“I told her to come about eight o’clock, and Philip. Do you want to go to the beach?”
“Yes, that sounds nice. Should we invite Lizzie and Philip?”
“I think Lizzie was a foregone conclusion, but if Philip’s not working, yeah, although he will eat too much ice cream and complain all the way home that he feels sick.” Jim laughed, to Tasha’s amusement.
“Would you like your present now?”
“I thought I had got my present early when I found you looking so sexy outside my office,” he replied quite seriously.
She shook her head. “That was myI love you and I have missed you lotspresent, not a happy birthday present,” she explained.
“Is it suitable for me to open in front of my children?” he asked warily.
Tasha laughed loudly and then feigned offence. “Yes, of course. I can think beyond sex you know.”
“I know you can, honey, you just don’t very often,” he chided.
She stuck her tongue out and cut her eyes at him making him smile as he pulled her towards him and manoeuvred her head back before he began to kiss her neck and whispered in her ear, “I have a feeling today is going to be a very long day, Natasha. And I believe I assured you that I would be arousing you every morning once you came out here.”
“Oh yes, I remember that.” She giggled as he littered kisses down her chest.
****
Tasha had left Jim in the shower and dressed in denim shorts and a plain white vest top before slipping on a pair of white pumps and skipping downstairs where she found Philip waiting for her with enough balloons to make him look like he should be selling them on a pier somewhere. She smiled as she saw him and Juan who appeared to be carrying every ‘40’ banner L.A. had.
“Where have you been?” cried Philip. “We have been waiting for you for ages.”
“You really do not want me to answer that question.” She laughed with Juan as Philip cringed. “But I have kept him out of the way and he is still in the shower, so we should have at least another twenty minutes and if you want a raise to your allowance there may be no better time than this morning to ask for it,” she said quite seriously.
“Oh God! I don’t think I really thought out befriending my new step-mommy. But I am happy to benefit from your obvious charms if it means the old man is likely to be amenable and feeling more generous than usual.” Philip shuddered before barking orders at Tasha and Juan. “Right Juan, banners in the dining room. Tasha, you put some up in the kitchen and out back, but don’t get busted by him, so keep an ear out for him coming down. I will litter the house with my balloons and Sandra is on the case for breakfast and Lizzie is on her way with Mom and Lenny. Gifts are in the dining room and Mike is adding some décor outside.”
Tasha smiled and thought again that he really was his father’s son, giving his orders out based on his own plan that was in no way negotiable.
“Good morning,” called Sandra as Tasha entered the kitchen. “Philip is full of the party spirit,” she laughed.
“Mmm, let’s hope his father is too,” Tasha replied nervously.
“He’s not known for his wild partying, but I am sure with you and the kids here he will be thrilled,” said Sandra reassuringly.
“Do you think?” Tasha held up a banner carrying the logo, ‘old fart.’
They both laughed and as Sandra began to clear the table from the previous night Tasha felt guilty.
“Please leave that Sandra, I will do it. I meant to do it last night.”
Sandra was about to speak when Jim called from upstairs, “Tasha, are you downstairs?”
“Go on, you’ve had your orders from Philip,” laughed Sandra, taking the banners off Tasha as Philip the supervisor returned.
“Stall him,” he ordered.
She ran back upstairs and found Jim at the top of the stairs.
“Are you up to something?” he asked suspiciously.
“No,” she lied. “I was hoping to clear up the mess from dinner before Sandra, but she got there first.” Which was partly true.
“Oh, okay. Lizzie has just text to say she is almost here with Sara and Lenny. That could spoil a good day,” he said grimly.
