Chapter 35
TASHA
Tasha’s irritation with Riley rose sharply when she saw him being sarcastic about Callum’s mistake.
Why couldn’t he just allow someone else to do well for once?
Typical Riley always having to be the hero!
She knew he would have enjoyed Callum feeling embarrassed in front of everyone about making a blunder.
She watched the scene play out, mouthing Callum’s words as he said them, glad she was standing out of his sight line so he didn’t notice her doing it.
At the end of the scene, she realised her shoulders were so high with tension they almost met her ears, and she had to consciously lower them and relax.
‘Poor Callum.’
Surprised to hear Erin’s voice coming from just behind her left shoulder, Tasha turned to her. ‘Sorry, I didn’t see you there.’ She stepped to the side to give Erin space to stand next to her.
Erin moved slightly forward. ‘I didn’t like to speak in case I interrupted the filming but I thought Callum did very well, didn’t you?’
‘I did,’ she agreed, looking in his direction.
Erin returned to the hair and make-up trailer.
Callum noticed Tasha when they were done and walked over to her, looking forlorn.
‘Did you see what I did?’
She could tell he felt badly about what had happened and rested a hand on his forearm. ‘You did very well.’
He gave a sarcastic laugh. ‘I messed up, but it was my own fault for not focusing on what I was doing.’
Tasha had the sudden urge to find out what had amused him. ‘Why did you smile?’
He smiled again before answering, intriguing her further. ‘I was thinking Riley has a lot to learn if he thinks he can boss Erin around and get away with it.’
Amused to picture Callum’s beautiful sister with someone so used to charming people in order to get his own way and it not working for once, Tasha laughed. ‘It will do him the world of good to spend time with someone like her then.’
‘I agree.’ Callum shrugged. ‘I suppose he’s not all that bad but he can be rather arrogant at times.’
‘Now you are being charitable.’ She looked over at her boss, who was preparing to shoot the next scene.
‘I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.
’ She flicked a fly from his shoulder. ‘I’m starving.
Shall we go to the farmhouse and find Lettie and Brodie for a bit of lunch while there’s still time? ’
‘I thought you’d never ask,’ he said.
She smiled as Callum linked his arm through hers. ‘I hope they’ve prepared for two hungry people to descend on them.’
‘They will have done. There’s one thing you can be sure of when you visit Hollyhock Farm and that is there is always an abundance of tasty food.
Lindy, that’s Lettie’s mum, is a great cook and baker.
She prides herself on always having fresh cakes in tins in the pantry and there’s always pre-prepared food in the fridge that can be heated up. ’
‘She sounds amazing,’ Tasha said honestly. Her stomach rumbled noisily.
Callum laughed. ‘I think you’re even hungrier than me right now.’
She pulled him to hurry him to the house, enjoying their time together again. ‘Hurry up then, before someone else gets there and eats our share.’
Callum broke into a jog with her. ‘Careful, you don’t want my make-up to run.’
She burst out laughing. ‘I don’t think you have enough on for that to happen, or that you’re hot enough.’
He slowed to a walk, pulling her to stop with him. ‘Hey, are you trying to tell me you don’t find me attractive?’
Seeing the mischievous twinkle in his gorgeous eyes, she shook her head. ‘If you’re hoping to force me into telling you I think you’re hot again, you’re going to be disappointed.’
He sighed heavily. ‘Fine. Then I suppose we may as well get to that kitchen and eat. I need something to cheer me up.’
‘That’s rubbish.’ She walked with him, enjoying the banter and wishing she had the courage to not only tell him how much she was attracted to him but also to grab hold of him and kiss him and show him how hot she really thought he was.
They were a few steps away from the kitchen door when it opened, making them both skid to a halt in surprise.
Lettie looked from one to the other of them, grinning. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to catch you off guard. I was watching from the window and saw the pair of you coming this way, so thought I’d welcome you.’
She stepped back and waved for them to enter the cool hallway. ‘Your lunch is ready. Please go on through to the kitchen.’
‘First on the left,’ Callum whispered when Tasha hesitated to walk forward.
