New Beginnings

by Elle M Thomas

  His amusement only served to add another layer of irritation to Eve’s mood. Did he really think this was funny and had he forgotten their earlier discussion?

  “I assume you haven't got as far as introductions. Allow me, Eve, baby, this is Naomi, my cleaner, domestic engineer, whatever the currently accepted term is. Naomi, my girlfriend, Eve. Ah, coffee.” He accepted the cup from Naomi. “Nobody makes my coffee quite like you,” he gushed, infuriating Eve more than she already was.

  “Right, I'm off. Charmed I'm sure, Naomi,” announced Eve curtly, heading for the door and wondering what else Naomi did like nobody else.

  “We're going in together, aren't we?” asked Gray.

  “Apparently not. Especially as last time we did that I ended up going home alone in the pissing rain,” snapped Eve heading through the front door and slamming it, leaving Gray and Naomi staring at the space where she once stood.

  “Language!” he called after her.

  “Sorry,” started Naomi. “I think I startled her when I let myself in, she just kept staring at me.”

  “It's fine, Naomi, I should have told her you were coming in today and introduced you properly.” Gray drank his coffee thoughtfully.

  “She's very pretty,” smiled Naomi.

  “Yes, she is and funny and clever and more than a little confused.”

  “What happened to your love of uncomplicated, simple encounters with pretty blondes?” asked Naomi grinning now.

  “She did, Eve. Shit! I dread to think what is going on in her head right now.” Gray ran a hand through his hair as all the petite blondes she’d met from his past came flooding back, that and her words from that morning.

  “You've got it real bad for her, haven't you?” asked Naomi seriously.

  “Yup, worse than you could possibly imagine.”

  “Don't feel obliged to tell her about us. I won’t say anything if she's a jealous and insecure sort.”

  “Naomi, there is nothing to tell about us, it was nothing and she is not an insecure sort, not like you mean,” he snapped making her flinch and turn away. “Sorry, I shouldn't take it out on you and even though you and I were a one off, mainly to piss Sienna off, I would be grateful if you didn't mention it to Eve.”

  With a shrug and a smile Naomi nodded. “No problem.”

  “I’m going to go and grab a word with Eve.”

  Gray got onto the roadside just as Eve was pulling out. He jumped in front of the car to stop it, although judging by Eve’s angry expression, that could have proved dangerous. She opened her window as he appeared at it.

  “I’m almost ready, let’s go in together.”

  “No. I am going.” Eve attempted to close her window.

  “What do you think you saw up there?” He threw a thumb over his shoulder, pointing towards his flat.

  “What do you think I saw?”

  “Eve, don’t play games, don’t try and trick me or catch me out.”

  Eve laughed a hard and cold laugh. “Really. Do you know what? After this morning in bed and then that in the kitchen, I thought you’d have more to say than accuse me of playing games. We have both stated our concerns, some of us more logically and well placed than others…”

  “Eve!”

  “I think we both have some thinking to do…”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Fine. I have some thinking to do and that is exactly what I intend to do and you, well, whether you believe it or not, you have even more thinking to do because I will not be controlled by you, not in who I work with and being surrounded by your exes and those who’d like to be or could be.”

  “You said you’d never leave me,” Gray cried as Eve put her car into gear and prepared to drive away.

  “And you were going to try and be more open.”

  “You promised not to leave me.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Gray, I have to go.” The last word caught in Eve’s throat. She no more wanted to leave him than he wanted her to, not that she was sure that’s what she was doing, not really, and yet, she needed to do this. He needed her to do this and to consider if he really wanted their relationship to work.

  “Baby, I love you.”

  “I love you too.” The first of her tears rolled down her cheek.

  “Then don’t do this. I’ll try to be better. I’ll try harder, Evie, please.”

  The sight of Gray begging, tears filling his eyes, broke a part of her.

  “Grayson, please, I need to go to work. I just need to think without you clouding things.”

  With her eyes on the road Eve put her foot on the accelerator and took off the break. As she pulled away, tears running freely down her face, she watched the blurred image of a hunched over Grayson Sharp getting smaller with the words he’d uttered, his plea and pledge as she’d closed her window haunting her, still falling.

  THE END

  Have you discovered my Love in Vegas Series yet?

  Read on for a sneak preview of Lucky Seven (Book 1)

  About the Author

  Elle M Thomas was born in the north of England and raised near Birmingham, UK where she still lives with her family. She works in local education and writes in her spare time with dreams of becoming a full-time writer.

  Whilst still at school, and with a love of writing slightly risqué tales of love and romance one of her teachers told her that she could be the next Harrold Robins. Elle didn’t act on those words for many years. In February 2017, with her first book completed and a dozen others unfinished, she finally took the plunge and self-published the steamy romance, Disaster-in-Waiting.

  Elle describes her books as stories filled with chemistry, sensuality, love and sex that she always wanted to read and her characters as three dimensional and flawed.

