Page 84 of Mail Order Surprise (Hawthorne Billionaire 3)

“Yes, I’d have to agree with Chloe.” Mom looked through the glass cases more. “Go with the classic solitaire.”

That went way too fast. Maybe I can say I need flowers. Or, maybe help with my tux.

Chapter 62

Chloe

After spending the afternoon helping Trey, I’d missed talking with him. I found myself checking to see if he had texted me.

It wasn’t his fault. I’d said keep it just friends.

Now Trey was taking over all my thoughts. I knew this was going beyond no strings attached, because I felt like all my strings were being pulled tight and begging for what I couldn’t have—Trey.

I’d been lounging on the couch all day, playing on my laptop. Sophie had been cuddled on the couch next to me most of the day, watching cartoons with Amoeba curled up next to her.

Mia and Victoria had been on the phone with each other throughout the day. I could hear bits and pieces of their conversation, which seemed to revolve around Trey’s mail-order bride. Finally, Mia plopped down on the couch next to me.

“What’s had you so entertained all day on that laptop?” Mia asked, moving the pillow between us so she could get closer.

“Nothing special. I was on Facebook for a while, checking up on things at home. My boss sent me an email asking when I would be back,” I said.

“What did you tell him?” Mia asked, twirling her hair as she usually did when she got nervous or anxious.

“I told him I’d be back the Tuesday after Labor Day.” I chewed on my fingernail. “I looked up flights but didn’t book anything yet.”

My mind kept going to thoughts of Trey and his auction date tonight and then to his impending marriage.

Mia sat quietly. “Can I do anything to keep you here? I’m going to miss you guys so much.”

I now sat quietly lost in her question and the possibilities.

“Aunt Mia, what time is Miss Victoria coming over today?” Sophie asked, standing up on the couch to look out the balcony. “It’s not nighttime yet. We have to make tea for my tea party. Do we have biscuits?”

“Oh boy, sweet pea, that’s a lot of questions,” Mia said. “Why don’t I help you get your tea party set up so you’re ready when Miss Victoria gets here?”

“After that, you need to get your bath before I go out tonight.” I closed the laptop. “Come in my room after you make your tea. You can play in the tub while I start getting ready to go.”

Victoria arrived shortly after Sophie’s bath. Sophie immediately drug her to the bedroom for their tea party.

“See my new table for our tea party? Aunt Mia got it for me. Now bunny, teddy, and seal can be at our tea party too.”

“I absolutely love it, Sophie. I brought us some dinner. Should we eat that in here too?” Victoria asked. “It’s your special night, so you get to decide.”

“Umm, I think we should eat dinner on the balcony so we can watch all the cars go by,” Sophie said.

“Okay. I like that idea.” Victoria carried the food to the balcony table.

Mia and I were going back and forth about shoes and lipstick. Parker stepped into the room where the tea party was beginning.

“From my spot over here against this door frame, I can see that Benjamin, Henry, and seal are in attendance,” Parker said. “What about your new doll?”

“Hold on, Miss Victoria. I need to put a new pretty dress on my baby doll for the tea party. Maybe I should put on my pretty dress too.”

“You can if you want to, but you look very cute in your pajamas,” Victoria said. “Parker, don’t you want to put a suit on and join us for tea?”

“I have some things to do, but you girls have fun,” Parker said. “Mom, I won’t be out late, so you don’t have to leave too late. Are you sure you’re up to this little ball of fire and Amoeba?”

“We’ll be fine. I’ve been looking forward to this all day, believe it or not,” Victoria said. “Hopefully, you, or maybe Trey, will make me a grandmother sooner rather than later. I think it’s the least you can do after I bought you a lovely wife.”

---