‘All right,’ she said, laughing. ‘Enough said. Actually, Henry really wanted to have a moan about you.’

‘Because I had to keep him in line?’

‘I think it’s more that you’re everything he wants to be and never will. He reckons you don’t get your face slapped, and that makes him want to kill you.’

‘What does he think I’m up to? Those bunk beds are only about two feet wide.’

‘Well,’ Mandy mused, ‘I suppose two feet might just be enough if-’ She left the implication hanging.

‘You’re making me blush, do you know that?’

‘I should really like to know what could make you blush,’ she said ironically. ‘Nothing I could think of.’

It was too dark for her to see much of his face, but his eyes seemed to gleam at her with unholy glee.

‘How do you know if you don’t try?’ he teased.

‘Now, you stop that,’ she said, suddenly cross. ‘I know what you’re doing and it’s a waste of time.’

‘Sure about that?’

‘Quite sure. Who do you think you’re dealing with? One of those girls in there, ready to sigh every time you go past?’

‘I’ve never pictured you like that,’ he said truthfully.

‘You think I want you swinging from my balcony?’

‘No way. You’d push me off.’

‘How astute of you.’

‘Let’s drop this, since I’m getting the worst of it. I think I’ll get us something to drink so that we can fight in comfort.’

Renzo went inside and Mandy leaned back in her chair, feeling content. She had a feeling of being in control, and she suspected that not many women had ever felt that with this man. It was very enjoyable.

CHAPTER TWO

RENZO returned after a moment with a bottle of light wine and two glasses.

‘Just a little,’ he said. ‘We’ll need all our wits about us tomorrow.’

When he’d poured and handed her the glass he said, ‘So Henry behaved himself?’