Scorched(49)
“Oh, they were! But didn’t you notice how Mannie walked a little funny down the aisle.”
Devil thought back to that moment and slowly nodded. Mannie had been moving a little slow, but he’d just assumed that like any diva, he was savoring his moment. “Come to think of it, yeah,” he agreed, looking up to see Sami barely holding back her giggles while Vivian’s face had turned as red as a beet. “Oh dear God,” he said softly. “What happened?”
“Well, in her eagerness to get Mannie down to his matrimonial mark at the altar, your wife got a little over excited zipping Armando’s fly. Let’s just say that Little Mannie got caught in a bind between some big metal teeth,” Sami choked before breaking into deep belly laughs.
Vivian picked up the story at that point. “It was horrible, Devil,” she whispered. “Mannie was hoppin’ around like a wet tomcat, his winkie wavin’ in the wind, screamin’ like a woman. And poor Molly, she was a-chasin’ him, trying to get her hands on his little fella so she could release him, but Armando was just like one of those Mexican jumpin’ beans. Here, then there. It was just awful! Molly finally just had to tackle him to the floor and grab hold of his…. flag staff while I tried to pull the zipper down.”
Devil’s eyes watered as he tried to hold back the sounds of his own laughter. “And then?” he rasped.
“Well, we got that fish off the hook, but I’m not sure his boat will every float down the river the same way. Bless his heart, I don’t think poor Armando will ever be able to look at me or Molly in the eye again either. To add insult to injury, the poor thing had to walk down the aisle with two Elmo Band-Aids on his little ole tallywacker. His abused ding-a-ling looked like something had bit it. Twice!”
“It’ll be quite the conversation piece for him and Nick tonight on their honeymoon,” Sami wheezed, still laughing.
Frowning, Vivian looked between Sami and Devil as their laughter got louder and narrowed her eyes dangerously. “I want you both to know that I think you’re probably going to hell. This isn’t funny! Molly, Mannie, and I are traumatized!”
“I’ll see about getting’ y’all some group therapy,” Devil returned, wiping his eyes as he finally was able to get control of himself.
“That’s sweet, but sadly, I won’t be here for a few weeks,” Viv informed the pair.
“Where you goin’?” Sami questioned, her blonde eyebrows furrowing.
“Out of town for work. One of the many gifts that being made partner at the firm got me. I swear, I can’t remember why I wanted it so badly,” Vivian grumbled, tucking her hair behind her ear with one hand as the other adjusted the bodice on her strapless gown. “In fact, I leave in just under an hour. The firm is sending a car for me.”
“And exactly where exactly are they having you shipped?” Sami asked unhappily.
“Paradise, Tennessee. Prior to making partner, I’d heard that my firm took on a new client. Diego Fuentes,” Vivian explained.
Devil’s shoulders tightened at the mention of that name. “Diego Fuentes? The same Fuentes that are members of the notorious drug cartel? Vivian, I’m not sure….”
Vivian held up a hand. “Innocent until proven guilty, Devil. Plus, he’s my firm’s client. There’s nothing I can do. I can’t refuse a client just because the name makes me nervous. Besides, he’s not a member of the cartel.”
“He’s a Fuentes, Viv!” Sami exclaimed, her face white and worried.
“He’s my client, and he’s turning state’s evidence to take down his father. He’s not that bad,” Vivian returned calmly. “Don’t worry,” she told her friends. “And for heaven’s sake, don’t tell Mannie and Molly until after I leave.”
“Gee, thanks. Leaving me with the fallout. That’s kind of you, Viv. You’re a real peach, darlin’,” Devil growled sarcastically. Taking a deep breath, he frowned as he looked at Molly’s friend. Hell, his friend, too. “You get in any trouble up there, you call me.”
“You gonna rush in and play white knight, Devil,” Sami asked with a smirk.
“Probably not, but I’ll sure as hell pay a lot of money to somebody who will,” he replied with a wink at Vivian.
Rising, Vivian brushed off her dress. “It’ll be fine, y’all, but I do need to get going. I’ve already hugged Mannie and Nick so I’m just gonna slip out.”
Sami and Devil both rose to hug her. “Seriously, honey, you get so much as a creepy feeling, you call me,” Devil ordered the younger woman. “I’ll hire a bodyguard for you so fast that Fuentes head will spin.”