They’ll love you. Besides, the only one that counts is Jackson and I have a good feeling the two of you will get along like two peas in a pod.”
“He’s your twin brother, so I imagine he’ll like me if you do.”
“Just don’t trample him like you trampled me in the market and you’ll do great.”
I winced. “You’re not helping.”
She laughed at my expense and the doors opened. We stepped out into the lobby and she led me across the polished floors and out through the massive bay doors into the gardens beyond. We made our way down a long winding path flanked with palm trees and local flora with pink and yellow blooms, and hooked a right when we closed in on the pool. We crossed over an arched bridge and the pool lights beneath us painted Katie’s skin with blue light. On the other side, we climbed a set of four steps onto the raised veranda where the pool bar was.
It swam with people in their best attire. Men in suits sipped dark cocktails while women in formal dresses and glittering jewelry stood at the sides of the veranda, hands perched on railings, painted lips curled in delighted smiles as they made small talk with friends they probably hadn’t seen in a long time.
Katie turned to me, straightened out my tie, and nodded confidently. “This is it. Stick with me if you’re not comfortable. And you remember the signal if you want to leave?”
I tapped the side of my nose. “Sure do, but don’t worry. I’m no coward. I can handle a cocktail hour without getting cold feet.”
She giggled and leaned in close. “Just don’t fall in the pool, okay?”
“No promises.”
Katie stifled her laughter as a young man approached. He was tall, handsome, and familiar looking. It dawned on me when Katie hugged him that this was the most important man at the entire party, her twin brother Jackson.
When the two of them parted, he stuck his hand out for me to shake. “Hey, man,” he said enthusiastically, “I’m Jackson, Katie’s brother. We’ve all heard a lot about you.”
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m—”
“Peter,” he finished for me with a wink. “Yeah, we know. In fact, I’d wager almost everyone here knows who you are.”
Katie offered me an apologetic smile. “It’s a close-knit group. Word travels quickly.”
Jackson nodded. “And my sister isn’t one for boyfriends. So now that she finally has one, everyone has a hundred questions.”
“Boyfriend?” I asked.
Katie plucked a glass of champagne off a tray carried by a server and took a grateful gulp of it as Jackson draped an arm over my shoulders and turned me to face the crowd.
“Now,” he said. “There’s only one person here you need to look out for, and that’s my good friend, Kim. She’s a hellraiser, that one, and she’s going to grill you like a burger. Ah, there she is!”
Jackson pointed out a tall, slender, beautiful, dark-haired woman on the other side of the veranda. She wore a ruby-red dress that matched her lips. Her skin was fair and smooth, and she was laughing at something the gentleman beside her had said. His hand rested in the middle of her back and I realized they were an item.
“Kim,” I said. “Got it. I’ll be careful.”
Katie swatted her brother’s arm off my shoulder. “Give him some space, Jack. These people can be a lot at once. I don’t need you planting ideas in his head of who he has to look out for. They’re all nice, Peter. Don’t listen to my brother.”
Jackson snorted. “I’m just trying to keep it real with the guy, Katie. But hey, I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit. I promised the groom we’d throw back some shots. You feelin’ up for it, big guy?” He looked expectantly at me.
“Chris is drinking?” Katie asked.
Jackson nodded. “Sure is. His mother is hanging back in the room looking after Sandi so he could get some much needed adult time. Being a single father isn’t easy. I know Vanessa wanted him to be able to cut loose a bit, too.”
I didn’t know who these people were, but Katie seemed pleased to learn that the brother of the bride was here for the party.
I cleared my throat. “You go ahead man, maybe I should meet people before I start in on the liquor. You know, impressions and all.”
Jackson nodded his understanding and took off across the veranda to meet up with a group of