Authors: Katrina Britt
‘
Then my coffee should taste good even if it isn
’
t. Sure you wouldn
’
t like a can of beer? I
’
ve one or two in the fridge in case of company.
’
Nora talked to him from the kitchen, marvelling at the ease in which they were talking to each other. Perhaps the magic in the air had something to do
with his concern about her when he had arrived at the flat earlier on. She liked to think it was genuine and that he really did like her.
‘
I
’
ll have the coffee,
’
he replied.
He came into the kitchen to carry in the tray for her, and he dwarfed the space by his presence. She refused to look up at him as she placed some biscuits on a plate to put beside the coffee on the tray. She went into the lounge to pull up the low table by two comfortable chairs and Juan put down the tray.
‘
As a matter of fact I was going to call on you later today,
’
he said, dropping down into his chair and watching her pour out the fragrant beverage.
‘
I
’
m taking
Aimée
to the fish farm and I was going to ask you to come with us.
’
Her dainty eyebrows lifted.
‘
Why me? Why not Tricia?
’
‘
The idea is to give Tricia a break from looking after her daughter.
’
he informed her coolly as he raised the drink to his lips.
‘
I see. But
Aimée
doesn
’
t know me. Won
’
t she be uncomfortable with a stranger?
’
‘
She
’
ll like you. I have a feeling that most young things like you. Older ones too.
’
Nora held her cup daintily between pearl-tipped fingers.
‘
That
’
s very nice of you, but you don
’
t have to pay me compliments in order to persuade me to do something you want,
’
she assured him.
‘
After all, I do owe you a debt. You found my bag—which reminds me, I shall have to let the porter know.
’
He said roughly,
‘
I don
’
t expect anyone to repay me when I happen to do them a good turn. Coming with us in that frame of mind isn
’
t going to do much good to
Aimée
. I want you to come with us because you want to, and not from a sense of obligation to me.
’
Nora smiled impishly.
‘I’l
l come on one condition—that you behave to us both like an uncle who
’
s giving his two nieces a treat.
’
‘
So there are to be conditions. Nothing doing.
’
Juan put down his cup after draining it thirstily. The slight thud coincided with a ring at the front door.
‘
Whoever can that be?
’
exclaimed Nora, putting down her cup.
‘
I
’
ll go,
’
he said, and strode to the door along the short passage.
‘
Oh
!’
exclaimed the porter, taken aback by Juan opening the door.
‘
Are you all right, Miss Bain?
’
he called.
‘
The people in one of the neighbouring flats told me a man had come up without a key to the front door.
’
Nora hurried to the door, knowing what it would look like to the porter as he faced a man in his shirt sleeves looking as if he had a right to be there.
‘
Quite all right, thanks,
’
she assured him.
‘
Mr.
Cregeen brought my shoulder bag—he found it.
’
‘
Indeed? Intact?
’
‘
Yes.
’
It was Juan who spoke, with
a nonchalant ease which made the porter
’
s attitude look stuffy and overbearing.
‘
But it was more important to me that I should find Miss Bain intact. You get my meaning?
’
‘
Certainly. I was only checking. It
’
s what I
’
m here for,
’
the porter said a little stiffly.
Juan smiled.
‘
I appreciate that, and thanks for looking after Miss Bain. Here
’
s something to share between you and the friend you have sent to look for the shoulder bag, and thanks again.
’
Notes changed hands and the porter took his leave, all smiles.
‘
Seems to me,
’
drawled Juan as they made their way back to the lounge,
‘
you
’
ll not only be coming out with me today, you
’
ll be accompanying me quite often in the near future, unless you want your name to be mud.
’
Nora sighed.
‘
I see what you mean. It looks as though our date is on. What with me in my neglige and you in your shirt sleeves combined with the smell of coffee, the poor man could jump to any conclusions. We ought to have asked him in for a cup.
’
‘
Not on your life,
’
he retorted with some emphasis.
‘
What, and have the man making a habit of it?
’
The last remark gave Nora food for thought. Five minutes ago Juan was suggesting they have a mock affair; now he was taking over as if it was a real one. In all fairness she had to admit that he had done the right thing where she herself was concerned. He had pressed the point unknowingly that a girl did better with a man around to protect her.
She would have felt more unsettled had it been Jony, because there would have been an ulterior motive in the suggestion coming from him. He had a lot to gain if he could turn the affair between them into the real thing, with a wedding ring.
She asked,
‘
Another coffee?
’
‘
I don
’
t mind,
’
answered Juan, dropping back into his chair.
Nora passed his coffee and poured another for herself to give her something to do. The white silk shirt he was wearing contrasted attractively with his tanned skin and dark crisp hair. There was an attractive aura about him that would persist even when he was ninety, she thought wryly.
‘
Your way of life must be very pleasant when it gives you the time to be knight errant to ladies in distress,
’
she said sweetly.
He laughed, amused at her sudden wary expression.
