Chapter 16
TASHA
She only just managed to hide her delight at Callum’s stunned reaction when he saw her arrive at the party. She accompanied him outside, glad he had suggested they do so.
It was a relief to get away from Riley for a while. She wondered what people would think if they knew what a diva that man was to deal with. First his suit hadn’t been right for how he wanted to present himself to others that evening.
‘They will be expecting a film star,’ he snapped. ‘And that’s what I intend giving them.’
‘You’re not the star of tonight’s show though, Riley,’ she had retorted before she managed to stop herself.
He had been shocked but then turned on his heels and went back to his room to change, yet again.
By the time they left for the party he had spent several minutes preening in front of the living room mirror until he was content that the Ralph Lauren chinos and shirt his stylist had recently sent over for him gave him a look he was satisfied with.
If he wasn’t her boss, she would have left him earlier and made her way to the party without him. Tasha supposed that if nothing else this job as his assistant was teaching her patience. Becoming aware that Callum was speaking to her, she turned to him.
‘Sorry, I was thinking about something that happened earlier.’
He frowned. ‘Everything all right?’
She sighed. ‘Yes, thanks. Just the usual Riley stuff.’
‘I’m not saying he seems spoilt,’ Callum said, his eyes widening, ‘but I can imagine he isn’t easy to work for.’
‘He isn’t.’ She shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’ve spent far too long waiting for him already today and don’t intend wasting any more time at this wonderful party thinking or talking about Riley Sharp.’
‘Good idea.’ He held out his hand. ‘Shall we take a walk in this incredible garden?’
Why not, she thought, taking his hand and enjoying the feeling of her hand in his as they strolled across the lawn past fragrant flower borders and breathing in the sweet scent of roses, lavender and rosemary in the warm evening air as she walked.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere this perfect. I’ve certainly never stayed anywhere as idyllic as this place.’
‘Not even with your boss?’
She shook her head. ‘No, Riley prefers modern places and would much rather stay in the city than the country.’
He laughed. ‘Sorry.’
Confused, Tasha looked up at Callum. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘You didn’t want to talk about your boss and I’ve immediately brought him up.’ He stilled and stared at her in silence. For a moment she thought he might kiss her and decided she hoped he would.
Then his eyes moved up from hers and he seemed to peer over her shoulder towards a border of rhododendrons on the other side of the lawn.
‘What is it?’ Tasha asked, trying to see what had grabbed his attention but failing.
He shook his head and smiled, although she noticed it didn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘I thought I saw movement in the bushes over there but must have been mistaken.’
‘Maybe it was one of the gardeners,’ she suggested. ‘There must be an entire team of them to keep all this land as pristine as it is.’
He didn’t seem sure for a moment, then nodded. ‘I can’t think why they would be working at night, but I suppose they could be checking something.’
Hearing his sister shriek with delight, Tasha wondered if it might have something to do with Riley.
She hoped not. Erin seemed lovely and although Tasha knew she could be wrong about things, she doubted Callum’s sister was used to men like Riley.
He had mentioned how pretty Erin was and even in the time she had worked for him, Tasha had experienced the devastation when three of his romantic engagements had fallen apart after each fiancée discovered he had been unfaithful to them.
She would hate the same thing to happen to Erin.
As they neared the orangery, she couldn’t help thinking how much she would have preferred to spend the evening by herself with Callum.
Then she reminded herself she was here to help celebrate his grandfather’s eightieth birthday party, not to start anything romantic with a man she might never see again once the week was over.
She followed Callum’s gaze and saw he was watching his sister dancing with Riley. Erin was in Riley’s arms, gazing up at him adoringly. Callum didn’t look pleased, and Tasha understood why.
‘I’m going to suggest everyone finds a table and starts eating,’ Callum said.
‘A few people have food but most haven’t yet.
I remember my mum saying that if you let guests drink for too long they end up drinking more than they mean to and no longer feel hungry.
We don’t need mountains of food left over. ’ He raised his eyebrows.
She looked at the long table laden with food to her right. ‘I see what you mean.’ She noticed his grandfather’s table had no spare seats but that there was a table further to the left that only had two people sitting at it. ‘Would you like me to go and reserve a few seats at that table?’
Callum looked over and nodded. ‘Great idea. Better keep one for Erin and Riley because by the looks of things they’ve not considered eating yet.’
‘Good idea. I won’t be long.’
As Tasha went and made herself comfortable at the designated table, she pulled out three of the chairs slightly and waved for Riley’s attention.
He spotted her almost immediately and stopped dancing, probably wondering what she wanted.
Tasha waved him over, pointing to the table.
Erin came with him and as they moved through the guests Tasha noticed they were holding hands.
Already? He was moving fast. The thought made her mood dip and she hoped she didn’t have to spend the next few days working on damage control.
Tasha looked over to Callum who was now standing next to the music trio. As soon as they stopped playing he thanked them and picked up the microphone.
