Page 90 of A Hard Sell

After they all signed the marriage register, the clerk offered to take a few pictures. She waved the happy couple over to stand in front of the city’s seal on a marble wall. They looked so proud, faces glowing brighter than the sun, as they stood side by side.

“They’re pretty adorable,” Luka said to Thomas, as Rory tried to pick Finn up like a bride. They laughed as Finn slung his arms around Rory’s neck, holding on for dear life.

“They are,” Thomas agreed.

“Do you think you’ll ever get married?” It popped out, unbidden. He grimaced.

The smile faded on Thomas’ face. “I don’t know,” he said, now watching Finn plant a kiss on Rory’s cheek. “Maybe.”

“So…one day you’ll stop moving around? Pick somewhere to settle?”Pick someone to settle with?

“Luka.” Thomas swallowed hard. He looked back at Luka and his eyes were unbearably sad.

“Sorry, never mind, it’s none of my business.”

“I—”

“Hey, you two. Get over here!” Finn called. He put an arm around Rory and held the other one up in invitation. “Family photo.”

Luka ducked under Finn’s arm. Thomas stood next to him, so he slipped his arm around Thomas’ waist. His torso was warm where it was pressed up against Luka’s. He took a breath of Thomas’ scent and smiled for the camera.

“Who’s ready to celebrate?” Finn crowed when they were done, spilling out onto the sidewalk again. The rain had stopped, puddles gleaming in the streetlights.

L’Empereurwas even fancier than Luka had remembered. There were only a handful of tables in the entire place, each in its own little world, tucked into an alcove with small bow windows and thick, cream-colored drapery with gold accents. The maître d’ sat them one at a time on plush, button-tufted velvet chairs, then placed linen napkins on their laps. Once they were settled, they couldn’t even hear or see any other tables. It was quiet, violin music playing in the background, the lighting low and soothing.

Rory’s cousin, Dimitri, was their server, and appeared as soon as the maître d’ left them.

“Rory!” He kissed them on both cheeks. “Toutes nos félicitations! And Finn.” He kissed his new cousin-in-law’s cheeks, too. “Bienvenue dans la famille.”

“Thank you so much, Dimitri. And thanks for getting us in tonight!”

Dimitri waved a hand. “C’est rien. I am thrilled to be a part of your wedding day!”

“These are our friends, Luka and Thomas.”

“Enchanté.” Dimitri shook their hands. Luka noticed Dimitri noticing how stunning Thomas was—lips parting, eyes widening—but he also seemed to react the same way to Luka.

“Rory, you said your friends were attractive, but you have drastically understated it.”

Luka wasn’t sure how to respond, but he didn’t need to, because Dimitri breezed right through, collecting the menus the maître d’ had just left.

“You won’t be needing these,mes amis! I will take care of you. This evening, for hors d’oeuvres, we are featuringPalourdes au Gratin, baked clams with garlic butter and bread crumbs, andQuiche Lorraine. I will bring those out with some fresh bread and a bottle of red for the table to start.Bon?”

He was pretty hot, like Rory had said at Thanksgiving. And who didn’t like a French accent? Luka willed himself to let his eyes linger on Dimitri’s muscular frame, admiring his thick, ashy brown hair and dazzling smile.

Dimitri seemed to be taking his time looking back at Luka, too. He touched Luka’s shoulder when he passed him. “Sparkling or flat water?”

“Sparkling, please.”

“I will returntout de suite.”

True to his word, Dimitri was only gone a few minutes before he came back with water, wine and a basket of warm crusty rolls with herb butter.

“How have you been, Dimitri?” Rory asked, taking a roll.

“Ça va, ça va. Max got nipped by a Yorkie at the park the other day,mon pauvre bébé. He had to get stitches. But he will be okay.”

“Oh, yes, Rory mentioned you have four dogs?” Luka piped up.

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