Page 46 of One Hot Daddy

"Patty?How do you know my mother-in-law?"

"She and Florry have become good friends."

How in the world Dominic Rigby knows about my life here in Nebraska is beyond my comprehension."Dom, I am very busy right now."

"And that's why we're coming to help you."

Coming to help me?Ohhh, I don't like the sound of that."I'm far too busy to waste time entertaining you, Chelsea, and your two children here in America."

Dominic bursts into uproarious laughter."No, no, Fletch.You've got it all wrong.It won't be just your family and ours."He lowers his voice to a stage whisper."The American Wives Club is coming to your rescue, whether you like it or not."

I've heard of the American Wives Club---from Dominic.It's a group of busybody women who are determined to meddle in other people's lives.The Club did help Hugh Parrish and his American love, Avery, after a scandal nearly ruined Hugh.And I've heard that the Club was created when Scotsman Rory MacTaggart married American Emery on a whim.That worked out well, I believe.

But still...

"No, Dom, do not come to America to save me from...whatever."

"You misunderstand, mate.The game is already afoot."

I freeze, unable to speak for at least five seconds."What does that mean, precisely?"

"You are the American Wives Club's latest mission.And since our mates are already flying to Nebraska on three private jets owned by three billionaires, you have no choice."Dominic chuckles darkly."Give in, Mr.Murgatroyd, you can't escape the Club."

Bloody hell.I thought my life was already a sodding mess, but my old friend seems determined to cock it up even more.

"Still there, Fletch?"

"Ah, yes."

"Excellent.Now listen up."He pauses---for dramatic effect, I'm sure.Then he declares, "The first contingent will arrive tomorrow.Oh, and we've hired some people to help with the logistics."

"But the hotel---"

"Trust me.Everything has already been taken care of."

Dominic Rigby hangs up on me.The bloody wanker.

I stare at my phone as if it's morphed into a man-eating lion.The American Wives Club?Coming here?To Nebraska?To help me with what, exactly?

My hands shake slightly as I set the phone down.I've heard the stories about that so-called club---how they swoop in like well-meaning hurricanes, rearranging people's lives with the subtlety of a marching band.Sure, they helped Hugh.But his situation was different.Hugh, Lord Sommerleigh, needed saving from a scandal.I only need to get through my sodding paperwork.

I grab my mobile phone and dial Jennifer's number.

She answers on the third ring."Fletcher?Are you okay?You just left twenty minutes ago."

"Jennifer, love, we have an outlandish situation to deal with."I rake my free hand through my hair, probably making it stand up at ridiculous angles."Remember how I mentioned my friend Dominic from university?The one who married Chelsea, an American?"

"Vaguely, yes.Why?"

I draw in a deep breath and exhale it slowly."Well, Dom just rang to inform me that the American Wives Club means to descend upon us like a horde of locusts.Tomorrow.In three private jets."

Silence on the other end.Then: "I'm sorry, what now?"

"Apparently, my mother and Patty have been conspiring with this...informal organization.They claim I need rescuing from my uptight ways."I slouch in my chair, staring at the ceiling tiles."Dom says they're already on the way."

Jennifer's laughter bubbles through the phone, and I can almost picture the woman I love shaking her head."Fletcher, only you would make it sound like we're being invaded by giant robots.It's probably nothing more than some friends wanting to visit."

"You don't understand."My emphatic tone might have been overkill.I speak softly even though my office door is closed."These people are notorious.They call themselves a 'club,' but they're more like a special ops team for romantic interventions.They've been responsible for at least a dozen high-profile matchmakings and relationship rescues.Or so Dominic told me a few years ago."