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“It’s different for everyone,” Mr. Bill answered. “For some, like our sheriff here, wife material includes stellar cooking skills. Someone who can whip up a perfect Sunday meal and have dinner on the table every night.” Mr. Bill’s eyes twinkled as he looked at the sheriff. They wereneighbors, and Mr. Bill knew full well how disastrous Marina’s cooking skills were.

“Someone who cares for you.” They all turned to look at Nick, shocked that he was taking part in the conversation. “Makes soup when you’re sick. Buys snacks you like, even if she hates them. Wife is for life. Little things matter.”

Al paled.A wife is for life. The twenty thousand dollar wedding show bonus would be nice, but the only person he’d ever pictured himself marrying was Jeannie.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Beast.” Christian patted his friend on the shoulder. “So, tell us, Al, what are the little things that matter to you?”

“Someone I can laugh with. I learned growing up in the trailer park, you can get through even the most dismal circumstance if you can laugh.”

“That’s an excellent one.” Mr. Bill nodded. “My Peggy Sue was always quick to laugh, which was good because no one else thought my jokes were funny.”

Al scratched his chin, thinking more about the question. “I also like a woman who can solve problems. Like assess the situation, figure out what needs to be done. If she needs my help, I’m here for that. But if she can handle it on her own, well, that’s damn sexy in my book.”

“Anything else?” Christian asked.

“Uh, well, someone who is kind. Kindness is huge. My mom was a nightmare.” He shrugged when he saw Lindsey flinch, but the three men all nodded in agreement. “I’ve seen enough meanness to last a lifetime, so I want someone kind.”

“Laughter, problem solver, kind. Know someone like that?” Nick asked, pinning him with a glare.

“I, uh, well …” He did know someone like that. Someone who lived right next to him and made his heart swell just thinking about her.

“What about their performance in the sack?” Mr. Bill asked.

“Damnit, Bill!” Christian scolded.

“The sack?” Al squeaked, glancing at the camera. “I’m not sure that’s really appropriate.”

“The hell it’s not.” Mr. Bill slapped his hand on the table. “You can’t marry someone without making sure you’re compatible first. Everyone knows that. Now what kind of woman do you want between the sheets? Kinky? Shy? Dominating?”

“Uh, well, I’m not talking about that.” Al buried his face behind his beer. Now was not the time to remember his night with Jeannie. The way her body melded into his, the way he came so hard he almostpassed out.

The table grew silent again when Nick again pointed to Christian’s hand.

“Yep!” He sat up straight and peered at his palm. “What if the woman doesn’t want to live in North Carolina? Are you prepared to mow—uh, move—away?” Christian’s head drew back.

“Move away? What the hell? Who said anything about moving? Are you moving, Al? Where did you get these ladies from? You know we have lots of great women here.”

“I haven’t talked to them about that yet. Mercedes is from Texas, and Iona is from somewhere. Jersey, maybe? I had assumed because they did the show, they were willing to move.”

Mr. Bill chuckled. “Boy, you must know better than that. You can’t assume a woman is going to pack up and move a bunch of states away just to be with you.”

“I can’t?” Al was confused. They already knew where he lived. And was this conversation even necessary? He wasn’t even sure he was going to propose. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling hot and itchy all the sudden.

“Al, seriously, you cannot move away,” Christian said, setting his mug on the table. “You are a key member of the sheriff’s office. I don’t know anyone who could fill your shoes. I’d be gutted to lose you.”

Al’s hand dropped. What did his boss just say? He looked to the camera, then back at Christian.Right, the cameras. Damn, that man could put on a show.

“I’m not saying this because of the cameras, dumbass.”

Okay, was everybody a mind reader now?

“I’m saying this because I mean it. You are the heart of our department. I admit I originally hired you because I knew you’d be good for the show’s ratings and we needed the first season to be a success.”

Al shrugged and nodded. That was fair, and he wasn’t offended. He’d only applied because of the show.

“And sure, the first year you spent more time taking selfies than statements.”

Again, fair. He had blown off the first year, thinking he was biding his time until a bigger offer came through. He went on calls, patrolled his beat, but his heart wasn’t in it. But then Halloween came, and several of the kids in one of his neighborhoods had dressed up as Deputy Al. They walked around the neighborhood, escorting the younger kids and keeping them safe. And something inside Al shifted.