It wasn’t a question; that much Callum did know. He took a deep breath and prepared to try again.
35
TASHA
Tasha’s irritation with Riley rose sharply when she saw him being sarcastic about Callum’s mistake. Why couldn’t he just allow someone else to do well for once? Typical Riley always having to be the hero! She knew he would have enjoyed Callum feeling embarrassed in front of everyone about making a blunder. She watched the scene play out, mouthing Callum’s words as he said them, glad she was standing out of his sight line so he didn’t notice her doing it.
At the end of the scene, she realised her shoulders were so high with tension they almost met her ears, and she had to consciously lower them and relax.
‘Poor Callum.’
Surprised to hear Erin’s voice coming from just behind her left shoulder, Tasha turned to her. ‘Sorry, I didn’t see you there.’ She stepped to the side to give Erin space to stand next to her.
Erin moved slightly forward. ‘I didn’t like to speak in case I interrupted the filming but I thought Callum did very well, didn’t you?’
‘I did,’ she agreed, looking in his direction.
Erin returned to the hair and make-up trailer.
Callum noticed Tasha when they were done and walked over to her, looking forlorn.
‘Did you see what I did?’
She could tell he felt badly about what had happened and rested a hand on his forearm. ‘You did very well.’
He gave a sarcastic laugh. ‘I messed up, but it was my own fault for not focusing on what I was doing.’
Tasha had the sudden urge to find out what had amused him. ‘Why did you smile?’
He smiled again before answering, intriguing her further. ‘I was thinking Riley has a lot to learn if he thinks he can boss Erin around and get away with it.’
Amused to picture Callum’s beautiful sister with someone so used to charming people in order to get his own way and it not working for once, Tasha laughed. ‘It will do him the world of good to spend time with someone like her then.’
‘I agree.’ Callum shrugged. ‘I suppose he’s not all that bad but he can be rather arrogant at times.’
‘Now you are being charitable.’ She looked over at her boss, who was preparing to shoot the next scene. ‘I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.’ She flicked a fly from his shoulder. ‘I’m starving. Shall we go to the farmhouse and find Lettie and Brodie for a bit of lunch while there’s still time?’
‘I thought you’d never ask,’ he said.
She smiled as Callum linked his arm through hers. ‘I hope they’ve prepared for two hungry people to descend on them.’
‘They will have done. There’s one thing you can be sure of when you visit Hollyhock Farm and that is there is always an abundance of tasty food. Lindy, that’s Lettie’s mum, is a great cook and baker. She prides herself on always having fresh cakes in tins in the pantry and there’s always pre-prepared food in the fridge that can be heated up.’
‘She sounds amazing,’ Tasha said honestly. Her stomach rumbled noisily.
Callum laughed. ‘I think you’re even hungrier than me right now.’
She pulled him to hurry him to the house, enjoying their time together again. ‘Hurry up then, before someone else gets there and eats our share.’
Callum broke into a jog with her. ‘Careful, you don’t want my make-up to run.’
She burst out laughing. ‘I don’t think you have enough on for that to happen, or that you’re hot enough.’
He slowed to a walk, pulling her to stop with him. ‘Hey, are you trying to tell me you don’t find me attractive?’
Seeing the mischievous twinkle in his gorgeous eyes, she shook her head. ‘If you’re hoping to force me into telling you I think you’re hot again, you’re going to be disappointed.’
He sighed heavily. ‘Fine. Then I suppose we may as well get to that kitchen and eat. I need something to cheer me up.’