  Social media links for Elle M Thomas:

  https://twitter.com/ellemthomas24

  https://www.facebook.com/ellemthomasauthor/

  https://www.instagram.com/authorellemthomas/

  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16429813.Elle_M_Thomas

  Lucky Seven

  Chapter 1

  The sound of the TV provided no more than background noise rather than the distraction from the reality of life Tasha had been hoping for. The ringing of her phone did, however, make her refocus.

  “Tash, it’s Angie. I have news.”

  “Should I be afraid?” she asked, unable to stifle a laugh at her agent’s overexcited shriek.

  “Of course not. I’ve had a call from a studio in L.A. and they’ve invited you to meet with them in New York. Some kind of meet and greet shit.”

  Tasha laughed again at her agent who really was so much more than that. Angie was brusque, crude, and direct to the point of rudeness, yet, she was also funny, caring and the closest thing Tasha had to a confidante.

  “They said they’d heard good things about you from your brief visit to L.A. last year and thought it would be good to meet up. They’re in New York this weekend and have invited you to join them.”

  “That’s short notice, Angie.”

  “Last time I checked you didn’t have anything else planned.”

  She laughed again but couldn’t disagree. “No, I don’t and thanks for the reminder that I have no work, social life or any direction.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Tash, you know that self-pitying shit doesn’t work with me.” Angie cackled while Tasha grinned down the line.

  “Book a flight then.” And with that agreement, suddenly, her mood genuinely lifted. Maybe, just maybe this could be the opportunity to turn things around.

  “You’re on the five past six from Heathrow on Thursday night and you have your meeting on Friday at three, details of location to follow,” she said smugly, clearly knowing that making the trip was never really in doubt.

  “Sounds great. I’ll just have to call home and make sure things are alright. Thanks Angie, you’re the best.”

  “Yeah, yeah, wh
atever.” The sound of Angie coughing and spluttering down the line was the last thing Tasha heard.

  ****

  Nerves kicked in as she waited for the car she’d been assured would collect her on the studio’s behalf. She checked her watch again as a black limo pulled up.

  “Miss Winters?”

  A nod was as much as she could manage but it seemed adequate for the driver as he opened the passenger door for her.

  She looked down nervously at her hands, wringing in her lap, and took several deep breaths as she wondered whether she’d overdressed. The dress she’d chosen was a red floral, sleeveless cotton print dress with a sweetheart neckline that fitted tightly to the waist and then flared into a skirt that finished at her knees. It had several net petticoats beneath it and she had teamed it with bright red peep-toe stilettos. She’d even painted her toe nails to match. She was internally panicking, she could feel it and all of her anxiety was focused on her outfit that might have been better suited to a garden party rather than a potential business meeting.

  The more she thought and questioned it, the more uncomfortable she became but as the car was pulling up to the kerb outside one of New York’s many skyscrapers she realised it was too late to reconsider. With a stern internal talking to, Tasha gathered her thoughts before the door opened and the driver prepared to help her out. She smiled at him and thanked him again as she headed towards the doors of the building and gave him a small wave that he returned.

  “You look lovely ma’am. Good luck.”

  Nerves were kicking in again as Tasha was shown into a large conference room by a rather aloof, blonde lady of probably thirty.

  “Take a seat, Mr Maybury will be with you shortly. Help yourself to tea, coffee, soft drinks or the bar.”

  Tasha glanced in the direction of the bar and dismissed the idea of a double vodka or a beer since either would be more likely to heighten her nerves and anxiety rather than calm them.

  The woman smiled, maybe sensing her thoughts, not that it made it to her eyes before she turned to leave.

  Being invited to New York to meet studio bosses was a huge opportunity. They would be looking at next season’s programming and beyond, which in turn meant casting. The money many shows and movies paid was phenomenal compared to the amount she was used to earning, not that she didn’t believe she was well paid. She did, and she loved her job. It wasn’t even work she was in need of, not really, but money. That’s what she needed, a constant supply for the next couple of years because she had responsibilities and commitments she was in no position to shirk or cast aside, not yet.

  Tasha looked around and moved over to the picture window that took in a huge part of the Manhattan skyline. She tried to absorb it all. This day could literally change her life forever, but she knew that statistically it was unlikely and as she glanced down she noticed she’d dropped the business card for Mr Maybury she’d been holding. She bent over and reached for it without hearing the door opening.

  “Good afternoon. Sorry to have kept you waiting.” The American accent behind her sounded warm and amused. “Although I appreciate the view.”

  In the blink of an eye she was bolt upright and spinning around to face the owner of the voice that now wore a smile.

  “The view?” Tasha stammered.

  “Hmmm, very impressive.”

  “It certainly is.” She gestured towards the window and landscape beyond.

  “That’s not the one I was referring to.” A wolfish grin spread across the handsome face she still stared at.

  How much of her had he seen? She blushed like mad and was struggling to speak, her mouth was so dry. She looked him up and down and thought he was probably just touching forty, but he was in fine fettle; about six feet tall, maybe a little over, broad, but muscular. His eyes were a rich, deep brown, almost black now, maybe due to the lighting and he still had a full head of dark brown hair. Yes, very fine fettle.

