The American Wives Club has invited ladies who are married but not American and a few like me who are still single. Well, unmarried. I'm with Nick now, so I don't qualify as single anymore. I wind up talking to every woman in attendance, though the conversations aren't long. The bride will need time to get ready, so our party is limited to one hour. The food is delicious, and the company is top-notch. Though I've spent only a short time with these women, I already adore them. Maddie Solberg and the wives of the Dixon men spend the most time with me, and I hear all about the crazy things they've done.
"Aren't you going to tell Siobhan about what Richard, Nick, and Alex did?" Rika Dixon, wife of Dane, asks when Maddie finishes telling me a story about when she and Rick stayed on a reclusive author's private island.
"I don't know what you mean," Maddie says, batting her eyelashes in a phony expression of innocence.
"Siobhan should be warned, don't you think?" Rika wags a finger at Maddie, who's her older sister. "Or are you in cahoots with them this time?"
"Cahoots?" Maddie snickers. "I can honestly say I have never heard you use that word before."
Rika rolls her eyes. "Are you going to tell Siobhan, or do I have to do it?"
"Oh no, neither of us is telling her anything. Not yet. Richard made me cross his heart and swear a solemn oath." She feigns innocent confusion, touching her finger to her lips. "Wait, maybe I was supposed to crossmyheart."
"Uh-huh." Rika shakes her head. "I knew it. Rick has been drugging you so you'll be his sex slave. That's why you can't remember anything."
"Oh please. You're the one who can't be away from your husband for more than thirty seconds. Dane must have drugged you, or maybe he got Kirsty MacTaggart to cast a spell on you."
Kirsty is among the woman at our little shindig, and I spoke to her earlier. She's from the Scots contingent, and she's an avowed Wiccan who owns a metaphysical shop. Kirsty told me about how Alex Thorne arranged for her ex-boyfriend to make a surprise visit at her cousin Jack's wedding.
If Alex is conspiring with Nick and Richard…
Oh, I could be in trouble.
My phone rings, and I see it's Nick calling. "Excuse me, girls. Nick needs to hear my voice."
"Aw, that's so sweet," Maddie says, and I don't think she's being sarcastic. "Hunter men need lots of cuddling and sweet-talking. Just think, soon you and I could be sisters-in-law."
I just met Nick a month ago, so she's jumping the gun big time. But I don't have a chance to tell her that because I rush out of the banquet hall and down the hallway that leads to the restrooms. It's the quietest place to take a call.
"How's the bachelor party going?" I ask Nick when I answer the phone.
"It's not a bachelor party. You'll be happy to know we're having a laid-back do in the backyard of Chance Dixon's house."
"We girls are in a restaurant, but we're just gabbing."
"That's pretty much what we're doing too. Don't let on I told you that, though. Can't have anyone's male pride getting wounded."
"Okay. I'll tell Maddie you've got a stripper giving Rick a lap dance."
"Hmm, I'm feeling the need to spank you later."
"We haven't tried that yet. Maybe I'll spank you too."
Nick chuckles. "I was right. When we first met, I could tell you had a naughty streak hidden under all that tweed."
"You bring out my wild side." He really does, and I love it. "Did you have a legitimate, wedding-related reason for calling?"
"Not directly related. But there is something I needed to tell you. Hang on a minute."
I hear muffled voices, like Nick is holding his hand over the phone while he talks to someone. Scuffling noises follow, and I have no idea what's going on.
"Hello, love, are you feeling randy today?"
Yeah, I recognize that voice. I can't help it. I burst out laughing. "Did Nick put you up to this, Richard? I could tell he was plotting something."
"Yes, he did." Richard sighs and, while clearly holding the phone away from his face, he shouts, "I told you she wouldn't fall for it. Maddie didn't either. You can't fool a woman who has a PhD."
More scuffling. Then another male voice says, "Well, Siobhan, are you gagging for a kiss?"