Page 31 of Happy Endings

Xavier rattled off several drink orders before a guest waved athim. The brunette wore a body-hugging dress that accentuated her breasts. Xavier’s face broke into a grin. “I’ll be right back. Have orders to take.”

Andre chuckled. Xavier was in his element. No doubt he’d get great tips tonight. He returned his attention to the glasses on the bar. Two rum and Cokes, a gin and tonic, and four glasses of house red.

Plus, an appletini for Trixie. Maybe her favorite cocktail would help her nerves. He could tell she was still shaken up from their earlier... well,encounterwasn’t the right word, but he didn’t know how else to describe it. Not without getting another hard-on.

She hadn’t settled down after all the guests arrived and piled their plates full of food. Instead, she paced around her demo table, straightening and adjusting her products. Next, she shuffled and stacked her order forms and counted the pens.

“That her?” Xavier reappeared and moved the drinks to his tray.

“Who?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, man. You’ve been watching her all night.” He picked up the appletini. “I didn’t order this. Either you’re off your game or it’s for her.”

“Fine. It’s for Trixie.”

“Finally! A face for the infamous Trixie.” Xavier whistled. “I can see why you think about her 24/7.”

“I do not think about her all the time.”

“Oh, shit! You want her back! You still got it bad.”

Andre remained silent.

“Andre, I’m just teasing. Having a little fun. We cool?”

“She was upset earlier—before everyone else got here. So Italked to her. Let her cry on my shoulder. I’d forgotten how good things were between us. Then she kissed me, I kissed her back, and one thing led to another. Then Luis interrupted us.”

“He walked in on the two of you?!”

Andre scowled. That would have made the situation much worse.

“Hold up. Let me drop off these drinks. That woman in red has been making eyes at me all night.” Xavier whisked the tray off the bar and strode away.

Andre watched as he charmed every lady—hell, even the one guy—sitting at table seven. If they ever had enough money, he’d hire Xavier to run his front of house and publicity. That brother oozed charmed. People fell over themselves to earn one smile from him.

On the other hand, Andre couldn’t even get Trixie to make eye contact with him tonight.

Xavier zoomed back to the bar. “Talk. I have five minutes before lady in red downs her rum and Coke.”

“No one walked in on us. There was a crash in the kitchen. Ruined the moment.” Andre shrugged. “It didn’t mean anything.”

“Sure. That’s why you’ve been moping behind the bar all night. Frowning at highball glasses and using your soda gun as if it were a weapon.”

“I have not.”

“Your tip jar is proof you’ve been scowling all night.”

The jar was empty, except for the fiver he’d stuck in there earlier.

“That’s because all the tips are going to you tonight.”

“I thought you were going to keep things cool between you. Profesh,” Xavier reminded him.

“We are.”

Xavier snorted.

“I am. Starting now.”

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