An Honorable Surprise (8 page)

“So why aren’t you coming ashore? I thought this was your vacation?”

Simon sighed. “I’d love to. Maybe this evening we can go to a restaurant. But if I come with you there’s going to be a swarm of paparazzi the moment we step on dry land. It’ll be a circus, and no vacation, believe me. They’re desperate for pictures of a rich guy and a mysterious beauty!”

“Whoa, there! Is there someone on board I don’t know?”

Simon looked at her. Tamara had her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and was wearing a white t-shirt tucked into faded blue jeans. “Give yourself a break - you look fabulous, OK?” Simon replied, throwing his napkin at her. He caught himself glancing at the way her ponytail caught the sunlight as she ducked to avoid being hit. “Have a wander around and find somewhere we can go to eat later when it’s quieter.” He looked at his watch. “Get your things and I’ll have someone stand by to take you to the quay.”

Tamara shrugged. “OK - but I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to sharing all the tourist information I read about in the guidebook last night.”

“Then I’m absolutely certain I don’t want to come if you’re going to bombard me with information,” Simon laughed. “Have fun and enjoy yourself!”

Tamara shielded her eyes against the bright sunshine as the launch pulled away from the yacht’s shadow and headed towards Positano harbour. Small sailing boats and fishing boats bobbed lazily in the low swell, and the tiered ranks of houses each painted in different soft pastel colors - lemon, white and cream - with their ancient terracotta roofs clinging to the town’s rocky slopes.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed to herself, gripping the glittering chrome handrail which ran from the cabin to the stern. It didn’t take long to cross the few hundred metres from where they were moored and dock alongside the wooden pontoon that stretched out from the quayside. The coloured awnings from different ristorantes stretched on either side of them, and the small tables arranged outside were already filling up with tourists sipping Prosecco and seeking shade from the sun.
 

After a few minutes Tamara decided to window shop along the Via Christoforo Columbo. She enjoyed sauntering along the seafront, walking between dark shadow and dazzling sunlight as she wandered under the striped awnings that hung over the sidewalk. She picked out a silk scarf to take back to Donna, and wondered where to find a joke present to give to Simon. There were enough vulgar souvenirs to choose from but she was keen to find an artisan piece of craftsmanship.
 

Even though it wasn’t noon it was getting hot, so she shifted her bag onto her shoulder and she turned into a narrow street to find somewhere where she could relax and have a coffee.

The Cafe Savoie was not too crowded, and Tamara was grateful for the shady cool veranda and the chance to people watch. She was still puzzled. She could tell that Simon was attracted to her, and she had to admit that the trip was turning out far differently to that she’d expected.
 

Questions whirled through her head: What would Simon do if he found out who she really was? How would she justify lying to him? If she told him the truth she was certain he would end their relationship then and there. Could she be honest, yet risk losing the relationship[ that she felt blossoming between them?

But she couldn’t face the explanations she would have to do to bring him up to speed about her past if they got to know each other better.

As she finished her espresso she decided to track back towards the market she had glimpsed when she came ashore. Judging by the crowds of local people and tourists it was popular, and she might well find something to buy for Simon.

“Ciao, Signorina, grazie.” The muscular waiter in his white apron and black jacket eyed her appreciatively as he scooped up her euros and accepted the tip.
I like it here. The men aren’t embarrassed about showing they fancy you!

Tamara retraced her steps, walking on the edge of the sidewalk to avoid the crowds that were jostling each other nearer the shop entrances and looked uncertainly for the narrow alley through which she had seen the market earlier.
 

Just at that moment there was a squeal of brakes. Tamara spun round to see what was happening, and found herself suddenly flung forward as someone tried to grab her shoulder bag and wrench it from her.
 

“Hey, what the hell?” A black leather clad biker wearing a crash helmet with his visor down had grabbed her shoulder strap and was yanking it loose as it slid off her arm. Tamara tried to struggle but at that moment he pulled out a flick knife. Tamara froze as she saw the blade. “Okay - take the bag” she shouted.

But at that moment her attacker yelped with pain and dropped the knife. His arm was twisted behind his back and pushed hard upwards which made him he yell out again as he was lifted off his feet. His assailant gave him another yank for good measure and then let 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 grabbed Tamara and hugged her. “Are you OK, darling? No scratches or anything?”

His concern melted any final reservations, and she snuggled against his dark blue cotton shirt, drawing strength from him.
 

