“They both love you, Tash, that is obvious and maybe they just need time, because this is all happening very quickly, isn’t it? Are you sure that you know this guy well enough to commit to forever with him?”
Tasha could feel that it wouldn’t take much for her to breakdown in tears and as Jake stepped towards her he could see that too and instinctively enveloped her in his arms and held her tightly. She just hoped he didn’t see her emotional state as confirmation that she was less than certain about wanting a future with Jim.
“It’s okay, Tash. Do you want to talk?” he asked as Lizzie appeared behind them.
“Tasha, are you okay?” She viewed Jake suspiciously now, possibly rethinking hiscoolstatus.
“Yeah, fine. I’m just tired and would really like to go home,” Tasha replied and thought she was being honest, to a point.
“We’ll be home with Daddy soon, won’t we?” Lizzie’s words had been chosen deliberately and carried an undercurrent of a warning to Jake who still had an arm draped around Tasha’s shoulder.
“Yes, of course we will.” Smiled Tasha as Pippa appeared in the corridor. “Look, girls you two get back in and I will be two minutes, okay?”
They both hesitated before returning to the hotel suite leaving Tasha and Jake alone again.
“Thank you,” said Tasha before kissing Jake gently on the cheek.
“Tash, I hate to add to your worries, but I had a call first thing from an American called Michael Rose—”
Tasha interrupted him. “Looking for some dirt on me for cash. Shit! That’s you, Angie and Gerry now.”
“I told him I had nothing to say to him, but he was slimy, Tash. Not like a journalist after a juicy story. It seemed more personal.” Jake’s expression and tone were apologetic.
“Bollocks!” Somebody was out to cause trouble for her, there was no doubt of that in her mind now and she knew Jim would draw the same conclusion when she told him. “I had better call Jim later and let him know. Thanks, Jake.”
“No problem and if you need to talk...”
“Thanks, but I’m fine, really.” She followed him back into the suite where Lucy was waiting for her.
“Have you spoke to Jim about Lizzie yet?” asked Lucy.
“Yes,” whispered Tasha. “It’s a yes, but we will not tell her until the morning or she will be a nightmare.” Tasha arched her brows while her friend smiled.
“I’ll let Suzie know. What about Pippa, would she fancy it?” asked Lucy to Tasha’s surprise.
“Pippa? Really?” asked Tasha, not that she didn’t think her little sister was anything other than gorgeous, but she was her baby sister.
“Yes. She has a good look, Tash, like you, but more; she’s tall and beautiful, young and fresh faced and she would complement Lizzie’s look a treat.”
“I don’t know, but I could check with my grandparents and then with Pippa if you’re serious,” offered Tasha.
“Cool and Suzie has suggested they could keep some of the clothes in place of cash payment, which would be easier for us, if you think they’d go for that?”
“Neither of them need the cash, but they love clothes so that could be better for them.”
Jake called for Tasha to dress in her next outfit giving her something to focus on that didn’t involve her past, Pippa and Lizzie or Michael Rose.
Tasha was sitting with a cup of tea wearing a satin wrap that covered an ivory basque and brief with lace topped stockings. Her hair had been put up and she was waiting for her make-up and shoes. She grabbed her handbag and checked the time before texting Jim.
She sat back and waited for his response which was almost instantaneous and was the sound of her phone ringing.
“Hi, baby, are you okay?”
“Not really,” she admitted. “I sent you the details from Gerry, did you get them?”
“Yes and I have a meeting for half past nine this morning with some people who will be doing some digging on this Michael Rose character.” She immediately felt more relaxed at the speed with which he moved in these matters.
