I delivered the final blow as I turned to leave. “And besides, I’m a traditional woman. I would never marry a
divorced man.”
I slammed the door behind me. But he followed, grabbing my wrist again in the hallway.
“Ethan, have you not made enough of a scene?” My voice was ice.
He recoiled as if burned, snatching his hand back. “Sorry,” he muttered.
I didn’t acknowledge him, just started walking toward the terminal exit. I could hear his heavy, hesitant foot- steps behind me. I sighed. Let him follow. I never knew he could be so pathetic.
I pulled out my phone and saw several missed calls. Crap. Leo was going to be dramatic about this.
I was about to call him back when I saw him. A man in a beige trench coat, walking toward me with a confi- dent stride. Strapped to his chest in a carrier was a beautiful, rosy–cheeked baby.
He wore a mask and a baseball cap, obscuring most of his face, but his presence was electric. He moved with an unapologetic, vibrant energy that seemed to create its own gravitational pull, even the baby bounci- ng along in his wake.
“Oh my god, who is that?” I heard a girl whisper nearby. “He’s hotter than a movie star! Is that… no, he’s even
more handsome than Leo Vance!”
20:34
20:34
Chapter 2
“And look at that baby! So cute! His wife must have saved the galaxy in a past life.”
“Aaaah, I want to be that baby!”
Heads turned wherever he went, eyes glued to him.
But his eyes were only for me.
“Wifey…” he purred, his voice a theatrical mix of ninety–nine percent worry and one percent playful pout. “Why didn’t you answer my calls? I was so worried.”
Under the stunned gazes of everyone around us, I stood on my toes and playfully smacked the top of his
head.
“I told you not to bring Luke. He’s still so little.”
Leo opened his mouth to protest, but at that exact moment, a tiny, clear voice piped up from the carrier.
“Ma… ma…”
It was the first time our son had ever spoken.
I froze, completely stunned.
Leo seized the opportunity, instantly shifting the blame. “See? He insisted on coming.”
I gave Leo’s chest a light punch, a laugh bubbling up. He caught my hand, bringing it to his face and pressing a kiss into my palm.
“I missed you, Audrey.”
Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could hear the smile in his voice. A familiar warmth spread through me, tinting my ears pink. After all this time, Leo’s words were still as sweet as honey. If his fans ever knew that, the stoic, serious award–winning actor was such a needy puppy in private, their jaws would hit the floor.
Seeing my blush, Leo’s mood brightened even more. He wrapped an arm around my waist. “Come on, let’s go. It’s been so long since you’ve been home. I had Mrs. Gable make your favorite pot roast to welcome you
back.”
I took one step, and a harsh voice cut through the air from behind me.
“Audrey!”
