Page 6 of Mistletoe Kisses

I bit back a sigh. At least the pity might lead to a bigger tip.

With that group sorted, I swung by the booth where my brother, Warren, and his boyfriend, Reed, had come by for an early dinner before a festival meeting. The lovesick couple made gooey eyes at each other across the table. As soon as Warren noticed me approaching, his expression grew concerned. He must’ve overheard. At least Reed didn’t give me the same look. Maybe Warren had saved him from the gory details. It would be nice if one person in this town didn’t know all about it.

“You guys need anything?”

“We’re good. Thanks.” Reed smiled, but it fell away when Warren stole a fry from his plate. “You’re seriously going to eat all your fries and then go after mine? Brutal.”

Warren laughed, then stole another one before turning to me. “You okay?”

“Happy as a clam. Interested in some marionberry cobbler? Caleb is fiddling with his recipe.”

Warren licked his lips. “Yes, please. With vanilla ice cream?”

“Obviously. We’re not heathens at Inkwell Bistro.” I winked at him.

“Did you get the Etsy link I sent you with possible dog sweaters for Aunt Katherine?” Warren asked Reed as I turned to walk away.

Reed cursed. “I’m so sorry, babe. I meant to look at them earlier but got distracted with festival stuff.”

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Warren cup Reed’s cheek and say something that made Reed smile before he leaned across the table to give Reed a quick kiss.

It twisted something in me. I loved seeing my brother happy because no one deserved to be appreciated more than him. As the oldest of our four siblings, Warren always watched out for the rest of us. Our whole family was close, and we had amazing parents, but Warren made sure we knew he was always there. We were less than a year apart—basically twins like our younger siblings—and he was my best friend.

We Masons were the offbeat yet hilarious Adult Swim version of theLeave it to Beaverfamily. I lived a good life. I was happy, surrounded by incredible family and friends, and, surprisingly, enjoyed living in the small town where I’d been raised. I hadn’t spent much time focused on finding someone and settling down like Warren. I had years ahead of me to worry about that, but witnessing my brother building a life with his soul mate over the past year had planted a seed that had begun to take root.

Maybe I was caught up in the cuffing season, but a part of me wanted to find that for myself. It might be a good time to reactivate my profile on a dating app or two. People were always looking for dates around the holidays, right?

The bells over the door tinkled, and a cute, nerdy guy with red hair walked in. I had such a weakness for redheads.

My coworker, Kayla, glanced over from where she was serving a table and glared at me. My turn to seat the hottie in my section.

“Hi there. Welcome to Inkwell Bistro. Are you dining in or ordering takeout?” I gave him my most winning smile.

He bit his bottom lip and glanced around the half-empty restaurant. Lip-biting was my kryptonite. The guy was a few inches shorter than me and lean. He wore an unzipped olive-green puffy coat. His red hair was short on the sides and longer on top, combed to one side. His short beard and mustache aged up his baby face. If I had to guess, he was also in his early thirties.

Ginger Spice shot nervous glances toward the dining room and the door. “Um, dining in, please.”

I grabbed a menu and specials list from the host stand. “Perfect. Will anyone be joining you?”

“Just me.”

“Great. Right this way.” I smiled wide, then led him to a quieter table in the corner. I got the impression from his jumpy demeanor that he might appreciate a more private spot. If I put a bit of extra sway in my hips as I led him to his table, well, sue me. He wasn’t putting off any obvious rainbow vibes, but a guy could hope.

When I reached the table and turned to face him, I caught his eyes traveling up my body. When they reached mine, he blushed crimson.

“I’m Lucas, and I’ll be helping you tonight. I’ll give you a few minutes with the menu and grab you a water. Anything I can bring you with the water?”

He kept his eyes on the table as he removed his coat and folded it, then slid into the booth. “Unsweet iced tea, please.”

“You got it.”

I glanced over at my brother and Reed as I went to get the water and found Warren waggling his eyebrows at me. As I passed him, I leaned in and hissed, “If you keep that up, I’ll poison your cobbler.”

“Just your type, a nerdy twink,” Warren whispered back.

When I returned with the drinks after putting in the order for poison-free—for now—cobbler, Ginger Spice’s lips were twisted to the side as he studied the menu.

He thanked me as I set the water and iced tea on the table. Polite customers were my favorite. “Any questions about the menu or today’s specials?”

---