Chapter 42
CALLUM
For the first time ever, Callum hated leaving his flat for work each day.
He would have much rather spend time with Tasha, chilling, going out for lunches, or simply for a walk.
She needed this time to herself, but as each day had passed, he had seen her relax more and the colour come back to her cheeks.
She had only been staying at the flat for a little over a week but already his home felt more complete with her staying there.
They still slept in their own rooms but the more time they spent in each other’s company the more they seemed to gravitate towards each other.
He ached to hold her, to kiss her, but she had seemed so traumatised by leaving her job and unsure what to do next that he felt Tasha needed the space to figure out what she wanted to do before he became too involved with her.
He cared too much for her to put his own feelings before her needs but hoped that sometime soon she would be ready to take the next step in their growing closeness.
Callum smiled to himself as he got out of his car and looked up at her sitting on the balcony reading a book. How had this place ever felt like home before without Tasha there to complete it?
She noticed him and smiled down at him, waving. ‘Is it that time already?’
* * *
Callum thought how happy and carefree she seemed today and remembered the several messages in his pocket asking him to return calls to Riley.
The receptionist had been confused that Riley kept calling.
‘Don’t you want to phone him back?’ she asked when she handed him the fifth piece of paper with Riley’s latest request for Callum to call him.
‘Not really.’ Callum didn’t elaborate. He suspected the receptionist was happy to speak to Riley whenever he called anyway, so the only person to be put out by Callum’s lack of interest in phoning Riley was Riley himself.
He returned to the flat wondering whether to suggest he and Tasha go out for a quiet meal at one of the beachside restaurants, or maybe take a gentle evening stroll on the beach.
He arrived home and found Tasha sitting on the balcony, her eyes closed and an open book lying face down on the small bistro table next to an almost empty cup of coffee.
He didn’t want to disturb her, having witnessed for himself how long she had slept the nights she had been staying in his flat.
She clearly needed this time apart from Riley to figure out whether to go back to working for him, or move on to something else.
He enjoyed seeing her make the most of the sun, having time to be still and just do exactly what she felt like doing.
Not wishing to disturb Tasha, Riley went and showered. It had been another warm day. He wanted to be ready to go out in case Tasha decided that’s what she was happy to do.
The cool water was refreshing and Riley took his time washing his hair and standing underneath the waterfall shower, feeling invigorated. He got out of the shower, dried himself and went to his room to dress.
Wearing a fresh linen shirt and shorts, he left his room and stepped into the hallway, only just missing slamming into Tasha.
‘You’re awake.’ He wasn’t sure why he had made such an obvious statement, but even though they had spent the past few days together he still couldn’t get past feeling slightly awkward in her presence.
He really needed to get a grip. He wasn’t fourteen any longer.
She seemed amused. ‘I hadn’t realised I’d dozed off until I woke hearing the shower. I wondered what the sound was for a moment, then realised you must be home.’
He stared at her, enjoying seeing her this comfortable in his home and thought how wonderful it would be to enjoy this sort of exchange every day.
Tasha frowned. ‘What is it?’
He shook his head, not wishing to add any further disruptions to her life. What Tasha needed now was his support, not his admission that his feelings for her were deepening every day. ‘It’s nothing.’
‘Are you sure?’ she asked, clearly not believing him.
Callum realised he needed to give a reasonable answer. ‘I was wondering whether you’d like to go for a stroll on the beach. There’s a lovely one I haven’t taken you to see yet and it we could have dinner either before or after, if that suits you.’
Her face broke into a smile. ‘I’d love that. Thank you.’