We emerge out into an even larger area than where we entered with a bar that’s easily twice as big as the one out front. It too, is done in dark stained wood with the brass foot railing. Mirrored glass with accent lighting reflects the various bottles of liquor and glasses on the shelving, and five keg taps are mounted at the very center of the bar. Three bartenders move efficiently, fulfilling orders to customers that are standing two deep. I can hear muffled music coming from the back of the room where there is a door, which I can tell must lead to the rear deck.
“There’s a live band tonight on the back deck… actually every Saturday night during the summer months,” Wyatt says and starts leading that way.
I look around as I follow along behind him. The place is packed, but I don’t fail to notice numerous women checking Wyatt out as he walks by.
Yeah, girls… I get it. He’s pretty damn hot.
I squeeze his hand, and he reflexively squeezes me back.
When he reaches the back of the bar, he pushes open the glass door and we step out onto the deck. Even though the temperature is hovering around the low eighties, the breeze off the Atlantic immediately feels refreshing. It’s a cloudy night but the cover isn’t complete, and I can see part of the silver moon peeking out. It makes the edges of the clouds glow, and the water sparkles from the cast off.
Wyatt winds us through several tables until we reach the back of the decking where a group of people stands, holding drinks. I immediately recognize Gabby as she stands next to a tall, gorgeous man with golden-blond hair just a little longer than Wyatt’s. A quick slide of my gaze over a few feet and I immediately see another man that is his identical twin talking to a dark-haired man, so I know deductively this must be Hunter and Brody Markham. I’m going to guess that Hunter is the one talking to Gabby since he seems to be eating her up with his eyes while they converse. Three other women stand talking together… completing the group. The first one I notice is a leggy blonde who could be a model for Victoria’s Secret. Based on her coloring and height, I’m going to guess that’s Brody and Hunter’s sister, Casey. One woman is classically beautiful in the face and has a short, pixie haircut, while the last woman has long, dark hair past her shoulders. I don’t know enough about who these are, so I’ll have to wait for Wyatt to make the introductions.
When we reach the group, Brody is the first to see us, and he approaches Wyatt with his arms open wide. Hand falling away from mine, Wyatt steps into Brody’s embrace… endures some manly backslapping, and I hear, “Welcome back, dude. We missed you.”
I watch as Wyatt shakes the dark-haired man’s hand, and then alternately gives hugs to the other women. He fist bumps Hunter and leans down to kiss Gabby’s cheek.
Then, as if planned in unison, the entire group turns to look at me, and I feel the spotlight burning down on me brightly. Wyatt holds his hand out to me, and I reach out for it. He pulls me into his side, turning me toward his friends.
He has to talk a little loud to be heard over the band, but it’s not too bad since we’re outdoors and much of the music filters away from us on the breeze. “Everyone… this is Andrea Somerville.”
Everyone beams at me.
Wyatt then starts pointing out introductions, left to right. “You know Gabby… that’s her fiancé, Hunter. Next to him is Gavin, then Brody, Alyssa, Casey, and Savannah.”
I smile and nod at each person. I know now the woman with the short pixie cut is Alyssa, the dark-haired beauty is Savannah, and the very dark and sexy-looking man is the Brit, Gavin.
It’s a gorgeous group of people, and my hand comes up to self-consciously fluff my hair out at the side.
Leaning down, Wyatt asks, “What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll take a draft… something seasonal if they have it,” I respond.
He kisses me on the temple and then says to the group before he leaves, “Don’t scare her away.”
Gabby grins large and as Wyatt walks away, the group sort of collapses inward and forms a circle so we can talk. For a split second, I feel like I’m under the microscope, and a moment of panic courses through me. What if they all hate me? What if they don’t see something redeeming within me and don’t think I’m good enough for their guy?
And then I have to wonder… does it really matter? Is this going to go any further than the next several days I have with him?
I would hope it would, because while the sex has been phenomenal, it certainly isn’t all there is to us. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I’m not sure the sex would be as phenomenal if we didn’t have an intense bond formed first through dire circumstances.