I felt the SUV stop and heard Viktor put it in park. Ms. Jackson made a move to open her door, but Andrei stopped her
“Not yet, Ms. Jackson. Give us moment.”
“Honey, I’ll give you as long as you want, as long as I can look at you while you’re doing whatever it is you’re about to do.”
Viktor caught my eye in the rear-view mirror. He was trying so hard not to laugh. Poor Andrei’s face was as red as my hair. He could not get out of the vehicle fast enough.
“Lord, I hate for him to leave, but I love to watch him go.”
I was laughing uncontrollably beside her. Even Adrik was laughing.
“Bingo might be in Andrei’s future, as well as Ivan’s,” Adrik said, trying to catch his breath.
“I could think of other activities that would be a whole lot more fun than Bingo,” Ms. Jackson mumbled, loud enough that only I could hear.
“Ms. Jackson, I never knew you had this side to you!”
“Well, child, you never had this much eye candy around you before.”
“Point well made”
After just a few minutes, Andrei opened Ms. Jackson’s door and offered her his hand. “Oh! And a gentleman to boot! Your mama must be so proud.”
I didn’t even have to see his face to know that he was blushing. Adrik opened his door. Stepping out, he turned and offered his hand to me. I smiled and took his hand as he helped me out of the vehicle. Once was standing, he pulled me close and planted a very quick kiss on my lips. I looked at him, wide-eyed. He just winked at me and walked toward the store, with me in tow.
We got Ms. Jackson’s shopping completed quickly. Andrei followed her around dutifully. Viktor was roaming the store, while Ivan, Misha, and Stephen kept an eye on the parking lot. Adrik would only let go of my hand if necessary. Otherwise, he seemed happy enough to simply follow me around while I helped my neighbor stock up for the week.
When we got back to Ms. Jackson’s apartment, she looked at Andrei and Adrik and asked, “gentlemen, would it be possible for me to have a moment alone with Miss Sephie?”
They both nodded. Adrik looked at me and said, “we’ll be right outside.”
As soon as the door closed, Ms. Jackson took each of my hands in hers and looked up at me. “Child, do you know that man is in love with you?”
“What? No. We just met. Literally. Like two days ago.”
“No, dear. Can you not see the way he looks at you?”
“Well, I mean, yeah, but it doesn’t mean he’s in love with me.”
“He calls you solnishko.”
“They all call me different Russian words. I have no idea what any of them mean. They could be calling me a bitch for all I know.”
She scoffed. “Hardly. Russian men are not known for terms of endearment, so the fact that he’s calling you his ‘little sun’ only days after meeting you means he’s head over heels for you. What else does he cal you?”
“Little sun? I don’t get it,” I said shaking my head.
“It’s one of like five terms of endearment for a significant other in Russian. They’re not a sentimental people. What else?”
“I think he called me malishka once.”
“I rest my case. He’s smitten. What do the other men call you?”
“Well, just Viktor and Andrei. Misha and Ivan aren’t as chatty, although Ivan did call me a princess, when I stitched him up this morning. Viktor and Andrei have both called me sestrichka a couple of times.”
“Lord, they’re all in love with you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.