“I think we’re both in trouble again.” Her phone rang now, still to the sound of ‘Viva Las Vegas’, Jim’s tone. “Hello.”
“Tasha, check your messages and reply,” he said and hung up.
She looked at the phone in disbelief as Sandra appeared and began to clear the pile of dishes Tasha had earlier piled up.
“Apparently I have a message from your dad,” she said with a very nervous laugh.
Philip giggled at her. “I’m going back home to bed so I’ll see you later.”
Tasha waited for Philip to leave then went back to bed and retrieved her message.
She lay on Jim’s side of the bed and inhaled his scent from his pillow before reading her message, or messages as it appeared to be.
She smiled as she realised she may have gained enough brownie points to wipe out any annoyance he still had.
Tasha smiled at Jim’s words. She believed he believed her about her role in the dancing, although as she reread the message and thought about the reality of clothes shopping with him the smile faded. Not because she didn’t like nice clothes, she did, but because she didn’t want to be dressed like a real life doll.
Whilst she waited for Jim’s reply Tasha wondered how he had ended up with someone like number three, the would-be porn star who had tried and succeeded to a point in manipulating his children, especially Lizzie. It explained why he was so protective of them and why he didn’t readily introduce the women he slept with to them.
With a very broad and expectant smile Tasha looked down at her phone, still in her hand, but then allowed her mind to stray and wondered how on earth she was going to go back to her old life in London in a matter of days.
Chapter 23
After sending her final message to Jim and the less than welcome thoughts about her life in London, Tasha looked at the clock. She had an hour to be ready so disappeared into the wardrobe to see what she was going to wear. About twenty minutes later she re-emerged wearing the white sundress she’d worn a few nights before, but added a green shrug and green strappy sandals. She checked the overall effect in the mirror and was happy her invisible underwear was just that. Her hair was loose and wavy and as she had some natural colour in her face courtesy of the Californian sunshine she’d used just a hint of bronze lip gloss and a light coating of mascara. She picked up her bag containing her phone and purse and threw in a couple of condoms, just in case. With a quick spray of perfume Tasha went downstairs where Mike was talking to Sandra in the kitchen.
“We can go whenever you’re ready.” Mike smiled at her. “And Jim has said to give you the choice of vehicle, whatever you’re most comfortable with.”
She smiled, he did listen to her and he did remember.
“SUV please, or anything apart from the limo. It makes me uncomfortable for a trip to the shops or meeting Jim at the office. It just seems a bit much to me.”
Sandra nodded as Mike said, “I’ll bring it round and then we can go.”
Tasha and Mike chatted about places and people back home and when she arrived at the studio, she felt very relaxed. Security had checked her appointment and someone escorted her up to Jim’s office where a tall, slightly fuller figured brunette waited for her. As she left the elevator the brunette grinned at her and suddenly looked younger and very attractive.
“Miss Winters?” she asked and signalled for the escort to leave.
