Page 27 of Happy Endings

“Look at all you’ve accomplished in a brand-new city where you barely knew anyone. You’re a smart, successful woman.” In fact, she reminded him of his mother. He had not fully appreciated what Mama had done until after he left DC. Not until he learned how his father squashed his mother’s dreams of opening a restaurant. He was grateful his mother had been stubborn. With a jolt, he realized that all the women in his life were stubborn. Mama, Keisha, and now Trixie, who was back in his life. Her eyes widened.

“You think I’m successful?”

Andre nodded, afraid he’d said too much. Seeing her like this—so vulnerable underneath her surface strength. It reminded him how much he cared for her. How much she trusted him to reveal this side of her. Trixie despised vulnerability. She hated looking weak. He missed being able to take care of her. Missed when she let him in. When she let him help her.

Suddenly, she slid off her stool and threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

Muscle memory took over and he wrapped his arms around her. She tucked her head into his chest and forearm. Andre leaned down and inhaled her familiar sweet scent. It felt good to hold her like this again. The past couple years had been all business for him, taking care of his sister, the restaurant, and their neighbors. There had been no time for anyone or anything else. No fuck buddies. Definitely no romantic relationships.

As they stood there in the empty restaurant, arms wrapped around each other, more sensual memories kicked in. The feel of her round breasts pressed against his body woke up other parts of him. Parts below the belt. His cock twitched and tried to stand at attention inside his jeans.

He inched his hips away from Trixie while keeping his arms wrapped around her. No need to ruin a perfectly tender moment with a hard-on. This was supposed to be a professional partnership.

“I’m sorry.” Trixie looked up at him. “You probably have a ton of prep work for tonight, and I’m keeping you from it.”

She didn’t let him go.

“It won’t take me long.” He kept his arms around her, not wanting to be the first to break the embrace. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”

Trixie’s hands slid down his back. Andre inhaled sharply when she stopped right above his ass. Her fingers twitched as if waiting for permission to move lower.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea—”

Andre’s words vanished as Trixie stretched up on tiptoe and covered his mouth with her lips.

Chapter 11

Trixie only meant to give him a quick kiss, but instinct took over. A shock rippled through her body upon contact. Standing so close to him had been distracting. His scent was familiar. Comforting.

The way things had been in New Orleans before her life imploded. He knew when she needed a self-esteem boost and reminded her how strong she was. She came to him when she needed more courage to take risks.

Like kissing him again when it was probably a bad idea.

Her body started its low hum again.

Andre’s lips were soft yet firm. She’d caught him midsentence, so his lips were slightly open. Her lips opened to match his, and her tongue caressed his mouth, inviting his to dance with hers.

His mouth opened wider to deepen the kiss. His hands wrapped around her head. Fingers intertwining with her long hair. His tongue was hot. Insistent. No—demanding as he tasted her. Pulling back just enough to make her miss him before coming back to mingle with hers. Andre’s warm, spicy scent filled her nose, and she breathed him in as best she could.

She loved it. This dance between them felt familiar yet different. Andre’s lips were no stranger to hers, yet he seemed moreforceful. He knew what he wanted, and it was her. A heat flashed through her body.

Trixie’s head swirled as she relaxed into his hold. Somewhere in the haze, she heard a moan. Hers.

Andre pulled away. She whimpered, missing the heat of his lips. He bent his head and kissed her neck right behind her ear.

She sucked in air, trying to find her footing after their kiss. Her brain told her to stop and that this would complicate things between them. Trixie pushed the thoughts aside with each kiss he left on her neck. She gasped at the contrasting sensations of searing heat from his lips and the tender bites against her skin. The heat spread into her chest, down into her belly.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No.” It was the truth. Her brain screamed at her to back away. Not to trust this man again. Her body wanted comfort, no,neededcomfort from him.

He froze.

“But I’ve missed this. Us.” She wasn’t sure if she meant sex or something more.

“I’ve missed you.”

She searched his eyes. He was telling the truth.

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