Sean ended the call and relayed the conversation to Tristan. They gave their orders, then clinked their bottles. “Cheers. Here’s to our first official time appearing at a party in public as a couple.”
“A couple of what?”
Sean groaned. “God, you’re bad.”
“Yeah?” Those sensuous lips Sean ached to kiss tipped up. “This morning you couldn’t stop telling me how good I was.”
Tristan’s grin left him tingling in places that would make standing in public both painful and embarrassing.
“Wait until we get home.”
Tristan winked and drank more beer.
* * *
“Surprise!”
Thirty people crowded around Charlotte as she walked into the house, and Sean waited his turn to give her a hug and kiss.
“You look beautiful.”
“You brat. I can’t believe you kept this from me.” Face glowing, her eyes sparkled with joy. “I’m so glad you’re here with me to celebrate. Birthdays mean more now that I have a brother to share them with.” She turned to Tristan. “And I get to hug and kiss the most handsome man in the room too.” He held her tightly.
“Hey,” Ray called out. “Husband sitting right here.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She snorted and waved in his direction, still holding on to Tristan as Sean fell over on the sofa with laughter. “Whatever. I’ll deal with you later.”
“I know you will.”
Having met most of the families there thanks to the parties he’d put on for their children, it was a fun evening. Ray had gone all out with delicious catering from a Mediterranean restaurant, and by the end of the night, Sean had filled up onshish taouk, falafel, and hummus to the point where he couldn’t move, lying sprawled on the couch by Tristan’s side. They were spending the night and would stay to see the kids in the morning.
When it was only the four of them, Ray broke out a bottle of Dom Pérignon, and after popping the cork and pouring out a glass for each of them, he took Charlotte by the hand.
“The luckiest night of my life was when my client insisted on going to that club and I met you. Until then, I’d been alive but not living. So for you, my beautiful wife and love of my life, Happy Birthday.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a box. Her eyes grew wide when he opened it.
“Ray…that’s…it’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”
He took out a necklace with the biggest diamond Sean had ever seen and put it around her neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too. And it has nothing to do with this.” She touched it. “Although it’s pretty amazing.”
The doorbell rang, and Ray’s brows drew together. “Who the hell is here at ten o’clock at night?”
“It’s probably Julie. She’s always forgetting something.” Standing in front of the hall mirror, Charlotte twisted her neck side to side and admired her necklace, the diamond flashing in the overhead light.
Ray opened the door.
“Surprise! We couldn’t stay away for Charlotte’s birthday.”
“Uh, Lori…Craig. What a surprise.”
They walked in, and Charlotte stood frozen. Sean stiffened, and Tristan put a hand on his leg and leaned in close.
“What is it? Who are they?”
But he couldn’t answer. There was a buzzing in his brain, and his stomach cramped. Frantic to escape, he wished he’d never agreed to come.
White-faced, Charlotte stepped in their way, blocking them from his view. “What’re you doing here?”
