Page 64 of Rum & Coke

“Of course.” I smiled up at him.

“Are you two a thing or what?” Paul questioned.

“We’re something.” Vinny kissed the side of my head as he brought me against his side, and I blushed.

“It’s about fucking time.” I turned to see Gabe walking in from the backyard.

Paul slapped Vinny on the back. “Well, I’m glad you finally pulled the trigger, but this is my day, and it’s time to get me ready so I can marry the love of my life.”

Vinny looked down at me, and I shooed him away. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

He kissed me quickly, and then he and the guys went up the stairs. Once they were out of sight, I turned and went toward the backyard, assuming that was where the wedding would take place.

When I got outside, I gasped as I took in the pool that looked as though it went on for miles and miles into the desert. People dressed in black pants and black polo shirts were placing flowers and floating candles in the L-shaped infinity pool, and I added that look to my mental wedding wish list most women had. From what I understood, Paul and Joss hadn’t had long to prepare for the wedding, but as I looked at everything being set-up, it seemed as though it was going to be gorgeous. Strands of white lights crisscrossed over the pool and adjacent dance floor. Just beyond, two large sections of chiavari chairs stood in neat rows on either side of a white runner. White roses hung at the end of each row, flanking the aisle as it approached an arbor covered in more white roses. The mountains in the background made the whole scene breathtaking.

“Bride or groom?”

I jumped slightly at the man’s voice and looked up to meet his eyes.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No worries. I was just fantasizing about my wedding.” I smiled. “Andgroom, I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Well, I know them both, but I’ve known Paul longer.”

“Ah. Oh, where are my manners? I’m Mark, Paul’s—well, I was his boss.” He chuckled and stuck out his hand.

I grinned again and stuck my hand out as well. “Tessa, Vinny’s—”

His brows furrowed. “Vinny’s?”

We shook. “I’m not exactly sure. We’re friends for sure.”

Mark placed his hands on his hips and eyed me curiously. “Are you and Vin serious?”

It was my turn to furrow my brows. “Why do you ask?”

“Because it seems as though they’re dropping like flies around here, and I have a business to run, so I’d like to know with more notice than what Gabe and Paul gave me. It seems I might need to talk to the ladies in their lives and find out what’s really going on since they keep me in the dark.”

“Oh,” I chuckled. “I’d suggest talking to Vinny actually.”

“Because you don’t know, or because he’s quitting?”

“I don’t think he’s quitting.”

“Okay, good.” I wasn’t going to tell him Vinny had said he was going to take a break. That was for Vinny to talk to Mark about, not me. “Well, Tessa, it was nice to meet you. Guests should be arriving any minute now, and I need to make sure the boys are dressed and ready to be escor—ushers. And please, have a drink.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Mark walked back into the house, and I went to the bar as suggested. I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for, but after I scanned the bottles behind the bartender, my gaze landed on the bottle of Bacardi. I smiled and ordered a rum and Coke. I would never be able to look at rum again without thinking about Vinny. The night of our dinner we each drank a couple, and when we kissed, he tasted of rum and the sweetness of Coke—a perfect combination.

Just as the bartender placed my drink in front of me, two couples stepped up to the bar. “Two beers, two vodka cranberries.” I turned to glance at the man who’d ordered, and he smiled a smile that instantly dampened my panties.What the fuck? How did that happen just by looking at this guy’s smile?“Bride or groom?” he asked.

“Groom,” I replied, and looked to his group. The guy he was with looked as though he could be his brother. One of the women was brunette and gorgeous, and the other was blonde and equally as pretty.

“Us too.” The guy stuck out his hand. “I’m Brandon. This is my wife, Spencer, my brother, Blake, and his friend, Sarah.”