‘
I don
’
t make a habit of it. I
’
m enjoying my present role of helping Aim
é
e.
’
‘
Only Aim
é
e?
’
she asked.
He raised an eyebrow.
‘
And Tricia, if you like.
’
‘
And me?
’
He sipped his coffee, then surveyed her lazily.
‘
You aren
’
t in need of much help. You have a delightful flat, a car, a share in a bequest—a generous one—and a good promising career.
’
Piqued with something more than just disappointment, she snapped,
‘
Thanks
!’
Juan gave the slow smile which always played on her heartstrings.
‘
I might add that you
’
ve been richly endowed with nature
’
s decorations too—but I won
’
t enlarge on your charms. I
’
m sure you
’
re aware of them.
’
Her face went scarlet.
‘
You can be a very aggravating man, do you know that, or do you delight in needling people?
’
‘
It keeps the adrenalin going,
’
he scoffed.
‘
I
’
d like to bet Jony
’
s gets working when he sees us together.
’
She picked up his trend of thought immediately.
‘
You mean because you
’
re a Manxman he might think...?
’
‘
Exactly. That he stands to lose half the income on the estate if we marry.
’
‘
Oh dear, I never thought of that! There
’
s something else too. If
... if someone made an attack on me because of the will won
’
t
... they try it again now that there
’
s a real threat to Jony inheriting the lot?
’
she said, aghast.
‘
I wouldn
’
t worry about that if I were you. I shall be around most of the time and the porter seems a nice dependable sort. You
’
re not scared, are you?
’
He emptied his coffee and leaned forward to take her hand. Nora had put down her coffee cup with
trembling fingers, and he had noticed it. His tone softened.
‘
Look, there
’
s nothing to be scared of. I think I know who dropped the plastic purse and it
’
s someone who won
’
t bother you again. I
’
m saying no more; you must take my word for it. Will you trust me?
’
Nora
’
s fingers curled around his, anxious for their reassuring warmth.
‘
I
’
ll have to, won
’
t I? I
’
ve no other option,
’
she told him flatly.
The attractive smile was on his dark face again.
‘
You won
’
t feel so bad when you know me better. Come on, smile!
’
That
’
s the trouble, she thought. Knowing you better will bring other problems. She walked to the door with his arm resting carelessly around her shoulders. His right arm was crooked to carry the jacket on his shoulder.
‘
Pick you up at two,
’
she said.
Juan was on time; so was Nora.
Aimée
was seated in the front seat of the car beside Juan. Nora had a first impression of big eyes in a small heart-shaped face regarding her solemnly. Blonde hair curled in silky tendrils around the small features reminiscent of Tricia
’
s. Her smile and her blue eyes were shy and lacked the hardness of her mother.
‘
Juan has been telling me about you,
’
she said shyly
as Nora settled herself in the back seat of the big car.
‘
I knew I
’
d like you,
’
she smiled as Nora leaned forward in her seat.
‘
I always like Juan
’
s friends.
’
With a flippancy she could not feel, Nora said,
‘
Liking a person can go a long way
in
being real friends. I hope you
’
ll be my friend,
Aimée
. You have a very pretty name.
’
‘
It belongs to a very pretty girl,
’
Juan put in as he started the car.
Aimée
looked at him adoringly.
‘
Juan always says nice things and he never says anything he doesn
’
t mean.
’
‘
That
’
s nice to know,
’
Nora put in dryly.
The journey to the fish farm was not a long one, and the weather was just right for a visit into the countryside. The scenery along quiet leafy roads was bright with sunlight when Juan parked the car near to the entrance of the fish farm.
Aimée
loved the huge stone toads at the entrance and inside the fishing farm. To their right as they entered was the souvenir shop, while to their left immediately behind them was the shed which housed the stages of the breeding from minute specks to fully grown fish.
One of the young men in charge met them as they emerged from the shed with a yellow plastic pail which he offered to
Aimée
. It contained brown pellets of food for the fish.
‘
Would you like to feed the fish for me?
’
he asked with a smile.
She shone up at him with delight as delicate colour suffused her small face.
‘
May I?
’
she cried delightedly.
There were four rectangular pools containing the fish in various stages of their development, ranging from small ones to the fully grown rainbow trout.
Aimée
went around the pools feeding the smaller ones before reaching the end product.
The fish came in swarms to the surface of the water to be fed, snatching the small brown pellets very quickly. Juan had brought his camera to produce instant coloured pictures and he took several of
Aimée
feeding the trout as they leapt high from the water in all their beautiful colours.
He also took pictures of Nora as the two golden heads came together as they leaned over the edge of the ponds to gaze with pure delight at the leaping rainbow trout.
‘
Aren
’
t they lovely pictures?
’
cried Aim
é
e, devouring the snaps with delighted gaze.
For an instant, Nora met Juan
’
s gaze over the child
’
s bright head and her smile became fixed as their eyes collided. She tore her gaze away, but not before her heart had done a swallow dive in her breast. What a romantic idiot she was, to allow herself to be affected by his kindness to a child!
