LITMIR.BIZ

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going to complain now.

      ‘You’re not planning to desert me as soon as we land, I hope,’ were his next words. ‘We’ll have to stay together a while or the others will smell a rat.’

      ‘I can manage a while,’ I said, trying not to look too idiotically joyful.

      ‘A few weeks?’

      ‘Yes, probably.’

      ‘But not certainly? Do you have other appointments?’

      ‘You could put it that way,’ I said cautiously.

      He took my hands. ‘We’ll get rid of the others and go to my apartment in town. I still officially share a roof with Grace, but I insist on my own place, where I can relax. Your being there will give me the perfect excuse to move in full time.’

      So it was still very much a business arrangement. But I was too happy at the reprieve to worry about that. Just a little longer. That was all I asked.

      As we began to wander back we heard a shout.

      ‘Hey, Jack! Come and listen to this.’

      A group of men were on deck, laughing and cheering over some tipsy joke.

      ‘I’d better go and calm them down,’ he said. ‘See you later.’

      I watched as he joined them, laughing, and gradually drew them inside. I was just thinking of following when a voice in the shadows said, ‘I thought I’d never catch you alone.’

      It was Raymond Keller. I tried to appear pleasant, but said, ‘I was just going in.’

      ‘You can spare me a moment. You’ll be glad when you see what I want to give you.’

      He’d planted himself in front of me, and before I could protest he opened a box, revealing a really fabulous necklace. Diamonds, of course.

      ‘I’ve seen how you like diamonds,’ he said.

      ‘Raymond, I can’t accept these. Please take them away.’

      ‘Oh, come on. I bought them specially for you.’

      ‘You shouldn’t have done.’

      ‘Look, you’re not going to be with Jack for ever. He’s not the faithful type. I don’t suppose you are either, but we could have some fun together. How about we leave the ship together—?’

      ‘Get lost,’ I said.

      ‘Now, look, I’m making you a fair offer—’

      ‘No, you’re making a pest of yourself.’

      ‘You think you can do better than me?’

      ‘I think anyone’s better than you. Now, get out of my way.’

      ‘Oh, no, not yet. You’ve led me on—’

      He pounced on me, and there was a short, undignified struggle which ended with me escaping him and holding the box with the necklace over the side.

       ‘Back off,’ I said breathlessly, ‘or I’ll drop it in the water.’

      He made a noise between a groan and a shriek. ‘You wouldn’t do that.’

      ‘I will if you give me any more trouble.’

      ‘What’s going on?’ It was Jack, who’d heard the noise and come to see what was causing it.

      Raymond was beside himself with temper and petulance.

      ‘Your little tart’s been leading me on,’ he raged.

      ‘If you don’t stop saying that I really will drop it in,’ I threatened. ‘Maybe then you’ll believe I’m not interested. ’

      ‘You think you’ve got richer pickings, don’t you—?’

      That was all Raymond managed to say before Jack floored him.

      Raymond sat rubbing his face, more surprised than hurt. Then he leapt up and made for me. I was just drawing my arm back from over the side, but I didn’t quite make it. His lunge took me by surprise, and before I could stop it the box was spinning down into the water.

      ‘Serves you right,’ Jack said curtly. ‘Now, get out of my sight before you follow it.’

      Raymond glared, but didn’t answer back. He’d seen something in Jack’s eyes that made him scuttle away quickly. I’d seen it too, and it startled me. It wasn’t the look of a man protecting a business deal. Just what it did mean, I wouldn’t let myself speculate. I might get fanciful and think it was jealousy.

      He took me in his arms. ‘Are you all right?’

      ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ I said in a shaking voice.

      ‘Don’t cry.’

       ‘I’m not crying. I’m laughing.’

      Wave after wave of mirth was welling up inside me. It was terribly funny.

      ‘That necklace,’ I said. ‘It must have been worth twenty grand. And it all went into the water.’

      He began to laugh too. ‘That’ll teach him better manners next time. How dare he insult you?’

      ‘He’s the one who’s sorry. I can look after myself.’

      ‘Now she tells me. After I put on that cheesy display of heroics.’

      ‘You’re not cheesy,’ I assured him.

      We went back inside and had another dance, holding each other close so that Raymond would get the point if he happened to be looking. Actually, he wasn’t. He’d retired for the night.

      But some word must have gone around, because while Jack was fetching me a drink I found myself facing Grace.

      ‘I hope you’re proud of yourself,’ she said, in a voice like a razorblade. ‘It’s all due to you that Jack has offended Raymond Keller, and that’s a disaster for him.’

      ‘Jack doesn’t seem to think so.’

      ‘As though you’d know anything about it,’ she snapped. ‘Keller is going to be the head of one of the biggest firms in the country soon, and that makes him an important man for Jack to know. Why do you think he was invited on this trip?’

      ‘Well, it wasn’t for his sparkling conversation, that’s for sure,’ I retorted.

      ‘It’s because he’s a man of substance.’

      ‘I know that. He’s told me a hundred times, and I’m not interested.’

      ‘Oh, please, don’t play the innocent with me. You’ve been flaunting yourself—turning his head with your cheap fancy-woman tricks, just like you turned Jack’s. And what’s the result? A brawl. Keller has a black eye, and Jack’s lost a useful contact.’

      ‘I’m sorry about that. But I don’t see why you blame me.’

      ‘Because a woman like you is always to blame. You’ve got big ideas, haven’t you? Just because Jack’s spent a bit of money on you, you think you’ve got him for life.’

      ‘Is that what I think?’

      ‘Of course it is. I know women of your sort. You think you’re entitled to anything you want, but you’re just an amusement to Jack. He’ll toss you aside when you’ve served your purpose.’

      No matter what, I was determined not to let her make me angry.

      ‘Well, that’s his decision,’ I said, as coolly as I could manage.

      Jack returned with the drinks at that moment. Grace sniffed and flounced off. When Jack asked me what she’d said I passed it off lightly. But I couldn’t help worrying in case I’d really damaged him.

      Chapter Seven

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