” Nick grunted, rubbing his giant hand along his beard. “No brainer, right?” he asked, lifting one of his thick eyebrows.

“Right. Yeah. Totally.” It’s not like the one woman he was actually kinda-sorta-maybe-just a little bit interested in dating was ever going to see him as anything other than her best friend.

Chapter 2

“Good evening!” Jeannie shouted into the mic from the small stage of Susie’s Bar. Her signature blonde ponytail sat high on her head, and she wore a bright pink crop top with the words Maid of Honor plastered across her chest. “I’m here with a few friends to celebrate my girl Marina locking down the town sheriff.” A mixture of cheers and a few boos filled the room. Jeannie rolled her eyes and flipped her middle finger at the table of women in the back corner. Not everyone was happy the sheriff was going off the market. As if those Grimbos ever had a chance.

“Anyway, I know this isn’t the typical entertainment for Susie’s, but this is a bachelorette party, so …” Jeannie trailed off as the music changed to “Pony” by Ginuwine. A man in a tan trench coat strolled onto the stage, his face covered with a large cowboy hat. “Just remember, it’s the thought that counts!” Jeannie shouted as she ran off stage and back to her table with Marina, Rose, and Ms. June, who was also Christian’s aunt.

“Yeah, baby!” Marina stood up on shaky legs and raised her arms in the air. Jeannie would need to keep an eye on her. Marina couldn’t hold her alcohol, and Jeannie would hate for her to be hungover on her wedding day.

“J, what did you mean by that?” Rose winced as she leaned closer to Jeannie, not making much progress because of her large belly. No doubt the poor woman would birth a ten-pound baby with Nick as the father. Jeannie shuddered and crossed her legs.

“Uh, well, what happened was,” Jeannie paused and bit her bottom lip, “I booked the guys from the Ocracoke Revue, but their van blew a head gasket and they bailed at the last minute. I knew Marina would be heartbroken without at least one stripper, so, I uh, improvised.”

The stripper was facing the wall, his back to the audience as he grooved in time with the music.

“He’s kind of short, but that’s okay,” Marina said. “As long as he’s got the right moves.” She adjusted her bridesash and repositioned the tiara on top of her brown waves as she danced.

A loud commotion came from the back of the room, and they turned to see Snow racing in. “Oh, thank goodness. I was worried I’d miss the good part! I couldn’t leave DC before they took the vote on the education bill and, boy,can those people talk.” She hugged each of the girls before pouring herself a glass from the margarita pitcher.

Jeannie still found it hard to believe that her friend was a freaking U.S. senator. Not that Snow wasn’t capable. She was the kindest, most considerate and compassionate person Jeannie knew. It was more that Jeannie, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, was good friends with someone so important.

“Wait a second.” Marina squinted as she stared at the stage.

Jeannie looked up and saw that the stripper had tossed his hat across the bar.Ah well. He could only stall for so long.

Rose turned to look at Jeannie. “Please tell me you did not hire—”

It was at that moment that the stripper turned around with his trench coat open wide.

“Goddammit, Dad!” Susie shouted from behind the bar. Marina laughed wildly and continued dancing, barely phased by the surprise.

Mr. Bill was in his eighties and the town’s resident nudist. It was illegal for sure, but he had an understanding with the sheriff to keep it in his yard. Which was great for the town, but not so much for Christian who lived across the street.

Rose raised an eyebrow at Jeannie, whoshrugged.

“I did what I had to. Marina wanted a stripper. I got her a stripper.”

Mr. Bill continued his dance, tossing his coat to the side and strutting around in a gold G-string.

“Get it, Mr. Bill!” Marina shouted.

Ms. June shook her head and sipped her margarita. “To think I once had a crush on him.”

Snow laughed. “No way! You liked Mr. Bill?”