She stopped at the kitchen doorway and gasped at the sight of the huge pine table laden with various dishes: green salads, pasta salads and something that looked like a large bowl of Coronation chicken. There was a baguette, with a butter dish full of rich yellow Jersey butter.
‘Wow, this looks amazing,’ Tasha said.
‘I’m glad you think so.’ Lettie motioned for them to take a seat. ‘Please, help yourselves and tuck in. Brodie will be here any minute and he will be ready to eat quite a bit.’
‘Thank you for all this,’ Callum said.
‘I love doing it, as you well know.’ She pushed two of the salads closer to them. ‘Now, what do you both fancy to drink?’
Tasha went to respond but before she could someone called out to them from the hallway.
‘Hello there. I’m looking for Tasha.’
She looked at Callum, trying hard to remain calm. Did Riley not consider this was her lunchtime too?
Lettie went to stand but sat again when Brodie passed the open kitchen door and went to speak to their guest.
‘I hadn’t expected to see Brodie back here so soon.’
Callum leant closer to Tasha. ‘What does Riley want, I wonder?’
‘For me to do something for him, no doubt.’ She rolled her eyes.
They heard footsteps and Brodie said, ‘They’re through this way.’ He mouthed an apology to Tasha as he entered the room ahead of Riley.
‘There you are,’ Riley said in his most charming voice. He gave an apologetic smile to each of them. ‘I hate to interrupt your lunch, but I was hoping to ask Tasha for her help.’
Not wishing for Lettie, Brodie and Callum’s lunches to be interrupted further, Tasha stood. ‘I’ll come with you now, Riley.’ She turned to Lettie. ‘I’m so sorry to leave without tasting any of this delicious-looking food.’
Lettie shrugged and shook her head. ‘Don’t worry about it.’ She went to stand. ‘If you can wait a moment I’ll put something into a Tupperware for you.’
Before she could answer, Riley responded. ‘No. Please don’t do that.’ He gave Lettie an appealing smile.
How typical of Riley to assume Lettie was referring to him, Tasha thought, amused.
Riley turned to her and pulled out her chair. ‘Please don’t worry, Tasha. I only came here to let you know I’ll be finding something for Erin and I to eat from the canteen, so there’s no need to worry about me.’
Tasha was taken aback by him being uncharacteristically thoughtful, then it dawned on her that he was clearly making a show of being considerate for Erin’s benefit.
‘Erin is with you?’ Callum asked.
Erin appeared in the doorway and smiled, looking embarrassed at being there. ‘Please, take no notice of me. I’m only here with Riley because he was hoping to find Tasha.’
Lettie stood and pointed at the food on the table. ‘There’s more than enough for everyone to eat. Why don’t the pair of you take a seat and join us?’ She beamed at them. ‘I’d be fascinated to hear all about the filming, if you don’t mind sharing, Riley.’
Tasha had to control herself from showing her amusement and wondered if Lettie had sensed how much Riley enjoyed being with people when he was the centre of attention.
He loved talking about his favourite subject: himself.
He took Erin’s hand and led her to the other side of the table, pulling out a chair for her to sit on before taking a seat next to her.
‘And it will be lovely to get to know you a bit more, Erin,’ Lettie said. She turned to Tasha and Riley. ‘Callum is my brother Zak’s best friend, so Erin and I have met each other quite a few times over the years, but never really spent much time chatting.’
‘That’s right,’ Erin agreed. She laughed. ‘And when we do it’s usually about our brothers and what they’re doing. Zak is a sound engineer for bands and is away on tour, isn’t he?’
Lettie nodded. ‘He is. I believe he’s in Germany at the moment.’
‘That’s right,’ Callum said. ‘He was looking forward to it.’
‘Brodie, will you bring a couple more plates and cutlery for our new guests, please?’ Lettie asked.
He gave her a knowing wink and did as she asked.
Tasha watched the scene play out in front of her as Riley immediately began talking about his career and the morning’s work. If she did have to spend her lunchtime with Riley, she supposed that at least she was also doing it with Callum, and eating her new friends’ delicious offerings.
She lowered her hands to her lap and felt Callum gently take hold of her hand nearest to him. He gave it a gentle squeeze and looked at her.
‘You OK?’ he whispered.
She nodded. ‘I am.’