He looked serious. ‘Or maybe working for someone who doesn’t expect you to be on call twenty-four-seven.’
She smiled. ‘Being on call goes hand in hand with this job really. Especially at times like these when he’s on location and we’re staying in the same place. It’s the problems he manages to create that affect me most, really.’ She thought how Callum might be feeling about the newspaper photos and Brooke’s arrival on the island. ‘I hope Erin is doing OK.’
‘I think she is and, I admit, she was a little upset.’ He groaned. ‘Horrified, really, that she had been kissing someone who was still in a relationship with someone she thought was his ex.’ He frowned. ‘I have a nagging feeling she likes Riley rather more than she imagined she might.’ He raised an eyebrow.
Tasha felt sorry for the woman who clearly had little experience of being connected to a well-known actor. ‘I worry what might happen when his fans take to social media about her. Even if he and Brooke were separated while he got together with Erin, but Brooke has her own fan base and if she intimates that she’s been betrayed, or let down by him, then heaven only knows how they’ll go for Erin.’
‘What do you mean?’ Callum asked, aghast. ‘Is Erin’s safety a concern?’
Tasha grimaced. Why had she spoken without thinking things through first? Now she had gone and worried Callum and ruined their wonderful outing. She wished she had kept her concerns to herself. ‘I’m sure she’ll be fine,’ she said, hoping to reassure him. ‘She has me to speak to and I’ll do my best to regulate Riley’s social media accounts. If Erin has any concerns at all, she really must contact me about them.’
‘But what about the fans?’
His hand slipped from hers and he rubbed his chin, and Tasha felt the loss of his touch instantly.
‘I really shouldn’t have said anything. Look, I’ll sit with Riley and Brooke, or Dale will speak to the pair of them, and Brooke’s manager. Together they’ll come up with a narrative that saves everyone’s pride.’
‘But who will speak for my sister?’
‘I promise you I’ll ensure no one forgets Erin in all of this.’
‘She has a business she’s passionate about.’ He shook his head. ‘She’s worked hard building up her clientele and would be devastated if a couple of kisses one evening at a party ruined everything she’s worked so hard to build up.’
Seeing he was getting more upset by the minute, Tasha took his hands in hers. ‘Callum, I promise you I will keep Erin in the forefront of my mind.’ She wasn’t sure whether to add her next thought but seeing the worried look still obvious on his face decided she should. ‘I suspect Riley likes Erin quite a lot, if you know what I mean.’
Callum looked doubtful. ‘He does?’
She nodded. ‘He won’t want her to suffer because of his mistake.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
She thought of the Riley she often saw when he was on his best behaviour and also the man who could at times be very thoughtful. Like the time she had gone down with flu a couple of years before when they were in Cannes and she had to stay in her room at the hotel and leave another assistant to accompany Riley. She had worried he would be furious at the inconvenience, but instead he had sent out for medications, called for a doctor to keep checking on her and made sure the hotel kept Tasha supplied with tempting snacks and plenty of healthy smoothies.
‘Because I know Riley quite well and below all his vanity and bluster lies an occasionally thoughtful and caring man. And he does like Erin, so he will do all he can to make sure she isn’t hurt by this drama Dale has caused.’
Callum went to respond but her phone rang.
‘Sorry,’ she said, taking her phone from her pocket and seeing who was calling. ‘I need to take this.’
After she ended the call she said, ‘Sorry, that was Dale.’ She wished she didn’t have to take her phone with her everywhere. ‘He’s sent over some paperwork I need to go through with Riley. I’m afraid I have to go back to the cottage.’
‘That’s a shame.’
She sighed. ‘I agree. I’ve enjoyed myself very much.’
His face brightened. ‘That makes me very happy.’
They put their trainers back on, then Callum stared pointedly at the steps. ‘I suppose we’d better navigate these things.’ He reached out his hand to her and once she had taken it they began the slow climb up from the beach to the car.
As they walked, Tasha wondered what would greet her when she arrived back at the cottage.
26
CALLUM
Having dropped Tasha back at the cottage, Callum drove back along the driveway and parked outside the main house, unable to stop thinking about what might have happened if the child hadn’t kicked their ball into the rock pool. He was almost certain Tasha had been about to kiss him and wished he had taken the opportunity to kiss her when he had the chance. It was too late now, though, he thought, realising that whatever might have greeted Tasha at the cottage at least everything seemed peaceful here.
As he walked to the front door he heard cheerful voices and smiled. For everything that had happened since the party, it was a relief that it hadn’t affected his grandfather’s enjoyment of this precious time spent with so many of his family and close friends and that they were all still having a lovely time.
