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Mason frowned.  Huh?
 Gen s a designer, Ben explained.  She has her own label. She makes clothes.
 I design clothing and footwear. I don t make them. You make me sound so common,
Benjamin, Genevieve said, rolling her eyes and stepping up to Mason.  God, he doesn t
know anything, does he? And yes, you re wearing last year s suede, knee high boots. I
designed them myself, for my label, La Brilliant Etoile.
 Really? Mason gaped.  These are my favorite boots! You designed these? Oh, my god! I
wear them all the time, ever since I bought them in Hollywood last year when I was on
vacation with my boyfriend. You re an amazing designer, really. So classy. And these boots
practically paid for themselves in tips alone.
Genevieve grinned.  Oh, I can t believe you re related to my Benjamin. He has no taste
whatsoever.
 I know, Benny never had much taste in anything, Mason said sweetly.  Clothes or
women.
Ben cleared his throat loudly.  All right, Mason, I ll help you to your room.
Unholy Matrimony - 32
 Ben, wait a minute, Genevieve said, smiling at Mason and not realizing he d insulted her.
 Have you told your brother the news?
 What news? Ben asked dumbly.
 The news, hello, Genevieve said, holding up her hand, flashing the engagement ring.
Bile rose quickly in Ben s throat.  No! I didn t, no, it s  he doesn t need to know, he s had
such a long, um, journey.
 Don t be stupid, Ben, Genevieve said. She turned to Mason.  Last night, your big brother
proposed to me. Isn t that sweet?
Mason s smile looked broken, or maybe it was the way he was grinding his teeth. Ben didn t
know why, but now he felt like he d cheated on Mason, which was crazy because he barely
even knew the kid.
Genevieve giggled and pulled Ben into a cozy embrace.  That s right, we re getting married,
Ben said stiffly, trying to smile at Mason.
Mason s smile hardened.  You move quick.
 Oh, sweetie, we ve been going out for two years, Genevieve said, laughing a bit shrilly.
She shoved Ben playfully.  You really haven t told him much, have you? Ben wanted to gag
at the tone in her voice, sugary sweet and fake. She only adopted the tone around clients and
other designers she loved to hate.
And now she was doing it around Ben s brother. Or who she thought was Ben s brother.
 Let me see that ring, sweetie, Mason said, voice tightening. Genevieve grinned and held
out her hand, displaying the rather impressive rock. Mason did a double take at it, and
Genevieve looked pleased.
 Now let s show you to the guest room, she said, turning and heading up the stairs.
Mason whirled around and poked Ben in the chest.  You re getting married? he hissed, not
paying Genevieve any mind. She was babbling about the guest room and neither man was
listening.
 It s none of your business. If you remember, I don t even know you, Ben retorted.
 It doesn t matter, it s tacky, Mason said.  I thought you were better than that.
 How can you think anything about me at all? Ben shot back, this time louder.
 Sweetheart? Genevieve called from the steps.  Are you two coming?
 One moment, Ben said, turning back to Mason.  Are you going to play nice or not? he
asked.
Unholy Matrimony - 33
Mason frowned, stomping his foot.  She s rather patronizing, you know, was all he said.
 That doesn t really affect you in any way, now does it?
 It does. I ll be living with you both, Mason said.
 And whose fault is that?
Mason rolled his eyes.  Don t forget you shoved your dick in my ass and got me into this
mess.
Ben hissed back,  You didn t seem to mind, from what I remember!
 If you remembered more, Mason said slowly,  you d remember that you said you loved
me. Ben snorted.  You did. You said you wanted to show me the world.
 I remember that part, Ben said.  But even that drunk, I doubt I told you I loved you. It took
me ten years to tell my own mother I love her. I don t throw that word around. Now let s go
before she comes back down here, okay?
Mason stayed rooted in place.  I don t care if she comes back down here. Why are you
marrying her?
 What s it to you? Ben asked, slightly angry.  Besides, you were just gushing over her
clothing designs. What do you have against her?
Mason sighed.  Never mind& Maybe I should go to a hotel.
 No, you re staying here.
 Oh, you do care, Mason said dryly.  You d better be nice to me, because if I don t agree to
this annulment, then you can t marry her. And then she ll know everything. With that, he
stomped ahead of Ben and went up the stairs.
Ben was left standing at the bottom of the staircase with Mason s suitcase and shoulder bag.
He curiously stole another look inside the bag, pulling out the photo he d seen earlier. Sure
enough, it was a picture of Mason and him. They were standing in front of the miniature
Eiffel Tower, faces squished together, looking so happy. Ben couldn t actually remember
being that happy in a long time.
He shook his head and put the photo back in the bag. He figured he d better get upstairs
before Mason could say anything insane to Genevieve.
Unholy Matrimony - 34
CHAPTER FOUR
Later that evening, Ben knocked on the door warily, and the door creaked open under the
weight of his hands.
He looked into the room to find Mason in a very tiny pair of cotton shorts and a thin t-shirt. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]