“Take my card, please,” said Katy. “Maybe we could meet for lunch and I could give you the low-down on Mickie.”
“Maybe,” said Tasha as she took the card from her. “Maybe about Mickie, but definitely for lunch,” she clarified.
****
Tasha was lying poolside with Dan, Pippa, Lizzie and Dylan when Travis appeared.
“Hey, Dan the Man. How about me and you hit the town tonight, pal? We could find some hot ladies for the evening?” He grinned across at Dan.
“Yeah cool, what time?” Dan, wearing a huge smile, answered immediately.
“Erm, what about running it past me first,” Tasha suggested seriously, making Dan laugh at her.
“Tash, I love you and our parents are pretty crappy, but as you’re my sister and not my mum I don’t think I need to run it past you.”
She was shocked at how hurt and rejected she felt by his sincere and not unreasonable comment.
“I will take real good care of him, I promise,” said Travis looking down at her in a very small, silver bikini.
“Thank you, but be careful and don’t get drunk. The Yanks are uptight, anal arses about drinking. You may even be under age and Jim will freak big style if he has to bring me down town to bail you out.”
“Yes, he will, and it will be me that he’ll hold responsible, so I will look after Dan, like I did the other night, okay?” Travis laughed. “Does your fiancé know that you think of him and his countrymen as uptight, anal arses?”
“No, but I’m sure he won’t be too shocked by it.” Tasha laughed back at him.
“I’m sure.” Travis grinned.
“Oi! If you two could just stop your flirting I can sort the details of my night out,” said Dan with mock outrage.
Tasha inhaled deeply as she saw Lizzie look up sharply at Dan’s suggestion that she was flirting. That would undoubtedly be a call to Daddy.
“No flirting for me, little bro,” she protested as she got up. “Drinks anyone?”
They all nodded at her apart from Travis who was preparing to head back out. “Not for me, I have work to do.”
Tasha made her way back into the house, feeling quite self-conscious as she realised Dylan couldn’t take his eyes off her and at one point she was sure he was almost drooling. She decided to cover up and be far more aware of whose company she was in, even in her own home, starting as soon as she’d got the drinks she’d already offered.
Once the drinks were on a tray and ready for her to carry outside, Tasha heard Sandra muttering in the hallway and laughed at the other woman’s tendency to not only talk to herself, but to answer too.
“Have I missed the joke?” she heard Jim say before she turned around, surprised to see him standing there when she imagined he would still be at work.
“No joke. Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
He closed the gap between them. “I was and then I decided I should come home and spend some time with all of you before Dan and Pippa go home and Lizzie defects back to Sara’s and I’m very glad I have now, with you dressed in so little.” He grinned before kissing her gently on the lips.
“Can you imagine having the house to ourselves next week?” She smiled at the prospect.
“Oh, I sure can, baby. I intend to fuck you all over the house to celebrate.” He grinned salaciously before either of them realised they were no longer alone.
Tasha looked across at an increasingly embarrassed looking Dylan and in response she flushed furiously.
“Sorry,” he stammered. “Erm—Lizzie—erm—she was thirsty and she—erm—sorry—” He’d obviously heard their exchange.
“And she sent you in to get her a drink? And you did exactly as you were told? You have much to learn about women, Dylan.” The boy was clearly uncomfortable and Jim was obviously amused by it.
“Yes, sir,” was as much as Dylan could muster as a reply making Tasha feel even more self-conscious and awkward.
“The drinks are here,” Tasha said, as embarrassed as Dylan felt. “You can take them if you want to, I need to change,” she spluttered.
