Chapter 24
TASHA
Riley marched off in a temper and it took a while before Tasha eventually managed to coax Brooke to sit outside on the pretty terrace. She made her a cup of tea and took it outside to her. ‘You sit here while I go and find Riley.’
Brooke’s eyes narrowed. ‘How typical of him to sidle off and hide somewhere after having been the cause of all this drama.’
Brooke was right, but although Tasha agreed with her, she felt she should attempt to keep her personal opinion about her dreadful boss to herself.
She knew from experience how often Riley and Brooke fell out, only to get back together again weeks or even days later.
She had no intention of being their scapegoat if that happened this time.
She couldn’t imagine ever forgiving someone who betrayed her like Riley had done to Brooke, especially when her humiliation was so public.
‘Is the tea all right?’ Tasha asked, pouring another cup for Brooke and placing it on the small table in front of her.
Brooke looked at it and nodded. ‘Thank you. It’s perfect.’
‘Right, then I’ll leave you. He can’t have gone too far,’ she added hopefully.
Tasha knew it would be easy enough for Riley to hire a private plane to take him back to England, or even France.
It was such a short distance, only being about fifteen miles, as far as she could remember.
Or was that by boat? She tried to think where the closest airport might be in France but had no idea.
Leaving Brooke scrolling through her phone, Tasha raced back into the cottage and immediately began searching each room for Riley.
Where the hell was he? she wondered, leaving his bedroom and rushing to the room next door.
As she reached the door, Tasha thought she heard a voice say something.
It was hard to make out as the person was murmuring, but she sensed it was Riley so retraced her steps and found him in the smallest bedroom, sitting by the window chatting to someone on his mobile.
He looked up as she closed the door behind her. ‘Sorry, Dale, something’s cropped up. I’m going to have to go, but I’ll call you again later.’ He ended the call.
When he didn’t speak, she said, ‘What are you playing at, Riley?’
Looking offended, he went to argue, but Tasha raised a hand and shook her head. ‘No, don’t bother trying to fob me off with some story. I’m far too worn out for that.’ She stepped closer and lowered her voice in case Brooke had followed her inside and was listening from the hallway.
‘I wasn’t going to.’
Not bothering to argue, she continued, ‘I’ve been babysitting your girlfriend, who is sitting outside drinking tea and as far as I can tell winding herself up further by looking at all the news items and photos of you and Erin on her phone.
’ She rubbed her aching neck to try and ease it.
‘I suggest you go down there now and apologise.’
He stood and scowled at her. ‘I have done. Several times.’
Tasha clenched her fists. ‘Then do it again, because if you want to try and stop this from escalating, you need to act fast.’ When he didn’t immediately agree, she tried a different tactic. ‘Or don’t you care that you’ve dragged poor, unsuspecting Erin into yours and Brooke’s latest falling-out?’
At the mention of Erin’s name, Riley’s shoulders dropped slightly and his angry expression vanished. ‘I really didn’t mean for any of this to happen.’
‘I’m sure you didn’t,’ Tasha said, trying to be nicer to him.
After all, she mused, Riley was the one who needed to change his attitude and try his best to resolve this for both his and the women’s sake.
‘But it has happened and now you need to find a way to calm everyone down and make things as right as you possibly can.’
He walked over to the door but instead of leaving the room, turned. ‘What should I say to Brooke?’
Frustrated that this grown man knew how to upset people but had no idea how to put things right, Tasha tried to think. ‘As I said, you need to apologise. You told me you thought the pair of you had split up after your last row, isn’t that right?’
‘It is. I did.’ He rubbed his chin and she saw that he still hadn’t shaved, which was very unlike Riley who always preferred to appear immaculate.
Tasha gave him a pointed stare. ‘Go and tell her the truth. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that far more than if you try and spin some rubbish tale painting you as the innocent person.’ She smiled. ‘Because, Riley, whether you think it or not, people much prefer the truth even if it is unpalatable.’
‘Really?’
She felt her irritation increasing again and pushed it away. ‘Yes, I promise you it’s true.’
He turned from her and put his hand on the doorknob but didn’t leave.
‘Riley,’ she whispered. ‘Stop wasting time. The longer Brooke has to wait for you to appear, the more annoyed she’ll become.’
He turned the handle and left. Relieved to have found a way to persuade him to go and do the right thing, for once, Tasha slumped onto the bed.
