She ignored his condolences and continued telling him about that time in her life. “I left that night and ended up with Lucy. She had a flat in a big house and I stayed in her spare room that was more like a cupboard for a couple of days and then Gerry tracked me down and begged me to forgive him. He said he had never cheated on me before and that he regretted it, that he loved me and hadn’t seen Kara since that night and that he was going to make it up to me and to show me that he was really sorry. I believed him, every word.”
“But he didn’t?” asked Jim as she rolled over to face him wondering if this was what couples did, revealed so much in terms of details of previous relationships or at least the ending of the relationship.
“Kind of. He was relentless over the next three or four weeks; flowers every day, calls, texts, dinners and he had been honest that he had not seen Kara since. I was still staying with Lucy and Gerry and I went out a few times and as hurt as I was, I did think I could actually forgive him, but not Kara, although she text and called on a daily basis too, but I wouldn’t even acknowledge her. I still loved Gerry, but was hurt. Then one night we had been out and it was like old times. I’d probably drunk too much, but I wasn’t drunk and I knew what I was doing and Gerry stayed with me at Lucy’s. I thought everything would be fine and we could work things out properly and then the following morning it all changed. He took a call which turned out to be from Kara and I sat up on the edge of the bed watching him on the phone to her and when he hung up he got on his knees in front of me and said,I don’t know how to tell you this Princess, but Kara has found out she’s pregnant, it’s mine and she’s keeping it,and that is the image, the moment Gerry told me and the moment I realised it was truly over, that regardless of my willingness to forgive him there was a baby that was his and not mine.” Tasha willed herself not to cry as she recalled how she had felt because she couldn’t lie in Jim’s arms and cry for what she and Gerry had once had and how he’d buggered it up leaving her heartbroken and bereft.
“Do you regret that you couldn’t stay together?” asked Jim in a flat tone and with a blank expression that displayed no judgement whatsoever.
“No, of course not. I like being with you and that would never have happened if I’d remained with Gerry, but when I see that bloody picture I suddenly go back to that moment and I feel how I felt then. Gerry thought we should have tried to work things out regardless, but I couldn’t have anything to do with Kara or the child and that would have put Gerry in an impossible position, so it was for the best that we parted as friends. I moved all of my stuff out of Gerry’s that day and Lucy and I decided to get somewhere bigger together,” she said as she ran her hand across his smooth chest.
“He really was very stupid, but I am glad he was.” Jim slowly ran a finger down her spine. “His stupidity meant you could be mine and I will never let you down, Tasha. I would never cheat on you,” he said sincerely.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked bluntly, startling him.
“Because I am. You do believe me, don’t you?”
“I believe that you believe that,” she replied frankly.
“What does that mean,I believe that you believe that?” He loosened his grip on her, clearly offended.
“It means,” she said, her grip tightening on him, reassuring him with her head on his chest that she briefly nuzzled before explaining, “I believe that you sincerely believe and mean that, but with six ex-wives and an admission that you weren’t always a faithful husband I would have to be seriously misguided to think that I could be that different.”
As Jim ran his fingers through her hair, he tilted her head back and bent down and kissed her gently on the lips then littered her cheek, jaw and neck with soft, tender kisses.
“You have no idea just how different you are, baby. I love you more in three weeks than I have ever loved anyone before. I didn’t know this was possible and I was ill-prepared for it, I think we both were, but somehow, we met, collided like a force of nature and now, here we are, together, in love. It’s fate, it has to be and I have no intention of doing anything to lose you, Tasha, not ever.”
She had to admit, if only to herself that she had total and utter belief in his words and their conviction. Suddenly, she felt breathless and emotional at his declaration, but said nothing, she just smiled, closed her eyes and ran her hand across his chest and torso.
****
Tasha woke up and was startled to find herself alone in bed. She heard the sound of water splashing in the bath and frowned. She needed the toilet and had no intention of peeing in front of Jim. With a shake of her head, she wondered why it was acceptable to do all of the things they had done together, shared and yet the idea of having a wee in front of him was unacceptable. She got up and found her wrap and made her way across the suite to the other bathroom and when she returned she realised it was half past one in the afternoon.
She gently tapped on the bathroom door and waited for a response.
“Tasha, you don’t have to knock, baby. I’m in the bath.”
She walked in and smiled at the image of Jim lying in the huge bath, wet, relaxed and smiling.
“You managed to sleep then?”
“Mmm, I wasn’t tired at all and then I woke up,” she admitted as she sat on the edge of the bath.
“I was slightly unnerved that my declaration of love and fidelity had literally knocked you out.”
“No, it didn’t. Sorry, it was just a bit odd to think that you could feel that much stronger about me than your wives. Plus, I had Gerry and that stupid bloody picture in my head,” she admitted.
“I meant it.” He rested a wet hand on her knee.
“Good. I like the idea of you loving me.”
“I love you enough to share my bath with you.” He grinned.
“Really? That much,” she gasped.
“Was that sarcasm, Miss Winters?”
“And if it was?”
“If it was I may have to abandon my gentle touch and just do this.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the bath still wrapped in her robe.
