Page 43 of First Comes Marriage

“I certainly was not!” Aunt Lucy reached across the table, capturing one of Sabrina’s fidgeting hands with her own.

“I’m sorry,” Sabrina said. “I’m nervous about what Mom and Dad are going to say when I see them this weekend.”

“I’ve always liked Sebastian, and I know how much you cared for him, even back then.”

Heat rushed to Sabrina’s cheeks. Had everyone known she had a crush on her almost brother-in-law? Hadhe?

“Now, I was as surprised as anyone when I heard the news of your marriage, but never for a second did it make me think any less of you.”

You’d think less of me if you knew the truth. You’d be disappointed if you knew this all started as a way to get back at Holly for being the perfect daughter. And now I’m lying to you, to the insurance company, to everyone! Petty, stupid, childish plan gone wrong.

“So tell me, how did you go from not wanting to go on that trip to marrying one of Aster Bay’s most eligible bachelors? I didn’t think we’d ever see you walk down the aisle again. Though, I suppose, we didn’t see it at all, now did we?”

Where to begin?

He held my hand on the plane and didn’t make fun of my morbid mantras. He looks so ridiculously sexy in a suit it’s not fair. We were drunk and impulsive, but really I think we both wanted an excuse to give in to the sexual tension between us. Or maybe that was just me.

“I imagine,” Aunt Lucy said carefully, “there was a great deal of alcohol involved?”

Sabrina’s eyes flew to Aunt Lucy’s. “How did you know?”

Her aunt laughed. “Dear heart, you are hardly the first woman to find herself making rash decisions in the company of an attractive man, especially when the wine is flowing.”

“It was margaritas,” Sabrina said with a begrudging smile.

“Even more deadly!” Aunt Lucy leaned back in her seat. “Then, a grand elopement it was not. And yet, you don’t seem to be in a rush to rid yourself of your new husband.”

“We have a…practical arrangement.”

Aunt Lucy hummed in understanding. “Not a love match, then.” Sabrina shook her head. “Well, I must say that I was hoping there was a bit less…practicalityin the mix, but I am perhaps more relieved than I should admit to.”

“Relieved?”

Aunt Lucy’s eyes softened, and somehow Sabrina knew her aunt could see how impractical Sabrina’s feelings for Sebastian really were. “He is a wonderful young man. Kind, generous, loyal, even if he does try to hide all that behind his brooding and his suits. But he’s also closed off. Solitary. I would imagine it would be quite hard to get beneath that grumpy exterior of his, especially when he doesn’t seem inclined to let anyone in. You’ve been through so much over the last few years. I would hate to see you get your heart broken.”

Sabrina’s heart squeezed in her chest. “Don’t worry, Auntie. No hearts involved.”

The lie was bitter on her lips, but it seemed to appease her aunt, who smiled broadly. “Good. Now, what shall we get for dessert?”

***

“Tell me again why you called me instead of Gavin?” Ethan leaned over the jewelry case in the small store on the edge of town, eyeing the display of gold rings.

“Gavin’s too much of a romantic,” Baz said, pointing out a set of simple platinum wedding bands to the man behind the counter.

“Too much of a romantic to pick out wedding rings?”When Baz didn’t respond, Ethan made his way over to where the attendant was showing Baz the platinum set. “Didn’t you already buy rings?” He tilted his head towards the cheap gold band on Baz’s finger.

“Vegas rings. I can’t take Sabrina home to her parents’ house wearing dime store jewelry. What do you think of these?”

Ethan looked at the platinum rings. “They’re nice.”

“That’s what you’ve said about every ring we’ve looked at,” Baz complained, picking up the delicate women’s band to examine it more closely.

“I don’t know anything about wedding rings, Baz. Never worn one, never picked one out. You really should have called Gavin or Jamie, or—”

“I’ll take these,” Baz said, handing the ring back to the man behind the counter, along with a folded piece of paper he withdrew from his blazer’s inside pocket. “These are our sizes. I’d like to pick them up tomorrow afternoon.”

The man smiled the wide grin of someone who was about to make a killing on commission. “Of course, sir. There will be a small rush service fee.”

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