Page 276 of The Christmas Wife

"Not when it comes to talking about sex, you don’t."

I raise a shoulder. "Yeah, so I have a liberated view about sex, in general.”

"And a rather low opinion of men, in particular," she points out.

"I did—" I admit.

"So, not anymore?"

"I mean, I still do," I say hastily.

"Umm, I think not." She chuckles.

"Can we change the topic?" I scowl.

"No way. In fact, I’m going to dial in Isla."

"No, wait! Don’t. What are you?—"

My screen changes view, and a third window pops up with Isla’s eager face. "What’s happening? What did I miss?"

"Hello to you, too. I assume you are finally back from honeymoon number five?" I ask in a droll tone.

"It was our sixth, actually. Although, since we decided to move to the island, every day with Liam feels like a honeymoon," she says in a dreamy voice.

Solene and I exchange glances. It’s almost funny how much Isla is in love with her husband. Truth is, he seems just as crazy about her. And the few times I’ve seen them since they got married, they couldn’t keep their hands and their gazes off of each other.

"Anyhoo” —Isla beams at both of us— ”I didn’t jump on the call to talk about myself. Tell us about your latest man."

I look down my nose at her. "Why does it have to be about my man?"

"Because I’m married, and Solene is, more or less, in a relationship." Isla’s referring to Solene dating Hollywood heartthrob Declan Beauchamp.

"I’m not," Solene butts in.

"Okay, so she’s not, at the moment, but given we know their ups and downs last until one of them misses the other and they get back together?—"

"Or not," Solene chimes in again.

"Or not, which I don’t believe for a moment. Either way, it’s not as if she’s interested in anyone else. You though" —Isla’s smile grows broader— "you are Zara Chopra, Ms. Shark herself?—"

"I’m a tough negotiator." I shrug off the title the media seems to have thrust upon me.

"Indeed. And you are not easy to please. So, if you have a new man in your life?—"

"I don’t," I snap.

Both women look at me.

"Okay, fine. So, I may have had a dirty one night stand," I finally admit.

"I knew it." Solene does a mock fist pump.

"It’s Hunter, isn’t it?" Isla bursts out.

When I don’t reply, Solene chimes in, "It is Hunter. Also, he told her they could never be friends."

"And when has that bothered you?" Isla asks.

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