She grinned at him, relishing the pinch of his hands that held her hips against him slightly too firmly. He was so handsome and as much as she desired him it was the sudden feeling of overwhelming love that made her lean in to kiss him. The sound of Abby’s laughter surprised them both judging by how they both jumped.
“It’s a good job we are so broad minded.” She laughed, watching Tasha blush.
With a shake of her head as she glanced across at Bobby, Abby laughed again at her overexcited friend and her amused husband. Turning to her he gave her a grin, not a smile but a full on grin as he reached for her hand that he took in his causing her pulse to quicken. With a quirk of his eyebrow and a small wink she was melting. She knew exactly what that look meant making her wonder if she too could get away with leaping into his lap or finding a room.
“You need to take lots of cold showers, both of you, separately,” smirked Bobby, his attention back on his brother and Tasha, although he still kept Abby’s hand tucked in his. “But please tone this down when my daughter is in the vicinity,” he said more seriously.
“Sorry,” replied Tasha turning back on Jim's lap so she faced them and the computer screen but found herself distracted by the erection she’d aroused in him that was currently pressing into her behind.
“Right then.” Jim deliberately flexed beneath her making her smile. “You really want to do the Elvis thing? Isn't this just how I said it was going to be?” he asked rhetorically as he reached around Tasha and found Elvis weddings.
Scrolling down, Tasha stopped at one. “I like the look of him, book him if he's free.”
“Just like that, based on a thumbnail?” asked Jim.
“Just like that. Hotel,” she said, thinking that was all they needed to arrange.
“Leave that one with me, honey. We have flights and a wedding booked, baby, so as of just after three p.m. on Monday we will be married.”
Abby and Tasha immediately began to clap and then laughed in stereo making them laugh more.
“Jimbo, we have a week of this ahead of us,” smiled Bobby, shaking his head at his brother.
“I know.” Wearing a smile, Jim lovingly held Tasha as Lizzie appeared in the doorway.
“Hey Daddy, we're heading off—”
He cut her off. “I don't think so, Lizzie. You and I need to talk before you go anywhere, sweetie.” Jim spoke with a gentle but firm tone that told her it was non-negotiable.
Lizzie stared at him briefly and even opened her mouth as if she was considering speaking, offering an argument against it, but said nothing before turning on her heels, presumably re-planning her afternoon.
“Don't be mean to her, please,” said Tasha with knots in her stomach that Lizzie may be in trouble for bringing a friend home.
“Tasha, I’m not discussing this with you, but if you would all excuse me for a while,” he said standing, putting them both on their feet.
“Come on,” called Abby as she grabbed Tasha's arm. “Let's go and see how Lexi is getting on with Travis.”
“Okay,” agreed Tasha, reluctantly. Suddenly she noticed Bobby giving her a visual nudge.
She mouthed alater,thinking Jim was going to flip out at the idea of her father making contact and that would not be conducive to him not being mean to Lizzie who had just reappeared with her friends who she was seeing out.
“Bobby, come on, Lexi will be stoked to see us both watching her.” Abby took her husband's hand while her other one was still holding Tasha's arm.
“Lizzie, let's go outside,” suggested Jim, leading his daughter out to the pool.
****
Having walked down to the stables they watched Lexi grooming a horse, chatting away to him while Travis guided her through each step of the process. Leaning against the fence alongside Abby and Bobby, Tasha found herself grinning as she watched the little girl smiling and laughing without a care in the world and tried to recall the nearest she’d ever got to that carefree, content feeling and was unsure if she ever had before meeting Jim. Even now, after her accident, when she still had so many thoughts and feelings rushing around her head, when she was at home with Jim, just the two of them, a contentment washed over her like it never had before they’d met. He centred her, acted as an anchor and allowed her to feel all of the positive feelings rather than only the negatives, although the negative ones were still there, just not as loud.
“I can't believe you could have had anything you'd wanted for your wedding and you chose, Elvis,” interrupted Abby, nudging the other woman.
“What can I say? It doesn't matter where, it's who, plus I’m number seven on Jim's list of brides so...”
“So what?” asked Abby confused.
“Where did you get married?” asked Tasha.
“We went to The Bahamas and got married on the beach, it was very romantic.” She grinned.
