Free The Secret Doctor by Joanna Neil Page B

hear,’ she countered, ‘because I’m really looking forward to exploring these reefs, and the only reason I’m doing it is because you said I could trust you.’
    He pulled a face. ‘Life can be sheer torture sometimes.’
    She laughed. ‘Show me this boat, Jake. I can’t wait to see how you’ve finished it off.’
    â€˜I think you’ll like it.’ He led the way to where the boat was moored by the dock, and Lacey stood for a moment, taking it in.
    â€˜It’s beautiful,’ she said, looking at it in awe. ‘It looks so much bigger out here on the water, and I didn’t realise there would be a cabin.’ Perhaps the cabin section had been in another part of the barn, under wraps. ‘This is a work of art,’ she murmured. ‘You must be really proud of what you’ve done.’
    â€˜I guess I am.’ He smiled. ‘There’s a galley, with facilities for cooking—nothing grand, of course, given the space, but enough to heat a pan of something or boil water for coffee. And I’ve managed to fit in a small icebox. There are a couple of sleeping berths as well, in case they’re needed.’
    â€˜It looks as though there’s still room on deck for the lobster pots, too.’ Lacey was full of admiration for his handiwork. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.
    â€˜We won’t be needing those today.’ He held out a hand to her. ‘Let me help you aboard.’ His fingers grasped hers, warm and strong as he steadied her. ‘I thought of calling her Lacey , since your arrival here spurred me on to finish her quickly. What do you think?’
    Her eyes widened. ‘I think I’m honoured, but I’m not sure I deserve such a tribute.’
    The boat was truly a work of craftsmanship. It was a small cruiser, fitted out with upholstered seats that converted to sleeping berths with storage compartments underneath. The galley was a masterpiece, with everything you would need for home comfort, a fridge, icebox and small cooker all neatly placed to make good use of available space, with a table alongside where you could sit and eat. There was even a cupboard for medical equipment, and a lock-up box for valuables. It was all finished to perfection.
    Jake started up the motor, and it purred into action. Lacey stood beside him, looking out through the clear glass windows of the cabin, as he steered them out onto the open sea. The doors at the back of the cabin wereopen to allow the breeze to waft through, and there was a sun hatch that was open to assist with the airflow.
    â€˜I thought we’d head out to a reef some twenty miles away,’ Jake said. ‘It’ll take us half an hour or so to get there, but I think it’s well worth a visit. It’s a place where a British ship ran aground back in the 1700s. All the crew survived and many of them made their way to the Bahamas, but the captain ordered the ship to be burned so that the enemy wouldn’t be able to salvage anything at some time in the future. There’s not a lot to see of the wreck these days, unless you know what you’re looking for, but the anchor and chain are very clearly visible.’
    â€˜How deep will we be diving?’
    â€˜Around forty feet, so it’s comfortable for someone who doesn’t dive frequently. I’ll show you the most interesting areas. It’s one of the best reefs in the region.’
    Some half an hour later, they arrived at their destination. Jake secured the boat to a mooring buoy and they both put on the scuba equipment and readied themselves for the dive. Other boats were moored nearby, so Lacey guessed this was a popular place.
    â€˜Are you ready?’ Jake asked.
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Okay, then. You probably know this already, but you must be careful not to get too close to the coral because some species have razor-sharp edges that can cut into your skin, even through a