I drop down onto my soles and slip my arms around his waist."I bet Richard could learn a thing or two from you."
"That's true, but I don't want to share my sexual expertise with anyone, not even my brother."
Snuggling closer to him, I nibble on his bottom lip. "So, what were you twins conspiring about?"
"Rick begged me to give him advice about how to properly shag Maddie, but I told him to bugger off and buy a sex manual."
I know he's joking. Probably. "The wedding is this afternoon, right?"
"Yes. At three o'clock, UK time, which for us would be…" He sighs and shrugs. "Some other bloody time."
"Don't worry. I'm sure your mom will get us there at precisely three o'clock."
"I'm the best man, so I'd better get my arse there on time."
"Are you nervous?"
He twists his mouth into a strange expression, averting his gaze. "That would be bloody stupid, wouldn't it? I'm not the one getting married today."
"Come on, I know you've been anxious about coming home and what might happen with that stupid rumor. Today, you'll be out in public. It's got to be nerve-racking."
"Maybe I am a little nervous. But I don't want anyone else to know, all right?"
"I wouldn't tell anyone what you tell me. It's boyfriend-girlfriend confidentiality."
He finally looks at me, and his grimace has turned into a slight smirk. "I thought women always gossiped to each other about the men in their lives."
"We talk about you boys, but no sensitive information is leaked."
"So you lot are secret agents?"
"Glad you're feeling less anxious. You wouldn't be teasing me otherwise."
He palms my ass. "But I'm being serious. You are a sexy spy, ferreting out all my secrets."
"Then maybe you'll answer the question I asked you on the day we met."
Nick groans. "I think I know which one that is. Let's go inside so we can talk in private."
We start to head for the house, but someone shouts, "No time for a shag, Nick. The groomsmen have a sacred duty to perform, and you're our leader."
"Right now?" Nick asks as we both turn around.
I see the man speaking is Reese Dixon. He's much younger than Nick, but they share the same wicked sense of humor.
"Yes, right now," Reese shouts.
Nick looks at me. "I swear I did not plan this just so I could get out of answering your question."
"I know that. Go, have fun with the other boys. It's your brother's big day, after all."
"By 'sacred duty' Reese means we'll be mercilessly teasing Rick until five minutes before the ceremony starts."
"Yeah, I figured." I kiss his cheek. "See you after the ceremony."
The second Nick walks away, the American Wives Club swarms me. While the men have taken off to who-knows-where, their wives insist we all accompany the bride to a restaurant just outside town where they've reserved a back room for our pre-wedding revelry. The bride and groom decided not to have a rehearsal dinner last night since Nick and I couldn't get away in time for that. Richard and Maddie swore they didn't mind at all. As long as they can tie the knot, they're happy.
Instead, today the men will have their get-together, and we ladies will have ours.