Page 42 of First Comes Marriage

“Sabrina.” The word was half plea, half chastisement.

She blinked back the stinging in her nose and turned away from him, determined not to let him see how badly he’d hurt her.

“I’ll find the broom.” Her voice broke on the last word as she turned the corner out of the kitchen.

He called after her but she didn’t stop. As her name echoed in the dark apartment, she abandoned any intention of finding the broom, and instead slipped back into the guest room, leaning against the door as soon as it closed. She heard hisfootsteps in the hall, heard them stop in front of her door, and she held her breath, but it only took a moment for him to move on, the footsteps retreating back towards the kitchen.

Sebastian Graham may have loved her freckles, but he didn’t loveher. A small, but important distinction she needed to remember.

Chapter Fourteen

“Knock, knock!” Aunt Lucy stuck her head through the propped-open front door of Sabrina’s new studio. “I come bearing cookies.”

Sabrina set the last jar of glaze on the shelf beside the others and turned to face her aunt, wiping her hands on the navy blue apron she wore over her jeans and t-shirt. “You didn’t have to do that. You know you’re welcome to visit without bringing baked goods.”

Aunt Lucy smiled and set the overflowing tray of cookies loosely covered in plastic wrap on the worktable at the front of the studio. “Jam thumbprints. Both your and Sebastain’s favorite.” She glanced around the studio, her smile widening. “It looks wonderful in here, dear. You didn’t waste any time getting set up.”

“Only thing left to do is put up the sign.”

“When is the grand opening?”

“I’m not sure.” Sabrina focused her attention on straightening the jars of glaze on the shelf, making sure all the labels faced forward.

“Looks to me like you’re ready to open tomorrow.”

“Not quite. I want it to be perfect.”

“Nothing’s perfect, dear heart.” Aunt Lucy lay a hand overSabrina’s, stilling her nervous arranging. “But this place comes pretty darn close.”

“Thanks, Auntie.” Sabrina looked away, clearing her throat. She wasn’t sure exactly why her aunt’s praise should lodge a lump in her airway.

“Come on. We’re going to lunch. My treat.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to! It’s not every day I get to celebrate with my favorite niece. Besides, I’ve had the worst craving for one of Lemon and Thyme’s lobster rolls. Indulge me.”

Before Sabrina could protest, she found herself sitting at a table overlooking the water, eating lobster rolls and the best French fries she’d ever had while her aunt shared bits of gossip about people Sabrina had never met.

“When are you going to tell me what happened in Las Vegas?” Aunt Lucy asked.

Sabrina stiffened as she dragged a fry through the puddle of ketchup on her plate. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play coy with me, young lady. I had to practically twist your arm to get you to go on that trip.”

Sabrina eyed her aunt carefully. “Did you know Sebastian was the other person going?”

“I honestly did not. Ruthie seemed to think it would be Ethan Hart—the one that lives at the vineyard. Ruthie and his mother are friendly and she and her friends have been trying—to no avail, mind you—to set that boy up with a nice girl for years now.”

“I knew it was a set up.”

“Yes, but not withSebastian. EvenIdidn’t think—” Aunt Lucy cut herself off and tried to hide it behind a sip of her iced tea.

But Sabrina had already heard. She twisted her hands in the cloth napkin on her lap. “Even youwhat, Auntie? Even you didn’t think I’d stoop low enough to marry Holly’s ex-fiancé?”

“That is not what I said.”

“But you were going to.”

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