Tasha led the way inside. ‘I love how symmetrical the building is and I adore the pale blue shutters on either side of each window against the stark white of the rest of the house.’
‘I agree. It’s beautiful.’ He turned and indicated the view behind her. ‘And how about this for a view when you wake up in the morning.’
She turned and stared, entranced at the colourful array of flowers filling each of the borders. ‘They must employ several gardeners to keep everything this pristine.’
‘I suppose they must.’ Callum stretched out an arm indicating Tasha lead the way. ‘I’m excited to look around this place.’
Tasha walked through the cool hallway with its perfectly polished parquet flooring that flowed into each of the downstairs rooms. After showing him the black and white kitchen with its white marbled worktops and tiles, she led him up the thickly carpeted stairway to the first floor where three bedrooms including hers were immaculately made up, their windows slightly open to let in any breeze. When they’d arrived she’d decided she didn’t mind which bedroom she took because each was as perfect as the next.
‘The primary is at the end of the corridor, but that’s Riley’s. I’m not sure whether he’s in there learning more lines.’ She knocked lightly and when there was no answer, she opened the door to the cream and pale blue room, cringing at the strewn clothes and open wardrobes.
‘I think we should miss this one.’
‘I’d feel odd going into his room anyway.’
‘I would have loved to show it to you because it’s probably the most incredibly beautiful bedroom I’ve ever seen.’ She thought of all the apartments, hotels and homes she had accompanied him to and shrugged. ‘Riley’s taste is very different to this place.’
‘How so?’
Tasha smiled up at Callum, wishing she could answer honestly, but as much as he seemed friendly enough she didn’t really know him and didn’t want to say anything disloyal about Riley that could be relayed back negatively to him. She needed this job too much, at least right now, to dare risk that happening. She saw Callum’s eyebrows lower in a thoughtful frown and realised he was wondering why she was taking so long replying to a simply question.
‘Just that he favours minimalist modern.’ She shrugged, forgetting herself for a moment. ‘Then again, we’re only staying here for a short time.’
Tasha stood, embarrassed to have almost spoken freely about her boss’s antics to Callum. Turning, she began leading him back downstairs. Where was Riley? The least he could have done was come and thank Callum for locating and bringing back his phone. Instead, he had gone off somewhere and not even bothered to say thank you. How typical of him to assume that was what someone would do for him in their free time and it not be worthy of a show of gratitude.
9
CALLUM
Callum wasn’t sure why their easy chatter had tailed off. She seemed concerned about something and he decided to broach the subject in case it had been anything he had said to cause her change of mood.
‘Everything all right?’ He saw her turn to him from the corner of his eye.
‘Yes, thanks. Why?’
He shook his head, not wanting to make things even more awkward. ‘You seemed a little quiet, that’s all.’
She gave a short laugh and he could almost feel her annoyance.
‘Is something the matter?’
She shook her head and gave an apologetic smile. ‘No, Callum, you’ve been amazing putting yourself out like you have.’
Unsure whether to voice his thoughts, Callum decided that if this was Tasha letting him know she needed to vent then he really had no option but to do it.
‘Is it Riley? Is he difficult to work for?’
She seemed surprised at his question and didn’t react immediately.
He was beginning to wish he had kept his thoughts to himself when she said, ‘He can be a little bit difficult at times.’
He looked at her more closely, trying to work out whether Riley was in some way abusive to her. If she did have a problem with him, Callum wanted her to know he was there to support her.
‘I know we don’t know each other all that well, but you have my number now and I want you to know you can always call or message me if you ever need any help.’
He saw her frown. ‘Help?’
Damn, had he overstepped the boundaries of what she felt acceptable? He hoped not. ‘Er, or if you need assistance with something. Anything.’