By the time they reached the place Juan had chosen for their picnic Nora had control of her emotions and decided to hold them in check in the future. The picnic box contained everything to delight the heart of a child, including flasks of iced fruit drinks, hot coffee, sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and a whole chicken which they shared between them.
After their picnic they played with a ball on the grass in the small leafy hollow with only the birds for company. Then they flung themselves down to rest and soon
Aimée
was asleep. Nora was conscious of the long form of Juan stretched out not far away from her and the child. She tried to shut him out by closing her eyes, but the dark head, the wide shoulders tapering down to narrow hips, affected her profoundly. It had been a mistake to come out with him. As for anything concerning a more intimate relationship, it worried her.
He said quietly,
‘
Glad you came?
’
‘
Who wouldn
’
t be? It
’
s a beautiful place.
’
‘
But you aren
’
t relaxed, are you? Still worried about the incident on the pier?
’
She turned her head to meet his eyes.
‘
Not really.
’
His eyes narrowed over the lightly tanned clear
skin overlaid by a pink bloom, the clear, curly
-
fringed eyes, and the silky golden hair lifting tantalisingly in the faint breeze. Her pink mouth was unsmiling, but very tempting had she but known it.
‘
You know,
’
he began with a gentle taunting look,
‘
you
’
d be quite a girl once you let yourself go. How do you get on with this partner of yours? Ever thought of taking him on in the marriage stakes?
’
‘
No. We
’
re good business partners, that
’
s all. Why do you ask?
’
‘
Because I would have that in mind if I
’
d been in his shoes. Does that surprise you?
’
‘
It does,
’
she replied dryly.
‘
Especially since you confess to preferring the single state.
’
‘
I never said I preferred it, merely that I enjoyed my life as it is at the moment.
’
Juan laughed as if at some private thought.
‘
What heading does your company go under—Bain, something and Company?
’
‘
That
’
s right. My name is first since it was my father
’
s business, but I can see you wouldn
’
t tolerate that for long if you were the partner. You just wouldn
’
t stand for a woman being first.
’
‘
No, I wouldn
’
t. I
’
d toss her for it.
’
He grinned.
‘
Oh, come on, smile! You know, in the position you
’
re in with the stiff upper lip keeping the old firm going, you
’
re heading to be one of the most hard-bitten females in the business. What have you got against men?
’
‘
What do you mean?
’
she demanded in a voice as steady as she could make it.
‘
What I say.
’
His second appraising glance had a sharpness in its depths.
‘
You have this sophisticated look which clearly tells all comers to keep their distance—men, that is. Don
’
t get me wrong, I
’
m not against sophistication in women, I regard it as a part of their feminine charm. It
’
s tantalising if
you don
’
t use it as a shield.
’
‘
Perhaps, like you, I enjoy my life as it is.
’
She wished he wouldn
’
t take that older brother attitude each time he addressed her.
‘
Being on your own?
’
‘
Why not? You do.
’
Nora eyed him balefully.
‘
I
’
m not meddling with your life. Why meddle with mine?
’
‘
I wouldn
’
t agree,
’
he said slowly.
‘
Meddling is hardly the word I would use. Invasion, perhaps.
’
‘
Invasion? In what way have I invaded your privacy?
’
‘
You
’
d be surprised. Anyway, this is neither the time nor the place to go into such matters.
’
Juan consulted his wristwatch.
‘
Another half an hour and
Aimée
will be going back. I don
’
t want to tire her too much. She
’
s doing fine, especially since coming to the island.
Aimée
is one of the lucky ones in getting well so quickly after an attack of polio. Incidentally, I may be taking her for a sail one of these days. What do you say about coming with us?
’
‘
What about Tricia?
’
‘
Tricia has other fish to fry. Besides, I
’
d better take you since we
’
re to work up a relationship.
’
He held up a hand to prevent the protest parting her lips.
‘
And for heaven
’
s sake don
’
t look as if I
’
d suggested something improper! We shall have Aim
é
e with us.
’
‘
Nora cast a glance at the sleeping girl.
‘
Can she swim?
’
she asked thoughtfully.
‘
Not very well. Her limbs aren
’
t back to their usual freedom of movement, but she
’
s trying.
’
‘
Poor darling,
’
she said on a deep sigh.
‘
Does that mean you
’
ll come sailing with us?
’
‘
I
’
ll let you know,
’
she said. A sudden thought struck her.
‘
Where did you find my shoulder bag? On the beach? Was it washed up?
’
Juan smiled.
‘
The strap had wrapped itself around the pier. Comes in useful, doesn
’
t it, that pier—in more ways than one?
’
Nora quelled a shudder.
‘
Hey now,
’
he said with concern,
‘
there
’
s no need for you to be afraid anything more will happen, so forget it.
’
‘
I wish I could believe you.
’
‘
You can,
’
he told her forcefully.