  Standing in front of her smiling, he introduced himself with an outstretched hand. “Hi, James Maybury, Jim.”

  “Hello, Natasha Winters, Tasha.” She felt flustered as she continued to hold the hand he’d offered her.

  “Apologies if I embarrassed you.”

  Tasha nodded, accepting his apology for her discomfort at him finding her bent over and his words to her about it.

  He appeared to almost shake her off, making her realise she was still holding his hand. Once he’d freed himself he gestured for her to sit down in one of the lounge chairs at the far end of the room.

  They talked for some time about the work she’d already done, what she had planned and her hopes for the future. Jim explained that these meetings were normally held with colleagues, but for no reason he disclosed, not this time.

  Suddenly, he leapt to his feet. “Dinner, Tasha?”

  She looked at her watch and was surprised to see that it was already six o’clock.

  “Erm, yes. Sorry, James, I talk too much.”

  “Not at all. I could listen to you all night, and please, Jim.”

  The wicked glint in his eyes lit up the whole of his face and caused her to shiver and heat up at the same time.

  She blushed again. “Okay, Jim. Although I think you’re more of a James than a Jim.”

  He laughed at her. Just a short, single laugh as he cocked his head and appeared to study her. “You are very forthright, Miss Winters.”

  She shrugged, quickly becoming confused why that action resulted in a deep frown creasing his brow. Tasha had a strong need to remove his frown and replace it with his earlier happy expression. “Sorry.”

  He waved her apology away and she was relieved that he was happy again, the curl of his lips confirmed that. “Unnecessary. So, dinner?”

  “You don’t have to do that.” As much as she wanted to spend more time with him, Tasha was also beginning to worry that if their dinner was discovered it could be horribly misconstrued. As handsome as the studio mogul or whatever his title might be was, she didn’t want there to be future accusations that she had in any way slept her way into roles. She knew better than anyone how valuable, convenient and overused sex was as a commodity, but not for her.

  “Honey, I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to, so the fact that I’m inviting you to dinner suggests I’d like to have dinner with you.” His tone was flat and calm, his expression a little less so when she noticed it darkening.

  “Oh.”

  The man before her smiled which actually made him more attractive than ever. Gorgeous in fact. Gorgeous enough that she began to wonder just what it would be like to kiss him and be kissed by him, held in those arms and to be made love to by him.

  “Is that a yes then?” He wore an unmistakeable grin as he took another step towards her while she could only gaze up.

  She flitted her glance from his eyes to his lips that he was licking, slowly and seductively until she was sure she’d actually moaned out loud. She really was unsure whether she should do this or not, although she certainly wanted to spend another couple of hours with the man who had made the last three hours fly by and why wouldn’t she? He was sexy, attractive, articulate, and made her imagine things she hadn’t of late, including kissing. Her nod confirmed her intention to take him up on his offer of dinner.

  “My hotel is just around the corner.”

  Without another word, he took her by the elbow and steered her from the room, downstairs and into the first passing cab. The tension between them was palpable. The charge that crackled and arced lasted for the entire journey. Nobody spoke, including the driver.

  Tasha knew that this had the potential to be the worst decision of her life, professionally. This had to be career suicide, she knew that, and still ignored the alarm bells going off in her head. Her own earlier warnings to herself about how this could be viewed if anyone ever found out about it were now a distant memory.

  The cab pulled up outside the hotel she didn’t doubt was five star, possibly six star. Was six star a thing? She was s
ure it was. The door of the cab opened, startling her slightly as Jim’s hand appeared to help her out. Tasha stood on the pavement, the sidewalk, she thought with a small smile, while Jim paid their fare with a very generous tip before he returned his hand to her elbow and guided her to the lifts and eventually to his suite. Not the bar or restaurant, but his suite. The few doubts she’d had that she wasn’t in trouble with this man disappeared right there and then. He was trouble with a capital T.

  Nervously, Tasha looked around the huge, plush, palatial suite and searched her mind for something to say and eventually came up with, “Very nice, Jim. You have very good taste.”

  “That I do. Which is why you’re here, the good taste.”

  His line should have come across as cheesy, as though he was trying just a little too hard, but it didn’t. Although, his awkward expression and apologetic shrug of his shoulders seemed to suggest it hadn’t sounded as good to him as it had to her. Yes, she was in well over her head and had no way of knowing what to do, especially as his words had her smiling so much her jaw ached while he stared down at her with a predatory glint which made her blush slightly. The danger was greater than she’d first assessed. She could still be considered very naïve, or as she preferred to view it, stupid. The fact she was here, in this very powerful and influential movie executive’s hotel suite, alone, and all before the possibility of work or the parameters of that had even been discussed confirmed her diagnosis of stupidity.

  “So, dinner?” Tasha hoped Jim was about to suggest getting freshened up, him getting freshened up, alone, before heading down to the dining room, restaurant, whatever it was.