Unsure and possibly not caring if Jim was happy, pissed or indifferent to her reaction, Tasha continued to feel flustered. She’d watched this guy on her screen for years and flushed as she remembered him playing a former Navy SEAL in an action movie a couple of years before. A movie she’d watched over and over in bed and every time he stripped down and showered, which he’d done often she’d touched herself.
“Are you okay?” Amanda laughed while Jim led his visitor away.
“Yes, fine. Thanks for earlier.” She remembered what had brought her there.
“No problem, and if you need anything just call,” said Amanda hugging her.
****
Katy Myers greeted Tasha warmly and ushered her through to her dressing room which was like a home from home with a small kitchen, lounge and bathroom.
“So, what has Mickie done? I thought you’d got Jim to kick her ass once and for all,” said Katy as she passed Tasha a cup of coffee.
“I don’t know that she has done anything and I never got Jim to do anything, but he did. He ended their friendship, but it seems to have been reinstated. I saw them earlier, together, not like an affair together, but obviously friends again,” revealed Tasha cautiously.
“I see.” Katy sat next to Tasha on the couch. “Look, I don’t like Mickie, but this is so much more than my dislike of her. She is a vile, conniving, sly bitch who is totally besotted with your man and she will stop at nothing to be rid of you, even if she can’t have him herself. You need to be very careful not to give her a way in or any ammunition to use against you,” warned Katy, making Tasha again recall Jim’s comment aboutMickie’s arsenalwhen she’d returned from London.
“Can I ask what the story is with the two of you?” asked Tasha seriously.
“Sure, it’s quite simple. We were friends and Mickie was a huge help when I was first starting out with advice on the good guys and the bad, but also as a stylist. She influenced me hugely on what would and wouldn’t work and helped to create the image I have now, but that gave her no right to screw my husband and steal him away only to discard him when she’d tired of him and thesportof stealing him and ruining my marriage was no longer present.”
“That’s awful,” exclaimed Tasha. “She scares me,” she admitted to herself and to Katy.
“You’re right to be scared. She is beyond ruthless but the advantage you have over me is that Jim is seriously into you. He loves you and was never serious about Mickie, although I heard about the fling he and Mickie had, but I also heard that once he met you she was old news.”
“How do you know these things?” asked Tasha seriously.
“It’s my job to know these things. You tell a friend or he tells a friend or a friend sees a look, a touch, they hear a comment and then they tell me or a friend of a friend, you know how this works, Tasha. You’re young, but you’re not stupid.” She smiled.
“I guess so. Can I trust you?” Trust should probably have been established before their conversation started.
Katy shrugged. “What do you think?”
“I think so, unless you’re spinning me a line and are complicit to Mickie’s plan, whatever it might be.”
Katy shook her head. “You need to make your own mind up on that one, but for what it’s worth, what you see is what you get.”
“Thanks.” Tasha got to her feet to leave.
“When Mickie and I were friends she went through several lovers and partners, as Jim went through wives, but he never ever looked at her that way, never gave her any encouragement but she was obsessed where Jim was concerned. He was always her end game and she was always convinced that one day she would be able to reel him in and when he eventually slept with her—”
“She thought she’d succeeded?” Tasha already nodded in response, knowing the answer.
“Exactly and then along comes little ole you who completely sweeps Jim off his feet and knocks him flat on his ass and suddenly, no more Mickie in Jim’s mind, just Tasha. Look, you have my cell number so if I can do anything to help, call.” She hugged Tasha and escorted her out of the studio.
****
“Tasha, Tasha,” called Jim as he entered the house.
“She’s not back yet,” replied Sandra from behind him.
“Oh. She said she may be back after me.” Jim threw his jacket onto the back of the sofa.
“Are you okay?” Sandra asked Jim concerned.
“Yeah, just stuff on my mind,” he explained as the sound of Tasha’s car arrived outside the front door and was quickly followed by her appearing before him.
“Hey, baby.” He leaned down to kiss her on the lips.
