The Disobedient Virgin

“Jake,” Jake said. “Jake Ramirez. Or Joaquim.” Somehow he dredged up an answering laugh. “Depends on the time and place—and maybe on my mood.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Anton held out his hand and Jake took it. “Jake—good to meet you.”

“Same here, Luis. Or is it Anton?”

“Anton’s the name I grew up with.”

“I grew up with Jake.”

“Well, then, Anton and Jake it is.”

The men went on staring at each other. Then they smiled and ended the prolonged clasping of hands.

“So,” Jake said briskly, “is that a British accent?”

“I should hope so,” Anton said, his smile turning into a grin. “And you’re American?”

“Yes.”

“Well—”

“Well—”

“I don’t believe this,” a gruff voice said, and a third man joined them. He was tall. Had black hair. Green eyes. A cleft in his chin. He stared from Anton to Jake. “Don’t tell me,” he said softly. “You’re both named—”

“Ramirez,” Jake said. “And so are you.”

“Yes. Nicholas. Nick. I’m—I’m…”

“Australian?” Anton ventured.

Nick grinned. “Right. I’m just stunned. We look like a three-way mirror.”

“Triplets,” Anton said, grinning in return.

“Or a vaudeville routine,” Jake offered.

The men laughed. Then Anton gestured to the booth. “Shall we? I was just having a—”

“Scotch?” Jake said, checking the pale amber color of the liquid in the glass.

“Right. I’ll get the barman. You’ll want…?”

/> “Here you are, gentlemen,” the bartender said briskly, coming up beside them. “Two Laphroaigs, bottled water on the side—just the same as this first—” His eyes widened. “Hello. I guess it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you guys are brothers, huh?”

Jake, Anton and Nick looked at each other. Anton swallowed hard. “No,” he said softly, “I guess it doesn’t.”

They had dozens of things in common, and they’d yet to touch on their individual stories. Too complicated to go into now, with the clock ticking, Nick said. Jake and Anton agreed.

But all the rest was amazing. The sports they played. The places they enjoyed. Their preferences in Scotch whiskey. Their determination to make their own way in the world.

Their ideas of what constituted a desirable woman. Physical beauty, yes. But much more than that.

A woman had to be independent.

“Fiercely,” Jake said, “even when it can be a pain in the…butt.”

His brothers grinned, raised their glasses and touched them together.