“Are you okay?” She looked up at his concerned expression.
“I’m off, see you in the morning,” called Sandra from the door as she left them alone.
“Are you okay?” repeated Tasha.
“Yeah, no, not really. Let’s have dinner and talk,” he said making her quake with nerves where she stood. “Eh, honey, don’t look so scared.” He pulled her close and hugged her tightly.
“I’ll cook dinner.” Tasha looked up at Jim while he still held her tightly. “You go and get changed,” she told him as she pulled his tie loose.
“You could come up with me.” He arched a brow as he twirled her hair around his finger.
Tasha laughed. “I will start dinner and if you’re still in need of some assistance then I’ll be at your disposal.”
“I can guarantee I’ll need your assistance, baby.” He released her and headed upstairs.
She found some chicken and put it in a sticky honey marinade that Sandra made from scratch and covered it in the fridge where she found a salad that Sandra had already prepared and headed upstairs.
Pausing at the bedroom door, she allowed her mind to wander to Jim’s confusion and knew Mickie was involved in this somehow, but was almost too scared to ask. She took a deep breath and entered the empty bedroom, but hearing noise from the bathroom she stuck her head around the door and found Jim lying with his eyes closed in the bath. She frowned, saddened by his worried expression then giggled as he snored. He jumped at the sound of her giggle, but still looked startled to find her looking down at him, removing her own clothes.
“What are you doing?” He smiled now.
“I thought as I am still a littlestickyfrom our date on your table I may as well get clean with you.”
He spread his legs to accommodate her between them in the bath. “I prefer getting dirty with you, baby.” He watched her sink into the water and pulled her back against his chest.
“Can you believe we’ll be married in a couple of weeks?” Tasha smiled up at him.
“I can, can you?” He kissed her nose.
“Mmm, I can actually and I really can’t wait,” she admitted.
“When are your folks due in town?” He stroked her hair gently, enjoying the intimacy and closeness of the moment.
“Thursday, and Lucy and Ryan are on the same flight. Shit! I promised to book them into a hotel,” she suddenly remembered.
“I’ll call Amanda later and she’ll sort it. Don’t worry.” He kissed her shoulders, gently tracing a path to her neck hoping to distract and reassure her.
“Thank you. I also need to book in for a manicure and waxing and everything else to make me look my best for you.” She rolled over so she lay front to front with him.
“You could turn up as you are and you’d look just perfect to me,” he told her, leaning in to kiss her.
“You say the sweetest things.” She ran her fingers through his damp hair. “Can I ask you something?” she asked more cautiously.
“Sure, honey, fire away.” He lowered farther into the water, taking her with him as he wrapped his legs around hers.
“You know when I came back from London with Dan and Pippa? You said Mickie had hired that private eye and had some weapons in her arsenal. You were going to tell me what they were, but you never did. What did she say about me?” Tasha kept her eyes firmly on his, unsure exactly what she might see or wanted to see reflected in them.
“Ah.” Jim sighed loudly and pushed a wet hand through his damp hair. “It really doesn’t matter,” he said seriously.
“It does to me,” replied Tasha, resting her hands on his shoulders, relieved to see nothing dishonest or deceitful in his eyes.
“Okay, but not here. Not naked. Over dinner, and there are a couple of things I should tell you too, so either get your ass out of the tub and we’ll talk or—”
“Or?” Tasha slid along Jim’s body seductively.
“Or—” He grinned and with his arms wrapped tightly around her middle holding her firm he rolled over taking her with him until she lay beneath him wrapping her legs around his hips, pulling him toward her until there was absolutely nothing between them.
“Natasha Winters, you really are going to be the death of me,” he whispered hoarsely as he lowered his mouth towards hers.
