Free Sergei, Volume 2 by Roxie Rivera Page A

That sounds nice."
    "I'll call them tomorrow and make arrangements."
    We were talking about some of the shops we wanted to visit when the door of the suite beeped twice and started to open. I practically jumped to my feet. Anxiety rushed through me, made my belly lurch and my chest tighten. Rising more slowly, Vivian stood next to me and gently clasped my hand. She pumped my fingers with hers and winked reassuringly. I relaxed at the knowledge that she would guide me through this first meeting with Sergei's mother.
    A man who could have been Sergei's twin sauntered through the door carrying small wrapped gifts. He shared the same dark hair and dark eyes and the giant frame of his elder brother. His friendly grin immediately set me at ease. There was a telltale bump in his nose that told me it had been broken, probably more than once. Apparently fighting was in the Sakharov family's blood.
    The woman who followed Vladimir was shorter than I had expected. I had seen photos of Galina Sakharovna, of course, but Vladimir and Sergei had always been sitting on either side of her. She shared their dark hair and eyes but had a much lighter, willowy build. This close, I realized she was younger than my mother which surprised me considering her children were all older. Like Mama, she had a flair for style and looked perfectly coiffed and dressed despite the four hour flight.
    A faint smile curved Galina's bright red mouth. Vivian had warned me that customs were different between our two cultures. Unlike Mama, Sergei's mother wasn't going to call me honey and welcome me with a hug and sweet tea. The smile she cast my way wasn't much, but I figured it was a start, however shaky.
    Radiating happiness, Sergei swept into the living room and gathered me close with a brawny arm. In a whirlwind of introductions, I was enveloped in a bear hug by Vladimir. He kissed both my cheeks and said something in rapid fire Russian that I couldn't understand. As if sensing my confusion, he said, "You're even prettier than Sergei described."
    "Oh." I blushed. "Thank you."
    He handed me one of the wrapped gifts. "I think you'll like these."
    "I'm sure I will." The box wasn't very heavy, and it was the right size for chocolates or candy.
    He stepped aside to greet Vivian with more reserve. She air-kissed his cheeks and spoke softly to him. He presented her with the other box, and she thanked him.
    Sergei's mother stepped forward and tepidly embraced me. Galina gazed upon my face and smiled more warmly. "Yes. Very pretty."
    " Spasibo ."
    Her expression softened, but she turned her attention to Vivian now. I didn't miss the way his mother seemed to practically beam as Vivian chatted her up. I envied the easy way they spoke but hoped that in time she might see me the same way. After everything Lidia and Ten had warned me about, meeting his mother hadn't been nearly as awkward or upsetting as I had expected.
    The room service order I had arranged arrived not long after Sergei and his family. We all sat down in the dining area of the suite and enjoyed a nice dinner. Vivian and I sat on either side of Galina, and Vivi jumped in to translate whenever necessary.
    "Your dress shop is busy?" Galina pushed her spoon through the creamy custard flecked with bits of saffron. Considering we both worked in the same field, me a designer and her a seamstress, I wasn't surprised she asked after something we could both understand. Hopefully we might even bond over it.
    "Yes, ma'am. We have a minimum of four bridal consultants on the floor every day. They take six to eight appointments each. We sold just over six thousand dresses last year."
    "Six thousand!" Sergei's mother seemed stunned. "So many?"
    "Bianca's shop is one of the best in Texas," Vivian interjected. "Her mother built the business, and Bianca took over when she had a stroke."
    "Your mother is better now?"
    I nodded. "Yes. She's doing very well."
    "This is good."
    "You know," Vivian added deftly, "Bianca designed my