Pippa raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? You have to wake up early for work tomorrow?”
Her sarcasm made Sasha let out a short laugh. Pippa was right. No more career to worry about. She’d made the decision to follow Thomas so she may as well enjoy it.
Finally, Sasha shrugged and clinked her glass against Pippa’s.
“Cheers,” the British woman said. She smiled sweetly and took a sip. Then she placed her glass down. “Lobster time!” she cried.
Sasha looked around. It seemed as though no one else would be joining them. Just an awkward meal for two then…
Once the dinner was served, Pippa settled down. She was a vibrant woman, the sort Sasha aspired to be; engaging, with huge expressive eyes that drew you in; ambitious; vivacious. Like Thomas, she had the ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world.
“You must tell me everything about you and Thomas,” Pippa said.
“There is no me and Thomas,” Sasha replied. “I don’t think there ever really was. ”
“Pft,” Pippa said, flapping a hand. “You don’t believe that do you? He was raving about you for days, in his own Thomas way.”
Sasha couldn’t imagine the stoic actor raving about anything. “What do you mean?”
“Darling,” Pippa said. She was clearly becoming a little bit tipsy and spilled her mojito as she flung her arm out. “He’s crazy for you.”
“He doesn’t seem to be.”
“He’s just in a mood. It won’t last.”
“You mean…”
“I mean you’ll be back in one another’s arms quicker than you can blink. I’ll tell you a secret.” Pippa leaned in and her eyes sparkled. “This whole relationship charade, the PR stunt. It was not my idea.”
Sasha frowned. “You mean it was Thomas’s?”
“Yes!” Pippa squealed. “My plan was to bury the whole thing. Focus on the crime part, draw attention to the messed up sister, you know. Make it clear that Thomas was a victim. You didn’t enter into my plans at all, no offence. But Thomas insisted we protect you. That’s why he ran off to your house despite my protestations.”
“Oh,” Sasha said.
That was before he’d found her with Chris and her incriminatingly packed bags. That was before he’d learned of her betrayal.
Thanks to the mojitos, Sasha’s tongue had loosened somewhat. And she had so much to get off her chest. Plus, she liked Pippa, she felt able to confide in her.
“Things changed,” she said. “Once he was at my house. He found out about Chris.”
“Chris?”
“My ex. Thomas thought we’d slept together. But we hadn’t. Chris was just coming to drive me home. If my mother was well enough, it would’ve been her who’d come to collect me.” She thought bitterly of how different things would have been had it been her mother standing in her hallway asking her to come home rather than Chris. “Thomas doesn’t believe me that nothing happened.”
Pippa shook her head. “They’re so possessive, men, aren’t they? So jealous. Especially the ones like Thomas.”
Sasha couldn’t help but find herself enjoying Pippa’s company. She really put her at ease and made the drama of the situation seem insignificant. She seemed so put together and down to earth, like nothing could phase her, especially a man like Thomas Lloyd. Sasha couldn’t help but think the English woman would never be stupid enough to succumb to the charms of someone like Thomas; that was probably why she was so able to work with him and boss him around.
Sasha finished up the last of her drink. “You really think he’ll forgive me?” she said, smooshing the ice at the bottom of her glass with her straw.
Pippa took the cup from her hands. “Absolutely.” She poured Sasha another glass. “And sooner than you expect.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Sasha cocked her head to the side quizzically. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Pippa said in a hushed voice, “that if you went in there and seduced him right now, I don’t think he’d be able to say no. Thomas Lloyd has an insatiable appetite. Food. Drink. Work. Money. Sex. He’s driven by consumption. Such a visceral creature like Thomas is not going to turn down the chance to make love when it comes knocking.”
Sasha sat back laughing. “Well I sort of tried that already. He fell asleep.”
“One setback,” Pippa said with a wicked grin. “Are you going to give up after one setback?”
Sasha shook her head jovially. “Why are you so desperate for me and him to sleep together?”