She shook her head. “It might’ve been true six months ago, but it sure as hell isn’t true now.” Reaching over, she cupped my chin. “I’ve known Bishop since he was a little kid, and I’ve seen a change in him since he’s been seeing you.”

“Well, we’re not really seeing each other,” I argued.

“Then whatever it is you’re doing.” Kim turned to Alexandra. “Aren’t I right?”

Alexandra smiled. “I haven’t known Bishop as long as Kim has, but he is certainly different.”

At that moment, Rev’s wife, Annabel, joined the group. “I would say he’s positively smitten.”

Kim snorted. “As much as a man like Bishop can be.”

Annabel crossed her arms over her chest. “Just what would you call it, then?”

“I don’t know, but I sure as hell wouldn’t call it smitten.” Kim tapped her chin. “Maybe pussy-whipped?”

“Uh, that’s not the case, I can assure you.”

“Don’t worry, Sam. Bishop’s and your sex life is strictly your business,” Kim said.

Before I could argue that we didn’t have a sex life, Alexandra said, “That’s utter and total bullshit.”

“It is not,” Kim countered.

Alexandra wagged a finger at Kim. “You know as well as I do that nothing is sacred, especially when it comes to sex. Everyone has their nose stuck in everyone else’s business.”

Kim sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”

“After we caught Annabel and Rev screwing in the pantry, you had to tell them all about seeing Deacon’s ass when he and I had done the same,” Alexandra said, her eyes twinkling.

Annabel groaned. “Thank you for that commentary, Alex. Now anyone who didn’t know about Rev and me does.”

“That must be one hell of a pantry,” I mused.

Kim winked. “Maybe you and Bishop can take a turn in there.”

“Once again, we’re just friends.” I knew regardless of how many times I said that, the women were not going to believe me. I tried ignoring the voice inside me that couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if Bishop and I were more than friends. At the same time, my libido, which was limping along after an extreme dry spell, couldn’t help getting hot and bothered about the thought of having sex with Bishop in the infamous pantry.

“And there’s nothing wrong with them being just friends. Right, ladies?” Annabel said.

“Of course,” Alexandra replied.

When I looked at Kim, she wore a surprisingly somber expression. “I know it’s probably hard for you to think of more with Bishop after what happened with Marley.”

I sucked in a harsh breath as her words took me off guard. “Yes. It is.”

She cupped my cheek tenderly. “Your Marley was a good man, and I know you miss him bad. But just don’t forget that life is for the living. I lost a lot of time I could have had with Breakneck by hiding in my grief for my Case. I finally had to realize that Case wouldn’t want me to be unhappy the rest of my life. He would want me to have a good life, and to make his brother, who had been through a rough patch, happy.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

Kim smiled. “Just know that we’re all here for you and want you to be happy . . . especially if it’s with Bishop.”

I laughed along with the others. “Okay.” Realizing I was still holding the present, I handed it to Annabel. “I hope you know I didn’t mean anything by getting Rev something. Bishop said he loved nonfiction books on history.”

She smiled. “It’s fine. In fact, it would be pretty rude to show up at someone’s party without a gift.”

Kim snickered. “Of course you would say that, Miss Manners.”

Waving her hand dismissively, Annabel replied, “Whatever. Besides, Rev loves gifts. I swear he acts just like a little boy again on his birthdays.”

“So, what did you get him?” I asked.

“Eggs,” Annabel replied, with a dreamy smile.

I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Does he like to eat them or something?”

Alexandra and Kim busted out laughing at my remark, which earned them a disapproving look from Annabel. “They’re not chicken eggs to eat. They’re my eggs,” Annabel replied.

With a shake of my head, I said, “You guys like to give some strange gifts around here. I’m not sure he’s going to enjoy the book I got him.”

“Trust me, Rev’s a major history nerd.”

“That makes me feel a little better.”

Annabel smiled. “You want to hear why I’m giving my husband eggs for his birthday?”

Although I knew a lot about Annabel, this was certainly something that hadn’t been recorded. Teasingly, I said, “I’m not sure I want to, but I really need to get the whole story.”

After drawing in a deep breath, Annabel proceeded to tell me things that brought tears to my eyes. While I had known from the file that she had been kidnapped and sold into human trafficking, I had no idea the full extent of what had happened to her. The miscarriage that led to an emergency hysterectomy had been left out of the file, as well as the emotional toll it had taken on her.

When she finally finished, all I could say was “Wow.” Although I wasn’t a crier, especially when I was around others, I found moisture blurring my vision.

“Annabel is the strongest woman I know,” Alex said as tears sparkled in her eyes.

“All the credit for my strength goes to Rev. If it wasn’t for him . . .” She forced a tight smile to her face. “Well, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here in more ways than one.”