“Night,” called Tasha between giggles as she watched her friend walk away.
“Yeah, see you in the morning. It’s good to have you back, Tash, if only for a while,” grinned Lucy.
With her laptop and phone, Tasha headed to bed too where she tentatively composed a text.
Suddenly her phone sprang into life to the sound of Viva Las Vegas. She smiled as she answered.
“Hello, Mr Maybury.”
“Hello, Miss Winters. I got fed up with sexting. I needed to speak to you and hear your voice.”
Tasha couldn’t disagree with him. She loved the sexting, texting and banter they shared, but sometimes there was no substitute for a real conversation.
“So, why the excitement at the prospect of my twin brother? I only share DNA with Bobby, and for the record, we are alike but not identical so if you have any kinky ideas about the two of us…”
She laughed as she protested, “No, although, now you mention it, that would be really kinky. Oh, and I am not a toy that could be shared, well I hope I’m not, but I am more than happy with one Mr Maybury in my life.”
“Good. My sisters are desperate to meet you after Lizzie and the oldies told them how fabulous you are and how smitten I am.”
Tasha felt sure she could sense a smile.
“I didn’t mean to suggest you’re a toy. You know that, right?”
“Yes.” She truly believed Jim wasn’t really the sort to play, well not without being up front about it, meaning she was more than a disposable or lendable commodity. “Tell me about your sisters?”
“Briana is the oldest by two years, is very protective and is a nurse and Sophie is two years younger and is a kindergarten teacher. They are both married with two kids and Bobby is on wife number three and has one child with his number three. He is a blood thirsty, criminal attorney with a very prominent firm in L.A. Happy now?”
“Yes. You know about my family and now I at least have names and occupations for yours.”
“Was your dad very unpleasant today?” There was no disguising the concern in his voice.
“Hmmm.” She really wanted to talk about anything other than her father. “So, when shall we video call?”
“Forget that for now. What does hmmm mean?”
“Nothing really,” she said, just a little too quickly in an attempt to avoid this particular discussion.
“You’re lying Tasha. You could have said he’d shouted or swore or been drunk, but you didn’t, and I reckon he always does something, baby. So?”
“It really was nothing. He just got in my face and shouted.” She sighed, thinking this conversation just refused to be pushed away. Jim was as determined to discuss her visit home as she was to avoid it.
“Did he hurt you or touch you?” Jim sounded angrier now, but she knew his anger was only directed at her father, not her.
“He just grabbed and squeezed me.” Suddenly, with thoughts of her father’s hands on her, how he made her feel, physically and emotionally she wished she was back in L.A. safely wrapped in Jim’s embrace.
“What? Where?”
“Just my face,” she almost whispered, thinking she was incredibly close to tears and they might be more to do with missing Jim than the actions of her father earlier that day.
“What the fuck is his problem? He is a complete fucking bully. He has no right to touch you, never did. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. He was pissed off when I said I hadn’t got five grand to give him, but I’m fine,” she repeated and she was, because compared to most of her encounters with her father, today had been nothing significant. “Can we talk about something else, please?”
“Of course, honey, but please avoid him if you can.”
“I usually do,” she replied and meant it. Avoidance was her usual tactic where he was concerned.
“Shall we talk about our video date?” He sounded happier, more relaxed. Even if it was slightly forced.
“Yes.” She grinned, totally incapable of hiding it and hoped he sensed it.
“We could do it tonight,” he suggested.
She laughed at his eagerness but quickly refused the offer. “No can do. I need to prepare for a hot date. What about Wednesday?”
“Wednesday? That’s four days away?”
“I know,” Tasha laughed at his apparent outrage at a four-day delay. “But I have my lingerie shoot on Tuesday so I will be perfectly preened and if we do it on Wednesday morning for me it will be Tuesday night for you. Now I am all for sexting in meetings, but I think our video date is a step too far.” She tried and most likely failed to sound outraged.
“You may have a point. Tuesday night it is then. I’m looking forward to it like you wouldn’t believe, honey.”
Tasha yawned as she climbed into bed.
“Baby, you should go to sleep and we will talk tomorrow. I love you.”
“Love you too,” she said with a grin as they both hung up and she felt sleep calling to her.
