“Really.” He laughed. “That word,really, is becoming a mantra here. Tell me how I can convince you?” He studied her face for a few seconds.
She shrugged, but then flushed making him laugh.
“Ah, I see. You're horny and this is all an elaborate ploy to lure me into the sack.” He grinned, holding her against him tightly.
“I wouldn't have put it quite that way, James,” she protested, still embarrassed by his comment and the element of accuracy in it, at least the part about wanting him.
“Oh, baby, that is so the way to put it. James, really?” He laughed. “Come on, let's get off the bathroom floor and collect the brandy Bobby has insisted you need and then we'll go home and tomorrow we talk, okay?” He got up, lifting them both to a standing position and placed a delicate kiss to the tip of her nose.
Embarrassed, she walked back into the main room and was relieved to find only Bobby, Abby, Maisie and Jack there.
“Sorry,” she began before a glass of brandy was thrust into her hand by Jack who gestured for her to sit down and say no more.
She reluctantly drank the liqueur that burned and stung her throat as she sipped it.
Maisie took a seat next to her, taking her hand in her own. “Tasha, I just want to say that if you feel you need to talk I am always available, unless you’d like someone professional, a counsellor, and then I know of some very good people,” the older woman offered, sounding loving and maternal which made Tasha tearful again.
“Thank you,” she managed to reply with a weak smile.
Gradually the others all reappeared and it was at that point that Jim decided they should go home. “Come on Lizzie, we're going, Tasha's tired.”
“I was going to stay with Philip,” she replied a little nervously.
“There's no need,” said Tasha reassuringly, not wanting to drive Lizzie from her home.
“I know, but we're going out for the day with Mom and Lenny tomorrow so we thought it made sense,” said Philip.
“If you're sure.” Jim sounded slightly relieved.
The drive home was quiet and Tasha felt strangely relaxed after her meltdown and managed to fall asleep briefly. She awoke as the car stopped at the front of the house where Jim was opening the passenger door to help her out.
“Hey, baby, we're home.” Jim led her up the steps to the front door, gently holding her hand in his.
Smiling, she felt nervous of what could or would happen once they entered the house and closed the world out behind them.
Chapter 6
Sensing Tasha’s apprehension as she stood at the front door, Jim slipped a reassuring arm around her waist. “Honey, there is absolutely no pressure for anything.”
“I know,” she acknowledged, adding, “I might go and have a bath before bed.”
Tasha was unsure whether she had fallen asleep in the bath or maybe she'd just drifted off into her own world, a world where this was just a normal night, a night that didn’t feel quite so monumental. She knew sex wasn’t everything in a relationship, but it was significant in her relationship with Jim. It had been, and although she didn’t believe he would cheat on her, well, not the old Tasha anyway, a new Tasha that didn’t satisfy him in the same way was a different matter.
She’d heard nothing beyond the confines of the bathroom so when she re-entered the bedroom to find Jim emerging from the walk-in wardrobe wearing just his boxers she jumped a little.
“Hey baby, are you okay?” He sounded almost nervous of her reply.
“Yeah, fine, thank you.” She was unsure what else to say.
Passing her, he entered the bathroom where she heard the shower turn on and then shut off before she heard him brushing his teeth. In his absence she’d cast aside the towel she'd been wearing and replaced it with a short, white robe. Her hair was pulled free of the clip that she'd employed to keep her hair dry in the bath and brushed it quite forcefully with a paddle brush as she looked out through the open door to the balcony onto the gardens and pool below. Wondering why she suddenly felt so nervous the sound of the bathroom door caused her to take a very deep breath.
“Tasha,” said Jim as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “There is no rush for anything, baby. We can get into bed and go to sleep.” His words and the offer behind them were genuine and she believed them.
“I know, but I don't want to go to sleep.” She turned to face him briefly before dropping her eyes.
“Hey.” Jim tilted her head up so she looked at him again. “I'm not quite sure why either of us is as nervous as we appear to be. It's not like we haven't done this before, is it?”
“I know, it's weird, isn't it? I just want everything to be right, like it was before,” Tasha explained honestly.
