‘Are you sure?’
‘Unfortunately, I am.’
Toni came over to join them. ‘Sorry,’ she said quietly, ‘but your next client is ready for her cut and blow-dry.’ She put an arm around Erin’s shoulders. ‘Are you all right?’
Erin shrugged. ‘Not really, but I’ll tell you about it later when we’ve closed up for the evening.’ She exhaled sharply. ‘I’d better get on,’ she said, giving him a grateful smile. ‘Thanks for coming to check in on me and letting me know what’s going on. Shall I see you back at the house after work?’
Callum was relieved Erin had work to keep her mind from dwelling on the ugly situation. ‘Yes, that would be great.’ Remembering he was due back at the studio within the hour, Callum tapped his watch. ‘I’d better get a move on too. See you back at the house.’
As he walked quickly to the radio station, Callum wondered what would happen next with this dreadful situation. Damn Riley for being so insensitive with both women’s feelings. He had no excuse, as far as Callum was concerned.
24
TASHA
Riley marched off in a temper and it took a while before Tasha eventually managed to coax Brooke to sit outside on the pretty terrace. She made her a cup of tea and took it outside to her. ‘You sit here while I go and find Riley.’
Brooke’s eyes narrowed. ‘How typical of him to sidle off and hide somewhere after having been the cause of all this drama.’
Brooke was right, but although Tasha agreed with her, she felt she should attempt to keep her personal opinion about her dreadful boss to herself. She knew from experience how often Riley and Brooke fell out, only to get back together again weeks or even days later. She had no intention of being their scapegoat if that happened this time. She couldn’t imagine ever forgiving someone who betrayed her like Riley had done to Brooke, especially when her humiliation was so public.
‘Is the tea all right?’ Tasha asked, pouring another cup for Brooke and placing it on the small table in front of her.
Brooke looked at it and nodded. ‘Thank you. It’s perfect.’
‘Right, then I’ll leave you. He can’t have gone too far,’ she added hopefully.
Tasha knew it would be easy enough for Riley to hire a private plane to take him back to England, or even France. It was such a short distance, only being about fifteen miles, as far as she could remember. Or was that by boat? She tried to think where the closest airport might be in France but had no idea.
Leaving Brooke scrolling through her phone, Tasha raced back into the cottage and immediately began searching each room for Riley. Where the hell was he? she wondered, leaving his bedroom and rushing to the room next door. As she reached the door, Tasha thought she heard a voice say something. It was hard to make out as the person was murmuring, but she sensed it was Riley so retraced her steps and found him in the smallest bedroom, sitting by the window chatting to someone on his mobile.
He looked up as she closed the door behind her. ‘Sorry, Dale, something’s cropped up. I’m going to have to go, but I’ll call you again later.’ He ended the call.
When he didn’t speak, she said, ‘What are you playing at, Riley?’
Looking offended, he went to argue, but Tasha raised a hand and shook her head. ‘No, don’t bother trying to fob me off with some story. I’m far too worn out for that.’ She stepped closer and lowered her voice in case Brooke had followed her inside and was listening from the hallway.
‘I wasn’t going to.’
Not bothering to argue, she continued, ‘I’ve been babysitting your girlfriend, who is sitting outside drinking tea and as far as I can tell winding herself up further by looking at all the news items and photos of you and Erin on her phone.’ She rubbed her aching neck to try and ease it. ‘I suggest you go down there now and apologise.’
He stood and scowled at her. ‘I have done. Several times.’
Tasha clenched her fists. ‘Then do it again, because if you want to try and stop this from escalating, you need to act fast.’ When he didn’t immediately agree, she tried a different tactic. ‘Or don’t you care that you’ve dragged poor, unsuspecting Erin into yours and Brooke’s latest falling-out?’
At the mention of Erin’s name, Riley’s shoulders dropped slightly and his angry expression vanished. ‘I really didn’t mean for any of this to happen.’
‘I’m sure you didn’t,’ Tasha said, trying to be nicer to him. After all, she mused, Riley was the one who needed to change his attitude and try his best to resolve this for both his and the women’s sake. ‘But it has happened and now you need to find a way to calm everyone down and make things as right as you possibly can.’
He walked over to the door but instead of leaving the room, turned. ‘What should I say to Brooke?’
Frustrated that this grown man knew how to upset people but had no idea how to put things right, Tasha tried to think. ‘As I said, you need to apologise. You told me you thought the pair of you had split up after your last row, isn’t that right?’
‘It is. I did.’ He rubbed his chin and she saw that he still hadn’t shaved, which was very unlike Riley who always preferred to appear immaculate.
Tasha gave him a pointed stare. ‘Go and tell her the truth. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that far more than if you try and spin some rubbish tale painting you as the innocent person.’ She smiled. ‘Because, Riley, whether you think it or not, people much prefer the truth even if it is unpalatable.’
‘Really?’
