information and entertainment. Maybe she was.
Ava glanced over, taking a closer look at Hailey. When had her boss worn this much makeup or fixed her hair so formally? Hailey had catered plenty of weddings — Ava had helped with her fair share of them — and this was a first. And that little black dress clung to her curves.
Who was she trying to impress? Server Boy? That didn’t seem right, although Hailey tended to chase anyone with a Y chromosome, and the guy was reasonably good-looking. Yellowy blond hair, strong jaw... plus it seemed there might be a muscle or two rippling beneath his white shirt.
“Ava?”
“I don’t know him. Is the entree good?”
Basil shrugged. “Okay, I guess. It’s food.” He scowled as he glanced back at Hailey and the guy working with her.
Wait. What? Basil and Hailey were two of a kind, flirting with anyone who’d look twice, both flitting around like butterflies — wouldn’t Basil love that comparison? — never sticking with one flower for long. Could they…?
Nah. There were too many starry-eyed lovers in Ava’s life these days, if she was starting to imagine unrequited love between that unlikely pair.
Still watching, she reached for her wine glass. Crash! Over it went, sending a widening burgundy puddle toward the edge of the table. Toward her peach-colored dress.
Way to be a klutz, Ava.
She skidded her chair back to get away as Basil snapped his fingers. “Hey, can we get some help over here?” he hollered, throwing all the linen napkins he could reach onto the spill to little avail.
Heat suffused Ava’s cheeks. Oh, man, way to draw all eyes to herself and now Basil.
Server Boy set the platter down, grabbed several towels, and jogged over. He caught the edge of the burgundy lake before it turned into a waterfall. In another minute, he and Hailey had rolled away the offending tablecloth while the wedding party lifted their plates and glasses. A few seconds later, a fresh cloth covered the table, the plates were set down, and the meal resumed as though nothing had happened.
Except for Ava. She took a couple of small bites, but it seemed her stomach would reject even that, so she crossed her utensils on her plate.
“Not going to eat your dinner?” Basil eyed her portion.
Seriously? “Be my guest.”
“If you insist.” He swapped their plates.
Ava couldn’t watch. The noise in the community center had resumed its previous level once the drama at the head table was over. She found her parents chatting with some of Dad’s brothers and their wives then located her younger sister surrounded by several of their cousins. Her gaze lingered on dozens of neighbors and friends and church members. She loved Bridgeview.
Except that everyone had witnessed her humiliation. Graceful, poised Ava Santoro, dance and music teacher, tipping over a wine glass like a butterfingered kid after nearly running over that cute server.
Not that she’d ever have a chance with a guy like that, not that she wanted one. Especially not if he was interested in a woman like Hailey North.
It was an uncharitable thought. Ava loved the camaraderie at the bistro, both among the staff and with the regulars. The place exuded a joyous atmosphere, and that had as much to do with Hailey as with her co-owner, Kass Ferguson.
Ava simply preferred Boss Hailey to Manhunter Hailey, and tonight the woman was fluttering her eyelashes at Server Boy like he was Adonis. Ava should warn him, but then, he looked like a grownup, and if he was lapping up all this attention, Hailey was his problem.
Good luck with her, Server Boy.
Seth Donahue lined up with the other waitstaff, watching for the opportunity to remove the remaining plates. He couldn’t help glancing over at the head table where the dark-haired beauty sat between the bride and the best man, who’d taken over eating from her plate.
She seemed to have regained her poise, but she hadn’t eaten more than two or three bites. One of those women who watched her waistline so avidly that she was starving herself to death? He knew enough women with eating disorders, and she didn’t really carry the signs.
“Thanks, Seth. You’re doing great.” His boss for the evening leaned closer and rested her fingertips on his arm.
Did she have no sense of propriety? He barely knew her and had done his best not to give off easy vibes. He knew far too well what those looked like. Too many years living the other life, but he was done, now.
He scratched