âThatâs a famous bachelor chant, until some enterprising female makes him swallow his words. But how did you know that about Matt?â
âI guess I must have picked it up from Tony,â 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 hadnât said anything about Matt being wild about Camille.
Zoe wasnât glued to Tonyâs 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 wouldnât have dared to take it out in any case. There wasnât 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 Charmettesâ small private garden.
âWhat do you think of Nan?â Tony inquired. âYouâre not finding that she talks you to death?â
âOh, no! I think sheâs wonderful. Sheâs fascinating to listen to, although . . .â
âYes?â
âSheâs very blunt. I often go hot under the collar.â
âI know the feeling all too well,â Tony said, with a dry laugh.
âBut sheâs such a darling, I could forgive her anything.â 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. âMust make a move and get ready for dinner.â
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 sheâd brought more formal clothes with her.
âGive me a kiss before you go,â 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.
âYou havenât gone cold on me, have you?â he inquired suspiciously.
âNo, of course not.â
âIâm going to want proof of that when I get rid of these damned crutches. It seems ages since I was really close to you.
âYou know Iâm frightened of hurting your ribs.â
âI know. Itâs just that youâve got a fantastic figure. Iâve never seen as much of it before. Iâm 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, ifââ
âHave some patience, Tony.â
âI know . . . I know. Itâs just that you are so lovely. Sit here,â he said, patting the space beside his hip. âI want to kiss you properly.â
âAll right. But just bear in mind the lack of privacy,â 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. âSee what I mean, Tony? Thatâs what I was afraid of.â
âYes, damn it.â
âAre you all right?â
âIâm frustrated. Arenât you?â
âYes.â Not for the