“I’m really not,” Annabelle said.

Kevin Tucker, the wiliest quarterback in the NFL, scratched the back of his head like a gorgeous doofus. “I’m confused. I talked to Dean on Friday, and he mentioned that the two of you went out last week and that he’d had a real good time.”

“Well, we went to the beach…”

“You went to the beach with Dean Robillard, and you didn’t think to mention it?” Krystal shrieked.

“It was…a last-minute thing.”

The women started buzzing. Kevin had more mischief on his mind and didn’t wait for them to calm down. “So Dean’s planning to ask you out again?”

“No, of course not. No. I mean…is he? Why? Did he say something?”

“I kind of got that idea. Maybe I misunderstood.”

“I’m sure you did.”

Heath sat stony-faced, a fact that caught Phoebe’s interest. “Your little matchmaker certainly is getting around.”

“I’m glad,” Sharon said. “It’s time she came out of her shell.”

Heath regarded Annabelle dubiously. “You were in a shell?”

“Kind of.”

Charmaine gazed at her across the table. “Are we allowed to talk about your unfortunate engagement?”

Annabelle sighed. “Why not? We seem to be examining every other part of my life.”

“Shocked the hell out of me,” Kevin said. “Rob and I played golf together a couple of times. He had an ugly duck hook, but still…”

Molly covered his hand with her own. “It’s been two years, and Kevin’s still not reconciled.”

Kevin shook his head. “I feel like I should invite him…her…to play again, just to show I’m broad-minded, which I am under ordinary circumstances, but I like Annabelle, and Rob knew from the beginning he had a problem. He should never have asked her to marry him.”

“I remember Rob’s duck hook,” Webster said.

“Yeah, I remember it, too.” Dan shook his head in disgust.

A short silence fell. Kevin gazed at his brother-in-law. “Are you thinking the same thing I am?”

“Yep.”

“Me, too,” Webster said.

Ron nodded. So did the others. Heath smiled, and they all returned their attention to their dinner plates.

“What?” Molly shrieked.

Kevin shook his head. “No sex-change operation in the world is going to fix a duck hook like that.”

The women left the men at the inn and returned to the B&B, where Krystal locked them into the cozy back parlor, drew the shades, and turned down the lights. “Tonight,” she announced, “we’re going to celebrate our sexuality.”

“I read that book,” Molly said. “And if anybody starts taking off her clothes and grabbing a mirror, I’m out of here.”

“We’re not celebrating that way,” Krystal said. “All of us have some issues we need to face. For example…Charmaine’s too uptight.”

“Me?”

“You undressed in the closet for the first two years of your marriage.”

“That was a long time ago, and I don’t undress there anymore.”

“Only because Darnell threatened to take the door off. But you’re not the only one with sexual hang-ups. Annabelle doesn’t say much about it, but we all know she hasn’t slept with anybody since Rob traumatized her. Unless last night …?”