Page 95 of Wild Scottish Beauty

Calvin clawed at me to put him down and Brice let out that strange cooing sound again, racing across the room to hug Calvin, best friends reunited. The hedgehogs edged backward, cowering behind the gnomes, as my cat drew nearer.

“Calvin.” Calvin turned and looked at me. “Be nice to the hedgehogs and, well, everyone here. Okay? This isn’t a hunting ground for you.”

Sir Buster peeked out from where he now cowered beneath Archie’s legs while Lady Lola lay sprawled on the carpet, watching the others with lazy interest. Calvin bumped his head against Brice, curling around the broonie’s body, and then winked at me. I couldn’t decide if it was deliberate or not, but I figured if Archie could manage a playdate with all these magickal beings, then he could handle my cat.

“Are you…Shona’s gnomes?” I hadn’t met Shona yet, but I hoped to tonight.

“Gnorman and Gnora, both with silent Gs.” Gnorman nodded to me, and it took me a moment to work out what he meant about the silent G.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Willow.”

“We know that.” Gnora sashayed forward, her skirt swishing around her knees. “I hear you design clothes. I’m in the market for some new dresses. Something to drive this one crazy.”

“Och, you drive me crazy just by existing,” Gnorman grumbled.

“Isn’t he sweet? What do you think, Willow? Could you design for someone my size?”

“I design for all sizes,” I said automatically, and smiled when she beamed up at me.

“In that case, I’ll get Shona to bring me by one day. I like a really deep cleavage. Maybe some lace?”

“What about a pencil skirt? That drives men up the wall,” I offered and Gnorman put a hand to his forehead and pretended to faint.

“That’ll do the trick. I’ll come see you soon.”

“I look forward to it.” And I did. I’d always said I would design for all shapes and bodies, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to design for Gnora.

“You go on and help with the preparations. We’re taking turns on daycare duty.” Archie nodded at me.

One of the hedgies ran forward and bumped his head against my toe, and I crouched, tilting my head as he smiled up at me.

“Hey, bud.”

“That’s Eugene. He’s a sweetheart.”

“Och, lass. Not as sweet as I am,” Gnorman protested, scowling at the grinning hedgie.

“Who said I like ’em sweet?” Gnora winked at me as Gnorman fumed, caught.

“Then I’m tough as nails.”

“Well, which is it then?” Gnora shot a flirtatious look over her shoulder.

“Are you going to race or not?” Archie interjected, and they all lined up in a row again.

As much as I wanted to watch the little magickals in a race, I had promised I’d stop by to see Lia, and to help with any prep work that was needed. Plus, I had to finalize my outfit. I hoped to knock Ramsay’s socks off when he saw me tonight. With a wave goodbye, I took myself down to the kitchen, a smile on my lips.

I mean, seriously, how cool was that?

I was living a literal fairy tale and had the handsome prince to boot.

Humming, I walked into chaos in the kitchen, as people raced about, arms full of this and that. I paused in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt, as Lia issued orders from where she chopped vegetables at her prep table. A pretty blond woman stood by her side, unloading a basket of herbs.

“Willow! Come in, come in. Willow, this is Shona.”

“Finally.” Shona’s blue eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled at me. “I’ve been meaning to stop by the shop.”

“I think I just met your gnomes.”

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