Free The Reef by Di Morrissey Page A

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    â€˜We’re supposed to be going over to the Harrisons’ for drinks.’
    â€˜Oops, is it that late? I’ll be ready in a flash.’ Jennifer dashed into the bathroom, peeling off her clothes.
    Standing under the shower she felt cross that Blair wasn’t the least bit interested in what she’d been doing all afternoon. Admittedly, threatened amphibians mightn’t interest Blair, even if it was ringing alarm bells in environmental circles, but he could at least listen to her for ten minutes or so. Jennifer sighed as she towelled herself dry and wondered what to wear. The Harrisons were important to Blair, and she’d never met the general manager of the hotel and his wife before.
    Blair eyed Jennifer as she emerged from the bedroom in a simple beige silk shift caught at theshoulders with tiny gold buckles. Her legs were bare and she wore sand-coloured Italian sandals and simple but tasteful gold jewellery. Her damp hair was brushed smooth, falling to her shoulders and caught to one side with a comb. She was wearing lip gloss and eyeliner which made her blue eyes stand out. It was a dramatic change from the young girl who’d dashed in in khaki shorts and an old T-shirt shortly before.
    â€˜Do I look okay? My hair will dry by the time we get there.’ She still felt insecure about looking and behaving appropriately with Blair’s friends and colleagues. Not to mention the big boss. God, what would she talk about? Not frogs, that was for sure.
    â€˜You scrub up very well,’ said Blair gruffly and he picked up the car keys. Jennifer followed, feeling chastened, unsure of Blair’s mood.
    When they returned home Blair seemed elated. Maybe it was the wine, though the company had been stimulating and, although the other couples were older, Jennifer had enjoyed herself too.
    Blair made love to her with passion, murmuring endearments. As Jennifer was about to fall asleep in his arms he asked, ‘What did you and old man Harrison talk about for so long?’
    â€˜Umm, sailing. Fishing . . . lots of things.’
    â€˜You don’t sail or fish. Anyway, he liked you. So did Mrs H. She thought you were lovely and natural.’
    â€˜That’s good. How else could I be?’
    Blair tightened his arms and started to say something but Jennifer had fallen asleep.
    The following Thursday night Blair and Jennifer were cleaning up after a home-cooked dinner. Jennifer was scrubbing the pan the bolognaise sauce had been cooked in. She was in shorts, a tank top, her hair scrunched back, her face scrubbed clean. Blair thought she looked about fifteen. How sweet and unaffected she was.
    â€˜So I think I’ll go back to the library tonight. I want to go through my lecture notes and get ready for Dr Mylan’s class tomorrow morning.’ Jennifer pulled a yellow rubber glove off with a snap.
    Blair stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her, pinning her against the sink. ‘Don’t go, Jenny.’ He kissed her ear.
    Jennifer reached around to pat his head. ‘I won’t get any work done if I stay home tonight.’
    Blair’s grip tightened. ‘Marry me, Jenny.’
    They both froze. Blair stepped back allowing Jennifer to turn and face him, a stunned expression on her face.
    â€˜Will you, Jenny? Marry me?’
    Jennifer shook her head as if to clear it and, looking at Blair’s hesitant nervous expression, she exploded in laughter and flung her arms around him. ‘Yes, yes. Oh Blair. Are you sure?’
    â€˜Are you ?’ He kissed her long and hard then drew back. ‘Phew, I’ve been trying to get that out since your birthday. I thought that would be such a romantic place to do it, and, I don’t know, I kept getting nervous waiting for exactly the rightmoment and something always happened. Tonight, it just popped out. Sorry. But I do have a ring.’ He fumbled in his pocket and produced a small velvet