“I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you,” he went on, stroking her hair. “I was stupid not to have gone with you.”

She pulled away and looked up at those smoky eyes. “Don’t be silly, Simon. You knew it would have been far worse if you had come with me. Photographers were everywhere. And, please, don’t be hard on Gina. Please.”

“I’ll have to see,” he said shortly. “She admitted it was unprofessional.”

“But not as stupid as I’ve been,” she said, still holding him.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you were having an affair with her?”

Simon let go of her and stepped back. “Having an affair? With her?” He paused for a moment. “What on earth?” He looked at her questioningly. “You mean, when you saw me with her in the gym?”

Tamara nodded unhappily. “That’s right. I had no idea she was your personal trainer. It never occurred to me that she might be working in a security capacity either. You never explained.”

“Come over her. Sit and let’s talk,” Simon answered. “Up to this point we’ve been strangers on a plane, strangers in the palazzo, and strangers on this boat. It’s time to move on, don’t you think?”

She nodded, and they walked to the lounge platform under the sun awning.
 

He sat and stretched out, drawing her to him so she could snuggle close. “There’s much of my life that I try to keep private. Maybe it’s good, maybe not. But I don’t want friends and people I like getting messed about because I happen to be tracked by journalists. It’s not entirely my choice, but these days it’s part of the game you have to play if you’ve got a high profile in business. And bad guys are around too. They see business leaders as legitimate targets. At first I thought it was vanity when I went to conferences and saw people I regarded as less successful than me surrounded by goons in dark glasses. But then I had a nasty experience in Mexico when my car was nearly ambushed. It was then I decided to I’d have to play along. But I don’t go in for obvious heavies. I prefer to have a far more discreet security profile. And Gina is a good example.”

“You mean you have a team of Charlie’s Angels?” Tamara teased, amazed that, at last, they were talking naturally with one another, and melting at the intensity of his eyes as he looked at her when he talked.
My God, I’m falling for him.

He laughed. “Christ, wouldn’t that be amazing? But they’d stand out a mile. No, to be good in that business you need to be discreet. But several of the women who look like crew members or were around the villa are on the payroll. And - just to set the record straight – a few of the girls that have been on my arm that the gutter press have made such a fuss about - “

“Don’t tell me they were spooks as well,” interrupted Tamara, sitting up.

“Listen, if you’re doing business in a developing country which has, shall we say, slightly different commercial ethics to the ones we’re used to, you need your protection very close to you. Especially when you’re partying.”
 

“So a lot of the time, all those girls I was so disapproving of, were protecting you?”

“That sounds a bit melodramatic, putting it like that. I think it’s called close protection. But, yes, Ms Tremaine - you don’t want to read everything you read in the papers or watch on the TV.”

He smiled mischievously at her. “But I do have the final say, of course! That is, I feel safer if my security detail is extremely attractive!”

Tamara couldn’t help laughing. “You’re crazy, Mr Henty. Talk about combining business with pleasure! But… I’m confused. I thought bodyguards were - “

“Out of work cage fighters? Heaven forbid. People like that are
 
useless. If you’re good in this business you’re going to be intelligent, extremely fit, street smart… Gina served in Afghanistan, I believe, with the US Rangers. She doesn’t talk about it much. Another girl who finished her roster when we left the villa and went on leave is working to pay her way through medical school.”

Tamara looked at him. “About Gina,” she began uncertainly. “I meant what I said. She got me out of that mess - and she got hurt herself.”

Simon looked over towards the horizon. “OK,” he said after a few moments. “I’ll have a word with her and let it go.” Then he turned back and put his hand on her knee. “Why don’t we swim before lunch? We need to cool off?”

“I bet I’m a better swimmer than you are,” Tamara laughed, getting up. “Last one in the water is a sissy!”

But when she got back to her cabin, Tamara felt suddenly embarrassed. It would be the first time that Simon had seen her in a swim suit, and she didn’t know whether to wear her bikini, or play it safe with a one-piece. She pulled her swim suits out of her drawer and dithered for a moment before undressing and pulling on the black one piece that she had bought just before she left. She did a quick turn in front of the mirror - her bottom looked good, and it was cut in such a way that her figure was flattered. “It’ll have to do,” she thought to herself. “I just don’t know where this is going to lead to.”
 
When am I going to get an opportunity to sort out the mess I’m getting into and tell Simon the truth?