“Soon, give her ten more minutes and if she isn’t here I’ll call her.” He smiled as he checked his watch then became agitated, telling himself it was because she was holding everyone up. Not even he was convinced of that as he considered Bobby’s words about Amanda and he knew if his former wife had been a revelation, Tasha would have been directly involved.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. I got lost,” Tasha admitted as she hurried through to where the others were all assembled followed by Dan who still looked seriously hung over.
“Don’t worry, you’re here now, that’s the main thing and this rather green looking young man must be your brother,” said Jack, smiling sympathetically at Dan.
“Hi.” Dan took the hand Jack offered.
Jim joined Tasha and kissed the top of her head. “You changed.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I thought the dress was a bit dressy and I got mascara down it,” she explained as to why she had changed out of the grey halter-neck dress she’d been wearing when he’d left. “You don’t mind do you?” she asked curiously.
“No, of course not. I just wondered, although I do like you in a dress that prevents you wearing a bra.” He grinned down at her, his eyes fixed on hers.
“If that’s your thing I can wear any dress braless, including this one,” she replied smiling.
“Natasha, you’re my thing, just you—” his words were cut off.
“I love your dress,” said Abby who had appeared behind them.
“Is it designer?” Bria appeared too.
“Nobody you’ll have heard of. It’s one of my friend’s dresses, Lucy, she designed it, I haven’t borrowed it.” Tasha laughed as they all looked down at her black, glittery dress with spaghetti straps and a handkerchief style skirt that flared slightly from the fitted top. She’d left her legs bare and had added an old pair of plain black suede stilettos from the High Street.
“My brother really does not deserve you, Natasha.” Bobby placed an arm around her waist “Why haven’t you signed your pre-nup? I hear your attorney is rather concerned.”
“I have signed it, but Jim needs to now. It will be done for next week, won’t it?” she asked Jim, knowing he was listening.
“Yes, as I’ve already told Bobby,” he said curtly with a frown for his brother before he took her hand and led her towards the dining room. “You look beautiful, baby,” he whispered against her ear then placed a single kiss on her cheek.
Chapter 31
They all chatted over dinner, but once it was over Tasha found herself outside with Abby and Pippa while Lexi joined them occasionally to ask Pippa something horsey or Tasha something about the wedding.
“Were you in trouble when you got home the other night?”
Abby’s question caused Pippa’s head to jerk up and look at Tasha with a worried expression.
“No.” Tasha laughed, she hadn’t been and even when she was, trouble with Jim wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but she guessed Abby knew that, unlike Pippa. “Pip, Jim is not Dad and being in trouble with Jim is not a bad thing like with the old man. Jim is a control freak, but he is kind and gentle, you know that, don’t you?”
“I suppose,” she hesitated. “He seemed angry earlier when Lizzie told him you’d been flirting with Travis.” Nerves infiltrated her voice. “I told him that you weren’t and that you wouldn’t.”
Tasha reached for her sister, pulling her in for a reassuring hug. “Pip, it’s fine really. I knew Lizzie would say that to him and Jim knows I’m not interested in anyone else and he would never hit me like Dad did.” Tasha shook her head at the idea of Jim being like their dad. Jim did hit her and she knew not everyone would understand that, especially not with her past. Hell, she didn’t understand it, but with Jim it was in a spanking, sexy kind of way and she loved it, encouraged it, but Pippa really didn’t need to know that.
“Jim is not a woman beater and he is crazy about Tasha,” confirmed Abby who was sipping a glass of water.
“I mean he loves you. That’s clear, but he’s kind of scary—if you’re sure.” Pippa offered her sister a half-smile.
“One-hundred percent sure,” Tasha replied with absolutely no doubt.
Pippa nodded and was joined by Lexi who had a horse book Pippa agreed to look through with her.
“She’s a nice kid,” said Abby linking arms with Tasha as they watched Pippa and Lexi walking down the lawn.
“Yeah she is,” Tasha agreed.
“I didn’t know your dad beat you, sorry.”
Tasha shrugged, wondering if there was an acceptable response she could use, but went with her gut. “It’s not something I boast about, but my dad is a complete bastard,” she said with an icy cold tone that clearly startled Abby.
