Silence fell.
“Thoreau,” Elmo said.
Aidan grinned. Ethan and Kyle shared an understanding look. “It’s all about the respect, man,” Kyle said. “Nothing says respect like a black eye. Remember I gave you one after you found out Ophelia and I were secretly sleeping together?”
Ethan grunted. “Dude, I beat your ass and barely allowed you to keep your pretty face.”
“Fine. We both did good and beat the crap out of each other. Okay?”
“Damn right,” Ethan agreed. They high-fived, raised their drinks, and sipped in a silent salute.
Harper groaned. “Men are bizarre.”
Mia sighed. “But the bromance thing has always fascinated me. Reminds me of those old Muppet men. You know, the grumpy ones?”
Harper snapped her fingers. “Yeah! They sit in the audience and complain about everything, but you can tell they really love each other.”
“They’re mean, too, but together, they’re kinda sweet, so you can forgive them,” Ophelia added.
Aidan lifted his hand in the air. “No. You did not just take a good bar-fight story and warp it into the Muppets.”
“We’re not fucking Muppets,” Kyle muttered in irritation. “We’re virile alpha men who settle our differences with our fists.”
“And manage our women with old-fashioned seduction,” Ethan said.
Uh-oh. Aidan half closed his eyes at the slipup and hoped it wasn’t too late.
It was.
Mia narrowed her gaze. Her voice dropped to a dangerous softness. “Did you just say the words manage and seduction in the same sentence?”
The realization of the depth of trouble he was in registered on Ethan’s face. A touch of panic flickered in his tone. “Nope. You must’ve heard wrong.”
Aidan winced. Not a good defense. It was about to get worse.
Harper sipped at her wine. “You guys are meatheads,” she muttered. “Anyone here at the table know about the Me Too movement?”
Kyle threw up his hands. “I didn’t say it, and I wholeheartedly support that movement.”
Ethan shot him a look of disgust. “Really, bro? You’re the suckiest wingman I ever had.”
Kyle patted Ethan’s shoulder. “Sorry, man. But I really want to get some tonight. Have you seen how hot my wife looks?”
Ethan must’ve realized he’d be celibate for a while, because he sucked it up and turned to Mia. “Sorry, babe. Didn’t mean it—I got all caught up in the bar-brawl story. A testosterone thing. I couldn’t manage you if I tried. And I could only seduce you if you wanted me to.”
Aidan pressed his lips together, desperate to keep the belly laugh from escaping. Damn, he liked these two. Why was he so comfortable around their banter and the way they publicly adored their women? Usually, he felt left out when he was taken in to train a horse. Kind of like that uncle everyone tolerated around the holidays but couldn’t wait to get rid of. But here?
He felt like he was home.
Mia shared a glance with Ophelia. Both women gave their men matching smiles that made Ethan and Kyle slump in their seats with relief, but Aidan knew something was coming.
“Apology accepted,” Mia said. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Ophelia and I decided it would be fun to have a little sleepover. Some strictly girl time. You understand, right?”
“Of course,” Ethan said. “Sounds like fun.”
“It will be. So we’re good for tonight, right, Ophelia?” Mia asked.
“Definitely,” Ophelia said.
Harper choked out a laugh.
Shell shock crawled over Kyle’s and Ethan’s faces. “Huh?” Kyle asked. “What do you mean tonight? I thought we’d be able to have some alone time,” he added in a harsh whisper.
Ophelia never missed a beat. With simple grace, she pushed back her chair and pressed a kiss to the top of her husband’s head. “So did I, but seems like plans have changed. Pity. You can sleep over at Ethan’s tonight, babe. Have some bonding time. Now, I have to go sing.”
With a wave, she disappeared.
Kyle groaned and drained his glass, but unfortunately, it was seltzer, so Aidan doubted it helped much. “I’m an idiot,” he muttered. “Should’ve seen that coming.”
Ethan still looked hopeful. “Maybe you can reschedule your girls’ night?”
“Don’t think so, horse man. How about you, Harper? Want to join us for a little girl time? Watch some chick flicks and drink some pink cocktails?”
Aidan held his breath. He’d been looking forward to laying her out on the bed, stripping her naked, and spending endless hours giving her so much pleasure, she’d never think of another man without remembering his face.
Primitive, yes. But he didn’t feel like analyzing it. Unfortunately, Ethan and Kyle had screwed him in the process. Odds were high Harper would be joining the women in their collusion to teach their men a good lesson.
Harper put down her glass and regarded the table with a measured glance. “No, thanks. I intend on getting laid tonight, but you and Ophelia have a good time.”
Stunned silence fell.
And then Aidan laughed. He laughed so hard and so deep, something eased in his chest and released, a tight knot he’d never even realized existed until it was gone.
And just like that, something truly awful happened.
Aidan began to fall in love with Harper Bishop.
“Did you have a good time?” she asked when they were driving home.
“Yeah. I’ve never heard Ophelia sing before. Her voice gave me chills. What was that song she sang?”
“‘Always Remember Us This Way.’ Lady Gaga sang it in A Star Is Born. My sister’s obsessed with musicals, and that’s her new favorite.”
“Why isn’t she on Broadway or touring?”
“When she was young, she ran off to Hollywood with Kyle to become a star. Unfortunately, she realized her love of singing wasn’t enough. She was urged to turn herself into a pop star with a certain image, and she was never comfortable.”
“The Bishop sisters know who they are,” he commented.
She smiled. “Damn right. She came home, brokenhearted, and lost Kyle to his new career as a hot screenwriter. He returned last year after he realized he’d never stopped loving Ophelia. They had a rocky road, but I’m glad they ended up back together. They’re soul mates.”
“Too bad Kyle couldn’t write that love story.”
“Actually, he did. And it’s being turned into a movie next year. There’s this company called LWW Enterprises that bought the manuscript, and they think the movie will be a huge hit.”
He shot her a surprised look. “Crap, that’s pretty amazing. So now Ophelia is singing again?”
“Yes, but on her own terms. Because she loves it, not because she wants to become a star. And Kyle’s happy to be back home helping her run the inn and writing. They got their brand-new ending after all.”
He seemed to ponder her words, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel. “I think your family is incredible. They’re nuts, but maybe that’s why I like them so much.”
Harper laughed, relaxing back into the seat. “I think Elmo had a good time, too.”