Not that she had much free time to apply for anything else right now.
Tasha decided that as soon as she had changed their flights home, she would look for other accommodation for herself on the island.
There was a lull in Riley’s moaning, and Bill took the chance to change the subject.
‘How did the radio interview go yesterday, Mr Sharp? I forgot to ask.’
‘It could have been worse, I suppose.’
‘I thought it went very well,’ Tasha said, thinking how good Callum was at his job.
‘Maybe.’
He really was in a bad mood, Tasha thought miserably. She hoped he snapped out of it soon, otherwise the evening ahead was going to drag.
‘Hey,’ Riley said, frowning. ‘Did you pick up my phone yesterday?’
‘Your phone?’ She tried to recall when she might have last seen it. Riley was always leaving it somewhere.
‘Yes. I’ve been racking my brains to think when I had it last, and I think it was at the studio.’
Tasha closed her eyes. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I said so, didn’t I?’
Not quite, she thought, but kept her response to herself. Aware that his next comment would be for her to retrieve it for him, she took her phone from her pocket and found Callum’s number. He didn’t answer her call so she sent him a text. ‘I’ll get it back as soon as I can.’
7
CALLUM
Callum felt his mobile vibrate in his jeans pocket and after taking it out looked at the caller ID. He didn’t recognise the number and never liked answering calls from strangers, so ended it and pushed the phone back in his pocket. Seconds later it vibrated again. Not wishing to miss a call from one of his family, Callum sighed and withdrew his phone. This time there was a text.
Sorry to message you like this, but this is Tasha, Riley Sharp’s assistant, and I need to ask you something if that’s OK. I’d be grateful if you would call this number as the matter is urgent.
He thought of the patient woman who had accompanied Riley Sharp to the studio. She didn’t say much, but Callum hadn’t missed how she seemed to take in everything around her and it was clear to him that she kept everything in Riley’s diary in perfect order. The auburn-haired, green-eyed woman had a quiet strength about her and if she was asking him, a relative stranger, for help then how could he not immediately do as she asked?
Intrigued, Callum returned her call.
‘Callum?’ she asked before he had barely registered the phone ringing.
‘Yes. Hi, Tasha,’ he said, his stomach flipping over when he heard her voice. ‘I’m just returning your call,’ he said, trying not to sound as delighted as he felt to have an excuse to speak to her.
‘Hi, Callum, thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly.’
He listened as she explained about Callum’s lost phone. ‘And if he did leave it at the studio, I was hoping I could arrange to pick it up from you as soon as possible, if that’s all right?’
He tried to recall whether he remembered seeing the phone in the studio after the pair of them had left. ‘Let me call my assistant and see what I can do. Then I can bring it to you, if that’s easier.’
‘Are you sure that won’t be putting you out too much?’
If it meant seeing her again then he was only too happy to do it, not that he had any intention of letting Tasha know that. ‘I really don’t mind. I know how much I hate it when I mislay my phone.’
‘That’s so kind of you. Let me send you the address where we’re staying.’
‘There’s no need. You’re at Beauvoir Cottage, aren’t you?’
There was a few seconds’ silence. ‘Er, how did you know that?’