Working for Riley was far too stressful for her liking.
She really needed to make some discreet enquiries about vacancies.
Surely there was something available for her that would be less problematic.
She peered out of the window and looked down at where she had left Brooke. She was relieved to see Riley sitting on the chair next to her, his hands waving in his usual animated way as he tried to explain his way out of trouble.
Good, she thought, happy to have a chance to escape from the house without him knowing.
Needing to get away from Riley’s latest drama, she grabbed her phone and sunglasses, and left through the back door.
She walked quickly up to the main house, disappointed not to see Callum’s car parked in front where he usually left it.
Unsure what to do next and not wanting to play gooseberry with Brooke and Riley, she decided to take a walk up to the road and explore some of the nearby lanes.
She had been walking for about twenty minutes, enjoying the cool shade from the trees lining either side of the lane, when a car slowed behind her and stopped.
‘Hello there.’
Her heart leapt to hear Callum’s voice. Unable to keep from smiling, she turned to face him. ‘I thought I’d take a bit of a walk.’
He narrowed his eyes, amusement making them twinkle. ‘You’ve run away really, haven’t you?’
Tasha laughed. ‘I have. Brooke is still at the cottage and I finally managed to persuade Riley to try to explain himself to her.’ She thought of Erin. ‘Did you see your sister?’
He nodded. Then, giving her a thoughtful look, leant over and opened the passenger door. ‘Why don’t you hop in and come for a drive with me?’
Delighted, she did as he asked. ‘Where are you taking me?’ She pulled her seat belt across her and pressed it into the catch.
He grinned and tapped the side of his nose. ‘Ah, now that would be telling.’
Unable to stop herself, Tasha laughed. ‘For some reason if any other man said that to me I’d be nervous and demand to be let out of the car.’
Callum’s head turned instantly in her direction. ‘What?’ He looked at the road again but Tasha could tell she had worried him. ‘I hadn’t realised that was an odd thing to say.’
‘I think it depends on who says it.’ She reached out and touched his arm lightly. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.’
‘No, it’s fine.’
Relieved she had managed to get their evening back on track before ruining it, she asked, ‘I can tell you’re considering something.’
They stopped at a yellow line and he looked at her, eyes twinkling in amusement. ‘I’m trying not to feel too happy to discover you’ve put me into a category away from all other men.’
Tasha was pleased he thought that way.
He began driving again when the road was clear. ‘What does that mean exactly anyway?’
Tasha laughed and tried to think how best to explain her feelings. ‘It’s meant as a compliment.’ When he didn’t react, she added, ‘That is to say, I feel instinctively comfortable with you.’
‘I see.’
She wasn’t sure whether he was happy with her answer, or not. ‘And it’s not because I don’t find you attractive,’ she added, not wishing him to think that was why she felt the way she did.
Callum glanced at her. ‘I’m glad to hear it and to know you’re happy to spend time with me.’
Unsure whether she had yet to find the right way to explain how she felt, Tasha decided to leave things as they were and simply shut up and enjoy their evening.
Believing she recognised the road they had turned onto, she asked, ‘Can I ask what sort of place you’re taking me to?’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘No, because I haven’t decided yet.’
‘Isn’t this the way to Hollyhock Farm though?’
‘It would be if I kept going straight, but we’re going left further along.’
Tasha relaxed back into the seat, enjoying herself. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been taken on a mystery tour before.’
‘Is that what this is?’ Before she had a chance to answer, the car slowed more quickly than she expected and Callum indicated just before turning right and taking them in another direction. ‘Let’s go this way.’
‘Beauport.’ As Tasha read the sign she wondered why it meant something to her.
She must have read the name on a map, or heard someone mention it.
Then it dawned on her why she had saved the name to memory.
‘Isn’t this where there’s a lovely beach at the bottom of a lot of steps?
’ she asked, wondering if she had the energy to climb back up them when they left.
Callum gave a nod. ‘It certainly is. It’s a lovely walk around there on the headland and there’s a beach.’ He glanced at her and laughed. ‘You’ve heard about the steps, I suspect.’
‘I think I read a review about the beach somewhere when we first arrived on the island.’
‘We can go elsewhere if you’d rather.’
She shook her head, not wishing to ruin his excitement to show her the place. ‘I’d love to go there.’