Stanton Box Set

She nods nervously. “And I think he likes me.”

I nod and pull her into an embrace. “I think he likes you too Didge. He would be stupid if he didn’t.” I smile.

She pulls out of my grip. “Did Josh say anything to you? I mean about him liking me?”

I shake my head. “No and he wouldn’t tell me anyway even if he knew. You know Josh isn’t a gossip,” I reply.

“Anyway, blah, blah, blah,” Abbie replies. “What are you going to do about it is the question.” She takes a seat at the table and pours herself some orange juice as she waits for the reply.

Bridget’s eyes meet mine and she shrugs. “Not sure.”

I take a sip of my coffee. “You should just wait to see if something happens,” I reply.

“I’ve been doing that and nothing has happened. I was thinking that even if he did like me, he couldn’t really make the first move because he is Joshua’s bodyguard and I am a relative. So technically it would be unprofessional for him to make the first move.”

“Oh god, not this again,” Abbie groans. “Just fucking go out there and kiss him.”

Bridget and I exchange deadpan looks.

“I’m telling you, make the first move,” Abbie repeats.We are interrupted by Joshua and Cameron who walk in and take a seat. They are laughing about something that has just been said. Joshua’s eyes meet mine and I melt. How have I fallen so far for this beautiful man? I smile warmly and he holds his arm out for me to come over to him, which of course I do. He kisses me gently as I bend over him.

“How is my beautiful slut this morning?” he smiles gently.

Cameron chokes on his juice. “Oh fuck off, did you just call her a beautiful slut?”

I widen my eyes at Joshua to silence him and he slaps me on the behind as I walk back around to my seat.

“No. Stop eavesdropping big ears,” Joshua snaps as he picks up his toast. Adrian and Ben walk in and take a seat.

“Tash, do you and the girls want Ben and me to take you shopping for the day?” Adrian asks.

“Ohh yes,” the girls immediately purr.

My eyes flick to Joshua. “No thanks, you girls go. I want to stay here. You know I hate shopping.”

Joshua continues to butter his toast, deep in thought.

“Josh, what are we doing today?” I ask.

His eyes meet Cameron’s and then mine. “I’m working today presh, sorry. I have to get a file to LA this afternoon.”

I screw up my face, dejected. “Cam, what are you doing today? Do you want to come find a book-store with me?” I ask hopefully. I know Cameron is an avid reader and that may entice him to come with me.

His eyes meet Adrian’s and then Joshua’s. “Umm, I have a date today, Tash,” he replies.

I pout in my rejection. “I will just stay here alone and read my book then,” I sigh.

“No, you will go with the girls and Ben and Murph,” Joshua states matter-of- factly.

“I don’t want to go shopping,” I mutter as I take a bite of my toast.

“Suck it up Cinderella, it will be fun.” Adrian smiles as he grabs my hand over the table. “We leave in an hour.”

The thing about shopping trips from hell is that they are just that… a living hell. It has been 10,000 degrees today and we have walked to every corner of every shop known to man while sweating our asses off. Ben and I have never exchanged more eye rolls in our lives. Adrian is on shopping crack—he has literally been the tour guide from hell. We have had four coffee stops and then a lunch stop in a restaurant. He dragged us to look at scenery and, in the end, even the girls were begging to get off this acid shopping trip. We arrived home and everyone went to rest. Joshua was nowhere to be found so I changed into my costume and took a swim and now I’m lying on a pool deckchair. One of the kitchen staff appears with a frozen margarita.

“Natasha, for you.” She passes the drink to me as she smiles gently.

I bow my head in thanks. She is lovely. All of Joshua’s staff are just plain lovely. This late afternoon is turning out better than I had expected and I smile as I take a sip of the divine cocktail. It is just on dark and the properties have fallen silent with everyone preparing for their night out. The staff all start to emerge from the house to light the candles and fire. I feel a kiss on my shoulder from behind—where did he come from?