Tasha suddenly felt very insecure as she thought of his last time in New York, when they’d met. Maybe this was a regular gig, the screwing of young actresses, if not the whole moving them in and marrying them.
“Real business, Tasha. I don’t make a habit of going to New York to bed beautiful actresses.”
“I didn’t suggest you did,” she said defensively, sometimes wishing he didn’t read her mind like he did.
“No, but I know you were thinking it,” he said correctly. “Are you coming here to meet Amanda?”
“No. I’m meeting her at The Summer Garden and I told Lizzie I would be in later because she wants to come here before the concert tonight.”
“Shame. I seem to recall that you owe me a date on my conference table, but I will see you later. Have fun, but diplomacy with Amanda, okay?”
“Of course, see you later,” she replied and thought again about him going with no pre-nup.
Chapter 15
Mike was unavailable for her trip to meet Amanda which was fine by Tasha. She had no objection to cabs like the one she was sat in, chatting intermittently with the driver. It suddenly occurred to her that Mike had been absent for a few days, but then as Jim had first told her, he worked for the studio too, so maybe that’s where he was.
She was sitting in The Summer Garden waiting for Amanda when she heard Abby’s voice calling. Turning, she was enveloped in Abby’s embrace.
“What are you doing here?” Tasha asked, thinking this was a huge coincidence.
“I was just passing and noticed you coming in here.” Even Abby sounded unconvinced.
Tasha arched a questioning brow. “Really?”
“Either that or Amanda called me full of worry that she had accepted your lunch invitation, but was scared that she may say something untoward.” Abby grinned now.
Tasha shook her head at both women it looked as though she was going to be having lunch with. “Ah. I had no idea the two of you were friends.”
“We used to work together. After she and Jim married she came to work in the same law firm as me and we got on well enough and I’m married to her former brother-in-law, but she is nice, even if Jim should never have married her.”
Tasha smiled weakly and thought how incestuous they all were, with their friendships and relatives intertwining. Would she ever really fit into this group of people? She liked Abby though and believed she could grow to like Amanda who had just arrived.
The three of them chatted once seated at their table and both Amanda and Abby proved to be easy company.
“Have you decided on a wedding date yet?” asked Abby.
Tasha shook her head. “We will have soon. Amanda could probably suggest a better date than me with her very thorough scheduling.” She laughed, unlike Amanda.
“Jim will have a date in mind,” said Abby making Tasha frown. “Tell her, Amanda.”
Amanda looked mortified at Abby’s insistence. “I don’t know, it’s not my place…” she stammered.
“I assume Jim already has a date pencilled in,” said Tasha.
Amanda looked embarrassed while Abby grinned. “I told you she was on the ball, didn’t I?”
“Amanda, please, it’s fine. I know that Jim is inclined to over plan and organise things for those around him. It’s no surprise to me to find that he already has a date planned,” admitted Tasha.
As pleasant as their lunch was Tasha realised she hadn’t discovered anything at all from Amanda, not about her marriage to Jim anyway when Abby asked, “Do you still have the same summer break as Jim?”
Amanda nodded. “He prefers it that way and Lesley covers me for the two weeks and just messages everything until I return. If there’s anything urgent then Marc can always call Mr Maybury direct.”
Tasha let out a little laugh and the other two women turned to look at her, forcing her to explain.
“Sorry, Amanda, but I have to ask, what is that wholeMr Mayburyabout? You were married to the man; you shared a home, a life, a bed.” Tasha’s words made Amanda blush and Abby laugh.
“Did he make you call him Mr Maybury in the sack, Amanda? Come on, you can tell us,” teased Abby.
