Free Island for Dreams by Katrina Britt

on curry and I hate the stuff. ’
    ‘ Then my coffee should taste good even if it isn ’ t. Sure you wouldn ’ t like a can of beer? I ’ ve one or two in the fridge in case of company. ’
    Nora talked to him from the kitchen, marvelling at the ease in which they were talking to each other. Perhaps the magic in the air had something to do with his concern about her when he had arrived at the flat earlier on. She liked to think it was genuine and that he really did like her.
    ‘ I ’ ll have the coffee, ’ he replied.
    He came into the kitchen to carry in the tray for her, and he dwarfed the space by his presence. She refused to look up at him as she placed some biscuits on a plate to put beside the coffee on the tray. She went into the lounge to pull up the low table by two comfortable chairs and Juan put down the tray.
    ‘ As a matter of fact I was going to call on you later today, ’ he said, dropping down into his chair and watching her pour out the fragrant beverage. ‘ I ’ m taking Aimée to the fish farm and I was going to ask you to come with us. ’
    Her dainty eyebrows lifted. ‘ Why me? Why not Tricia? ’
    ‘ The idea is to give Tricia a break from looking after her daughter. ’ he informed her coolly as he raised the drink to his lips.
    ‘ I see. But Aimée doesn ’ t know me. Won ’ t she be uncomfortable with a stranger? ’
    ‘ She ’ ll like you. I have a feeling that most young things like you. Older ones too. ’
    Nora held her cup daintily between pearl-tipped fingers.
    ‘ That ’ s very nice of you, but you don ’ t have to pay me compliments in order to persuade me to do something you want, ’ she assured him. ‘ After all, I do owe you a debt. You found my bag—which reminds me, I shall have to let the porter know. ’
    He said roughly, ‘ I don ’ t expect anyone to repay me when I happen to do them a good turn. Coming with us in that frame of mind isn ’ t going to do much good to Aimée . I want you to come with us because you want to, and not from a sense of obligation to me. ’
    Nora smiled impishly. ‘I’l l come on one condition—that you behave to us both like an uncle who ’ s giving his two nieces a treat. ’
    ‘ So there are to be conditions. Nothing doing. ’ Juan put down his cup after draining it thirstily. The slight thud coincided with a ring at the front door.
    ‘ Whoever can that be? ’ exclaimed Nora, putting down her cup.
    ‘ I ’ ll go, ’ he said, and strode to the door along the short passage.
    ‘ Oh !’ exclaimed the porter, taken aback by Juan opening the door. ‘ Are you all right, Miss Bain? ’ he called. ‘ The people in one of the neighbouring flats told me a man had come up without a key to the front door. ’
    Nora hurried to the door, knowing what it would look like to the porter as he faced a man in his shirt sleeves looking as if he had a right to be there.
    ‘ Quite all right, thanks, ’ she assured him. ‘ Mr. Cregeen brought my shoulder bag—he found it. ’
    ‘ Indeed? Intact? ’
    ‘ Yes. ’ It was Juan who spoke, with a nonchalant ease which made the porter ’ s attitude look stuffy and overbearing. ‘ But it was more important to me that I should find Miss Bain intact. You get my meaning? ’
    ‘ Certainly. I was only checking. It ’ s what I ’ m here for, ’ the porter said a little stiffly.
    Juan smiled. ‘ I appreciate that, and thanks for looking after Miss Bain. Here ’ s something to share between you and the friend you have sent to look for the shoulder bag, and thanks again. ’
    Notes changed hands and the porter took his leave, all smiles.
    ‘ Seems to me, ’ drawled Juan as they made their way back to the lounge, ‘ you ’ ll not only be coming out with me today, you ’ ll be accompanying me quite often in the near future, unless you want your name to be mud. ’
    Nora sighed. ‘ I see what you mean. It looks as though our date is on. What with me in my neglige and you in your shirt