Page 54 of Dominate
“I have. And I have another loose tooth. See?”
She wiggles one of her upper teeth and I nod with wide eyes. “Oh yeah, that’s going to come out really soon.”
“I’ve been trying not to touch it so it falls out at your house.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because Freya gives me ten quid for each tooth!” She giggles.
“She what?” I exclaim, my jaw dropped. “I didn’t know that.”
She nods eagerly. “She told me not to tell you.”
“You two shouldn’t be keeping secrets from me!” I jest and roll onto my knees to tickle Sophia’s sides. “What else have you been hiding from me, huh?”
“Nothing, I swear!” She laughs happily, and I laugh right along with her. I don’t know if it’s because I was on a trip but, damn, I’ve missed this kid.
“Are you quite done?” Callum’s curt tone cuts into our fun as he stares down at us from where he stands by the fountain.
My smile falls when I see Callie holding onto his arm. She’s dressed in yet another miniskirt with metallic sheen tights and a pair of stiletto boots that look a hell of a lot more ridiculous than Sophia’s pink outfits that Margaret insists she never wear to the country.
The crunch of gravel by the house has my gaze snapping over to where Margaret has just come out. She cinches her white cloak up around her neck and makes her way over to Callum.
“Sloan,” she says crisply, tilting her head down at Sophia and I. “Sophia, those are new trousers.”
“Sorry, Grandmama,” Sophia chirps.
I move up into a standing position and dust Sophia’s bottom and legs off before doing the same to my own.
“No matter, they’ll wash,” Margaret replies, her tone softer than I’ve ever heard. She looks me up and down next. “You look like you’ve gotten some sun, Sloan. Were you travelling for business?”
“Pleasure,” I reply with a polite smile. “I was wondering if I could have a word with you and Callum for a moment before Sophia and I head out. Do you have a little time?”
Margaret nods and I feel Sophia staring up at me. I crouch down beside her and push a strand of hair back from her face. “Sweetie, why don’t you go out to the stables and see if that black cat is still up in the hay mound?”
“He is, Mummy! Come see!” She moves to drag me away, but I still her motion with my free hand.
“I need to talk to your grandmother and daddy. You go and take some pictures for me, okay?”
Sophia’s eyes light up when I hand her my phone. Without another word, she dashes off to the back of the estate with Rex nipping at her heels.
I stand back up and tighten my black jacket around my body. The February air is cold on my face, but not as cold as Margaret’s calculating stare.
Before I have a chance to say a word, Callum’s voice cuts into my thoughts. “Well, I may as well tell you before you hear it from Sophia. Callie and I are engaged.”
Callum stands up straight, one hand grabbing the edge of his suit jacket, the other wrapped tightly around Callie’s waist. I look down and see the enormous diamond glinting on Callie’s ring finger.
“Wow,” I reply, my voice hoarse in my throat. “So soon?”
Callum scoffs. “It’s hardly soon, Sloan. We’ve been seeing each other for quite some time.”
I shake my head stupidly. Of course they have. They were together before Callum and I separated. My voice is tight and flat when I reply, “Well, congratulations to you both.”
Callie giggles and drops her head on Callum’s shoulder, her foot kicking out playfully as Callum grabs her manicured hand and kisses the top of it. “It just happened Friday night.”
“So, Sophia knows already?” I ask, wondering if she was there for the proposal since it was his week with her.
“We told her along with Mother this morning.”
