“I noticed.” Disentangling himself from Tasha’s highly tempting body and suggestive glances, Jim threw the covers back and got out of bed. “Now come on, we have a wedding to arrange, but I would happily share a shower with you.” Jim was already pulling her up onto her knees on the bed in front of him before sauntering into the bathroom.
They were almost at the vineyard when Jim asked for a final time, “You’re sure about the date now?”
“Yeah, although it’s still really soon. I just hope everything can be organised that quickly.”
“Of course it can be organised, honey. We need to go and get the licence tomorrow, so can you meet me for lunch or later in the afternoon?”
Tasha nodded.
“You’ll need to bring your passport.”
“Fine,” she replied, suddenly sounding nervous.
“Are you okay, Tasha? I need you to be on board with this, baby.”
“I’m struggling with the speed of it. I knew you wouldn’t go with a long engagement, but we’re talking a month,” she explained. “I’m panicking a little.”
“Do you want to wait?” he asked.
She shrugged.
“Baby, talk to me. There are no wrong and right answers, only what you want. If we don’t get married at the end of the month it will be December before we are both free for more than a couple of days, and I think we should have more than a couple of days. We need to take a honeymoon too. So, a month, December or next year? Entirely your call.”
Tasha looked across at Jim and knew that despite his bossy, control freak tendencies he meant what he said about this being her choice to make.
“Not next year and I think December would be difficult for my family, so...”
“So?” he asked, hoping to keep a lid on his rising optimism for a wedding in a month.
“So, the end of the month.” She smiled, somewhat relieved to have made the decision for herself rather than simply going ahead with Jim’s plan. “I’ve spoken to Lucy and she’s happy to make my dress in that time.” Having made arrangements for her friend to make her dress, Tasha realised she’d already made her decision before talking it out.
“Good, then we’re sorted. You sure you’re okay, baby?” he asked happily and suddenly she felt as though she had never had a choice in any of this, even though he had given her choices. This all seemed destined to be, fate.
“Is Lizzie okay about missing out on her summer vacation?” Tasha needed her wedding and the lack of a family holiday not to be a bone of contention.
“Yeah, totally. She’ll go away with Lenny and Sara and she wasn’t that keen on holidaying with all the others, like you.” He reached across and squeezed her knee in reassurance.
“You know that I will never holiday with Mickie and that her name will not be appearing on the wedding list, don’t you?” She suddenly felt empowered to be airing her thoughts and decisions.
“We can talk about it later, but don’t give any thought to Mickie.”
They turned into the driveway of the vineyard, ending further conversation, for now.
Maisie had produced a huge breakfast for them all and as Tasha sat back feeling fit to burst Jim’s phone rang. He left the table to answer it and appeared to be giving directions to the person at the other end of the line.
“See you in about five minutes, Kayla.”
“Who is Kayla?” asked Tasha.
“A wedding planner,” replied Jim bluntly.
“What? Why?” asked Tasha as Maisie and Jack left the room.
“Because we are getting married in a month and you are spending a week in London and we need to have somebody who can get stuff done and Kayla is that person.”
“Shouldn’t we have discussed this?” Tasha could feel her annoyance rising. They should have discussed this, a wedding planner. What if she didn’t do things to Tasha’s specifications or liking? What then? With only a month to the wedding there wouldn’t be any room for error or manoeuvre.
“What’s to discuss? If you don’t want a wedding planner, fine, but then I need to know you’re here and organising things. Can you commit to that and abide by L.A. laws and regulations?” He sounded equally annoyed by her challenging of the situation. He’d assumed she’d know they’d need a planner with such a tight timeframe and if he was honest it hadn’t entered his head to discuss the details of who with Tasha. He could have presented her with a half dozen wedding planners to choose from and she would have been none the wiser as to who was good, bad or indifferent and that was unacceptable. He wasn’t being a dick or even a control freak in this. Their wedding was going to be perfect, not bad or indifferent. He needed it to be exactly right, for Tasha, as he had no doubt in his mind that it would be her only wedding.
