Everly rolled her eyes. “All I could say was that he and Bear wore them in public. His response? ‘Babe, they’re legendary.’”
“They are,” Zorro said firmly. “Bear got two marriage proposals and a very provocative one.”
“Two?” Bear rumbled, and all heads turned toward him. “I think you miscounted there, amigo.”
“About time,” Joker said, kicking out a chair next to Bailee, and setting a waiting bottle of beer in front of him. She shifted, speculative, eyes flicking to Bear.
Zorro scratched the back of his neck, sheepish grin flashing. “Okay, okay. It was three. I wanted to impress Everly, so I downplayed it.”
“He does have a fine ass,” D-Day threw in.
“Confirmed,” Blitz said, raising his beer. “Ten out of ten. Would follow into battle.”
“Into battle?” Buck scoffed. “More like into temptation.”
“Temptation, hell,” Joker added. “That thing’s a national treasure. Needs its own security detail.”
Even Zorro leaned back, smug grin flashing. “Hell, might start charging admission.”
The table roared, wives half-shocked, half egging it on.
Bear sat through it, stone-faced, but inside he let the nonsense roll, because maybe, just maybe, it would take Bailee’s mind off Rio. He finally rumbled, “Can’t take the credit. It’s all Uncle Sam’s molding.”
Professor snorted into his beer. “That sounds like we work for some creepy bastard.”
The laughter doubled, loud and shameless, and for one beat Bailee’s shoulders loosened. She even let out a sharp little laugh that cracked through the weight in her eyes. Bear felt it like sunlight in his chest. Back on the plane, those words had just jumped out of him about her laugh. He hadn’t meant to say it out loud. The words felt like stepping over a line he’d drawn and redrawn his whole life.
“I’m sure those shorts left nothing to the imagination.” Everly sniffed primly, which only made Zorro grin wider.
“Yes,” Julia agreed, eyes dancing. “Scandalous.”
“Can we all say…indecent?” Maritza added, raising her glass. “Here’s to one of our favorite topics of conversation?—”
“Your husbands’ asses,” Zorro supplied with zero shame.
The table howled. Buck leaned back, smug, grinning ear to ear. “As a cowboy, I’m just thankful my butt holds up my jeans.”
Blitz barked a laugh. “We’re all grateful for that, Buckaroo.”
D-Day wheezed. The wives clapped hands over their mouths, some trying not to laugh, most failing miserably.
“To continue the story,” Zorro said, “she made me put them on. Clammy and damp. I whined. Then she was really mean.”
Everly cupped Zorro’s face, sliding her hand along his cheekbone. “Well,” she said, “you were a crybaby, squeamish about a tiny scrap of soggy material.” Her voice dropped, eyes twinkling with more than humor. “My big, bad SEAL.”
Zorro caught her mouth in a kiss, shameless, lingering.
Envy sucker-punched Bear so hard he had to turn away, fingers tightening around his beer.
“Get a room,” Blitz muttered.
Everly only laughed, pulling back. “There was also a mention about disgruntled Frank and the boys. I was shocked his dick had a support staff.”
The table roared again.
“Yeah,” Zorro said, looking smug, “my memory gets a little dim after she threatened to spank me.”
“I was prepared to follow through,” Everly deadpanned. “Then he drops me with this line. ‘I’ve already been hogtied by a cowboy in a towel.’”
