He was rambling now and feeling more awkward by the moment.
He felt her hand rest on his forearm and looked down at it.
Tasha moved back. ‘Sorry, Callum, I know what you mean. And I am grateful for the offer. Thank you. I can deal with Riley though. He can be rude and impossible with his demands at times, but he doesn’t dare push things too far with me, if that’s what you’re worried about.’
‘That’s good,’ Callum said, relieved to hear it.
She sighed. ‘He acts like a spoilt brat quite a lot of the time, which is why we’re having to reshoot several of his scenes. He’s gone through so many assistants since his career took off that I hope he’s slowly beginning to realise word is getting around in the film and TV business and soon there won’t be anyone willing to work for him.’ She shrugged. ‘Plus, I threatened to leave only last week and even Riley worked out that I wasn’t joking.’
The thought of Tasha going anywhere saddened him and Callum wondered if maybe he was getting to like this woman a little more than he should. After all, he barely knew her and their time together was designed to solve a work issue for her, nothing personal. Anyway, he reminded himself, she wasn’t from the island and was only working here for another couple of weeks so he needed to gather himself and stop being silly.
His phone rang. ‘Sorry,’ he said, taking it from his back pocket. ‘It’s my father.’ He smiled, ending the call. ‘I imagine it’ll be him worrying, yet again about preparations for the party. I’d better go and call him back.’
‘Thanks again for today, Callum.’
‘My pleasure.’
He gave her a wave before walking out to his car.
* * *
Two hours later Callum sat in his small living room rereading the same line in the thriller he was resting on his lap. He placed his book on the chair cushion beside him and wondered about Tasha having to deal with Riley, especially as he was a difficult employer to work for. Callum thought how hard it must be for Tasha to be staying under the same roof as the man and unable to get that respite he had always savoured by being able to go home after a day’s work.
Callum picked up his mug of cooling coffee, relieved to have finally sorted out the bulk of his to-do list for the party. He wondered what it would be like seeing more of Tasha, then reminded himself that with the cottage being down a drive longer than the lane his home was situated on, and Tasha accompanying Riley to set each day, it was probably unlikely that he would see much, if anything, of her at all.
It was probably just as well, Callum decided, as he took the empty mug to the kitchen and washed it. He checked his phone, wondering if it was early enough to visit his father and Betsy before they left to go and eat at wherever place they had chosen for their meal that night. He decided to do it and take his swimming shorts and a towel with him, so that if they were out he could make the most of the hot weather and go for a swim in St Brelade’s Bay.
10
TASHA
Tasha knew she still had to mention Callum’s family party. The last thing she or the Prestons needed was Riley being his usual entitled self and marching up there to complain, or worse getting someone else to do it, like the police, but Riley was busy arguing loudly with Brooke on the phone in the living room. They had been at it for the past hour and Tasha’s head was pounding, both from the hot weather on set and yet more drama from Riley. Tasha waited in the kitchen, as they screamed at each other. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples lightly with her fingertips.
Eventually she heard their tone change and once again they were blowing kisses to each other down the phone. She wished they would make up their minds one way or another and either work at their relationship or end it once and for all.
Riley walked through to the kitchen. ‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked.
She took a calming breath. ‘I have something I need to talk to you about.’
He groaned. ‘What now?’
She explained about the Prestons hiring the manor and moving in for the next week.
He rested his hands on his hips, scowling. ‘Why don’t we have the big house? I thought we were here because it was the bit the owners rented out. Why do we only have the cottage?’
‘Because there are only two of us,’ she said, watching him prepare to respond. ‘And they’re a large private party. The place was booked out but became unexpectedly vacant, so I’m sure the owners were happy for the Prestons to hire the place.’
He began studying his phone again, clearly bored with the conversation. ‘Pay them to swap, or move, then. Whatever it takes.’ When she didn’t respond he looked up at her. ‘What’s the problem?’
Tasha was too busy trying to control her rising temper to be able to answer him.
‘Tasha, why are you staring at me like that? Go on. You know how I feel about not being treated in the manner I expect.’
She reminded herself that she needed this job, although it was getting more difficult by the day not to give in to her need to tell Riley exactly what she thought of him and his disregard for anyone else’s feelings. She couldn’t lose her temper right now and she had no intention of trying to persuade anyone to change anything about the property arrangements.
‘There is nothing wrong with this place Riley; we both know that. We don’t even take up all the bedrooms in the cottage and we’re out at work most of the day. So, on this occasion I’m not doing anything about trying to change things.’
‘You’re not?’
