Page 24 of First Comes Marriage

“How did I look at you?”

“Like I was an amusing kid.”

She swallowed, wet her lips with her tongue, watched him tracking the movement of her mouth. He really did have the prettiest eyes.

“And how do I look at you now?” he asked, pitching his voice low.

“Like maybe you’re glad about the kiss too.”

He took a slow breath, his eyes focusing on her hand, on the ring there, as he gathered his thoughts. Maybe she’d gone too far. Maybe she’d been misreading all the little touches and glances.

“You are a beautiful woman,” he said slowly. “And I am very attracted to you.”

Hope fluttered to life in her chest—wild, reckless hope—

“And that makes this more complicated.” Her heart sank. “The sooner we can get that annulment sorted out, the less confusing this will be. For everyone.”

A staticky voice came over the speakers announcing their final descent to Providence, the crackling words saving Sabrina from having to agree with Sebastian. For a moment there it had almost felt like they were friends again, like they could maybe even be more than friends.

But that was a dangerous line of thinking. The last person Sabrina needed to develop feelings for was her husband.

***

Sabrina only took a few steps off the plane, dragging her bag behind her, before Baz pulled the strap from her grasp and slung it over his shoulder.

“I can get that,” she protested as he strode down the jetway.

“So can I.”

She trotted after him, and he bit the inside of his cheeks to keep from smiling, though the warmth blooming in his chestwas harder to ignore. He pressed the heel of his hand to his sternum under the guise of adjusting the strap of her bag, half convinced that he’d feel that warmth through his shirt.

“How are you getting back to Aster Bay? Do you want to split a cab?” she asked.

“Ethan’s picking me up. We can drive you back to your aunt’s.”

They stepped onto the escalator that descended to the ground level where Ethan would be waiting. As his friend came into view, Baz got his first glimpse of the piece of cardboard Ethan held above his head, letters scrawled in black marker reading “Mr. and Mrs. Graham.” Sabrina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, where her eyes landed on her wedding ring and she let out a little squeak before shoving her hand into the pocket of her gray trousers. Baz was going to murder Ethan.

“Welcome home,” Ethan said with a grin.

“Get rid of that thing,” Baz barked.

Sabrina stumbled as she stepped off the escalator, and Baz’s hand shot out to steady her. Ethan eyed the movement, his smirk growing wider.

“Shut up,” Baz said. “We’re giving her a ride home.”

Ethan held out a hand to take Sabrina’s bag from Baz, but Baz batted it away and strode past him towards the exit, Ethan’s laughter following behind him.

“Where to?” Ethan asked once they were all settled in his truck.

“Mrs. Page’s,” Baz replied.

“Have you spoken to your aunt today, Sabrina?” Ethan asked.

“No,” she said, shooting a wary glance Baz’s way before asking Ethan, “Is she alright?”

“I’m sure she’s fine, but I got a call from Gavin who got a call from Mrs. White who’d heard from Mrs. Greene that your aunt was looking for a way to move your things into Baz’s condo before you arrived, as a sort of welcome home surprise,” Ethansaid as he steered the truck out of the airport parking lot and onto the highway.

“What?” Sabrina squeaked. “Why would she do that?”

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