Free Paradise Found by Dorothy Vernon

‘That’s a famous bachelor chant, until some enterprising female makes him swallow his words. But how did you know that about Matt?’
    â€˜I guess I must have picked it up from Tony,’ Zoe replied, hastily averting her eyes. Her brain drummed on the thought that Hannah had said that Camille had always been wild about Matt. She hadn’t said anything about Matt being wild about Camille.
    Zoe wasn’t glued to Tony’s side. She explored the old town of Les Pins and the surrounding countryside on her own. Hannah had a car in the garage, a dear and faithful friend, almost in the vintage class, but she said it needed looking at, otherwise she would have been pleased to let Zoe use it to travel further afield. Zoe thanked her for the kind thought but said she wouldn’t have dared to take it out in any case. There wasn’t a single scratch on its immaculate paintwork, and Zoe was perfectly content to accept the limits of her own legs. Several beaches within walking and busing distance beckoned tantalizingly, but Zoe resisted her preference for sunbathing within sight of the sea in order to keep Tony company, as she did one day, when they sat on adjacent loungers in Les Charmettes’ small private garden.
    â€˜What do you think of Nan?’ Tony inquired. ‘You’re not finding that she talks you to death?’
    â€˜Oh, no! I think she’s wonderful. She’s fascinating to listen to, although . . .’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜She’s very blunt. I often go hot under the collar.’
    â€˜I know the feeling all too well,’ Tony said, with a dry laugh.
    â€˜But she’s such a darling, I could forgive her anything.’ Zoe swung her legs over the side of the lounger and stood up, looking trim yet shapely in a black one-piece swimsuit which was cut high at the thighs to show off her slender and incredibly lovely legs. ‘Must make a move and get ready for dinner.’
    At all other times the atmosphere was casual, but Hannah made a point of dressing for the evening meal. As she explained to Zoe, it was so easy to get sloppy and fall into bad habits when living alone. Zoe thought it was a nice custom and was glad that she had brought suitable coordinates and one long dress, at the same time realizing that she would have been pleased to ring the changes more often and wishing she’d brought more formal clothes with her.
    â€˜Give me a kiss before you go,’ Tony instructed.
    She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. When he tried to pull her down beside him, she adeptly wriggled beyond his reach.
    â€˜You haven’t gone cold on me, have you?’ he inquired suspiciously.
    â€˜No, of course not.’
    â€˜I’m going to want proof of that when I get rid of these damned crutches. It seems ages since I was really close to you.
    â€˜You know I’m frightened of hurting your ribs.’
    â€˜I know. It’s just that you’ve got a fantastic figure. I’ve never seen as much of it before. I’m not talking about what I want to do here and now at this particular moment. I want to do more than kiss and hold you. We would have been married now, if—’
    â€˜Have some patience, Tony.’
    â€˜I know . . . I know. It’s just that you are so lovely. Sit here,’ he said, patting the space beside his hip. ‘I want to kiss you properly.’
    â€˜All right. But just bear in mind the lack of privacy,’ she said, sitting beside him and winding her arms round his neck. Because he was in a reclining position his hands were free, and he slid them round her back, pulling her down onto his chest. Because it was unexpected, she went down harder than she would have done, and he yelped in pain. ‘See what I mean, Tony? That’s what I was afraid of.’
    â€˜Yes, damn it.’
    â€˜Are you all right?’
    â€˜I’m frustrated. Aren’t you?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Not for the