Page 15 of And the Best Man Ran Away With the Groom

Oliver is busy when we approach the bar, so we’re served by another Caucasian man, this one a lot older, with hair that’s far more salt than pepper and laugh lines around his eyes.

“What’ll it be, boys?” he asks jovially in a British accent that’s different to Oliver’s. He flashes a smile that almost knocks the breath out of me, it’s justthatdazzling, full of shining white teeth and sparkling blue eyes; and it makes me realise he’s actually not as old as I’d first thought. I’d pegged him as around the same age as my mum, but now I can see he’s probably a good ten or fifteen years younger.

I shake myself out of my daze in order to answer the question. “Maybe you could surprise us?”

Xavier cuts me an annoyed look. “What?”

I offer him an easy smile, nudging him gently with my elbow. “Come on, we’re on holiday. Let loose a little.”

Xav rolls his eyes and lets out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Whatever.”

The handsome barman chuckles and moves away from us to make up our drinks. Once he’s out of earshot I turn to Xavier. “Well, that’s something to aspire to,” I say quietly. “Definitely wouldn’t mind still looking as good as that at his age.”

Xavier turns his gaze to me, running his eyes up and down my body in an assessing manner. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine.”

The handsome barman brings our drinks over and I extend a hand to him. “I’m Trent, and this is Xavier.”

He smiles, taking my hand. “Rupert, nice to meet you. Olly told me about you two after you checked in—Aussie, right?”

I nod and am about to ask Rupert how he came to be working here when Xavier starts choking and sputtering next to me.

“Oh my god. What’s in this?” he asks, staring daggers at the cocktail in front of him.

Rupert grins. “My own special creation. You wanted to loosen up, right?”

“Hewanted me to loosen up,” Xav corrects, sending me an accusatory glare. “I’m perfectly happy being wound tight.”

I can’t help letting out a little chuckle at that. Curious, I take a sip of my own drink; it’s definitely strong, but also pretty tasty, with hints of citrus and coconut and mint. “Just let the ice melt a little,” I suggest to Xav.

“If I end up under the table, I’m blaming you,” he warns.

I offer a soft smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I’ll even carry you back to your bungalow and tuck you into bed if necessary.”

“God, Rupe, don’t tell me you’re poisoning the guests again,” Oliver says as he sidles up to Rupert now that his rush of customers has abated.

“Never,” Rupert replies with a sly grin.

“How did you guys come to work here?” I ask. I have to admit, I’m curious about their relationship as well as their life here. The thought crossed my mind that they might be father and son, but how would that account for the difference in accents? And why would Oliver call his dad by his first name? Maybe it’s a complete coincidence that they’re both British. They might have each come here separately and now simply work together.

“Well, we came here for a little romantic getaway a few years ago and just loved it so much we decided to stay,” Oliver explains, smiling brightly. Then his expression changes to one of weariness. “And we had to get away from Rupert’shorriblefamily…”

Okay, so definitely not father and son then…

“They’re nothorrible,Olly,”Rupert reasons. “They’re just—”

“They’re horrible to me,” Oliver says with a pout. “They think the only thing that could possibly interest me about you is your money. I’ve tried to explain that it’s your cock I’m interested in but that seems to make them even more angry.”

“Yes, surprisingly enough my sister and daughter aren’t all that keen to hear about my sexual exploits,” Rupert says dryly. “And I’m sure Trent and Xavier don’t want to hear about this either.”

Oliver nods, looking sheepish. “You’re right. We shouldn’t be rubbing our incredible sex life in other people’s faces. Especially since poor Xavier’s just been dumped.”

Xavier sets his glass down on the bar with a loudthunk.Turning to me, he offers a glare fierce enough to melt stone. “Are you planning on tellingeveryone?”

And before I can get a word out in response, he stalks away from the bar in a huff, no doubt back to his bungalow for the night.

I wake relatively earlythe next morning, still feeling a twinge of guilt when I think about Xavier storming out of the bar last night. I should never have divulged details of the break-up to Oliver; that’s Xavier’s private business, and it’s completely understandable that he’d be sensitive about it.

I don’t know Xav well enough yet to know whether he’ll still be pissed at me this morning, but I don’t want to take my chances. We’ve got two whole weeks together here and as endearing as I find his grumpiness, there’s a big difference between that and outright hostility. So, I decide a peace offering is in order.

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