Page 27 of It's a Widow Thing

“What Orla said,” Kendra added as she tapped away on her phone. “I approve. But I think you already know that.”

Sabrina turned and saw Michael beckoning her with a wave from across the room. “Michael and I are going to share a cab. Will you two be okay getting home?”

“Don’t worry about us,” Kendra said.

“Okay. Well, I’ll see you all at our next meeting,” Sabrina said.

“Have fun,” they said in chorus.

Sabrina practically flew across the room to catch up with him. By the time she reached him, Brian and Daniel were already out the door. When she and Michael stepped outside, she saw that they’d flagged down a cab.

“Michael, you and Sabrina take this one. Daniel and I will grab the next one.” Brian clapped his brother on the shoulder, then turned his attention to her. “It was so nice to meet you. If he acts like an ass at any point, please cut him some slack. He means well.”

Sabrina laughed. “Got it. It was nice to meet you both.”

“Goodnight, guys.” Michael opened the cab door for her. “After you.”

She slid across the seat, trying to contain two things—happiness and a serious case of the nerves. “3rdAve and 22nd,” she said to the driver. “East side of the street.”

Michael snugged in next to her, putting his arm around her. “That was a night I didn’t expect, but so much fun. I really liked Kendra and Orla.”

“It was great to meet your brothers.”

“I have to say, I feel a little bit like I met your moms.”

Sabrina laughed. “If you’re worried at all, don’t be. They thought you were wonderful. Even Orla, who’s the toughest nut to crack.”

“My brothers told me I was an idiot if I don’t immediately ask you to marry me. I told them that’s not really part of taking things slow.”

She swallowed hard, searching for the words. “Not ready for marriage, but I think I might be ready for other things…”

“Oh, really?”

That old familiar standing-on-the-precipice feeling returned. But something told her it was time to leap. “Do you want to come to my place when we get home?”

“Sure. A night cap? I’m trying to lay off the booze, but I’ll hang out for a while.”

“What if you came over and stayed for awhile?”

He reached over and cupped her cheek, turning her face until they were looking right at each other. Even in the soft light of the back of the cab, his eyes were conveying self-doubt. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

She bit down on her lower lip and nodded. “I think it’s time.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

Michael climbedout of the cab in front of their building first, then reached for Sabrina’s hand to help her out. Sabrina felt like every nerve ending in her body was a member of a drunken sold-out crowd in a soccer stadium, waiting in anticipation of the moment they could all scream,Goooooooooooalllllllll!

Michael beelined for the door so fast that he beat their doorman. He was ushering Sabrina through it when she heard her name behind her.

“Sabrina!”

She turned to see Nora Van Cleeve and her husband, Walter.Dammit.Dripping with diamonds and wearing a form-fitting full-length black gown, Nora skittered toward them with an odd gait, like a Park Avenue Morticia Adams. Walter trailed behind her. Even though she’d addressed Sabrina, her sights were set on Michael. “And Mr. Wright.”

“Nora. Walter. Looks like you two had a big night,” Michael said.

“Opera.” Walter stuffed his hands into the pockets of his tux trousers.

“How lovely to see you both. Together.” Nora placed a hand on Sabrina’s forearm. “What are you two up to?”