The Sister (The Boss 6)

“Of course.” Neil tried his best to sound upbeat. “We’re just sitting down to dinner, anyway.”

El-Mudad nodded and ended the call, and Neil went to his seat in silence. Olivia seemed to have picked up on the mood; she looked between us with her big eyes full of concern.

The kitchen door burst open, startling all three of us. In strode El-Mudad.

That bastard!

He grinned hugely and held out his arms. “Is there a plate for me?”

I jumped up from my seat and ran to him, and Neil scooped Olivia from her high chair to join us in a tight four-person hug.

Olivia squealed, reaching for him. Despite having only met him on a few occasions—most of them via Skype—she already loved him.

“That wasn’t very nice of you,” Neil scolded El-Mudad, handing Olivia over.

El-Mudad shifted her onto his hip. “No, it wasn’t. But isn’t it nice that I’m here?”

“And early! Does that mean you’re leaving sooner than before?” I hoped not. If we could get extra time with him, we would take it.

“Not unless you get tired of me and send me away.” He kissed my cheek. We were still not quite sure how we would handle displays of affection in front of Olivia, but a little peck was allowed. “Bijou took the girls for a six-week retreat in India. So, I’m yours for a month.”

Neil’s eyebrows rose. “Well, we did say we wanted to try out living together as a family.”

“That we did.” El-Mudad kissed Olivia’s forehead. “One day, perhaps my girls will be with us, as well.”

“So, three kids,” I said, my jaw suddenly going numb. That was a sign of a stroke, wasn’t it? Three kids. When I hadn’t wanted any.

“I think Sophie might have a panic attack,” Neil quipped. He was immediately apologetic. “I shouldn’t joke about that.”

“You shouldn’t,” I agreed. “What you should do is get El-Mudad something to eat. And then we can all sit down to a lovely dinner together.”

El-Mudad’s gaze caught and held mine. “As a family.”

My heart squeezed in my chest. Despite all the challenges our unconventional little group would face, love would ultimately make them worthwhile.

“As a family,” I echoed.

And it fit me, far better than any life I’d lived so far.