It was raining when Tasha left Angie’s office after lunch and as she looked at the list of auditions she had lined up, she frowned. Two for U.K. TV shows, two in L.A. and one in New York, but was she interested if they were going to mean time apart from Jim? Time apart and possibly a conflict of interests. She felt confused and thought she should sleep on them and maybe look at dates and time scales before discussing them with him. Angie had been excited that Jim was coming over to visit and insisted Tasha should introduce them. She had told her about the movie première he’d insisted she’d be attending with him and Angie had been equally insistent she should update Tasha’s portfolio in preparation and arranged another studio session for some updated shots.
She got into her car and smiled to herself as she thought about Jim. It was a little crazy to miss him as much as she did when she had only known him for a couple of weeks. Looking at the clock it showed three in the afternoon, which meant it was seven in the morning in L.A. so she took her phone out and started writing.
She swallowed hard as she reread the message and was seriously turned on by this and didn’t know if she’d be able to resist relieving her own pressure. How the hell were they going to do this and sustain such a fledgling relationship?
She pressed send and moved uncomfortably in her seat. She really was horny. How could he do this to her? Just texting about sex made her hornier than actual sex with some of the men she’d known. Was this normal? She reread her text and blushed at how wanton she was and hoped their video date wouldn’t be a disappointment because she wasn’t sure she could be this brazen via a Wi-Fi connection or whatever it was.
She put her phone away and smiled as she headed to the salon for her waxing appointment ready for the following day’s underwear shoot.
****
Lucy was out on a date with Ryan and as Tasha sat with her frozen curry for one and a glass of coke in front of the TV she felt strangely content with her own company, but would have been happier knowing Jim would be home soon, like when she’d been in L.A. with him. His sixth sense must have kicked in because her phone pinged and she found a message from him.
She frowned at the message and considered her reply.
Tasha laughed out loud as she imagined Marc telling Jim his staff were afraid of his mood swings. She already knew she was the reason for his current mood swings and although she felt a little guilty it also made her feel strangely happy that her absence was impacting on him like his was on her.
Chapter 26
The alarm blared around the room and caused Tasha to groan at the 06:00 display shining at her. She dragged herself out of bed and padded down the hall to the kitchen where she put the kettle on. Leaving her tea to brew she showered and returned to the kitchen to finish her tea off when her phone rang and made her smile, ‘Viva Las Vegas’.
“Good morning.”
“It’s actually goodnight for me,” said Jim.
“Sorry. How was your afternoon?” He sounded happy.
“Alright. I maintained my mood at mediocre and then I went to see Lizzie before coming home. How about you, did you sleep well?”
“I did until Lucy and Ryan returned at midnight and were very vocal in their bedroom pursuits until four o’clock this morning.” She laughed, her laughter increasing when Jim joined in with her.
“Oh dear. We’ll return the favour when I come to stay.”
She inwardly cringed at the realisation he was planning to stay with her. She’d assumed, hoped he would boo
k into a hotel as he was used to much grander surroundings than her little two bedroomed flat.
“Are you okay?” Her sudden silence caused him concern.
“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking about what I’ll need to take with me and what a pain Lucy will be to get up this morning on three hours sleep.”
“Then I should let you go and will have sweet dreams of you posing in underwear. Don’t forget to send me the photos.”
“Of course, and this time tomorrow we will be on our date,” she said nervously.
“Okay, baby. Sext you later and don’t worry about the date.”
“Bye.”
****
She eventually got Lucy up and as she waited for her to get dressed Tasha packed her bag; accessories, make up, and a pair of gold strappy sandals Jim had bought her in L.A. She dressed in a pair of cropped white linen trousers and a red and white striped t-shirt. As she sat waiting for Lucy, Ryan appeared in a pair of boxers looking every inch just shagged. She giggled to herself as she recalled her own just shagged look after her encounter in Jim’s office. Lucy reappeared and Tasha laughed as her friend’s eyes lit up at the sight of Ryan in his boxers.
“Lucy, avert your eyes from Ryan and his hose. We have work.” Tasha picked up her bag and headed for the door with a call of bye to Ryan.
When they arrived at the studio Jake was already there and looked genuinely pleased to see her as she found herself engulfed in a warm and caring hug.
Lucky Seven Page 32