Free An Honorable Surprise by Sally Graham Page A

him go so that he slumped towards his companion who was revving the vespa.

    “Tamara - are you ok?” a woman shouted authoritatively.

    It had happened so fast Tamara wasn’t certain where to turn or who was shouting at her. But she felt herself grasped and half dragged, half pushed away from where she had been attacked. The motor bike roared off and people around her surged forward to see what had happened.

    She heard a woman’s voice talking to people who had gathered round. “Scuzi, scuzi, we’re fine - it’s OK, just a small incident. Andiamo” Then the voice was talking to her. “We’re going back to the boat, Tamara. That wasn’t fun. Scumbags.”  

    Tamara was regaining her senses and was still shaky from the unexpected attack. She looked at the woman who was guiding her firmly back towards the harbor quayside.

    “Hi, thanks, but - do I know you?” She looked more closely at her rescuer and recognised the blonde with the ponytail. “Aren’t you one of Simon’s team?”

    The attractive blonde smiled at her. “Hi, I should have been introduced before, I expect. I’m Gina. One of Mr Henty’s security detail. I’ve been assigned to look after you. Which, I’m sorry to say, I didn’t do very well.” She slowed her pace, looked around to check that they were not being followed, and spoke quickly into a concealed microphone. “Yes, it’s fine. We’re almost at the launch. It’s OK, Mr Henty - no harm done, just a shock. No - I let them go. One of them will have a helluva sore shoulder though. Oh - I picked up the knife, so there’s nothing the cabineri need to worry about.”

    “So you - ?” Tamara’s mind was whirling. Her suspicions that Simon was having an affair with Gina were ridiculous. She doubled as his trainer and was a security guard as well. How could she have been so stupid?  

    A gaggle of onlookers crowded round the jetty steps,watching the smart sleek launch that waited for them, its engines revving hard, frothing the blue water milky white. Gina pushed past them and pulled Tamara firmly by her arm, guiding her carefully over the walkway before a crew member cast off. They roared away in a tight circle and headed back to the yacht.

    “What was that about?” Tamara asked before realising how stupid her question sounded. “Listen, thank you, I nearly got robbed back there.”

    “You nearly got stabbed, too. A typical grab-and-run that nearly went badly wrong. I apologise again - I allowed myself to fall too far behind you.”

    “Were you around the whole time?”

    “Your entire trip ashore. But my job is to stay out of the way.”  

    Tamara felt glad to be sitting in the bow of the launch and not the cabin. The bracing air forced her to calm down after the adrenalin rush that followed her attack, and the occasional splash of cold spray on her face helped her to recover.

    As they approached the yacht she saw Simon standing by the railings silhouetted against the sky, waiting for them to berth. The launch drew seamlessly into the docking bay and Tamara ran to the elevator.

    “My God, what’s been going on?” Simon asked, grabbing her as soon as she stepped up on deck and hugging her tight. She relaxed at once as his arms held her firmly before he pulled away and shouted at Gina who followed her. “Where the hell were you? You were meant to protect her, for God’s sake.”

    The blonde girl crimsoned. “I’m sorry Mr Henty. I’ve apologised to Ms Tremaine. My behaviour fell short of the professional standards you expect.”

    “You’re dead right they did. Consider yourself en route back to Sydney -“

    “Simon!” Tamara interrupted. “It wasn’t her fault - there was a crowd of people - “

    “Not now, Tamara. This is a staffing issue,” Simon answered curtly. “Let’s go up to the sun deck.” He turned away and led Tamara aft where the stairs led to the private stateroom where they would be undisturbed.

    When they reached the awning he