With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(72)

“Ohmigod!” Mabel and Kerry screamed in unison. They turned to face each other and then started jumping up and down, taking Sonia’s hand with them as they did so, jerking Sonia’s body repeatedly through her arm.

“Girls, my hand,” Sonia said quietly, thinking, sadly (and trying to hide it) for all other humans, this news was reason to shriek and jump up and down.

For Sonia, it was not.

She pinned a bright smile on her face when the girls let go of her hand and looked at Sonia with their faces wreathed with glee.

“You sly fox!” Kerry exclaimed. “I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”

Good goodness.

How was she going to explain this?

“Well –” Sonia began.

Mabel’s ebullient curiosity saved the day as she interrupted Sonia’s frantic thoughts to find a cover story with, “Is he hot?”

Was Callum hot?

Only one answer to that and as hateful as that answer was, it was a big, fat yes.

“Well –” Sonia started again but Kerry cut her off this time.

“Of course he’s hot. Sonia’s hot. Hot likes hot.”

“Yeah,” Mabel grinned at Sonia. “Stupid question.”

“Apparently he’s loaded too.” Kerry grinned as well. “Heck, you sell that ring, you could feed an entire, starving African nation.”

This, Sonia thought with uncharacteristic bitterness, was food for thought.

“When are we going to meet him?” Mabel asked and Sonia stilled.

She could barely come to terms with fitting into Callum’s life. She’d never considered that he’d have a place in hers.

And she wasn’t certain she liked that idea.

“He’s very busy,” she demurred but Kerry talked over her.

Shoving Mabel playfully on the shoulder she declared, “Of course we’ll meet him, crazy. He’ll be at her Christmas party.”

Oh heck.

Sonia hadn’t thought of that.

“Brilliant!” Mabel shrieked.

Sonia fought the urge to close her eyes in despair and instead attempted to beam at her girls. This fortunately worked as they beamed back.

Luckily, Sonia thought, Mabel and Kerry were the kind of people who took their employer’s all of a sudden “elopement” in stride. Knowing them, they probably thought it was incredibly romantic.

However, it was highly likely that others, say the guests at her annual Christmas party, would not. They would think it was curious, even weird.

Sonia sighed. So she was weird. She could live with that and had her whole life. It was the least of her worries.

Kerry took Sonia from these disturbing thoughts and turned to Regan.

“So you’re mystery, hot, loaded, new hubby’s Mom. Dig it! I’m Kerry,” and she offered her hand which Regan shook.

Not to be outdone, Mabel leaned in to shake Regan’s hand after Kerry while saying, “And I’m Mabel and you can tell your son I get the first congratulations kiss.”

Kerry turned to Mabel and protested, “Why do you get the first kiss?”

“Because I’ve been in the shop longer,” Mabel shot back.

“By… a day,” Kerry returned and this was true, they’d both been with her since it opened and they started one day after the other.

“I’m sure Callum will be delighted to receive both your congratulatory kisses,” Regan stated, smiling with great humor at Sonia.

Sonia was sure he’d like it too. Kerry and Mabel were both uncommonly pretty. Heck, considering what had been inferred by Caleb, Calder and Yuri, Callum might see the two of them and go on the make.

“Callum. That’s an excellent name,” Kerry commented, again tearing Sonia from her thoughts.

“And, seriously, I want what you’re drinking because if you’re Sonia’s hubby’s mother, and you look like Sonia’s sister, then it’s got to be good,” Mabel noted.

“First-rate skin care regime,” Regan blithely replied. “I’ll write down the products I use.”

“Excellent!” Kerry cried.

“I’m Regan,” she introduced herself. “And I’d love a tour of the store.”

“I’ve gotta get back to my customers,” Kerry said, grinning as she walked away. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll show you the store, come on,” Mabel offered and then hooked her arm through Regan’s and led her away as Regan threw a smile over her shoulder at Sonia.

The tall, dark-haired lady came forward and got close.

“My queen,” she said softly.

Sonia looked in her startling, clear, gray eyes, something she could do as she was wearing heels and the woman was in flats. If Sonia had not been in heels, she’d be looking up.

“Please,” Sonia replied quietly, “I’m Sonia.”

The woman’s gaze warmed and she nodded.

“And you are?” Sonia prompted.

“Diana,” she replied.

“Well, thank you Diana, for being here while I’ve, erm… been away. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for my queen,” Diana stated but when Sonia opened her mouth to speak, Diana quickly went on. “Though, your girls are such fun, it hasn’t felt like doing a duty for my king. It’s been a blast. More fun than I’ve had in ages.”