“Thanks. Glad you could make it. Where’s the lucky lady? You bring a date?” Wyatt has never been short on girls. In fact it’s odd not to see him with one chewing on his ear.
“Nope.” He flags down the bartender for me. “Two beers.”
“Just a Pepsi for me.” I nod to Cole. He’s been pretty decent, most everyone has with the exception of Holt and Bryson, who themselves were okay up until I started to show interest in Annie. It’s been two weeks since our hot air balloon ride, and we’ve logged miles with our tongues. I know she’s hoping to take it to the next level soon, and so am I.
“The funny thing is”—Wyatt glances around like he’s expecting someone—“I actually got dumped in this place a few months back. Real nice girl. Tall, dark hair, I think her name was Izzy.”
“Izzy?” I nod past him at a table in the corner where Izzy and Cole’s girlfriend, Roxy, are chatting it up. “Is that her?”
“Fuck me—that is her.” He looks slightly confused. “She dumped me right here, dude. She was sweet about it, though. Nice girl.”
“Her fiancé, Holt, owns the place.” Cole passes us our drinks, and we thank him. “Holt also happens to be Annie’s brother.”
Wyatt puts the beer to his mouth and smiles. “Small world. So where’s the infamous Annie? Are you sure you’re not getting dumped right now?”
“She’s here.”
“Excuse me?” A light voice comes from behind, and we turn to find Izzy beaming a big ole glad-to-see-you smile at my brother. “I thought that was you!” She laughs while stepping in close. “I have to say, you were the nicest, and, might I add, sanest blind date I’ve ever been on.”
“Thank you. I think. I suppose sane is rated on a sliding scale.”
Izzy laughs so loud it pierces over the music pumping through the speakers, and my heart sinks because I’d give anything to hear Annie laugh like that.
“What’s going on?” Holt pops up, glaring at both my brother and me.
Perfect.
Izzy does the introductions, and I add, “Wyatt is my brother.”
She beams, tapping him on the back. “I knew I liked you.”
Holt catches my eye and nods to the bar. “Where’s Cole? Register’s open, would you shut it?”
“No problem.” I walk over, the long way, and shut the drawer. I’m not a fan of shooting the shit with either Holt or Bryson these days.
Annie makes her way toward me, grinning from ear to ear. I speed over and meet her halfway.
I loved your set.She wiggles her phone at me.You were perfect.
I frown at her a moment, and she takes the phone back.
You did look perfect. And Baya says you always sound perfect.She gives a little wink.But I don’t need her to tell me that,I can tell by the vibrations. Why do you think I lean against the wall all night?
My mouth opens to say something, and an idea comes to me. But first, “There’s someone I’d love for you to meet.”
We make our way over and inadvertently break up Holt and Wyatt’s conversation. I’m sure it was mind boggling much like Holt.
“Wyatt, I’d love for you to meet Annie. Annie, this is my brother, Wyatt.”
“Annie?” He hops to his feet and takes up her hand. “It’s very nice to finally meet you. Blake says you’ve been logging some time at the carriage house, and I feel bad that it’s taken this long for us to say hello.”
Holt nods to Annie. “What’s the carriage house?”
Shit. Here we go. It sounds innocent enough, and, believe me, it has been. We haven’t stepped one inch off first base, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say we were thoroughly exploring our options. I think both of us are feeling the urge to hit a homer soon.
Annie looks to me in a panic.
Wyatt lands his beer back on the bar. “Just a one bedroom I’m leasing out to this knucklehead.” He raises a brow in my direction as if I should admire the way he made me sound gainfully employed and living off my own means even if he did pepper it with an insult. Little does he know he just signed my death warrant.
