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“What happened?” Michael asked. “What’d I do?”

“Nothing. It’s my aunt. I told you she’d find fault with you.” He stopped in the middle of the throng of people. “You didn’t measure up and she wanted to make a scene. I didn’t take the bait and neither should you.”

“She’s that petty?”

“Oh yeah.” He started away, but Michael stopped Tristan.

“Tristan.” He held on to Tristan’s lapels. “I’m sorry. Next time I’ll buy a tux that fits.”

“No.” He cupped Michael’s jaw in both hands. “This is one of the reasons I’m ready to leave New York. I can’t do the fakeness. I can’t allow someone I love to be treated like shit because he’s not from the right family. That’s crap.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have worn your tux.” Michael chuckled. “Oh well. Next time I’ll show up naked.”

“Yes.” Tristan nodded and laughed until his ribs hurt. “But only if the party is a party of two.” Christ, he loved Michael. He’d wanted a man who knew how to break the tension and buoy him while being his equal. Michael fit the bill. “Let’s visit with my cousin a moment, then we can go. I have the feeling my aunt would like us out of here as soon as possible.”

“I say we stick around a little longer and annoy her.” Michael half-shrugged. “I enjoy irritating her.”

“You’re so bad.” He kissed Michael hard. “But I’d rather go home so we can do naughty things to each other.”

“Oh?” Michael’s eyes flashed.

In the middle of so many people, with the noise and music playing, Michael managed to make it seem like he and Tristan were the only ones in the room. Tristan shifted his hips to hide his burgeoning erection. When could they leave? Now?

“Where is this cousin and her beau?” Michael asked. “Since you’re offering up your penthouse, the least you can do is let her know in person.” He tucked in close to Tristan. “Then we can go home for lots of sex.”

He shivered and desire hit hard. “Yes.”

“Then let’s go.” Michael kissed Tristan. “Now.”

“Uh-huh.” He needed a second for his brain to defog. He wandered with Michael through the crowd until he spotted his cousin.

Jean and her fiancé, Antonin, stood beside a swan ice carving. A fountain with pink water flowed behind them. Tristan strode up to her. “Jean,” he said. “Antonin. So good to see you. Congratulations. When is the happy event going to be?”

Jean blushed. “Uh…how’d you know?”

Antonin kissed her knuckles. “He meant the wedding, but you might as well tell him the rest…he’s family.”

Her blush deepened. “Uh…who is this?”

Tristan tipped his head. What was she hiding? He flattened his hand on the small of Michael’s back. “This is my partner, Michael. Michael, this is Jean and Antonin.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Michael shook hands with Antonin and kissed Jean on the cheek. “Congratulations. Your secret is safe with us.”

Antonin laughed. “I knew I liked this guy for a reason. Thank you.”

Jean clasped Antonin’s wrist with both hands and nodded to Tristan. She glanced around before speaking. “The baby will arrive in April so we’re getting married next month. I don’t want the situation to be so obvious. My mother will die. As soon as she finds out, she’ll try to take control.”

“It’s a small beachside gathering, but I want you both to be there,” Antonin said.

“We won’t say a word.” Tristan kissed her temple. “But speaking of secrets, I’ve got one for you. Since Michael and I are permanent, I don’t need my penthouse here in town. If you’d like to take it over, then the place is yours.”

Antonin’s eyes lit up. “Are you kidding? We’ll get out of her house. Yeah, we’ll take it. Thank you.”

“Jean?” He leveled his gaze at his cousin. “What do you think?”

She hugged Tristan, then Michael, before settling against Antonin. “That’s the best gift we could receive. I’m tired of living under my mother’s thumb.”

“I’ll bet.” Tristan nodded. If his aunt could be hellish to him, he couldn’t imagine what she’d be like to her daughter on a daily basis.