“Because she is going through a messy divorce and our paths crossed, plus, she is in need of dick and she knows yours.” Bobby’s reply was blunt but he’d thought the reason for Sally leaving her number was quite obvious.
“She wasn’t that good first time round, not really, just available, but we were both young and inexperienced and I can’t say that I’ve missed her,” said Jim coldly.
“And Mrs Carter?” Bobby’s huge, shit eating grin made Jim laugh.
“She was fun, very informative and inventive, but I think that needs leaving in the past. I’m more than happy with Tasha and she would go fucking crazy at the suggestion of me seeing either of the Carter women socially,” revealed Jim.
“She knows about them? And does the lovely Natasha have a jealous streak?”
“Yes, and was far from pleased when you mentioned them at the beach.” Jim laughed, despite the fact that Tasha had been angry, jealous and hurt. “And she does have a very jealous streak, about a mile wide, but not about the Carters if they stay in the past, so, do not start yanking her chain.”
“As if I would. I like her. Anyway, she will have Bria and Sophie to contend with tonight so I wouldn’t dream of adding to her woes.” Bobby arched a brow and smirked.
“Mmm. I hope Bria cuts her some slack or she may just tell her to fuck off,” said Jim seriously.
“If Tasha tells Bria to fuck off over dinner I will die there and then, on the spot, a happy man. Bria would be hysterical.” Laughed Bobby before Jim joined in with him.
“It really isn’t funny, but Tasha has this habit of just opening her mouth and speaking. No thought goes into it and if she is backed into a corner she will come out fighting, and we both know Bria’s heart is in the right place.”
Bobby nodded. “Maybe she’s that way because of all the crap with her folks,” suggested Bobby.
“Probably,” agreed Jim.
“Is she still not speaking to them?”
“No. Well, she better not be. I have told her to keep away from them. They are seriously bad news, especially for her health,” said Jim mysteriously.
“The mom or the dad?”
“Both; the mom is full of apathy and is at best neglectful and the dad is a complete fuck up who represents everything that a father shouldn’t.” Jim felt angry about Tasha’s life again.
“That bad?” asked Bobby as they headed to the clubhouse.
Jim nodded.
“Are we talking violence?” asked Bobby, curious, concerned, but didn’t want to pry or pressure his brother to reveal details either he or Tasha would be uncomfortable with him knowing. He did, however, have suspicions about Tasha’s past and her family.
“Yeah,” said Jim. “Look, this stays between us, but I have a feeling he may crawl out of the woodwork again once he gets wind of our engagement and smells easy money, so, I may need an ear to bend.”
“I got two Jimbo, so spill.” Bobby smiled kindly at his twin’s anxious and pained expression, thinking, fearing his hunch about Tasha’s issues with her parents were right.
“Let’s get a drink first.”
As she and Juan sat drinking coffee with a muffin Juan asked, “You’re still struggling with the money thing, aren’t you?”
Tasha nodded. “Before I was with Jim I wouldn’t have bought those shoes, although I could have put them on my credit card and then been really careful until I was next paid to be sure I could afford to pay for them, but now I can just have them. I also know that if I go home and say how much they were Jim won’t even flinch. He spent over five grand on an outfit for me when he was in London, another seven-hundred and fifty dollars on the bikini your brother liked so much, then all the things I have charged. He pays my credit card bill, puts cash in my bank account, pays for a legal team to take care of my sister’s welfare, he leased a bigger place in London for me and then nearly two-hundred grand yesterday on an engage—” she realised she’d let her mouth get away from her.
“You’re going to marry him?” Juan stared a little wildly now.
“Please don’t say anything. Nobody over here knows, except probably Bobby. Jim is going to tell Philip and Lizzie before we go out later. I really do need to think before I speak,” she admitted using Jim’s usual words.
“No problem, Tash. Our secret, although it’s obvious how stuck he is on you, but if you’re marrying him you’ll have to get over the money. Jim is very rich. I have no clue how rich, but real rich.”
“I know, but it’s easier said than done. I’m not complaining about Jim, he is more than generous, it’s just a bit alien, that’s all.”
Juan nodded. “I get that, Tasha. I get the same with Philip and his total lack of understanding of money or value of it. The way he just asks Daddy for more, that drives me crazy because I have never done that. I’ve never been able to do that so have always had to manage my money and work for it, unlike Phil.”
“And yet you and I have both fallen for the men we have,” observed Tasha with a smile.