‘Hi, everyone,’ he said as guests slowly stopped speaking and gave him their attention.
‘As you all know, we’re here this evening to celebrate my grandad Keith’s eightieth birthday.
’ Tasha watched Keith raise his glass and give Callum a wink.
‘I first want to thank you all for keeping the secret from him.’
‘I’ll never trust any one of you again,’ Keith teased.
When everyone stopped laughing and commenting, Callum continued. ‘This party has been a joint effort, and I think it worked out better in the end for us that the people who had originally booked this place cancelled.’
Keith seemed surprised. ‘You did good, my boy.’
‘Thanks, Grandad. I’d like you all to raise a glass to Keith Preston, my wonderful grandfather who has made an impression on each and every one of us at some point over the years.
’ More cheers and teasing erupted until Callum had to put out his hands, palms down.
‘Thanks, everyone. I know you’re all eager to get partying, but please do eat all of this food; we’d hate for it to go to waste.
’ He raised his glass. ‘Firstly, though, Grandad, this evening is for you. We love you and hope you have an amazing night. To Keith.’
‘To Keith.’
Tasha raised her glass and watched as family and friends toasted the smiling man who she imagined must have looked very like Callum when he was younger.
He was certainly popular and she was glad Keith was having such a special evening.
What a lucky man to have such a caring family.
She thought about her own strained relationship with her family and felt a pang of envy that she would never experience anything similar to the love she was witnessing now.
She watched Callum being patted on the back and thought how different he was to any other man she had ever spent time with and wished she wasn’t on the island for such a short time.
She sat down at the table as soon as Callum joined his father and grandfather after his speech, and she looked around wondering where Riley and Erin had got to.
Tasha’s stomach grumbled, reminding her that it had been at least six hours since she had last eaten anything. Deciding not to wait any longer, she got herself a meal and then picked up her cutlery and began eating the delicious food from her plate.
Tasha ate the tasty fresh lobster and what looked like tiny lobsters but which she now knew to be langoustine, a sweeter more delicate flavoured shellfish.
She took a sip of her champagne, listening as Riley and Erin finally settled themselves down in two of the vacant seats at the table.
Riley explained to an enraptured Erin how he got his first break in acting.
‘It was when I was in a school production of Charley’s Aunt,’ he recalled. ‘One of the mothers, a producer for a TV series about children being evacuated during the Second World War, spotted me and gave her card to my mother.’
‘That must have been incredibly exciting,’ Erin said. ‘How old were you?’
‘Sixteen, but then I could pass for twelve. Mum always knew I wanted to act and took me along to a couple of auditions and then I got the part.’
‘And the rest is history,’ Erin said, her hand resting on her chest. ‘What a delightful story.’
It was certainly fiction, Tasha thought, aware that he had spent several years after college going to open auditions until he landed his first part in an advert for floor cleaner, before being cast in a television soap before going to Hollywood and being lucky enough to land a supporting role in a film that went stratospheric.
She took another sip of her drink, struggling not to contradict Riley when she noticed Callum looking at her.
‘Dance with me,’ Callum said, arriving at the table and taking Tasha’s hand.
‘One sec,’ Tasha said, reaching out to pick up her half-empty glass of champagne. She took a sip.
‘We need to get you a fresh glass of something,’ Callum said. ‘You must have been nursing that for a while now.’ He reached out a hand to her. ‘So, do you want to?’
Confused, Tasha frowned. ‘Um, want to what?’
‘Dance with me.’
She put the glass back down onto the table and nodded. ‘Lead the way then.’
As soon as they reached the dance floor set out in front of where the trio played, Callum took her in his arms. Tasha couldn’t help thinking how natural they felt together.
It was strange how she barely knew Callum, but he somehow seemed very familiar.
Was this feeling what people meant when they said that when you met the one, you would know?
She pushed the thought aside, aware she was being fanciful.
‘Sorry I got waylaid and didn’t eat dinner with you,’ he said, smiling down at her.
‘It’s your family party, of course you should spend time with them,’ she said, not wanting Callum to feel guilty. ‘Anyway, I’m used to looking out for myself at events. In fact, I’m usually working, now I come to think of it.’
‘Well, you’re not working tonight.’ He scanned the room. ‘Talking of work, did you see where Riley or my sister went? They were at your table but they’re not there now.’
Tasha presumed Callum was concerned about his sister falling for Riley and completely understood. Erin seemed sensible enough but from her own experience sense seemed to vanish just when you needed it most.
‘I’m afraid I didn’t.’ Not wanting Callum to worry, she said, ‘Would you like to go and look for them?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Erin is a grown woman and won’t take kindly to me interfering, however well it’s meant.’
Tasha could understand that. Then again, she mused, it must be nice to have an older brother who looked out for you. Maybe if she had a sibling she might not feel quite so lonely.