“Spoil sport.” She stuck her tongue out at him but couldn’t deny his accusation, observation. “Did your meetings really end quicker than scheduled or did you cancel them?”
“They really did run ahead. I was in such a bad mood they agreed with me to get out of the office.” He laughed at the memory of his afternoon and his earlier mood. “In fact, it was during one of those meetings when Marc evacuated the office and asked if I had thought about seeing someone about my mood swings.”
Tasha laughed, impressed by Marc’s bravery or stupidity, whichever it might be. “What did you say?” She was still laughing as the car stopped outside a small bistro.
“Well, I fired him several times and swore at him, then told him you were driving me mad.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“I didn’t tell him who you were, but I said you were beautiful, funny, infuriate and challenge me, but I can’t imagine you not being in my life. I didn’t tell him even thinking about you or seeing your name light up my phone has a kaleidoscope of butterflies taking up residence in my chest, nor did I tell him that the idea of not speaking to you in some way each day brings me out in a cold sweat. I also didn’t mention when I’m in the company of anyone else it’s always you who is in my thoughts. Moreover, you have somehow managed to get under my skin and into my brain so you invade my thoughts morning, noon and night without warning and the truth is, it pisses me off.”
She stared at him and actually thought he had summed up just how she felt about him.
“Ditto.” Tasha watched his face as he absorbed her single word response and the meaning behind it.
He leaned back into his seat to reply in a serious and hushed tone. “Then we have a problem, baby, because Marc reckons I’m in love and if you feel the same about me.”
“Shit!” Her second single word response caused Jim’s lips to curl in amusement.
“So romantic,” he laughed. “But yes.”
Chapter 13
They sat at a secluded table at the back of the restaurant where Jim put his phone on silent and placed it in his pocket.
“Lizzie said we’re not allowed phones when we’re eating, it’s not polite.” His tone mocked her slightly and Tasha realised he probably always kept his phone on.
“It’s not.”
“If Sara had suggested that she would have had a major tantrum and stormed out.”
“But not you?” She thought it was unlikely Jim would be the sort of father to allow regular tantrums.
“No. My kids and I have an understanding on these things; they can have anything they want so long as it’s safe and appropriate, but ultimately I call the shots.”
“Maybe because I’m an unknown entity.” She was close in age to Lizzie and much like she did with her sister, treated her as an equal but with the knowledge that ultimately she was the adult.
He nodded. “I’m glad you didn’t let her walk all over you. You’ll like Philip, he is a bit more of a free spirit. He wouldn’t have snitched on you today, but would have bailed when you got busted,” laughed Jim.
“I look forward to meeting him.”
“So, shall we work through our agenda, Miss Winters?”
“I guess we ought to, Mr Maybury.” Tasha offered a nervous smile in case things turned a little more serious with their agenda.
“So your choice of dress yesterday. Way too revealing baby and no panties?” He now wore a frown.
“Possibly a poor choice and I would have worn jeans, but you were being Mr Control Freak insisting on a skirt or dress. It is a very sexy dress, and I was hoping to get lucky as soon as the plane landed.” She did now wonder why she’d thought no pants was a good choice.
“Definitely a poor choice. I like skirts and dresses, and yes, I am Mr Control Freak so get used to it. It is very sexy, but not for a supposedly single lady travelling alone. And you got lucky before the plane landed.”
“I can see that without underwear it may be a bad choice for a single lady traveller. I have never enjoyed a trip to the toilet so much in my life, even if it was an angry fuc—you know what I mean.” She avoided the whole of the expletive in case it genuinely annoyed him, and she didn’t want an angry James.
“A most memorable bathroom trip. So, save the dress for an escorted journey, and underwear, please. Now, Doogie Howser. You have no idea how much that has pissed me off today. Marc does though. You flirted with him and what the hell were you doing when you kept standing up when he moved? You wrapped yourself across him? No wonder he gave you his number.”
“I didn’t mean to flirt, not really. He seemed a nice guy and I was being friendly. I’m used to travelling on a crowded underground, not first class with so much room. I realised afterwards I must have looked very odd.”
He seemed to consider her admission for a few seconds. “Hmmm, odd, or as though you were coming onto him. You were flirting because you thought you could toy with me. You will always lose that game, baby. So, no more overfriendliness with strange men.”
