Free Her Singapore Fling by Kelly Hunter

wallpaper.’
    â€˜Really?’ said Jianne.
    â€˜Oh, yes. Is there anything else I can interest you in? German cooking knives? Italian glassware? Irish linen? It’s all here.’
    â€˜We’re all shopped out,’ said Jake.
    â€˜Are we?’ said Jianne. ‘I’ve never shopped for kitchen items before. Who knew it could be so therapeutic?’
    â€˜Put it this way. Think of the size of the kitchen you’re buying things for, and stop ,’ said Jake.
    â€˜You’re right,’ she said on a sigh. ‘You’re absolutely right.’ Jianne smiled winningly at the salesman. ‘Is there a shop that sells bedroom furniture nearby? He has a very big bedroom.’
    â€˜Now you’re hallucinating,’ said Jake. ‘We are not going shopping for bedroom accessories.’
    â€˜Coward,’ she murmured. ‘I’ll be over by the pizza makers. They seem very manly and tough. Perfect for dojo living, in fact.’
    â€˜Enough with the purchases,’ said Jake. ‘Who knew that kissing you would be preferable to shopping with you?’
    â€˜Oh, I think most men could have called that one,’ murmured the salesman. ‘I’ll wrap these over at the counter, shall I?’
    â€˜Wrap fast,’ muttered Jake.
    â€˜Always do.’
    Â 
    Jake’s bike lived in the storeroom just inside the double doored front entrance to the dojo. For ease of parking and practicality you couldn’t go past it.
    Jianne had a grin on her face and hopefully intact Noritake dinner bowls in the pack on her back as she stepped from the bike and pulled off her helmet. ‘I’m quite liking dojo living,’ she said. ‘It’s very streamlined. What is that smell?’
    â€˜Sweat,’ said Jake.
    Jianne’s smile dimmed. Jake hid his. ‘Po’s around somewhere if you need a hand with anything. I have to referee a bout between two of my black belts in half an hour’s time. It’s an open house inter-dojo competition, which means we usually pull a few spectators. Should Zhi Fu come in while I’m refereeing he’ll have access to you and I won’t be able to prevent it. What I can do is arrange a minder for you. Someone I trust.’
    â€˜Do you really think that’s necessary?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’ Fighting ghosts was never easy. ‘Did you hear from him today?’
    â€˜No. Nothing.’
    â€˜Anything unusual happen at work?’
    â€˜No. Maybe he doesn’t know where I am.’
    â€˜He will eventually, Jianne. And if he’s as obsessed as Madeline says he is, and as dangerous as your uncle thinks he is, chances are he already does.’
    â€˜Maybe.’ And maybe Jianne just didn’t want to admit it yet. ‘I’d like to watch the karate,’ she said defiantly. ‘What say you point out the people you trust and if I need them I’ll make their acquaintance?’
    Jake did exactly that on their way through to the kitchen and then took himself off, presumably to get changed out of his street clothes and into more formal dojo wear. Or maybe he simply preferred his own company to hers. Jianne unpacked the bowls, smirking somewhat over the bubble wrap and smiling even more as she set the beautiful bowls on the ancient laminated countertop. Maybe they would break in this rough and ready environment. And maybe they were tougher than they looked.
    The evening progressed. A motley crowd gathered. Vicious fighting ensued and Jacob enforced the rules. Apparently there was a winner. Zhi Fu did not attend.
    Later Jianne, Po and Jacob ate Chinese takeaway out of Noritake bone china bowls. Jacob washed up afterwards and Po cleared the table before silently slipping away. When the boy returned a minute or so later he earnestly presented her with half a dozen bars of pre-loved lavender soap.
    Jianne thanked him gravely. She thought she heard a groan, over by the sink.