Page 2 of Grimm County Wishes (Grimm County Lawmen #4)

S everal Years Later…

“You really didn’t order any strippers?” Al’s shoulders drooped as he slumped into his deck chair.

“Why would I?” Hunter asked, glancing up from behind the grill.

Al sighed loudly. The man might look like some airhead surfer dude with his shaggy blond hair and board shorts, but he was actually a genius and ran their crime lab. Did Al really need to spell it out?

“Because it’s a bachelor party? Strippers are a requirement.”

“Not when it’s the sheriff’s bachelor party and it’s being held at a senator’s beach house.” Hunter flipped the steaks, letting the sizzling coals drown out Al’s groan.

“That’s no excuse. We could have gone to the strip club first and then come back here. ”

“But would a strip club have decorations like these?” Hunter pointed to the red and white balloons and strings of multi-colored lights that decorated his girlfriend’s deck.

“Oh, you’re right. What was I thinking? Half-naked women dancing on stage have nothing on Christmas lights and a homemade balloon arch.”

“Hey, I worked hard on that arch! I went through half a page of calculations just to figure out the number of balloons.”

“And what a beautiful arch it is,” Christian said before draining the last of his beer from the bottle. “I’m sure the middle school would love to use it at their next dance.”

He walked across the deck and pulled another beer from the cooler. His dark blue button-down shirt and khaki slacks were a little stuffy for a backyard party, but that was Christian. Al called it “sheriff chic.”

Hunter folded his arms across his chest, covering his “Kiss the Nerd” apron. “Okay, assholes. Make fun of my decorations. But with Congress in session, Snow has been stuck in DC. I had to find some way to fill my time. Crafting is fun.”

“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 show Grimm 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 the Lawmen 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 your wife , 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 had warm 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 called Law 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 on Grimm 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 of America’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.

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’d sworn 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.