The women exchanged glances, and then Naisha ventured to answer. “We were just talking about how men are bigger gossips than women.”
Ridiculous,Nathanael thought.
“How do you figure that?” William asked.
“Well, when one of you hears even a whisper of a rumor, the other two get the skinny in record time, not so?” Jacyn added.
“Us?” Alex pointed from his brother, to his best friend and then himself incredulously. “We’re as silent as the grave!”
Shaundra gave him a taunting, playful look. “So how do you explain the fact that, a few months ago, when I left for my ‘big date’, you heard about it in a matter of minutes?”
He stared at her. “What are you talking—wait, do you mean that night when I came after you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How did you know—”
Jacyn began laughing so hard she almost dropped her drink. “Oh, Nathanael, you poor, poor man. Did you really think Shaundra had a boyfriend? A woman who’d only given birth months before?”
The men exchanged bewildered looks.
Naisha clarified. “It was all Sienna’s idea. Me and my sister-in-law here had a little three-way chat with her online. You know, about her big date, what she was going to wear, hoped she got lucky. That sort of stuff.” She pointed at the brothers. “Knowing that these two couldn’t keep a secret if it killed them.”
“And it worked!” Jacyn crowed. “Our husbands couldn’t wait to get on the phone and give Nathanael the heads-up. He loses his mind and goes after Shaundra and voila!” She lifted her glass in a toast. “Here we are, at a christening.”
Shock gave way to laughter as the men looked at each other. “My brother,” Alex said gravely, “it appears we’ve been played.”
“Like acoustic guitars,” William agreed.
“But wasn’t it worth it, though?” Shaundra said, giving her husband a saucy wink. “It just goes to show you. Never mess with a woman who knows what she wants. By the way, it was Jacyn on that phone call with me.”
Nathanael didn’t know whether to be happy or mad. Both, he figured. His wife had manipulated him like a lump of clay. “I ought to give you a spanking for that.”
She batted her lashes at him. “Please, darling, not in front of the children.”
He chuckled, feeling the happiness deep in his soul rise up inside him. Nathanael had begun therapy a week after they’d returned to France, despite his reluctance to even seek out help.Shaundrahad insisted on him giving it a try and he had. He would do anything to make her happy. The sessions were helping him get over his childhood wounds, and his relationship withShaundrafelt ten times stronger than it has ever been. His wife’s frequents smiles told him he was on the right track.
Willa, who was providing DJ services, must have had a sixth sense, because one of their favorite songs began to play: “Endless Love” by Shania Twain and Lionel Richie.
He held out his hand, inviting her to dance. She took it, smiling, her face glowing with love, happiness and optimism. As he took her into his arms, his fellow warriors led their own wives to the dance floor.
And Nathanael thought,the only thing I ever want out of life is this. Love, family, laughter, and friends. Nothing else matters.
He pressed a kiss against her neck and whispered. “I haven’t forgotten that spanking I owe you.”
“Oh, I’m banking on it,” she retorted and winked.
THE END